oil filler

Have you tried replacing gasket and sealing it with gasket sealer?  Do you have an oil breather that relieves internal engine pressures?  If not CSP makes a quality combo unit that look 356ish.  Check link:

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDe...ode=C31-115-451-100D

Nope, it's got a breather tube on it.  I didn't even remember that the filler had a gasket (I built the engine about 20 years ago).  I'll try to get that gasket replaced and put some sealer on it as you suggested.  Thanx for the help.

also try to vent the valve covers or some other way to relieve more crankcase pressure, ive also tapped the filler vent tube from 1/4 to 3/8 for a bigger hose. bill

I tried to find a new gasket and a VW parts place says there is no such thing.  Que pasa?

Yes, there is a paper gasket designed for the oil filler neck.  Google oil filler neck, and you'll get lots of hits.  Rob & Dave's Air cooled site gives a good tutorial on how to replace both styles, those with vent tubes and without.  You may want to lay in a quantity of distilled beverages.

Charles-check this diagram. You can click the call-out balloons and get a picture of the part...

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/w...ine/40_hp_engine.cfm

Acting on all the information you guys gave me, I stumbled on an Empi angled aluminum filler neck, which comes with a rubber o-ring, which, I hope, will provide better sealing than the paper gasket.  In addition, the angle should make it a little easier to put in oil without having to use a funnel the size of a yardstick.  For 25 bucks, how far wrong can I go? (always a dangerous question to ask- I can only imagine what a bear its going to be to get that jamb nut out).  As always, you guys have come through for me.  Many thanx.   

If by using the term "jamb nut" you mean the oil filler securing nut, (http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/c...ist.cfm?ID=113115495 ) then there is a fairly inexpensive tool for that...there shouldn't be any excessive force required.

The link was a click from the exploded assy I submitted last time.

 Empi parts are hit and miss; they have improved the quality control on some stuff lately but have been making money on substandard stuff (not always the right material for the job, very poor machining tolerances and finish) for a long time. I will not buy anything from them out of principle; much better to support people that actually care about and support the hobby. They are in it to take out as much money as possible. They catch you with "look, it's cheaper and just as good...". It's always a little cheaper than someone else's properly built part, but when you end up having to buy the properly engineered/built part after throwing the Empi piece of crap in the round file in the corner... I hope it works and doesn't leak.

And on THAT cheerful note, let me remind you that you'll need the oil filler gland nut removal tool to get the present one off and the EMPI one on (if you don't have one already - it fits a 3/8's drive socket extension).  

I can also note that I have been running a "lousy quality" EMPI breather/filler for 14 years, now.  I had to replace the o-ring gaskets at the neck junction after a few years with something more robust and rather than use the gasket around the cover I just shoot a bead of silicon caulk, wait ten minutes and then assemble it.  oh! And o-ring the cover screws with a rubber washer (I use a piece of old inner tube, but a piece of 3/16'ths fuel hose cut carefully or a 'real' rubber washer works OK, too.

Other than that, no problems, it looks pretty good against the satin black of the fan shroud and I like it.