Would liked to find a canadian supplier for a new turnkey engine for my 1988 Intermeccanica roaster, had a lot of updating since the restauration 3 years ago, Stills with original engine 2110cc with dual Delloto carbs, meccannics tell me that I have a good performance engine but something always need tweeking, oil leaks, valve adjustments, ect just want peace of mind when driving, any suggestions out there?
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Astandish,
A 2110 is a good performance motor. When you move up to the larger performance engines they will need noodling and maintenance. An air cooled motor will always need valve adjustments (every 3k miles). Minor oil leaks are no reason to get rid of that motor. Who built the motor? The only way to get around the valve adjustment is to step up to a Subaru motor.
Ted
What Ted said. I think you'll find that most VW engines with a cam (and all the other parts) that run to 5500 or 6,000rpm with power don't require much more than routine mainenance. Being that (again, as Ted said) valve adjustments and oil changes should generally happen about every 3,000 miles, and plugs will last longer with an electronic points replacement module, other than fixing the odd oil drip, you shouldn't really have to do too much more than once (or twice if you put a lot of mileage on it) a season. It's all part of getting to know or "becoming one with" your car. As these engines are the result of rather "primitive" automotive technology, they do require occasional tweaking and except for oil and filter changes, are not the jump in and go anywhere for tens of thousands of miles at a time that newer Toyotas and Hondas are.
If you're finding that too much, or think it spends too much time with the mechanic (note how I spelled that word) in the shop, maybe a more modern engine option is for you. Al
Astandish posted:Would liked to find a canadian supplier for a new turnkey engine for my 1988 Intermeccanica roaster, had a lot of updating since the restauration 3 years ago, Stills with original engine 2110cc with dual Delloto carbs, meccannics tell me that I have a good performance engine but something always need tweeking, oil leaks, valve adjustments, ect just want peace of mind when driving, any suggestions out there?
I don't think you'll find anyone in Eastern Canada that builds air cooled engines on a regular basis. You may have to rely on some "old school" references from retired VW mechanics in say, Montreal for a start and get that person to build you a "one off" but they'd not likely be familiar with performance VW engines.
There's no one doing it in Ottawa and I'm not aware of anyone doing it anywhere between here and the Pacific Ocean.
Two suggestions: call Henry and ask for recommendation or do some research and get one done by a respected builder in California.
I'd sure like to see a picture of your Roadster. They are rare.
doesnt henry use CB motors?
barncobob posted:doesnt henry use CB motors?
Yes, but his car is an '88. I don't know who Frank was using back then, and regardless: it's really hard to say what's happened in the intervening 28 years.
Send your car to Henry, and he'll put a Subaru engine in it.
My 2110 needed new manifold gaskets and a general retuning after 10 years maybe that is all you need. You have the tube frame so your good from that point.
If your car is that old and your planning to have it upgraded somewhat as well as the engine to a subie, Bob's suggestion is a very good one. You can change the engine and possibly the tranny or at least the clutch and fix the odds and sods that you want... You can ship it by train to him and let him work on it over the winter. If it were me I would look at upgrading the interior and do a complete refresh. Maybe even a new top.
In any case Henry can go over the whole car and it could be near new.
If your wanting to stay with a VW engine... then buy one from CB fully done and get a vw shop to swap the engine locally.
Ray
Ray where do you get your work done in Ottawa ?
There are a few shops that I am aware of in Ottawa, one on Montreal Rd who does AC, one in Manotick (he used to work on Miko's car) and a Porsche shop in Vars area that I am aware of but never used. I got most of my work done in Rockland (Epps Motors) Dave used to be a VW mechanic and service manager at a major VW dealer in Ottawa. He is in his early 60's.
Caretech-IM posted:There are a few shops that I am aware of in Ottawa, one on Montreal Rd who does AC, one in Manotick (he used to work on Miko's car) and a Porsche shop in Vars area that I am aware of but never used. I got most of my work done in Rockland (Epps Motors) Dave used to be a VW mechanic and service manager at a major VW dealer in Ottawa. He is in his early 60's.
Some fellows at the Young Street garage might do work or know someone that would. I've dealt a little bit with you know who in Manotick and I've written him off as just unreliable. His mechanic Cory left him last summer.
Kris Kirby is the other Porsche guy but I have no experience with him but quotes from the web. here is his contact.
K & B Auto
Vars, Ontario K0A3H0
613-835-2587
Eastmotors is the one on montreal Rd, he has a good reputation but he has a strick no client in the shop policy, so that lasted one visit for me as I kept having to help his mechanic out by informing him of the ideosyncracies of my car and the owner kept telling me to wait outside..
So I am in Rockland now, I like Dave, he has a drive up platform lift, I can hang around with him and see how he does stuff, I usually have my notebook with me with all the specs to confirm what we need to do and he does it. We changed the mechanical fuel to electric fuel pump, and we have done the usual oil, valve adjustment multiple times. all minor stuff mostly. We've only done oil on my subie right now.
Getting someone to do a Subaru conversion is very expensive. When I had Henry restore my IM (pan car) we talked about switching over to water cooled and he said he wouldn't recommend going that route. It's one thing to do the conversion yourself, if you have the time and skills, but another if you have to pay someone else to do it for you.
You are much better off to either have someone near to rebuild your 2110, order a new engine from CB, or get someone on the West coast of Canada to build you a new engine.
Finding someone to rebuild your engine in Eastern Canada may be a problem. You could try posting on the engine forum on SAMBA to see if the regulars can recommend anyone near where you live.
Ordering a new engine from CB is going to be really expensive. With the Canadian dollar in the crapper you're going to pay 35-40% more on top of the US price for a new engine. You'll be getting a quality product, but you'll pay for it....big time.
You could also order an engine from a respected engine builder on the west coast. There's a fellow out here named Darren who has been building quality high performance air cooled engines for years and has a very good reputation. You would have the added cost of having the engine shipped back to you, as you would with CB, and Darren use parts from the US, so you would still be hit with the exchange rate.
Ron brings a good point that sometimes it may not be cost effective to do anything except keep what you got and tune it up at a good shop .... Until it dies
then look over your options
Thank you for all the comments and suggestions, like what Caretech just mentioned,is to tune up what I have, this is exactly what I have been trying to do for the past 2 years
the problem around here is the air cooled servicing, fixing one problem and then creating another was very frustrating, for the longest time it was very difficult just to start once engine was hot ,which was a pain when you got somewhere and the car just did start I finally upgraded to an electronic ignition that fixed the recurring problem, would be nice to get a complete diagnosis, already spent over 5k on all kinds of mechanical repair since restauration. I guess putting a new engine maybe not really the way to go.
To get a general idea of where you are on the overall picture, what have you had done for the 5K since restoration three years ago ? This would be helpful because some people get things fixed only to find the next thing related to it should have been done at the same time.
I'm bad for that sometimes. Change and engine and clutch for instance but fail to notice the condition of the transmission mounts while in there.
FYI I had a when hot would not start as well issue on a 2110cc and it was the first sign of a mechanical fuel pump failure, it would often give me a vapor lock in the fuel line... I changed to a rotary electric fuel pump and it fixed my problem completely.
I did also have an issue with a 1600cc VW beetle a long time ago with the same type of issue that time it was a coil that when hot would not work.
^ both inexpensive and excellent suggestions. The Carter rotary pump is so cheap and so good that there just isn't a reason not to use it.
My money is on the pump.
Regarding the valve adjustments: if you've got chromoly pushrods setting them to "loose-zero" is pretty/very easy. If you really want to get away from adjustments altogether, Mexican Beetles ended up with hydraulic lifters-- and I know that there are some guys out there running them. They aren't a performance option, but they do simplify the maintenance schedule.
Astandish, as a couple of the forum members have already stated, it would be helpful if we knew what had been done to the car.
X3 on the fuel pump. If you have a mechanical pump switch over to an electric model and closely look at what your fuel lines are close to.
So much was done, here are some of the repairs: new starter, oil breather, Bosh coil, push rods, lifters, electronic ignition, accelerator cable, carb springs, valve covers,gaskets and seals all over, new exausts, engine seal, wheel bearings. What else?
Many of us have gone through the same number of fixes and repairs. Some of us even more.
Astandish posted:What else?
Lots. Lots else.
