Home away from Home, on wheels.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Awesome plan Mike... That old motor served you so many great miles, cant wait to see what's next!

Saw these mirrors via FB briefly..... do tell. I have never seen them before.

It did good, it has just been spewing oil, and has the starts of Type IV syndrome... I adamantly refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a condition in the presence of Dennis Haynes, but it was obvious how the bus sounded and felt "wonky" at idle, but performed better when under load near 40-60 MPH.
The mirrors are uber rare, and I've only ever seen one other set on a Gypsy down in Florida for Winterjam. These were on TS in Denmark and I had been on the fence for some while. I had to shit or get off the pot.

Doing valve adjustments is easy. I'll be happy to show you how.

Honestly, I would like it if you would...

[EDNCAROL]

Might want to order a new carpet set this way you have it when that one gets trashed.Looks like it's on it's way.

[Tom]

Are you keeping the old engine ? If you're parting it out does it have square port heads ?

Not sure how I feel about the mirrors, they look like they're going to stick out too far but I'll wait until I see them on the bus.

[Raj]

Any update Mike? I thought for sure youd be posting updates.

PS... these your mirrors?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... id=1909575

[Glenn]

I saw a pair of T4 engine cases at GT.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Those are the mirrors!
Not mine specifically - but the same ones.
A VW accessory that was fit to Gypsies, Widebodies and Campers with the Westfalia hitch/Essen Trailer option.
My hitch isn't a Westfalia hitch, and I don't have the trailer... yet?

Cases are at GT. Going to let him send them to Gino to figure which one would be better to build up. We'll have him blast the outercase so it looks nice.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

My refusing to use inferior parts, and rather commitment to building the best engine possible for the bus has caused the price tag to jump significantly.
That said, I still plan to accomplish everything as planned... Happy to report it was a good "tax return" year this year! Lol

[Raj]

My refusing to use inferior parts, and rather commitment to building the best engine possible for the bus has caused the price tag to jump significantly.

pls elaborate.... what are you weighing the cost/ benefit on?

[Glenn]

The problem is, when you cherry pick parts and do your own engineering, it can cause problems down the road if there are any problems.

Just ask Julio.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

I get that.
I wouldn't say I'm doing my own engineering, rather just not a fan of the heads or the cam Chicco typically uses.
Beyond that it's all him.
I've already spoken with him, and he's very familiar with Len Hoffman's heads, and builds with webcams all the time.
The big issue now is going to be if we reuse my old case, or go with the new one.
We don't have head studs, case studs, and a few other parts that are NLA. Which means we have to a) use the ones I have b) use whatever Chicco has in his parts supply.
Removing the studs from the case might be an issue, and more importantly they might already be stretched (a relatively common issue)
Tony doesn't really want to take on the build, whether because I'm being selective or its just a cost/payout I get it, and I'm fine if they want to use Chicco.
I'm almost inclined to jus send him my old engine and my new heads (when they arrive) along with the new case and let him decide the best course based on the condition of my engine.

[Glenn]

I'm almost inclined to jus send him my old engine and my new heads (when they arrive) along with the new case and let him decide the best course based on the condition of my engine.

Sounds like the best option.

Time is money and it's just cheaper to have it done in California than in New York.

[Raj]

Id let the engine builder build the engine. If Tony ' doesnt want to take on the build' that should be enough input for you to go with Chico.

[Glenn]

Id let the engine builder build the engine. If Tony ' doesnt want to take on the build' that should be enough input for you to go with Chico.

Its not that he doesn't want to, but warranty is a problem when a part breaks that you supply. Who pays for the labor to replace it and any parts damaged by the failure.

Also the new case has no hardware. You need to bolt the case together and torque it to check the bores. If you don't have a second set of hardware, you need to salvage the hardware from the old case. Time is money and it ads up quickly.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

My "original" (read - existing) engine was sent out to be checked for tolerances. It was within spec and was cleaned up and shipped off to the builder this week. It will be arriving to CPR tomorrow, so Chico can get started on the short block.
The heads are still a couple weeks out likely. But Chico wants the shortblock done so that when the heads do arrive it is a short days work to finish up the engine.

[EDNCAROL]

So when is the E T I ?

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Hoping for late March early April. Hard to tell yet, as the heads can/will hold things up a bit.
Also, nothing has gone to powder yet, as I'm waiting for the shop to have a time block to do it all rather than piece meal it over time. Hoping to get it there within two weeks now.
I'm hoping to have it on the road by mid April. I'd like to get some confidence miles in before the season starts.i
It'll go to the body shop once it's back running and driving to address the rear drivers blister and the front door.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Just got off the phone with Chico. Paid 2/3 of my new engine. The bore was spot on, He was perfectly happy with the case. He's going to have it built within a month, says at most 5 weeks... Which will hopefully coincide with the arrival of the heads.

[Raj]

Nice... it will go quick. Are you getting the body done while the motor is being built?

[EDNCAROL]

Hoping for late March early April. Hard to tell yet, as the heads can/will hold things up a bit.
Also, nothing has gone to powder yet, as I'm waiting for the shop to have a time block to do it all rather than piece meal it over time. Hoping to get it there within two weeks now.
I'm hoping to have it on the road by mid April. I'd like to get some confidence miles in before the season starts.i
It'll go to the body shop once it's back running and driving to address the rear drivers blister and the front door.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

I had hoped to send it off to body while the engine is apart. But, this build got more involved as I went from the basics to upgrading critical components. So, no. The body will get done but may wait till the engine is in and I can just drive it over to the shop. It doesn't need much. I just want to get the blisters fixed in the rear bumper mount and in the front door jambs.
I'm paying everything cash as of yet, and want to avoid credit as much as possible.
I don't want to put myself in debt on this, like I did with the Beetle.
Chicos base Type IV is about $2500 (advertised) and I'm well past that with the addition of the Hoffman Heads, Webcam upgrade, and other little add ons. Never mind what I've spent at GT (well spent so as to not roll around on my cold driveway in the dead of winter) and what is yet to come in body work, powder, and ancillary supplies like fuel lines, filters, clutch, seals, etc.
I had hoped for some other upgrades too, such as stereo and a set of the uber rare albeit pricy factory curtains. Had also been considering tires and anticipate needing front brakes and a wheel bearing by the time the bus goes back in the road..

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Engine is paid for... Minus the clutch kit that I told him to add on.
Happy that part is done.
Stock 2L, WebCam 73, with the WebCam gear (rather than countersinking the stock gear)
Balanced flywheel, and the Hoffman Heads.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Heads are done... They're on the way to California now to meet the rest of the engine.
More info on the Blueprint Specials here: https://newsite.hamheads.com/2017/01/16 ... nderheads/

[Glenn]

Who's HW?

[ObnoxiousBlue]

LOL.

No, but really... He marked the heads with temperature sensitive paint so that when the engine arrives to us we are sure that the heads on the engine are the ones he built.

[Glenn]

LOL.

No, but really... He marked the heads with temperature sensitive paint so that when the engine arrives to us we are sure that the heads on the engine are the ones he built.

Temp sensitive might be so he can know if the engine was overheated if there's a warranty issue.

Does he just "blueprint" the heads, does he cc them? Does he use better quality valves/seats/springs/retainers?