This is the tale of a good idea that took a long time and a lot of patience to achieve the desired result.

 

It all started when I decided the Original Engine from the factory- 40 hp- in the Westy should be replaced with a different engine to preserve the 40 hp because the number was correct and matched the “Birth Certificate”. Besides, it was a bit slow to be in much traffic, especially on the interstates.

 

Over the course of a couple months many people gave advice and suggestions on what would be the “Best” engine to use. Wanting to keep a somewhat stock look, I decided to build a 1679 cc using machine-in 88mm pistons and cylinders (they have the thickest walls and in the Arizona heat that is important).  I gathered the parts and pieces and assembled my “new” engine, installed it and had a few miles on it before driving out to Huntington Beach and the fall OCTO show.  I was pleased. It ran strong– just what I had hoped for. Then on the way home I stopped for fuel and when I lifted the deck lid to check the oil I found an oil slick all over the back of the camper.  It was late in the day, almost dark and we were 185 miles from home, I decided to drive it on in.  Ronnie, from Oldvolks/Bustoration, was following us just in case we didn’t make it.  We oiled the front of his bus but we managed to get home.  The engine was pulled and it was obvious the thrust bearing had spun.  Time to rebuild and at only 800 miles.

 

A new case (genuine VW) was purchased and the rebuild was done.  This engine was never as strong as the one that oiled Ronnie’s bus, so after a few thousand miles I decided to go through it again and “make it better”.  Ok, that rebuild was done and it ran like a top for about 2500 miles when the No. 3 (It’s always No.3) decided to detonate itself.  Yikes!

 

Rebuild again and Oh Boy!  we are back on the road and on our way to the Red Barn and Kelly Park shows up near San Jose, CA. We get about 10 miles from home and, you guessed it, we detonated No.3 again. Fortunately we were at the top of a hill and could coast for a couple of miles.  Our son, Mandel, came and towed us the rest of the way home. We moved all of our gear into the ‘63 Double Door,  headed for San Jose and had a good time.

 

Back home and back to the work bench. A new set of pistons and cylinders, and we put it all back together again. Happily motoring around for about 2500 miles when, yes, again we detonated No.3.  This is ENOUGH.  I put the trusty 40 hp back in.  We were slow, however we were on the road. After searching the internet and talking with other bus people, we did finally determine that the reason No.3 was detonating was because the new “Bosch Vacuum Advance” distributor and the 30 pict carburetor I was using were not compatible.

 

Still wanting to preserve the 40 hp and not wanting to be a hazard on the Highway, I started over on the 1679.  “This time it will be different” I said.  When the engine was assembled and before installing it in the camper, I took it to a Geoff Hart’s Machine Shop where we put it on the dyno to dial it in.  Well, it seems we had a funny noise in the pulley end of the engine. So back to the work bench to pull it apart.  It turns out, the distributor drive gear was loose on the crank. It was simply too big.  We replaced it and also put on a new cam drive gear.  On the dyno again and WHAT? The noise was still there!  What to do?  Geoff said,  “ Tommy let me put it together and I will guarantee it to be good. You have rebuilt this enough.”  That’s what I did.  When it was re-assembled and ready to be tested again, we scheduled a time of 4:00 pm for the dyno test.  I arrived a little early and found the engine on the dyno and running.  It had been on the dyno since noon and was still making the noise but hadn’t blown up either.. Rockers were changed. Fuel pump was changed. Distributor was changed.  Nothing made a difference. This time, Geoff said, “I’ve run the ‘H—’ out of it and if it was going to break it would have by now.” 

 

The 1679 is back in the Westy  and has been doing a great job.  Lots of power, good gas mileage and it has lasted the 8000 miles we have put on it so far and still going strong.  A bit noisy, but it keeps on “ticking”.

It even won a ‘Buses Best  ENGINE’ award in Las Vegas!

 

……..on the road bringing joy to others.