Getting the ‘57 beetle back on the road in 2024

[Mailman]

Oddly enough, it's from the aviation world. Lycoming, Continental and Franklin all used string on their cases.

So, lay down a thin bead of non-hardening sealant on both halves. I also use Permatex aviation sealant. After that's tacky, run two strings around the sealing surfaces, one to the outside of the stud and bolt holes, and one on the inside. Don't overlap, run 'em parallel.

It's a method that carried over to VW's and Corvairs. I've used it on all 5 brands, never had a leak.

Ps... it don't have to be silk. Cotton also works. Nylon's iffy. Sometimes it won't crush down as well as silk or cotton.

View attachment 347916

That’s a very interesting technique!

 

[bosco659]

Oddly enough, it's from the aviation world. Lycoming, Continental and Franklin all used string on their cases.

So, lay down a thin bead of non-hardening sealant on both halves. I also use Permatex aviation sealant. After that's tacky, run two strings around the sealing surfaces, one to the outside of the stud and bolt holes, and one on the inside. Don't overlap, run 'em parallel.

It's a method that carried over to VW's and Corvairs. I've used it on all 5 brands, never had a leak.

Ps... it don't have to be silk. Cotton also works. Nylon's iffy. Sometimes it won't crush down as well as silk or cotton.

View attachment 347916

I’m liking this. Where does one buy this silk string?

 

[Jim]

Found 00 on Amazon. Thickness is .0005". For a VW motor, close enough.

 

[46th Georgia]

Oddly enough, it's from the aviation world. Lycoming, Continental and Franklin all used string on their cases.

So, lay down a thin bead of non-hardening sealant on both halves. I also use Permatex aviation sealant. After that's tacky, run two strings around the sealing surfaces, one to the outside of the stud and bolt holes, and one on the inside. Don't overlap, run 'em parallel.

It's a method that carried over to VW's and Corvairs. I've used it on all 5 brands, never had a leak.

Ps... it don't have to be silk. Cotton also works. Nylon's iffy. Sometimes it won't crush down as well as silk or cotton.

View attachment 347916

Thanks.

 

[bosco659]

Crankcase cleaning this afternoon. I had cleaned most of the gunk from the inside of the crankcase halves do I power washed the innards. Blew them out with compressed and let them dry under a heater. Right away I noticed the head studs no longer had any plating and they were rusting right away. I decided to paint them and hopefully they don’t get scratched up too badly upon reassembly. Another pita I wasn’t planning on.

 

[Jim]

I decided to paint them and hopefully they don’t get scratched up too badly upon reassembly.

Smear some grease on 'em when you go together. The heat will bake that on and protect 'em.

 

[bosco659]

Smear some grease on 'em when you go together. The heat will bake that on and protect 'em.

Thanks for the tip Jim - will do. I guess once all the cooling tin is on it will be harder to see them anyway. I thought about not doing anything to them but it would bother knowing they were rusting underneath. I contemplated removing the studs snd plating them but my wife said why bother if they’re partially hidden a plus I don’t expect to keep the car forever. The grease trick seems perfect.

 

[bosco659]

VW light box installed. The Yamaha box has been replaced (too bright at the “H”). They all look better in real life. The pics don’t come out well.

 

[bosco659]

Protecting the painted studs when assembling the jugs. I can’t believe how hard it was to find plastic straws! Lol.

 

[jetmechmarty]

can’t believe how hard it was to find plastic straws! Lol

We have plenty down here. Come and get all you want.

(That’s interesting)

 

[bosco659]

We have plenty down here. Come and get all you want.

(That’s interesting)

Plastic straws have been outlawed up here for about a year or more. I don’t think it’s a crime to sell drinks with them but it’s not the “green” thing to do. There’s one restaurant chain that still has plastic so I went for lunch today to grad a few for my project.

And I stand corrected!

 

[46th Georgia]

Thanks for the tip Jim - will do. I guess once all the cooling tin is on it will be harder to see them anyway. I thought about not doing anything to them but it would bother knowing they were rusting underneath. I contemplated removing the studs snd plating them but my wife said why bother if they’re partially hidden a plus I don’t expect to keep the car forever. The grease trick seems perfect.

Never have I ever seen a VW stud have anything more than surface rust on it, and I built mostly 40 hp motors in the 80's when they were already 20-25 years old. Don't worry, be happy.

 

[bosco659]

Never have I ever seen a VW stud have anything more than surface rust on it, and I built mostly 40 hp motors in the 80's when they were already 20-25 years old. Don't worry, be happy.

K thanks. That’s just me. I’m very picky. I know I’ll never see them again (hopefully once assembled) but I’ll know there’s rust under the cooling tins. Ironic though because the rest of the car is rusty on the surface. Lol.