Hi Rudi,justin.schoeman wrote:Finally... Spent the last two weeks building 3 different iterations of the throttle linkages. Each useless in its own little way. Finally got something workable - and it even fits when the fuel tank is in - there really is not much space up front!
Anyway, with the last of the metal work out of the way, I spent about two days cleaning the workshop - getting rid of every trace of metal shavings/dust from all the metal work - and this evening I finally started putting the engine together.
First step is the dry assembly - to plastiguage all the journal clearances. Crank and cam clearances are spot on - near the top of the VW 'new engine' spec. Cam end float is too tight though, so I will need to sand down the flanges a little (these are 'double thrust' cam bearings - not the stock VW bearings. Only measured one big-end so far, and it was quite tight, but still within the 'new engine' spec. Took 3 times to get it right. It is insanely difficult not to move the rod while torquing/loosening those nuts.
Will finish the other rods tomorrow, and then see how far I get with the final assembly (won't be _that_ far though, as I bought the wrong case nuts).
Plastiguaging the journals:
Dry assembly as in zero oil during assembly, does not sound like a good idea think. I use Oil to assemble an engine
Dry comrod bearings on crank journals is asking for trouble. In my humble opinion.
Kind regards
Gunter Rostek