Hah!  Agreed- I'll be going for a Boston Bob engine when I do.  No interest in other El Cheapo y Guapo rebuilds.  I'd love to try it myself but time and space are minimal.

As far as traveling- if it's just me, I'm not concerned if it quits- and have the resources to get 'er home.  If it's me and my Ole Lady (well, younger-then-me-lady), we stick within 100 miles of home (Yahoo AAA)!  

Meanwhile with a bit-o-luck (I may be lacking since I'm Scottish/ Italian) and some help from smart folk like ya'll, I'll continue to make the GEX run as well as I can while it holds together and within itself.

She's hitching around fine right now and sounds smoother than before at the settings I described above.  Thanks again for the tips on the valves for finding TDC- clever that!

Here's why I have this attitude- GEX is by all accounts- except maybe 2 folks in the world of VW- a shite engine.  I can tear it down, try and fix one problem, and very, VERY likely have another- and another- and spend months chasing always one problem more, induced by either GEX's sloppy methods or my learning curve.  I see no point in spending that kind of time and $$ when I can simply attempt to make it run well as long as it can, and drop a rebuilt in that is warrantied and done by someone with decades instead of weeks of knowledge.  I didn't purchase this camper for it's reliability or (somewhat ironically) to sit in the driveway every weekend.  I purchased it for it's condition and cool vibe and accepted the fact of the GEX.  Some folks may find fault with that, and I respect their opinion.

Cheers, Mike

Oh Yeah,  Good thinking on not attempting to re-building this engine if this is you first shot at doing a VW air-cool unless you are insane. This is not your mama's Bug engine. All you have to do is stand around a bunch of old fart retired VW techs and bring up the subject on rebuilding a Type-4 engine and Boy !    Watch them scatter :lol:  :lol:

Very similar, but if you haven't had a Type-1 completly apart you don't need to be messing around with this one.  This "critter" doesn't take kindly to "Boo-Boos that you can get away with on a Type-1. Can be very costly

Type1, Type4, TypeNeverDoneBefore... Jeep 258 straight 6 and Olds 330 V8, that's my engine rebuild experience... when I was young and had space to work!  

Scottish and Italian = bullheaded whiskey/ dark beer drinker... OK at parties, dogged at mechanical tasks, a bit too stupid to accept defeat!  Pleasure to meet another Scot.

Exactly my point- why bother tearing this engine apart regardless of my sanity (no comments please).  I'll be lucky if it can be used as a core, and then it should only be done by a pro.  I've no problem replacing all the ancillaries, since they'll be wicked for a rebuilt just as much as if the GEX survives another 1 or 1K miles.

I'll check for valve seat problems when I replace the cover gaskets- they finally started leaking after the 5th On/ Off...

So, that said, I've these questions please:

Think I should tighten the gap from 1 turn to 1.25?  Seems fine, but I'm curious enough to try...

What are the running symptoms of a dropped valve seat?

Anyone with experience playing with the air/fuel mix without expensive electronic accessories for guidance?  Pulling the vacuum off the fuel pressure reg. causes increase in rpms which supposedly is a sign of richness (I think; tend to drink red when I'm reading archives)... any thoughts welcome!

Cheers, Mike

Who is this Smelly Cat and where can I buy him/ her a frosty beverage, compare scars, alcohol tolerances and Speedo collections?

do you have a good fuel line from the tank to the engine?

(adopt Mafia tone) Who's askin'?!?

We talking Bus or Me?  Bus has all new fuel lines and clamps everywhere.  Me has solid lines to the big head and the little head; however, after some whiskey and beer "it's the Little Head does the thinkin..."  

and John Hiatt has left the building!

Now is the time to pour yourselve a "single malt"

Some might say it's a bit early, but I say it's always Happy Hour somewhere!

Thanks for the info- I'll check in for opinion whenever I have a chance to check the valves/ compression again- this weekend I've got to outrig my Civic for my trip to New England.

Cheers, Mike

Hey "Peckerwood"   I fly the Bug-A-P............" T" inverted as a distress signal.   Still no help ! :lol:  :lol: