Page 32 - Transporter Talk Issue 195

MEMBER'S MOTOR
My VW T2 Bay window bus is fitted with a 1600cc AD engine. The same engine as was in the van when I purchased it in 1994. However, about 12 years ago, I completed my first top end overhaul and replaced the pistons and barrels. All that I did with the rest was remove all valves and lap them in for a better gas tight fit, then clean everything else. The petrol pump and oil cooler were past their best, so these were also replaced, together with new crank seals. Electronic ignition was fitted.
I labelled and photographed the build on my farmhouse kitchen table. Sadly, I was using my first digital camera (2012), and I lost the memory card. There were copies saved onto my laptop. Regrettably, I dropped this on the kitchen floor and caused severe damage to the hard drive. I am confident that I will find it again, as I have always kept all other negatives, photographs and digital memory cards safe. If ever it does materialise, it will make a good article for this magazine.
My van was slow to come out of it's winter hibernation this year. Mainly due to the miserably long winter. Taking it out for a post winter drive, I noticed that the engine power seemed to be down. Not plodding along the roads as it normally does. My van will never break any land speed records, but it has always motored along reasonably well. I lied here. It last came to a snail’s pace still just before Busfest in 2023. The shame of turning up to the Club field
in my little Vauxhall Agila and a tent! That's why my brother and I camped away from everyone else in 'The corner of shame' as I could not bear to be next to other VW's. I later found that my bus had a sharp, hard stone wedged into the accelerator linkage under the belly plate! How that happened, I don't know.
Also, there was a 'popping' noise when going downhill, and the occasional misfire. Normally associated with a failing exhaust gaskets, particularly at each side of the cylinder heads. These seemed fine on inspection. To make sure I used a small spatula to apply exhaust paste to the flange areas of both cylinder heads. It made no difference. If it had, I would have replaced the gaskets. Doing all the usual checks (fresh E5 petrol, pump working, distributor cap clean and no sign of cracks, ignition cables good, spark plugs replaced) and everything seemed to be where it should be. Saying that, the plugs were a little fouled with carbon. Running a bit rich for some time now.
Valve gaps were checked and needed only minor adjustment. While there, I tidied some coil wires and fitted new connectors where the old ones looked past their best. Talking of which, I noticed my fan belt was not the correct size. Too loose and flapping about a bit. The cardboard packet that came with it was still in my spares box (I had wrapped the old one in it.) Sure enough, it showed the correct size it should be, but
32 | Transporter Talk Issue 195
Whistling Engine by Thomas Feeney