• From: somewhere over the rainbow USA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
  • Posts: 1,882

Re: Nuts! Or More Precisely, a Lack Thereof............

Are you sure the boss is still in the case? I have seen this many times in my VW life. Sometimes the PO takes out the boss and uses a nut and works like hell to get it tight around oil cooler tin. Or if it is there, a long extension and a 17mm swivel to loosen bolt from below. You just never know how the is  PO thinking when he attempts some of this stuff.
burrhead

burrhead

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.
  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Nuts! Or More Precisely, a Lack Thereof............

Hiya Ed,

Oh man!  I have used an extension with a swivel and no soap.  I can't get the socket to seat or lock on the bolt head.  I really can't see (with my own eyes) what I'm aiming at.  Those pictures I posted SEEM to show that the bolt head is locked by the transmission case.  Take another look at the 6:00 and 9:00 positions by the bolthead.  It looks as if there may be casting "locks" there.  It could be that those same locks are preventing me from getting the socket to seat.

Hey Burr............I hear you about POs.  The way this is set up right now it looks to me as if...........
1.  The bolt head is locked into position by the tranny case.
2.  The bolt extends through and past the boss on the engine case a few millimeters.  I'll see if I can post up a picture of that end of the bolt.

But all this would seem to be an impossibility.  How could the bolt be turned to engage the engine boss when the transmission case is locking it in place?  There has to be an answer to this.

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck
  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Nuts! Or More Precisely, a Lack Thereof............

Hiya All,

OK, here's what it looks like from the engine side......................

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa85/Bookwus1/Bug/IMG_0815.jpg

And no, the shiny object is not a nut.  Unless nuts are perfectly round.

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck
  • From: somewhere over the rainbow USA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
  • Posts: 1,882

Re: Nuts! Or More Precisely, a Lack Thereof............

A stubby 17mm open and and turn it 1 flat at a time, A ROYAL PAIN.
The flats only look like they are locked in there.When you replace the engine you can grind down the "knubs or as previously stated get a 14 or 15 mm  or allen head bolt. It still amazes me PO's go to so much trouble to do it RIGHT!!!!! Good Luck
  burrhead
PS the auto sticks had longer bolts to hold engine in

burrhead

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.
  • From: Northern Illinois
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 1,105

Re: Nuts! Or More Precisely, a Lack Thereof............

Are the rest of the bolts / nuts out ? If so maybe the engine is now hanging a little bit out pulling the bolt up against the trans ? Perhaps the bolt was only installed as tight as they could and in fact left a little loose but now the engine is loose and has pulled the bolt inward...if so install the other bolts / nuts then try to take this one out 1st.
When installing this bolt into a pre 71 beetle with a late case you have to use a big washer or grind the hex lock off the trans case.

Last edited by DrDarby (2008-02-26 18:46:19)

-Darby
  • From: St. Johns , Newfoundland
  • Registered: 2004-05-28
  • Posts: 798

Re: Nuts! Or More Precisely, a Lack Thereof............

hi mike ,i have three engines all the same serial # AE 70-71) -and all three have the same setup as you describe - i end up using a 17mm wrench a quarter turn at a time untill i can get the knuckle socket on it , i find taking the tire off doesn't help,

you can get a better turn on the wrench if you have your feet out the back of the vehicle while jacked up and blocked as high as safley possible and you can weave your arm up between  the clutch cable and the frame

hope this helps
mark

64 sunroof beetle
70 westy camper (sheila)
  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Nuts! Or More Precisely, a Lack Thereof............

Hiya Darby,

Point well taken.  However the engine is now being supported by a floor jack.  Upper right hand os loose so I'm guessing there is no apparent weight on the upper bolts right now.

Burr and Scuba,

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I will take you up on them, BUT..................having the AS clutch servo up there makes this a whole lot more restricted and confining than with a manual.  I think my first order of business right now is getting the servo outta there.  No easy feat in itself (helps to be a contortionist) but at least it is do-able.

I'm starting to wonder if this is my "payback" for putting a 73 engine on a 70 tranny when I should have waited for a 70 engine.  In any event, it will be a 70 engine going on this time.

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck