Just checking in -- and so sorry to hear of this trouble. Sure sounds like engine to me, although the exact root cause could be a few things. Sounds like we are getting real close to a full autopsy here, so please do keep us posted. I'm not sure if just the oil pump jammed, that it by itself would freeze the drive train, and skid the tires. To me, the only thing that can do that is a frozen crank, or maybe a broke con-rod jammed into something. Usually,, when that happens, it just pokes right through the Al case. And usually, something like a con-rod coming unglued would be preceded by other much ugly noises. Just sayin', as I don't really know shyt here. Standing by to learn a lot. And Cory, please do not sell yourself short on understanding what is going on here. Yeah, there is stuff here you do not know, but I am certain you have the capacity to learn. And you will. Remember: ignorance can be fixed and is nothing to be ashamed of. It is stupid that is forever. And then of course there is true Madness . . .
Rusty S posted:Can you let us know what brand and type of oil you used?
Straight 30 weight for sure. Don't know brand, or even if synthetic or conventional. I let the shop do the thinking...
Rusty S posted:When I was a kid in the seventies my dad had a friend who had a vacation home in Lake Arrowhead. It was early January and there was lots of snow on the ground and for a kid in a house full of adults who were just sitting around, drinking, and swearing at Woody Hayes I was bored. They had been filming The Six Million Dollar Man up there at Shirley Temples old house.
So while the adults watched football I headed out for a hike. I wound my way up the roads to where I could see the lake. On this particular stretch of road I ran across Richard Anderson aka Oscar Goldman on cross country skis. I was a talkative kid and so at hello we started talking. I asked why he wasn't home watching the USC Ohio State game. Although I knew who he was I didn't say much if anything at all about him being Oscar Goldman.
He asked where I lived and I told him that I was, by the Erickson's term, a flatlander and that I was up here with my dad visiting his friend John Erickson. "You mean John Erickson the actor?" I said I didn't think John was an actor. "There are a lot of actors up here. He did mainly westerns" I said well I don't know but I think if John were in any movies he would have been a gangster. Mr. Anderson asked where they lived and I pointed and said, "Oh, just down that way a ways"... "You mind if I meet them" he asked. "Seriously? That would be an honor Mr. Anderson"
We started down the roads, way down, to where the Erickson's place was, Mr. Anderson asking several times along the way if we were getting close. We finally arrived and I ran up the stairs, through the door and I interrupted their conversation. "You have to see... "Don't interrupt"... "but dad there's" "I said don't interrupt when other people are talking" Then John spoke up and asked what the hell was so important? "John did you ever star in a western movie?" "Huh?" "Oscar Goldma, Richard Anderson, the guy that plays Oscar Goldman is downstairs and wants to meet you"
The whole family followed me out onto the deck. I pointed up at John and said, "This is John Erickson". Mr. Anderson was very polite. He said, "You're not the John Erickson that I knew". He smiled and engaged them in a little conversation but declined the offer to come in. He said he needed to "get back up the hill" as he looked at me then up that hill with an awkward smile.
It was an hour of my life that I have never forgotten. I just bet that he has not forgotten that either! That would have been a loooong walk back up to the top and he was probably cursing me at some point. I have always wanted to write him a letter and tell him this story and see what his response would be.
Cory, I'm sorry about your motor man. When I first got my car I had a similar experience. Looking back I probably could have gotten a better deal had I bought a long block and used my peripherals. I know how disappointing it is but you will get the car back on the road and you will regain the joy of driving it once again.
Rusty, this is a FANTASTIC story! There he was! Right in front of your FACE! Oscar GOLDMAN!
"We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better, stronger, faster."
What a great, California story. We East Coast boys never tripped over Hollywood stars while out knocking around. We thought it was amazing to see our English teacher at the grocery store.
Thanks for the kind words!
The shop Cory is using is pretty good, they've been doing this work a long time and know their stuff. I stopped by and missed Cory but saw his car. The oil under the car and on his tranny is from a wheel bearing seal leaking. He has Empi rear disk breaks and they don't always fit correctly allowing tranny oil to escape. Very fixable.
They were just draining the oil and it looked okay, no obvious junk in the oil. The bottom of the car looked pretty good. The mechanic (whom I've known for a number of years) pointed out how much better Beck's are, which was cool since I just got one. Cory is in good hands with them. He just needs to win the lotto. It will be very interesting to find out what went wrong. I have high hopes
Cory, that is surely an unpleasant experience. Sure hope it turns out to be a not too costly fix. Ray
El Frazoo posted:Just checking in -- and so sorry to hear of this trouble. Sure sounds like engine to me, although the exact root cause could be a few things. Sounds like we are getting real close to a full autopsy here, so please do keep us posted. I'm not sure if just the oil pump jammed, that it by itself would freeze the drive train, and skid the tires. To me, the only thing that can do that is a frozen crank, or maybe a broke con-rod jammed into something. Usually,, when that happens, it just pokes right through the Al case. And usually, something like a con-rod coming unglued would be preceded by other much ugly noises. Just sayin', as I don't really know shyt here. Standing by to learn a lot. And Cory, please do not sell yourself short on understanding what is going on here. Yeah, there is stuff here you do not know, but I am certain you have the capacity to learn. And you will. Remember: ignorance can be fixed and is nothing to be ashamed of. It is stupid that is forever. And then of course there is true Madness . . .
Yes, @El Frazoo... True madness.
Was I not warned? Had I not lurked here for 15 years? Did I not hear the cries of the suffering? Did I not read the anguished posts? Did I not shudder at the gnashing teeth of the camber-stricken? Did I not weep with the Weber-plagued? Did I not shake my fist heavenward alongside the victims of jumpy tach?
Were all of this true, then how could I have been snared? How did I set wrong my foot?
DID I NOT SEE YOU PEOPLE WELCOME SO MANY "TO THE MADNESS"?
I can only internalize, and blame no one else. I knew the risks, yet here I am.
I can only hold fast to this guiding proverb, and hope that it will inspire others to set forth on their own journeys:
"Until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you will never know the terror of being forever lost at sea."
Wait. That's terrible advice.
That's madness for you...
Cory, you must be thinking of this famous adage:
"A Speedster is safe in the garage, but that's not what Speedsters are for."
Corey, you may have been snared but you never miss stepped...Are you going to fix it and sell it? I think not. These cars put a smile on my face every time I drive them.
PS,
My first purchase was two CMC's...now that's Madness!
Cory is in a temporary vortex, when all is unveiled, the stomach will settle and be guided accordingly
Sacto Mitch posted:
Cory, you must be thinking of this famous adage:
"A Speedster is safe in the garage, but that's not what Speedsters are for."
So true, Mitch! I'm just glad she's OUT of my garage, and in the shop, because it was breaking my heart to walk by her, knowing that she was crippled.
I'll be out there, soon, I hope...
We have three daughters, and the oldest is scheduled to be married in a few months. She's unwilling to delay the ceremony until the Speedster is repaired.
WOMEN!
crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:Corey, you may have been snared but you never miss stepped...Are you going to fix it and sell it? I think not. These cars put a smile on my face every time I drive them.
PS,
My first purchase was two CMC's...now that's Madness!
Yes... The smile. It never subsides.
Alan Merklin posted:Cory is in a temporary vortex, when all is unveiled, the stomach will settle and be guided accordingly
See? That's why we call him the doctor...
Would you have waited at their age ? 
Cory McCloskey posted:Sacto Mitch posted:
Cory, you must be thinking of this famous adage:
"A Speedster is safe in the garage, but that's not what Speedsters are for."
So true, Mitch! I'm just glad she's OUT of my garage, and in the shop, because it was breaking my heart to walk by her, knowing that she was crippled.
I'll be out there, soon, I hope...We have three daughters, and the oldest is scheduled to be married in a few months. She's unwilling to delay the ceremony until the Speedster is repaired.
WOMEN!
I know the feeling. My son just got married and cost me a new boat for the cottage 
Take heart, Cory. Many of us feel your pain. We all know that feeling in the pit of your stomach when something goes "boing" or you hear a new sound and you say to yourself "that can't be good".
As someone without deep pockets, I know how it feels when you know you have to come up with some Benjamins to repair what is supposed to be a fun hobby. I've had my car for 9 years and have had to learn to fix and upgrade it myself. (With a little help from my friends and this forum.) Read the book and ask the questions. You will get through it , and build a little confidence in the process. Best of luck.
Al Gallo posted:Take heart, Cory. Many of us feel your pain. We all know that feeling in the pit of your stomach when something goes "boing" or you hear a new sound and you say to yourself "that can't be good".
As someone without deep pockets, I know how it feels when you know you have to come up with some Benjamins to repair what is supposed to be a fun hobby. I've had my car for 9 years and have had to learn to fix and upgrade it myself. (With a little help from my friends and this forum.) Read the book and ask the questions. You will get through it , and build a little confidence in the process. Best of luck.
You're so right, Al!
I've been SO encouraged by the depth of knowledge among the members here, and by knowing that, as you've all demonstrated over and over, ANY mechanical trouble can be overcome, and the satisfaction of getting back on the road is worth whatever it takes to do so...
Thanks for the kind words!
@Cory McCloskey...Have they drained the oil yet or pulled the oil pump? Make sure they send you pictures if you can't be there for the exploration surgery.
crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:@Cory McCloskey...Have they drained the oil yet or pulled the oil pump? Make sure they send you pictures if you can't be there for the exploration surgery.
Update from shop expected very soon, Bill! Will post all when I know it!
IaM-Ray posted:Cory, that is surely an unpleasant experience. Sure hope it turns out to be a not too costly fix. Ray
Thanks, Ray! Hoping for some good news today!
>
crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:@Cory McCloskey...Have they drained the oil yet or pulled the oil pump? Make sure they send you pictures if you can't be there for the exploration surgery.
New member Paul Ellis was there and he had this to say:
"They were just draining the oil and it looked okay, no obvious junk in the oil. The bottom of the car looked pretty good."
UPDATE ---- UPDATE ---- UPDATE ---- UPDATE
The only owner newer to this group, I think, than I, might be Paul Ellis, since his Speedster just arrived on Sunday. Lucky for me, Paul lives here in Phoenix! Today, on his own time, he stopped by the shop that is diagnosing my engine's problem. Paul has known for a long time the mechanic working on my motor, and Paul is also an accomplished drag racer in the Beetle world. Like many of you, he knows his air-cooled stuff.
The mechanic gave Paul the lowdown on my situation, and Paul was able to snap some pictures, too. Many of you will know exactly what you're looking at. If you're like me, you might be wondering…
Assuming the pictures will post in order, the top photo should show the cam gear, the second the oil pump, and the third and fourth, the bearings…
After Paul sent me the photos, I called the garage. The good news is that the damage didn't get too far! The pump malfunctioned because (I hope I'm remembering this right) the end of the crank wasn't extending far enough into the slot in the pump, therefore eventually rounding everything off so that it no longer operated the pump. Thankfully, I stopped the car in time to save any terrible wreckage. Bearings and lifters will have to be replaced, and it looks like the crank can be polished. Probably won't have to be turned.
Drum roll, please…
$3,100. Owwwwch.
But here's where things get remarkably better:
I called Paul back, just to fill him in on what the garage said, and you know what this man said to me?
"Crap. Have them box it up, and we can put it together."
I'm not kidding. That's what he said. And he means it.
So, I will gladly pay the garage for the work they've done so far, and I will also buy the necessary parts from them, but they understood why I couldn't pass up such a generous offer. Paul is going to pick up my car and its guts with his trailer on Friday, and we will commence rebuilding next week! I'm not yet sure how far into the $3100 I already am with the shop but, even if I'm already pretty far along, Paul is still going to save me a ton!
For 2000 years, artists have been guessing at what Jesus looks like. We won't know 'til heaven. Thankfully, we don't have to guess at St. Paul. That's him on the right in the last picture, on the day that I met him.
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Correction: the tab on the pump wasn't extending far enough into the slot on the cam…
I knew I shouldn't have waded into that description! LOL
That's great news, and obviously, Paul is a great guy!
It's going to cost you something, but Paul's offer is the best you could expect.
This will be a great opportunity for you to learn a whole lot about your engine...
Glad it's not as bad as it could have been!
I don't understand how this is possible. The cam gear and the 'tang' on oil pump drive gear should mate up properly unless the pump wasn't seated properly or the wrong pump was used. Odd.
Is it me or do the heads of those cam bolts look odd?
THAT, Cory, is tremendously good news!
And You, Paul, are one righteous dude.......
Now that was certainly a gift of encouragement. Great stuff.
Ted;
I assume your are referring to the little hash marks, like on a clock? They appear to extend over, to the top of the nut? The one at 6o'clock, looks to be center drilled?
Art
You should all sell your homes and trailer your Speedsters to Phoenix! I The owners here (besides me LOL) are amazing! I was also offered the use of THIS engine (if mine had to turn out to be beyond repair) by Phoenix's generous @dougkingston ! Doug is well-known and much-loved by the attendees of the San Luis Obispo gathering...
Thanks, Doug!
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Cory, it looks like you've hit the mother load of Speedster good will. You must have a serious karma balance in your favor. Great news!
Easy fix Cory ! While it's disassembled you may consider lapping the valves it may not be necessary but you're there anyway . A few years back I had a similar motor event all we did was replace all bearing to be on the safe side and a new gasket set.
Paul is nominated the 2016 Hero Award !
" I knew I shouldn't have waded into that description! LOL "
Don't worry about it, Cory, that's how we learn. The end of the shaft that fits into the cam end is called the drive tang.
"I don't understand how this is possible. The cam gear and the 'tang' on oil pump drive gear should mate up properly unless the pump wasn't seated properly or the wrong pump was used. "
Using a vice and a small socket you can press the shaft back and forth on the gear, Ted. Proper engagement of the drive tang (over 1/4"? I'll have to look it up) is something you check when building an engine, changing a cam (which also requires splitting the case, although I've seen guys leave the left side cylinders and head on) or replacing the pump. Looking at the pic, I wonder if the end of the tang was radiused properly to fit as deep as possible into the groove in the end of the cam. And yeah, the cam gear bolts look to have rather thin heads, but they still have the strength or "class" markings on them so don't really know what's up with that.
As Bill said, this is a great opportunity to learn a whole lot, Cory. Make sure you're around to wash parts, fetch tools and whatever else Paul needs when he's working on your beast.
If Arizona had an ocean, I'd be there!
crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:If Arizona had an ocean, I'd be there!
they do have an ocean, it only last about 18 hours when they get their yearly rain in one day..surfs up...cowabongga
Is that a new Carlisle Award category Alan?
Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Like I told Cory, it's not a hard build. It's all been together already, with the exception of the few new parts we're replacing (or old parts, you know what I mean). Guys don't be timid about offering suggestion. Having a look at the valves is a good idea. Of course making sure the case is good and clean etc. It should go together easily.
I'm going to loan Cory the Bug Me Video on engine assembly so he has some idea of what we'll do. It's all good.
Great idea will pass along! (Is that a new Carlisle Award category ? )
Paul- Are you familiar with the Hoover mods for better oiling?
So was the wrong oil pump used and took 3 years to fail?
