Bad Camberger VW-Veteranen-Treffen

Last weekend I drove over to Bad Camberger to a classic VW show:  http://www.lottermann-veteranen-treffen.org/

 Lots of cool Bugs and Buses and all manner of other interesting VWs.  And of course a fair number a sweet T4s and T3s escorting people and parts to the show.

 Here are some pics of the event:

Germany 2014

Living in Germany now with my fam and lots of old project posts to catch up on and I will do this as time permits.  Next week is a huge automotive industry trade show that just happens to be right here in Frankfurt, Automechanika.  Hoping to make some good contacts:

http://automechanika.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/besucher/willkommen/erleben.html

The Nimbus: a Futuristic electric minibus

This concept car looks like it would be great on Safari but I'm not sure how it would do nose to nose with a Eurovan or a Vanagon in collision.  I'd be curious to find out what its range is.  They will need some US DOT approved bumpers if it ever goes into production for US import, but interesting nonetheless.

http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/road-trip-2-0-futuristic-electric-minibus-concept-180-mpg-article-1.1828733#ixzz34b35rmWV

New Westfalia Ford camper van

Just stumbled upon this cool Ford camper van coming to Europe in 2014:

http://gas2.org/2013/08/31/this-new-2014-westfalia-camper-isnt-a-volkswagen/

AHU eng rebuild for 90 Vanagon

This eng build is for a local neighbor who currently has a Tiico eng in his 90 Westy and is looking for a little better efficiency and power.  Overall fairly straightforward eng build using 0.50mm O/S ASV pistons, ARP head studs, new K03 turbo, rebuilt injection pump, etc.

AHU long block rebuild work sequence:
Block prepped and bolt holes chase with taps, I-shaft bearings R&R, oil squirting piston jets installed, crankshaft laid, main bearing radial clearance check, main bearing cap bolts (TTY) torqued to spec (48ft/lbs + 90*) install front crank flange and oil seal, torque crank bolt to 90nm + 90*, mate pistons to rods, install pistons in block, measure  rod bearing radial clearances checked, rod bearing cap bolts (TTY) torqued to spec (22ft/lbs + 90*), de-grease block deck, measure piston height projection, degrease cylinder head sealing surface, install head gasket locating dowels and centering pin, install head gasket, install cyl. head, install ARP head studs w/lubricant, torque to spec.

Block preparation:

All critical bolt holes are chased with a tap and eng block is thoroughly  cleaned with air.

Head bolt holes being chased.

Missing pic here is of the I-shaft bearings being installed.  

Crankshaft being laid.

Main bearings radial clearances being checked. 

New TTY main bearing cap bolts installed and torqued to spec (48 ft/lbs + 90*)

Rods and pistons being prepped for install.

Detail of ASV piston under belly showing oil cooling galleys. These are where the piston cooling oil squirters are directed cooling the piston crown.

#3 and #2 pistons installed.

Rod bearing radial clearances being measured for #3 and #2.

Rod bearing radial clearances being measured for #1 and #4.

Piston height projection being measured to determine head gasket thickness.  0.90mm so 2 notch it is.

The dazzling site of a shiny fresh rebuilt short block.

Rebuilt cylinder head being degreased and prepped for install.

ARP head studs being lubed up with special grease.

Head gasket installed, cylinder head mated to block and secured with ARP head studs, torqued to spec (125 ft/lbs).

Rear eng view.

Accessories being added to long block.

 Complete engine mated to rebuilt trans.

  Complete engine mated to rebuilt trans side view.

 Complete engine mated to rebuilt trans trans view.



















Misc. project pics:

Modded Vanagon instrument cluster.

Pedal potentiometer installed with custom bracket.

Pedal potentiometer installed with custom bracket.

Wiring bliss..............

Vanagon Tesla Model S electric conversion

http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/?subscribe=success#blog_subscription-2

This is the blog of a friend and local electric vehicle guru Otmar.  He is working on a mind boggling project: converting his stretch Vanagon (formally a TDI) to a Tesla Model S electric drivetrain.  Lots of good holiday reading.

Summer 2013 update part 1

2000 EV TDI towing inop 95 EVC: 350 mile trip over one mtn. pass.

It's been a great summer with lots of fun projects and interesting people passing through, as well as ample time off for R&R with the fam.  Since May I've been selling some factory new 1.9l 1Y longblock engines that came available through one of my suppliers and back in July I installed one for a customer on an 83 stock diesel Vanagon:

Photo credit to Rachel Cogent

Photo credit to Rachel Cogent