Chuck's Baja Build

[Leatherneck]

That’s funny Chuck, we’ve all been there.

[dustymojave]

...I forgot to remove the Gorilla tape on the right side. ...

Wrong gasket material there Chuck. Dust tape has many uses, but that's not a real good one.

[dustymojave]

...I forgot to remove the Gorilla tape on the right side. ...

Wrong gasket material there Chuck. Dust tape has many uses, but that's not a real good one.

Don't ya just HATE it when words grow a mind of their own... That was SUPPOSED TO BE "Duct tape"

[chuckput]

I just thought you invented a new tape, Dusty!

[dustymojave]

There IS the brand "Duck Tape"... Consider the desert where I live. Most ANY tape is likely to have dust on it. Probably not too different from where you live Chuck.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Duck Tape: https://www.bing.com/search?q=duck+tape ... lang=en-US

Duct Tape: https://www.bing.com/search?q=duct+tape ... =QBRE&sp=1

Duct Tape bathing suits: https://www.bing.com/search?q=duct%20ta ... 6D1950CB45

Gorilla Tape: https://www.bing.com/search?q=gorilla+t ... sp=1&ghc=1

They look to be the same thing but the manufacturing ads claim differently.

They have a use but the material and bonding does have limitations based on different scenarios.

Lee

[chuckput]

Just from "seat-of-the-pants" testing, it is my opinion that the adhesive on Gorilla Tape is a lot stronger than Duck Tape brand duct tape (which is a bit of a misnomer in that HVAC professionals say to never use duct tape on air ducts).

40 mph winds today here in the low desert Richard, so you know everything is covered in dust. East-west county roads were the worst. My garage is not hermetically sealed so you know the cars will have fine layer on them (especially the bug).

[Ol'fogasaurus]

My cars get a lot of dust on them everytime I go out to the garage; too much grinding.

I've only heard the ads on Gorilla tape so I don't really know if there really is a difference. Most specs have a minimum and usually you can meet or exceed the spec... but not all the time.

Lee

[chuckput]

Success!! After all the setbacks and owner/mechanic stupidity already documented here I have a running and driving car ready to hit the desert (sorta). As I stated in an earlier post the engine was running but I was not happy with the way it was running. At idle it had good tip in, but under load around 2k rpms it would burble and stumble, but once it hit 3,000 it would smooth out. That was all solved this morning.

I present to you this photo as evidence for the prosecution:

Bug Engine 042781.jpg

We need to remember that an internal combustion engine is really just a large air pump. This engine is a 2600 cc so it is moving a lot of air. Note that on top of each carb is a cover. CB Performance markets these as part of their "Sand System."

Evidence for the prosecution #2:

3387-2T.jpg

.

The outlet on the cover measures about 2-inches. The rubber elbow flares up to 3-inches to attach to the the three inch aluminum T-tube and then up to a single air filter.

This morning we went over the carbs again checking balance and once again adjusting each individual barrel. A test drive resulted in the same issues. We came back to the garage and started considering all the possibilities. I queried as to whether we were choking the engine. We stripped the engine of the air filtration system, including the carb covers. What a difference! Smooth all the way through the rpms. Came back and put only the covers back on, both with and without velocity stacks and the burble/stumble came back. So yes, I was choking this air pump. I will be putting a pair of 6-inch tall air cleaners with Outerwears that I considered earlier in this chain.

I still want to have an air filtration system that puts the air cleaner(s) inside the cabin to keep it out of the elements. That can wait until later because right now I want drive the car. So I wait for the UPS truck to deliver the air filters. What I am stoked about is that next weekend is a three day weekend and right now we are being blessed with incredibly good weather. My weather app indicates that temperatures will be in the 70s this week. I have lived here in the low desert for over 25 years and I don't believe I have experienced a Memorial Day weekend that was not in the 100s.

[Leatherneck]

Outstanding, the little stuff that gets you. Bet you are a happy camper now. Good power band on it?

[chuckput]

It was really just a short blast around the block without an air cleaner, but what I could tell was very positive. It definately has some grunt. I've actually had this engine for a while, but in its previous iteration I ran a single Weber 44 IDF.

[Skidmark]

Glad you got it sorted out, Chuck!

[Leatherneck]

Grunt is a good thing.

[dustymojave]

I've been suspicious of those air boxes for Weber type carbs for many decades. Most tell me they work fine. But at LEAST they need to be far taller. More like those 6" tall air filters. Probably a larger intake port in the top as well.

An AC VW engine with substantial cam and dual carbs will create a "standoff" while running. Standoff is a vapor of fuel and air that is a result of a reversion wave from the valves slamming shut at each cycle of the pistons. While air and fuel are being drawn in, there is also a wave going in the opposite direction. Hold a piece of glass above the air intakes of the carb, and you will find a mist of fuel on it. It also happens with a single 2bbl carb like the Weber 40DCNF I used to use on my Hi Jumper when I was racing it. I recall one time with the low late evening sun shining across at a just-so angle seeing the mist and watching it change as I worked the throttle. Even a stock Solex on a stock 1200 will have a standoff. That's why the stock oil bath air cleaner has a domed top. Decades ago, I knew how high that reversion wave stood above the stock throttle blade. It's like 6" or 150mm. From the throttle shaft. Varies with cam grind, porting, valve diameter, RPM, intake manifold length, displacement, exhaust scavenging efficiency...etc.

[chuckput]

I have to agree with you Richard. I read a column in Hot VWs this month about air filters written by Steve Phillips. It was what caused me to wonder if we were choking the engine. He stated in his article that Weber IDFs like at least 4-inches of "free air" above the auxillary vent (tube in the middle of the throat). For this reason he recommended that you not run velocity stacks when running 3 1/2"air cleaners. As it was, I was running short, 1-inch tall velocity stacks. Those hats may be OK on a 1600cc engine, but I am running 1000cc more thus flowing a lot more air. Live and learn.

I had heard of standoff before but it was in relation to big quad carbs on a hi-performance V-8. Good information to know. Thanks!

I still want to run some type of air box on the carbs and place the air cleaner(s) out of harms way inside the cabin. UMP has boxes that are tall and have a 4-inch outlet. I don't know if that is overkill or not.