Quote:
Originally Posted by Pushing Fifty
No, I never did my own work. I don't even know how to change a spark plug, so I always take my cars to the pros. (or maybe pros that suck with air-cooleds!) My 1st engine was just worn; the thrust bearing was shot and I was spraying oil. So for $1600, I got a 1500 from a guy who rebuilds VW engines. THAT engine burned up with less than 500 miles on it! This has always remained a mystery. It overheated, that much we know, but we don't know why. My 3rd 1500 (rebuilt by the same guy for free) was still operating when I fried the clutch and tranny. The idle was way too high as I was sitting at a red light so I put it into 1st gear to quiet the engine down so people around me wouldn't get pissed. Little did I know that this will destroy a clutch, which I did thouroughly! Apparently, the tranny was damaged at the same time.
I love VW's and grew up with the old air-cooleds. I'm 50 years old. When I was a kid in the 70's, my dad took care of all the maintenance, so my bugs lasted. When I bought this one at age 43, I was clueless. I had to depend on other club members and/or VW mechanics for upkeep. But every time I tried to drive it alone, it would crap out on me. I have had FAR better luck with water-cooleds; including a 1996 Golf, a 2007 Passat, and now a 2000 New Beetle.
Me and air-cooleds just don't make a good pairing.
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My dad always hated my VWs, never really taught me much--I learned by digging in myself and reading alot on the subject. Everyone talks up John Muir's book, but I found one by Gene Berg to be much more enlightening and not so "windy". If your rebuilt overheated it is most likely one or a combo of several things: a) too high compression ratio b) improper spark advance/dwell settings c) aftermarket cooling tins (CRAPOLA) d) no lower tins e) no/nonfunctional thermostat and/or flaps f) engine compartment seal missing
I can see where dragging down the engine rpm w/ the clutch would burn up the clutch, but it shouldn't hurt the transaxle. I actually started out on a Rabbit, then went backward to OBs and a Thing for a while--I had my '68 OB for 12 years. I'm a little younger than you, 42. If you couldn't figure out the OB, I'd hate to have you in my garage today!
I'm doing brake fluid flush & replace, timing belt and waterpump, plugs, filters, etc. on my new to me '03 GTI.
