NEEDED MV engine 2.1

1
Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb
2
They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.' 
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com





On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:
 

Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb


3
True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set  of rings at it too.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 
They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.' 
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com





On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:
 
Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb




4
Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.

Cheers


On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:
 
True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set  of rings at it too.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 
They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.' 
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com





On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:
 
Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb






5
From: Sebastian Krasemann <sebastian.krasemann@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 
Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.

Cheers


On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:
 
True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set  of rings at it too.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 
They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.' 
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com





On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:
 
Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb








6
Right..
there's 3 parts involved in sealing the head on a waterboxer engine ..
which results from VW's rush to make a waterboxer engine by converting their air-cooled design.

the gasket you reference is the 'outer water retention gasket' ..
how much it gets compressed depends entirely how how the heads sit on top of the barrels.

I have seen the gap for that rubber gasket be too small ( resulting in pinching and spitting of the rubber gasket and early failure)
too large ..
resulting in not enough compression ..and early leakage there.

or ....variing . I saw one AMC head ( suppossed to be a much better casting than the original VW heads ) that sat on the barrels tilted ....do too tight on one end, too loose on the other.

Then there are the green o-rings that keep coolant away from the metal sealing rings at the top of the barrels.
Those get hard and stiff in a few years in my experience.

and then the metal rings..
a pure 'VW air-cooled engine ' sealing system ..
sometimes exhaust gasses leak past them into the coolant..
resulting in mysterious, even intermittent, unexplainable overheating.

so ..like you say ..
it's normal to do them on a regular basis.
lol..they need all the help they can get !

I don't throw rings at things..
I fit them hyper carefully and meticulously.

Don't remind me of a fully rebuilt 2.1 wateboxer engine I got involved with ..
rebuilt by a german factory-trained mechanic too ..
so many things just 'flat wrong' and sloppy you wouldn't believe it.
It was puking oil after a year of use ..
I had to do the whole thing over from the bare cases on up.

what fun !
Scott
On 2/1/2014 1:49 PM, Greg Esposito wrote:
True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set of rings at it too.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.'
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com





On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:
Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb





7

Try kombie rescue or mullers

bob

 

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Esposito
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 11:11 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 

 

From: Sebastian Krasemann <sebastian.krasemann@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 

 

Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.

 

Cheers

 

On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set  of rings at it too.

From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 

 

They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.' 
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com




On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:

 

Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb

 

 

 

 

8
That $ 120 USD is a very low or favorable price. A shop might charge $ 190 USD for this gskt set.

On 2/2/2014 4:18 PM, Robert Dale wrote:

Try kombie rescue or mullers

bob

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Esposito
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 11:11 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

From: Sebastian Krasemann <sebastian.krasemann@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.

Cheers

On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:

True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set of rings at it too.

From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.'
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com




On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:

Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb


9
That's why I posted the link. It is also the victor rienz kit which is superior and complete. 

Sent from Greg's iPhone

On 3 Feb 2014, at 12:21 pm, "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) " <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

 

That $ 120 USD is a very low or favorable price. A shop might charge  $ 190 USD for this gskt set.

On 2/2/2014 4:18 PM, Robert Dale wrote:
 

Try kombie rescue or mullers

bob

 

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Esposito
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 11:11 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 

 

From: Sebastian Krasemann <sebastian.krasemann@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 

 

Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.

 

Cheers

 

On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set  of rings at it too.

From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 

 

They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.' 
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com




On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:

 

Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb

 

 

 

 


10
HI Sebastian,

I'll have a 2.1 Syncro motor available end of March once the Subi motor goes in. Let me know if that's too late or of interest.

Mark
11
right..
that's the only one I ever use,
not even sure I could get another brand or type if I wanted to.


On 2/2/2014 6:02 PM, gregespo73@yahoo.com wrote:
That's why I posted the link. It is also the victor rienz kit which is superior and complete.

Sent from Greg's iPhone

On 3 Feb 2014, at 12:21 pm, "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) " <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

That $ 120 USD is a very low or favorable price. A shop might charge $ 190 USD for this gskt set.

On 2/2/2014 4:18 PM, Robert Dale wrote:

Try kombie rescue or mullers

bob

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Esposito
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 11:11 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

From: Sebastian Krasemann <sebastian.krasemann@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.

Cheers

On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:

True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set of rings at it too.

From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.'
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com




On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:

Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb



12
The other brand is elring. It does not come with a crank seal and I think the sealant wasn't as good but it has been some years since I bought one. The VR sealant is da bomb.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 3 February 2014 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

 
right..
that's the only one I ever use,
not even sure I could get another brand or type if I wanted to. 


On 2/2/2014 6:02 PM, gregespo73@yahoo.com wrote:
 
That's why I posted the link. It is also the victor rienz kit which is superior and complete. 

Sent from Greg's iPhone

On 3 Feb 2014, at 12:21 pm, "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) " <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

 
That $ 120 USD is a very low or favorable price. A shop might charge  $ 190 USD for this gskt set.

On 2/2/2014 4:18 PM, Robert Dale wrote:
 
Try kombie rescue or mullers
bob
 
From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Esposito
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 11:11 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1
 
 
From: Sebastian Krasemann <sebastian.krasemann@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1
 
 
Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.
 
Cheers
 
On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:
 
True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set  of rings at it too.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1
 
 
They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.' 
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com




On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:
 
Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb
 
 
 
 




13
G'day Seb,

You need to diagnose the problem before you start ordering parts, otherwise you will get too many or too few. You can get just about all the parts you need to rebuild an engine here in Australia without paying a fortune for international freight, and it would be best to order them all at once for a single delivery if you live in a remote area.

I have been dealing with Tooley Imports at Waitara in Sydney for many years. 02 9476 2888. They are reasonably priced, carry a large range, and the staff are well-informed. Always ask if there is a choice between "A" and "B" grade parts.

What are the symptoms, and how quickly did they develop?
Is the engine dribbling coolant from the vicinity of one of the cylinder heads?
Did it overheat, or did the red light flash? Did it burst a coolant hose?
Was there a sudden oil loss. Is there plenty of engine oil in the crankcase?
Did somebody grab an old oil container that has been used to store weedkiller, and accidentally pour it in?
Is the oil contaminated with water (milky or discoloured). Does it stink like someone burnt the cooking?
Was it using coolant or oil, or blowing smoke before the problem started?
Was there a sudden loss of power, as if the engine is running on less than four cylinders?
Was there a massive loss of water from the water pump or one of the many coolant hoses, pipes, or radiator?
Did the engine die catastrophically, or just expire slowly due to old age. Was there a death rattle, clunk, explosion, backfire, or any other unusual noise before retiring? Sometimes a problem with the hydraulic lifters, a broken pushrod, or loose or broken valve gear can create a problem that is easily fixed.

It would probably save you money in the long run to have a professional diagnosis before ordering parts. Start at the beginning - plugs, leads, ignition, spark, fuel delivery. Check that all the electrical connections, vacuum hoses and ancillaries are functioning properly.

The most important test of the lot is a compression test. You can buy or hire a tester cheaply. If you have good compression, and there were no 'death rattles', you don't have a serious problem.

Read the instructions, as many people rush in and don't do the test properly. Don't forget to remove the AFM or prop it open first.

If you have good compression, take the next step and do a "wet and dry" test to test for worn rings. If there is a difference, then you can budget for a top-end rebuild some time in the future.

Record the numbers and do another test in six months - it's amazing just how long the original rings last in these engines.

If you have a loss of compression, then a 'blow by' test is the most useful thing you can do. Not many workshops are set up to do this, as they are happy to charge you for a strip-down anyway, but I reckon it is useful in working out beforehand whether or not the repair is economically viable on an old vehicle.

I braised a truck tyre valve stem to the outer casing of an old spark plug, and it has served me for years. You just pump compressed air into the cylinder and listen to where it comes out.

Jack up the van so that you can access the engine at a comfortable height from above and below. Remove the dipstick and the large hose between the AFM and the intake manifold. Remove both tappet covers.

(Have a couple of new TC gaskets handy if you want to put it back together later. They are the same as the gaskets on a 1600 beetle or kombi, so they are cheap and readily available).

Remove all four spark plugs (have a look at the electrodes - if one is a different colour, or oily and wet - then your problem will be in that cylinder).

Remove the dipstick, and the bleeder plug on the top of the radiator at the front of the vehicle.

Turn the engine over by hand until piston #1 is at Top Dead Centre, according to the mark on the crankshaft pulley. Both valves on that cylinder will now be closed. Check this visually by looking at the valve gear. At this stage, I would take a few minutes to check the adjustment on each valve - if the clearances have closed up, it indicates valve seat recession, or a stretched valve that is about to let go due to overheating.

Do a visual check for damaged valve springs, loose valve guides or loose or broken rockers and shafts. All the valves should protrude the same distance when fully closed. They should all be in line like soldiers on parade.

Engage first gear with the handbrake on so the engine can't turn over, insert the tool, and pump compressed air into #1 spark plug hole. (don't exceed 100 psi). Be careful, because the engine will want to turn over if it has good compression.

Stick a 6mm plastic hose in your ear like Ben Casey's stethoscope to find out if any air is escaping from somewhere it shouldn't.

Stick the other end of the plastic hose into the following places - large volumes of escaping air indicate the following problems;
Exhaust pipe - exhaust valve.
Intake manifold - intake valve.
dipstick tube - cracked or holed piston, worn or broken rings.
bubbling radiator or expansion tank - leaking seal between cylinder and head [caused by a stuffed O ring or corroded barrel or head joint, or loose head).
Leaking past the thick cylinder head seal could mean you just need to replace the top end gaskets, or a broken or corroded stud, or cylinder head/barrel sealing issues.
Run the hose around the valves as well to check for leaks.

At this stage, don't buy any parts except for the tappet cover gaskets.

Let me know what you find and we'll take it from their.

Roger {beetle} Bayley




14

Roger,

That is an excellent analysis tool and I have posted it in the Files section.  This is what every owner should do before dismantling an engine because most of that diagnosis is impossible one the engine is in bits.  It will certainly save some members a lot of money when the assumed problem proves to be something else entirely!!

Les

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Roger Bayley
Sent: 04 February 2014 11:46
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: NEEDED MV engine 2.1

G'day Seb,

  You need to diagnose the problem before you start ordering parts, otherwise you will get too many or too few. You can get just about all the parts you need to rebuild an engine here in Australia without paying a fortune for international freight, and it would be best to order them all at once for a single delivery if you live in a remote area.

 

15
A leak down test can be very useful.
( what was discribed here as a blow by test ) In the US that's called a leak -down test,
and the engine doesn't have to be running or runable to do it.

having the engine warmed up is better of course, when the test is done.

Results of the test  may not always be that definitive.
sure ..valve leakage shows up nicely ..
leaking past the rings ..
there is always some of that, and you'll always hear hissing at the oil cap tube on a used engine.

as for leaks of compression into the coolant areas..
that may not show up in a leak down test very well..
as maybe 100 psi is put into the cylinder to pressurize it.
and the pressure of combustion must be 10 or 20 times that much ..
so 'exhaust leaking into the coolant' may not show up as bubbles in the coolant in a leak down test, or it may not, even if there is leakage there.
Such leakage can also be intermittant ...another reason there could be a problem there, but it won't show up in the leak down test.

But it never hurts to do a leak down test ...might learn something that's very useful info.

Scott
On 2/3/2014 5:35 PM, Les Harris wrote:
 

Roger,

That is an excellent analysis tool and I have posted it in the Files section.  This is what every owner should do before dismantling an engine because most of that diagnosis is impossible one the engine is in bits.  It will certainly save some members a lot of money when the assumed problem proves to be something else entirely!!

Les

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Roger Bayley
Sent: 04 February 2014 11:46
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: NEEDED MV engine 2.1

G'day Seb,

  You need to diagnose the problem before you start ordering parts, otherwise you will get too many or too few. You can get just about all the parts you need to rebuild an engine here in Australia without paying a fortune for international freight, and it would be best to order them all at once for a single delivery if you live in a remote area.

 


16
Do you guys have The Right Stuff there ?
that also is a great, great silicone type sealant.

I've used it on waterboxer head jobs before just fine.


On 2/3/2014 2:33 AM, Greg Esposito wrote:
The other brand is elring. It does not come with a crank seal and I think the sealant wasn't as good but it has been some years since I bought one. The VR sealant is da bomb.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 3 February 2014 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1

right..
that's the only one I ever use,
not even sure I could get another brand or type if I wanted to.


On 2/2/2014 6:02 PM, gregespo73@yahoo.com wrote:
That's why I posted the link. It is also the victor rienz kit which is superior and complete.

Sent from Greg's iPhone

On 3 Feb 2014, at 12:21 pm, "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) " <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

That $ 120 USD is a very low or favorable price. A shop might charge $ 190 USD for this gskt set.

On 2/2/2014 4:18 PM, Robert Dale wrote:
Try kombie rescue or mullers
bob
From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Esposito
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 11:11 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1
From: Sebastian Krasemann <sebastian.krasemann@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1
Allright, thanks for the info. It's hard to get the parts here. Does anybody have the spareparts for a reasonable price? What can i do? It's a friend who owns it now, and he is waiting for recommendations and offers.
Cheers
On Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:19 AM, Greg Esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com> wrote:
True dat. The head gasket is like the rocker cover gasket on a Japanese/European car. The figure I have always quoted is 100,000kms. Easy job and every 200,000 you can throw a set of rings at it too.
From: SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 2 February 2014 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] NEEDED MV engine 2.1
They heads themselves last quite well in my experience.
Heck..I might have 6 spare good 2.1 MV heads in my stash of parts.

it's Very Normal for them to need a full head gasket job and head re-do ..
in my opinion..
the heads and head gaskets should be done every 80,000 miles roughly.

they don't even use 'real' head gaskets..it's a joke design.
Retiring a 2.1 wbxr engine
when it needs a Very Normal top end job is silly.

Think of it as a normal 'every-7-years' or so 'Service.'
I can't even begin to count how many MV engine head and head gasket jobs I've done..
dozens and dozens.
it's a normal Service Item.

Scott
was turbovans.com




On 2/1/2014 3:23 AM, sebastian.krasemann wrote:
Hi there!

I have a Transporter here in Alice Springs. It's too sad to see him go to the wreckers. The heads are done i presume. STill running.

Does anybody have a spare 2.1 MV engine in the shed for sale? OR maybe the heads?

Cheers

Seb





17
Yep, you're spot on Scott. I would only do the leak-down test if the normal compression test showed that there was a problem.

Lack of compression in one cylinder indicates a problem, and the leak-down test helps to isolate it, thus saving an expensive teardown (if you are paying someone else to do it) which might not be warranted if the van isn't worth much.

New cylinder heads cost a fair bit, but a gasket kit and a valve grind are pretty cheap.

Your right that there will always be a slow leak past the rings in a worn motor, but a fast leak is something else.

No compression of two cylinders on one side, or on all four, tells a different story.

I guess enthusiasts are prepared to spend money on a Syncro, but with the price of a quality engine rebuild coming in at over three grand for parts and machining, plus labour, not many people will spend that much on an old 2WD.

At least we're lucky driving cars that were made to be fixed. Some new engines can't be pulled apart, and there are no spares available to recondition them.

The good thing about the wasserboxer is that the bottom end is very solid, and the cylinders don't seem to wear much. Often a new set of rings, a valve grind, new cam followers and a gasket kit will kick them on for another ten years.

I've been using the Spanish heads without any problems for fifteen years, but have read on other sites that some people have had valve failure problems with them, and recommend tossing away the valves and fitting German valves before installation. What do you reckon Scott?

Cheers, Roger Beetle Bayley.