I've owned my little '65 Beetle for nearly 20 years. I bought it off a guy who brought it back from Fremont, California just outside S.F.. It had one original color repaint, but otherwise was pretty much unmolested. I've used it as a summer daily driver. About 15 years ago I swapped out the original 40HP for another one from another '65 that had just been rebuilt. I probably put 60,000 miles on it over the years, maybe more. Somewhere I have the mileage written down, but who knows.
When I got into buses 7 or 8 years ago everytime I'd get a bus I'd say, "Time to get rid of the Beetle". Then I'd drive the beetle for a few days and just say, "Naw". A beetle, I've found, is a nice "change up" to a bus.
In 2008 I heard some engine noises and pulled the #3/#4 valve cover. I discovered one of the pushrods (#3 intake) was "mushroomed" or crushed inside the tube at the lifter end. Bummer. I got the old one out, drained the oil, checked the screen and didn't see anything. I pondered my options, but figured I'd just put another one in, adjust the valves and cross my fingers. The beetle fired right up and ran like a champ.
This spring I've been driving the beetle with all the nice weather and I can tell something just isn't right. When I did the springtime valve adjustment I noticed there just wasn't something right with that #3 intake. The valve spring looks like it's pulling out and there's slop in that pushrod telling me it's "mushrooming" again. Time to do something.
Well, I went out earlier this week to pull the motor. Figured I'd pull the heads and take them to Richard Sedoris (Aaron's guy) in Y-town. Figured I could have it out in less than an hour. Yea right. Let me tell you, compared to an early bus with a removable apron, motor pulls on beetles are a little bit of a pain. From here on out I'm cleaning a motor before the pull. Well, at least a little cleaning. The rear seal on mine is gone so the oil leak is no fun. Wait, I'm a LEAKOILER.
Anyway, I just got it out so I'll spend the weekend tearing it down then take the heads to Rich on Monday.
Getting ready for the pull...
We are LEAKOILERS. Rear oil seal leaks and dirty engines are no fun when pulling 17mm nuts/bolts...
Engine was a p-a-i-n to get out. Seemed like it was hung up. Muffler was in the way.
Finally after removing the exhaust, out she came...
