I wanted to put a shout-out to you all regarding Whitecloud's new (3rd) engine.
As you may know, after 2 complete oil losses on our way home from Vintage Speedsters, it was only 2 weeks until the 1914cc engine blew-up.
Kirk made it right by sending me a check for over $5K which is what Powerhaus in Torrance charged me for a short-block 2110.
I spent a year putting the finishing touches on the engine and the car and it ran fairly well for about 6 months until it gave up the ghost with less than 3,000 miles on it due to cheap, Chinese parts used by Powerhaus.
My buddy Jim Ansite, a 30+ year veteran Porsche air-cooled expert rescued me on the side of Highway 41 and diagnosed the problem which among many other faults, was an obliterated brass (or some other alloy?) crankshaft timing gear. The engine and oil lines and coolers were full of brass particles.
Jim removed the engine and tore it apart to find lifters that were pitted, a camshaft that had flat lobes and wear on the main and rod bearings.
We decided a new engine was necessary and I voted Jim most likely to succeed building a new one for Whitecloud, what with his many years of building, installing and tuning everything from 1500 Normals to 4-cam race motors.
As he started ordering parts, he turned to Pat Downs who was a friend of his and soon realized that though Porsche and VW's are similar, kindred even, there's a lot of differences beyond price.
Jim decided that Pat should build the engine and I agreed. After several phone conversations we agreed on the general plan and I shipped all usable parts to him.
I only wish I'd hired Pat 2 years ago when the 1st engine went south.
He had so many good ideas, a magnesium case for starters which weighs 20 pounds less than aluminum cases and runs cooler as well.
Since my heads had loose valve seats and were not worth saving, Pat suggested Panchito heads with port-matched manifolds and CNC'd combustion chambers.
We honed the cylinders and put new rings on the A-1 slipper-skirt pistons.
We polished the crankshaft which was claimed by Powerhaus to be a Scat but which had no markings of any kind.
Pat balanced the engine which was not done by Powerhaus and it runs so much smoother as a result.
We used a Shadek oil pump, free-flowed the case and along with the new upright oil cooler, I put another Setrab fan-pack external cooler behind a Mocal sandwich plate with thermostat for good cooling.
We re-used the 1 1/2 quart deep sump along with a new JayCee Mag-X cover.
Pat built the engine and hand-delivered it from Visalia, CA to Paso Robles, CA to Jim's shop, how many builders will even consider doing that?
Jim and I put all of the external tin, shrouding and exhaust system and installed the engine.
It ran good but still backfired so we agreed with Pat that an A-1 system was necessary so it was ordered and installed.
Whitecloud had a flat-spot which we couldn't get rid of so we put a John Wilhoit re-curved Porsche .022 distributor in and set the timing at 33 degrees and the flat spot disappeared.
I've been driving the car every day now, loving the smooth power, how it starts instantly in the morning, idles smoothly even when cold and doesn't require a long warm-up, a minute at most.
It runs cool and the stainless A-1 exhaust is quieter than the Vintage Speed which I really appreciate.
Pat Downs is the main-man when it comes to VW engines of any size and his help with jetting and tuning information really helped Jim Ansite get Whitecloud running perfectly.
I count myself blessed to have 2 of the worlds best mechanics on my side and willing to give information and help when I need it.
Finally, after 2 long years, I have the car I always wanted.
Some wives would have either dumped you or the car months ago...
