My friend and I are going to try and tackle a few problems with our project car- an old VW Beetle chassis that was converted to a dune buggy. We are having problems keeping the thing running. It runs for awhile then starts to peter out and dies if you take your foot off the gas. Do you guys know any resources that deal with fixing the VW air cooled flat 4 engines? We already bought a new Weber carb for it, which we will be installing shortly. I wish I could hook up a scan tool to it, but unfortunately this was before the days of OBD.
Old VW Beetle Engine Resources
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Check your distributor, plugs, plug wires, coil/magneto, fuel pump and if equipped fuel filter. If all of those are fine, put the new carb on it, I am pretty sure it's just a fuel delivery issue somewhere along the chain.
there is a book called 'how to keep your VW alive' google it or look at amazon. it's still available. there is probably no choke on the carburetor, or the fuel mixture and/or float level is wrong. no telling how many hands has been in that engine over the years. it probably still has points and no telling what the dwell is set at ... the list goes on. good luck. if you put that new weber on it, you could be introducing more issues, especially if you don't know how to tune the carb, set the mixture screw and the float level
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Originally Posted By: ediamiam
there is a book called 'how to keep your VW alive' google it or look at amazon. it's still available. there is probably no choke on the carburetor, or the fuel mixture and/or float level is wrong. no telling how many hands has been in that engine over the years. it probably still has points and no telling what the dwell is set at ... the list goes on. good luck.
Author was John Muir and the illustrator was Tosh Gregg. Good stuff.
there is a book called 'how to keep your VW alive' google it or look at amazon. it's still available. there is probably no choke on the carburetor, or the fuel mixture and/or float level is wrong. no telling how many hands has been in that engine over the years. it probably still has points and no telling what the dwell is set at ... the list goes on. good luck.
Author was John Muir and the illustrator was Tosh Gregg. Good stuff.
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check the intake for air leaks. it will have gaskets at the heads and boots between the center section. sometimes those boots will move and create a leak or the gaskets can leak.
I second checking the points condition and the dwell, and would automatically replace the condensor.
Sounds good to me I'm gonna buy the book. The points, cap condensor, etc are all new. I think it is a fuel related problem as the fuel pump was not changed and neither was the fuel tank. I will look into it and will continue to post here.
It's the carburetor. A circuit is plugged or maybe the electric idle cut off jet is not working. Is is a PICT 30? Possibly old fuel, also.
If you are getting a new carb, make sure the fuel is good and you will probably fix it, after making the usual speed and mixture adjustments.
Of course, having your valves and ignition timing set is important - also pretty easy.
If you are getting a new carb, make sure the fuel is good and you will probably fix it, after making the usual speed and mixture adjustments.
Of course, having your valves and ignition timing set is important - also pretty easy.
If the fuel pump diaphram ruptures it will send fuel into the oil. Replace if in doubt.
Those engines are pretty simple. Carb tuning, ign. tuning is a great learning exercise on them. Depending on its history, the jugs could be worn too, leading to loss of compression.
M
Those engines are pretty simple. Carb tuning, ign. tuning is a great learning exercise on them. Depending on its history, the jugs could be worn too, leading to loss of compression.
M
It's been many years since I owned or worked on the older VW's, but if I recall there was this little down tube that would squirt fuel down the throat of the carb. If it got plugged the darn thing would hardly run.
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