Help in LA please...stranded1

Susan: Good to hear from you again if not under the best of
circumstances. "Brass" in the valve area sounds like you lost a
valve guide (bronze) and probably a valve. The engine will likely
need to be pulled (and probably torn down) to do a complete
evaluation, but if you can turn it manually, it doesn't sound like
you seized it. What oil level did you see after the car quit
running? Did you see any runaway oil leaks? I know that there are a
bunch of good folks in the Los Angeles area that visit this site.
Hopefully one of them will get in touch with you. Unfortunately, it
sounds like another rebuild may be in order. Any warranty on the
engine? Give the builder a call and see what they will do for you.
Keep us posted. Clancy

susan wrote:
>
> hi...remember me? susan with the 69 ghia and the cancer? well, i got
> rid of the cancer and i still have the ghia, ended up muddleing
> thru it all without selling my motor. anyways, i left Oakland
> yesterday afternoon in my ghia heading towards Phoenix. I know, long
> drive, but
> hey...fairly young motor, valves adjusted , etc. It was all going
> great,
> cruised down I-5 and only saw one CHP, not that i was speeding or
> anything. i stopped for about 1/2 hr in La and got gas. when u got
> up on the freeway, I noticed an odd burning smell (like oil) and
> then all of a sudden a really loud clunk/squeel/scrape sound and the
> motor died. I coasted off the freeway just barely wide enough to fit
> and tried to turn it over (same noise again and the motor died).
> This combination of sounds do not compliment each other at all. well
> , it was 4 am and i really didnt even know where i was, so i called
> AAA for a tow and somehow
> got lost in the shuffle and sat for 2 1/2 hrs on the freeway only to
> be towed and dropped off in a little place called El Monte. Not
> somewhere that I could leave my car parked without someone watching
> it. During my day sitting in the hot sun trying to decide how to
> proceed I took the bails off and rotated the motor cc with the fan
> belt to check the valves and everything seems to be fine, although i
> did notice a small amount of what looks like brass shavings in the
> valve cover on the passenger side.
> i also checked to see if there was any in/out play in the crankshaft
> at the degree pulley (nothing to speak of) Not quite sure if i
> really ruled out much, but i know that the valves are where they are
> supposed to be and the fan is not involved. I was finally rescued by
> a friend of a friend with a ghia bar and was towed to
> torrance/wilmington. My guess is that its the flywheel that somehow
> has come loose. I realize now that i could check it by pulling off
> the started motor.
> i am at best western with my broken ghia in the lot. If any of you
> live in the area and could give me a hint on where to start...OF
> COURSE, I'm
> low budget, it would be appreciated. I thought about pulling the
> motor and after removing the passenger seat put it in the car and
> buying a 200 wish motor and wish my way back to Oaklant.
> Any ideas on further diagnosticks and anyone have a motor cheap or a
> loaner?
> myfastghia@aol.com
> 602-637-3607
> or 510-258-6559 (only works in the bay area)
>
>

Susan,
You are fortunate that you are near one of the best (and most
reasonable) air-cooled VW repair shops found anywhere. Please give
Steve at Serrano's a call at (310) 533-8273. Tell Steve that Grant
sent you. Serrano's is located at 20938 S. Normandie Ave. in
Torrance (one block south of Torrance Blvd.).
-Grant

susan wrote:
>
> hi...remember me? susan with the 69 ghia and the cancer? well, i got
> rid of the cancer and i still have the ghia, ended up muddleing
> thru it all without selling my motor. anyways, i left Oakland
> yesterday afternoon in my ghia heading towards Phoenix. I know, long
> drive, but
> hey...fairly young motor, valves adjusted , etc. It was all going
> great,
> cruised down I-5 and only saw one CHP, not that i was speeding or
> anything. i stopped for about 1/2 hr in La and got gas. when u got
> up on the freeway, I noticed an odd burning smell (like oil) and
> then all of a sudden a really loud clunk/squeel/scrape sound and the
> motor died. I coasted off the freeway just barely wide enough to fit
> and tried to turn it over (same noise again and the motor died).
> This combination of sounds do not compliment each other at all. well
> , it was 4 am and i really didnt even know where i was, so i called
> AAA for a tow and somehow
> got lost in the shuffle and sat for 2 1/2 hrs on the freeway only to
> be towed and dropped off in a little place called El Monte. Not
> somewhere that I could leave my car parked without someone watching
> it. During my day sitting in the hot sun trying to decide how to
> proceed I took the bails off and rotated the motor cc with the fan
> belt to check the valves and everything seems to be fine, although i
> did notice a small amount of what looks like brass shavings in the
> valve cover on the passenger side.
> i also checked to see if there was any in/out play in the crankshaft
> at the degree pulley (nothing to speak of) Not quite sure if i
> really ruled out much, but i know that the valves are where they are
> supposed to be and the fan is not involved. I was finally rescued by
> a friend of a friend with a ghia bar and was towed to
> torrance/wilmington. My guess is that its the flywheel that somehow
> has come loose. I realize now that i could check it by pulling off
> the started motor.
> i am at best western with my broken ghia in the lot. If any of you
> live in the area and could give me a hint on where to start...OF
> COURSE, I'm
> low budget, it would be appreciated. I thought about pulling the
> motor and after removing the passenger seat put it in the car and
> buying a 200 wish motor and wish my way back to Oaklant.
> Any ideas on further diagnosticks and anyone have a motor cheap or a
> loaner?
> myfastghia@aol.com
> 602-637-3607
> or 510-258-6559 (only works in the bay area)
>
>