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Sunday, June 9, 2002: More of Same
I know I said I was going to take the weekend off, but I just can't resist tearing that engine down. Today I was able to get the lower bolt off the oil filler by coming in from below with a small 13 mm socket attached to a universal joint on my 1/4 inch ratchet wrench. Turned out I didn't just get the bolt, but the bolt was stuck to the stud and I backed the stud out. In any case, I was able to remove the filler pipe, and that was my goal.
I then took a close look at the lip around the water jacket surrounding the cylinder sleeves. Top and front and back sides looked smooth and shiny. Not so the bottom, right between the jugs, and at the lower rear corner. Hmmm... Gravity at work. There's some corrosion that will need to be cleaned and filled. Hope the JB Weld lives up to its reputation!
Corrosion on lower lip of water jacket.
Lower rear corner appears to be similarly affected.
I note that Bus Depot sells a ring compressor for $3.99. The ones I priced in the local auto parts stores ranged from ten to fifteen dollars. I'm now wondering what the difference is. While I cogitate on this great imponderable, I'm going to break out my Dremel and see if I'm steady enough to drill a hole smack dab in the center of that broken stud on the lower right alternator bracket. Meanwhile, it looks as though it might rain, so I'd better spray some WD-40 around the cylinder sleeves and on the piston heads so they don't suffer any ill effects from the high humidity.
The power of positive thinking
or
...and then, a miracle happened...
You ain't gonna believe this!
My daughter needed to get a corroded screw loose from the drain in the bath tub, so I went out to the VW to get some penetrant. I looked at the cylinder sleeves, and something told me to take another try at pushing them back in. I picked up a rag I had handy and gave a little push on the front sleeve, and -- Lo and Behold! -- In it went! The rear one did likewise! Was it the WD-40? Now here's hoping those inside gaskets don't leak! |
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Reinvigorated by the good luck with the cylinder sleeves, I turned my attention to the head itself.
After thoroughly cleaning the head gasket surface with carburetor cleaner and a shop towel, I went over it with the wire brush on the Dremel. Next, I cleaned out the pits by manually using the Dremel burr tool, placing it in a pit and rotating it between my thumb and index finger. This seemed to do the job in most cases. More carb cleaner -- this time I worked it in with a tooth brush. Still some of the surface refused to come clean.
To the left you can see some of the pits I've cleaned with the burr tool, and a rough dark surface that refuses to come clean. I'm hoping I can work the JB Weld into the small crevasses and sand the edge down to a fine finish. |
Here I am in a completely gratuitous photo using the burr tool to clean out the pits along the edge of the head. |
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