<div dir="ltr"><div>On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 6:52 AM, Jim Adney <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jadney@vwtype3.org" target="_blank">jadney@vwtype3.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><br>
</div>It's hard to imagine what would cause all 4 exhaust valves to wear<br>
like this, but it's clearly something you need to get to the bottom<br>
of. Is your car FI or carbs? What year? </blockquote><div><br></div><div>I
am running the stock FI set up and it is a 1972. I really do want to
get to the bottom of this and have been hesitant to keep driving it. It
sounds great when running, but I don't like to see those clearances
tightening up. Although, if I rebuild, I will not be reusing any of the
engine internals from my current engine, so maybe I should just keep
running it and see what happens. Worst case is I'll be out the money to
tow it home after it swallows a valve.<br>
<br></div><div>I don't plan on reusing any of the components because the
case is universal, as are the heads, and when I rebuild I'm thinking
I'd rather have my OG case/heads rebuilt.<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
Either way, I'd want to get a<br>
really good idea of what kind of gas mileage you're getting. That<br>
might have a lot to do with it. If, for example, it's running really<br>
rich, you could be getting carbon buildup on the valves, which would<br>
make the clearance go away. The solution for that would probably not<br>
require removing the engine.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>I have
my mileage log in my car (I left that one at home today), but I believe
by mileage has been hovering around 20 mpg and that is mostly highway
type driving. Usually it is in the range of 18-20 mpg. What is
"normal" for our cars? The day-to-day driving I have been doing on this
engine is more highway driving than the engine has ever seen. Before
this year (when I started driving it daily), it was mainly used by me in
college (~ 10 years ago) to run to the grocery/liquor store twice a
week. <br>
</div><div><br> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
The lack of the foam seal on top of the oil cooler MIGHT (very small<br>
might) have some effect on both left side cylinders, but shouldn't<br>
have any effect on the right. </blockquote><div><br></div><div>Jim, that
is a good point. After searching many many forum posts here and on the
Samba, it seems like most people notice tightening on one exhaust valve
(such as #3) rather than all of them in unison at the same pace. That
is what is concerning me.<br>
<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">I have very nice foam pad replacements<br>
if you get to that. I'd want to check the thermostat linkage and the<br>
cooling ductwork; make sure everything is there, working, adjusted,<br>
and tight.<br>
<br></blockquote><div><br></div>Thanks Jim, I will consider that if
I get to that point. I do not have the thermostat linkage in place
(the flaps are removed), but all the tin is in place. I had originally
planned on pulling the engine to replace the thermostat, linkage, and
flaps (I have a complete set now), but if I'm going to tear it down that
far I might as well . . . you get the idea.<br><br></div>Jacob<br></div>