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Getting the ‘57 beetle back on the road in 2024
- Thread starter bosco659
- Start date
Don’t know much about this stuff - am I missing something?
Mine's similar but not the same, sorry.
Use the func. button to switch clamp on from AC to DC
Use the func. button to switch clamp on from AC to DC
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Well another step closer. The motor is off the stand and on the jack. Still planning the install for next Monday or Tuesday.
Lifting it off the stand was a bit sketchy. Would have been nice to have a second pair of hands to steady things. The green strap was insurance in case the front strap slipped off of the pulley.
Lifting it off the stand was a bit sketchy. Would have been nice to have a second pair of hands to steady things. The green strap was insurance in case the front strap slipped off of the pulley.
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Looks like your wooden adapter plate from jack-to-crankcase worked out nicely!
Yes it works well and swivels around too!
Test fit the motor this evening. Got it positioned under the engine compartment. Tight squeeze, needed to remove one fuel line and generator pulley. The car is on a pretty steep angle and makes clearances tighter so I’ll level it out a bit either by lowering the back or raising the front. Actual install planned for next Monday or Tuesday. The second pic is the motor under the engine compartment.
Very nice, getting close! I might stuff a rag in that carburetor intake to prevent accidents (if it were me doing it, something would surely try to dive in there 
).
).Yeah, I'd level it out and as@wagner 73 said, cover that carb. Nice work.
Good suggestion! ThxVery nice, getting close! I might stuff a rag in that carburetor intake to prevent accidents (if it were me doing it, something would surely try to dive in there
I just measured it and the face of the transaxle is at a 10 degree angle from vertical. I’ll mess around with the jacks and stands to even it out.
I remember the angle being an issue when raising Corvair engines into the car. A friend had a genuine Chevrolet Corvair power train floor jack which made it easy (it custom fit the powertrain) Perhaps get a friend to help with the installation? No getting hurt allowed. 
Yes a friend (retired mechanic) will be here Monday to help. I’ll do some adjusting of the the car on stands this weekend. I don’t anticipate any big problems.I remember the angle being an issue when raising Corvair engines into the car. A friend had a genuine Chevrolet Corvair power train floor jack which made it easy (it custom fit the powertrain) Perhaps get a friend to help with the installation? No getting hurt allowed.
When I had to replace the flywheel on my 1966 Corvair I pulled the engine on the cement floor in an old barn on what was the floor for the cow stalls. I had an old flat plate of steel with four steel wheels, lifted and lowered the back of the car with a chain jack hung from the bottom of the hay loft! Can not imagine trying anything like that these 50 years latter! And I can't even recall how I removed and installed the engine from a VW, probably about the same way.I remember the angle being an issue when raising Corvair engines into the car. A friend had a genuine Chevrolet Corvair power train floor jack which made it easy (it custom fit the powertrain) Perhaps get a friend to help with the installation? No getting hurt allowed.
A good friend of mine, another retired mechanic, used to own several beetles. He is known for his careful mechanical abilities and does everything the “right” way. I asked him how he used to re/re motors from the beetle. His reply surprised me. For removal he would disconnect cables and wires then undo the four nuts / bolts that mount the engine. Them he’d put an old tire under the motor and give it a good pull and drop the motor on the tire then drag it out from under the car.
For installation he would balance the motor on a jack with the engine resting on the oil drain / screen cover. This is apparently the common way of doing it. I’m chicken because the engine case is magnesium. Must be much stronger than I’d expect it to be.
I’ll have more reports and pics on Monday. I’m getting anxious.
t-48:00:00 and counting
com check-go
safety-go
pre-lift control-go
envelope check-
post lift-
retention-
He's got it in!
nice work!
nice work!
Wow I wish!Messing around with jack and car heights and this happened. Still need to tighten motor mounts, hook up cables etc. I’ll wait for my friend on Monday as it’s much easier with 2 people.
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Right on Vic! But what about the safety check mark? I think Automan is going to have to take that one away! 
. Congrats! Such an exciting project to follow. I am happy for you. All this documentation is undoubtedly going to help you sell the car, should you choose to do so. Personally, I say you drive it lots and lots before you make any rash decisions. 
. Congrats! Such an exciting project to follow. I am happy for you. All this documentation is undoubtedly going to help you sell the car, should you choose to do so. Personally, I say you drive it lots and lots before you make any rash decisions.
Thanks. Safety check marks? You mean the fuel lines? These are steel lines with copper plating. The copper ones I made are wall art.Right on Vic! But what about the safety check mark? I think Automan is going to have to take that one away!
