Air Cooled VW, Stuck Engine

I am considering buying a VW powered dune buggy that has been sitting for over 10 years. The engine will not turn over and I didn’t want to force it. I am told engine was running when buggy was parked with a trans axle problem. Have a good amount of engine experience but none with VW. Engine is dual port 1600. I would assume pull plugs and Marvel Mystery Oil and let sit for a few days before trying to turn over. Any suggestions? How expensive is it to rebuild these engines. I would assume these engine are pretty simple to rebuild. What say all of you? Thanks!

As long as there is no water in the crankcase, pull the heads, slide off the cylinders that will,  and then unbolt the rod for the one that's locked up.  Hammer out the stuck piston so you can get the rod back. Install new P&C kit, new pushrod tubes, new oil pump with spin on filter, and add a mini sump when you put it back together. 

If there's water in the oil, just find another engine. 

^^What he said^^

There is almost no cheaper engine to rebuild. Pretty simple, too, they don't even have head gaskets. When I did my turbo build I had all the machine work done, bought a forged and balanced crank and rods, cam, big oil pump, and all the other stuff (stock replacement pistons and heads, all new) and with machine work and it was about $1500 IIRC. It can be done much cheaper if you skip the fancy rotating stuff and use stock parts.

A few years ago when I looked into rebuilding a 1600, I was reading that there are a ton of parts for ACVWs, but a lot of them are crap.  Quality rebuild parts were priced accordingly, and similar to any other platform. At least that's what I recall when trying to plan an overhaul.

So it needs a trans and a motor.....

Call your credit card in to these guys for an open account.   

https://www.mofoco.com/index.php

My friend used to rebuild these in his kitchen.  Cheap and easy.  Well, that was 30 years ago....

I found the one on my race car pretty easy to work on (well, once I got it out). Parts prices are very reasonable and there's a ton of information out there, too.

Stop by my house, I'll give you another engine to tinker with. 

bentwrench said:

So it needs a trans and a motor.....

That’s a distinct possibility but there is another engine and transaxle plus boxes of other parts to sort through including new parts in boxes. Plus at a few hundred dollars I think it’s a pretty good deal to keep me busy for a while.

Toyman01 said:

Stop by my house, I'll give you another engine to tinker with. 

 

I'd trade you a Harbor Freight Mini-Mill for one of those engines!

If there's a transaxle problem, that problem could also be preventing the engine from turning over.

Woody said:

Toyman01 said:

Stop by my house, I'll give you another engine to tinker with. 

 

I'd trade you a Harbor Freight Mini-Mill for one of those engines!

I'll give you the engine and you can keep the mill to boot. 

You just have to come get it. 

They are stone simple, the first engine I ever rebuilt myself. Parts are easy to find and dune buggies are fun. Sandrails a bit more fun. My dad used to buy rusty beetles and old failed kit cars for parts dirt cheap. 

dropstep said:

They are stone simple, the first engine I ever rebuilt myself. Parts are easy to find and dune buggies are fun. Sandrails a bit more fun. My dad used to buy rusty beetles and old failed kit cars for parts dirt cheap. 

Well this is a sand rail, chassis unknown and no markings found other then a number.

Highschool me built two engines for my Beetle using  this book this book. Very easy and cheap. I only built two because I unknowingly slipped a pushrod tube seal on the first and ran out of oil after 10 miles. D'oh! The only thing to watch for is the case sealant. If you get that stuff on you, it may be easier to remove the offending body part than the sealant.If you're going to buy one add a b̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶  oil filter. Best mod I did on mine.

pirate said:

dropstep said:

They are stone simple, the first engine I ever rebuilt myself. Parts are easy to find and dune buggies are fun. Sandrails a bit more fun. My dad used to buy rusty beetles and old failed kit cars for parts dirt cheap. 

Well this is a sand rail, chassis unknown and no markings found other then a number.

Well if you get a photo I can run it past my dad and he can likely tell you if it's from one of the common makers. We used several different company's kits over the years 

A lot of the parts available now are junk.  Ze Germans used quality materials, even in the people's car.

dropstep said:

pirate said:

dropstep said:

They are stone simple, the first engine I ever rebuilt myself. Parts are easy to find and dune buggies are fun. Sandrails a bit more fun. My dad used to buy rusty beetles and old failed kit cars for parts dirt cheap. 

Well this is a sand rail, chassis unknown and no markings found other then a number.

Well if you get a photo I can run it past my dad and he can likely tell you if it's from one of the common makers. We used several different company's kits over the years 

As soon as I get some good pics will send or post.

I am not suggesting this in any way, just leaving it here for a point of reference on these motors.  I spent a LOT of time hanging in a local ACVW shop with a pair of gents who had been working on these things since they were new.  They had a stockpile of wrecked cars and would rebuild and sell them.  Anyway,  it was typical for them to find a stuck motor now and then.  Their solution was to:  Pull the plugs, soak the cylinders in PB Blaster or like product, let stand a day, place a socket and breaker bar on the crank bolt and persuade it to turn with a large hammer. Once they got movement they would work ib back and forth until they got smooth complete revolutions.  Barbaric? Yep...  Did it work?  A large amount of time it did, with no real damage to the motor.

dropstep said:

pirate said:

dropstep said:

They are stone simple, the first engine I ever rebuilt myself. Parts are easy to find and dune buggies are fun. Sandrails a bit more fun. My dad used to buy rusty beetles and old failed kit cars for parts dirt cheap. 

Well this is a sand rail, chassis unknown and no markings found other then a number.

Well if you get a photo I can run it past my dad and he can likely tell you if it's from one of the common makers. We used several different company's kits over the years 

A couple pics:

One thing I remember.   If the engine dropped a valve be sure to clean the inside of the intake manifold.

in the early '70's VW's were dropping lots of valves.    They didn't take well to interstate driving.

 Seems the oil cooler blocked cooling air to #3 cyl.  was one cause.

Looks like it will be a blast to drive once it is mobile!

pirate said:

dropstep said:

pirate said:

dropstep said:

They are stone simple, the first engine I ever rebuilt myself. Parts are easy to find and dune buggies are fun. Sandrails a bit more fun. My dad used to buy rusty beetles and old failed kit cars for parts dirt cheap. 

Well this is a sand rail, chassis unknown and no markings found other then a number.

Well if you get a photo I can run it past my dad and he can likely tell you if it's from one of the common makers. We used several different company's kits over the years 

A couple pics:

Looks alot like the pick up truck kit. I'll run it past my dad he built 2. One of them was even a very similiar green 

that oil cooler is not going to be blocking any cylinders.  

Kroil, into the spark plug holes, 30 mm socket, breaker bar, proceed to move things.