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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: vegfuel on October 02, 2007, 11:22:00 am

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: vegfuel on October 02, 2007, 11:22:00 am

I am planning on rebuilding my diesel Rabbit this winter in the shop. I have already done a 4spd to 5spd conversion. After examining the engine, here's what I found: leaky injectors,leakage from fuel lines (already purchased Viton), block has alot of oil on it and oil leaking out of head and valve cover, oil consumed quikly and oil in the exaust manifolds. This looks to me like a new ring job, but I might as well replace the main and rod bearings. I plan on ordering the Level 1 master rebuild kit from VW Parts Place. However I my plan is to do a rebuild without removing the engine. Can this be done? Can I replace rings this way? This is my first rebuild, someone please help me out! thanks!

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: jtanguay on October 02, 2007, 11:30:45 am

yep all that can be done with the engine in place.  just pull the head and the pan and make sure to keep everything together (numbering the pieces helps too)

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: rallydiesel on October 02, 2007, 12:41:34 pm

You won't be able to remove the intermediate shaft and change the bearings with the engine in place. It would be WAY easier to rebuild the engine with it out of the car.

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: jtanguay on October 02, 2007, 06:24:59 pm

Quote from: "rallydiesel"

You won't be able to remove the intermediate shaft and change the bearings with the engine in place. It would be WAY easier to rebuild the engine with it out of the car.

i thought it could be done, but be very very awkwards and difficult.  much easier to do outside of the engine though yes....

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: Vincent Waldon on October 02, 2007, 08:39:10 pm

And you'll be really really annoyed if you do all the work only to discover you have low oil pressure because your intermediate bearings were as good as your old rings :roll:

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: vegfuel on October 02, 2007, 10:37:14 pm

I guess I have no choice. It's only that I just got done pulling out a 4spd tranny and then with great effort :x put in a 5spd. I guess it's worth a rebuild. Darn car only cost me $400 but I know she can go alot further. :)

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: lord_verminaard on October 03, 2007, 11:45:01 am

The engine and tranny drop out the bottom as a unit and it's surprisingly easy.  Probably easier than just dropping the tranny by itself.  In the time it would take to futz around rebuilding the block while in the car you could probably pull and install the engine 5 times.  :P

Basically:
-Drain oil, coolant, unplug wires, cables, hoses, shift linkage, exhaust, etc.  (that's the part that takes the longest!

-Pull front wheels.  Unbolt axles.  You've done this part before.  :)

-Unbolt front and rear engine/tranny mounts.

-Slide a furniture dolly, or even an old tire on some cardboard under the engine/tranny, and slowly lower the front of the car down until the engine/tranny is resting on it's own.

-Unbolt the two side mounts.  Easy to do from the top, although you will probably need to pull the battery.  Make sure the ground strap to the tranny is disconnected.

-Have a couple helpers or three pick the front of the car up carefully while  you slide the engine/tranny out.  This is where a furniture dolly helps.  It may be possible to do this with a jack by yourself but most do not go high enough.  

-Carefully set the car back on stands, drink beers, rebuild engine, installation is reverse of removal.  :)

Old VW's are great.  Not only are the engines easy to get to, there is less crap to disconnect.

Good luck!

Brendan

Title: Can this be done?
Post by: bkschott on October 15, 2007, 07:12:36 pm

out the bottom, easy as pie



(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f339/bkschott/DSCN0398.jpg?t=1192500713)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f339/bkschott/DSCN0399.jpg?t=1192500610)