VW Baja ROTARY install

Jeff20B · 11-10-2008, 01:43 PM

Washington, near Seattle.

WE3RX7 · 11-10-2008, 10:05 PM

Ah - figured it was west. Hopefully you can get this fired up before snow...

Jeff20B · 11-11-2008, 02:55 PM

Yeah, I need to get this fired up in the next couple days so it can be moved.

Jeff20B · 11-17-2008, 02:05 PM

Uhg, it didin't want to fire. The engine is too tight and the starter can't crank it fast enough. I tried all my tricks. The radiator turned out to have a leak also. I tried to solder it but I'll just take it to a rad shop.

I now have a few options. I could try a 6 volt starter with a 12V solenoid (they don't last very long), or get another high torque starter like my current one (doesn't make much sense and is costly).

Plus the choke on the carb isn't hooked up so obviously getting a fresh rebuild started on cold mornings could prove to be difficult until it has some miles under its belt. I also can't rip on it until then. If it snows too soon I won't be able to rev it enough to keep from getting stuck.

A better option is to pull the engine and drop it into the GLC since it needs an engine right now and the engine bay is fully compatible. All the mechanical work is complete in the baja so it's just a few bolts to pull it. It would take no time at all. Couple days, really.

TehMonkay · 11-17-2008, 02:46 PM

Try pull starting the bugger to get it running and warm it up.

Jeff20B · 11-17-2008, 04:39 PM

I could but I'm not that desperate to get it running with a leaky radiator.

It's not a big deal to pull the engine. Infact this engine was actually in the Cosmo for a while last year for precisely the reasons stated above (to get it broken in etc) but ran out of time and my bro was interested in the Cosmo so I had to put a different engine in it. So I rushed the baja project along and figured I could get away with a fresh rebuild as long as I got it in there and running before the winter. Well, winter is pretty much here now and no runny.

Anyhoo the cut-off point for getting the GLC running is Feb so I have from now till then to come up with an alternative engine for it. Why not use the baja engine in the mean time? That's the part that makes sense to me. So that's most likely what I'm going to do.

I'll get a pic before I pull it in a few days so you can see how the exhaust is routed, wires etc.

Jeff20B · 11-18-2008, 03:54 PM

Here it is.

WE3RX7 · 11-18-2008, 04:57 PM

Ah man - it looks so good in there. You can put a different engine in the GLC!!

Jeff20B · 11-18-2008, 09:34 PM

The strongest VW starter is unable to start it. I need a loosened up engine. There's one in the white truck...

Jeff20B · 11-20-2008, 01:08 AM

I found an old loose 6 port FC S4 engine that I can use in the baja until its tight engine is broken in enough to start quickly and easily.

Jeff20B · 11-30-2008, 02:21 AM

I finally made some progress on the baja. I got it back in the garage and had a chance to get started on the FC engine. An auto counterweight is on it and the front 19mm bolt is now snug. It has one of those Atkins aluminum oil pellet things to allow full oil flow to the front rotor bearing at all times. An oil pan and pickup tube are coming up next.

Fidelity101 · 11-30-2008, 02:43 AM

Hey I helped your exhaust question on rx7club, didn't know you were on the board. Now I am glad I got to see the build! I love super beetles, I'm kinda a vw/audi guy too, my other ride is a 99 a4 avant.

Jeff20B · 12-02-2008, 02:13 AM

Cool, yeah you are, kinda.

It turns out the core in the baja's radiator is apparently partially clogged. I pulled it today and gave it a quick rinse. I filled it all the way up with water and let it all drain out. It displayed tell tale signs of a clog. I've seen it before where after you thought all the water was out, you tilt it and some greenish liquid comes out (diluted coolant). You wait a little longer, tilt it and some more greenish liquid. I'll go with a 1st gen rad and mod it where necessary. At least if it gets damaged, I can replace it easily enough. Gotta get creative for how to mounts the fans, though. The core is smaller, leaving less room.

I gotta say I'm feeling relieved that I'm going with a 1st gen rad. I'll mod it in a similar way to the rad in the GLC.

Fidelity101 · 12-03-2008, 09:24 PM

1st gen rx7 or 1st gen beetle?

Jeff20B · 12-11-2008, 03:35 PM

1st gen beetles came out many decades ago and none of them had radiators, so what do you think?

11-17-2008, 02:46 PM	#35
TehMonkay Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Louisville, KY iTrader: (0) Posts: 302 Rep Power: 17	Try pull starting the bugger to get it running and warm it up. __________________ My car blows up everytime I start it, it's rotary

11-30-2008, 02:21 AM	#41
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	I finally made some progress on the baja. I got it back in the garage and had a chance to get started on the FC engine. An auto counterweight is on it and the front 19mm bolt is now snug. It has one of those Atkins aluminum oil pellet things to allow full oil flow to the front rotor bearing at all times. An oil pan and pickup tube are coming up next. Last edited by Jeff20B; 11-30-2008 at 02:06 PM..

11-30-2008, 02:43 AM	#42
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois iTrader: (1) Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	Hey I helped your exhaust question on rx7club, didn't know you were on the board. Now I am glad I got to see the build! I love super beetles, I'm kinda a vw/audi guy too, my other ride is a 99 a4 avant. __________________ My Rx-7 Vids

12-03-2008, 09:24 PM	#44
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois iTrader: (1) Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	1st gen rx7 or 1st gen beetle? __________________ My Rx-7 Vids

11-10-2008, 01:43 PM	#31
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	Washington, near Seattle.

11-10-2008, 10:05 PM	#32
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA iTrader: (1) Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 18	Ah - figured it was west. Hopefully you can get this fired up before snow...

11-11-2008, 02:55 PM	#33
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	Yeah, I need to get this fired up in the next couple days so it can be moved.

11-17-2008, 02:05 PM	#34
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	Uhg, it didin't want to fire. The engine is too tight and the starter can't crank it fast enough. I tried all my tricks. The radiator turned out to have a leak also. I tried to solder it but I'll just take it to a rad shop. I now have a few options. I could try a 6 volt starter with a 12V solenoid (they don't last very long), or get another high torque starter like my current one (doesn't make much sense and is costly). Plus the choke on the carb isn't hooked up so obviously getting a fresh rebuild started on cold mornings could prove to be difficult until it has some miles under its belt. I also can't rip on it until then. If it snows too soon I won't be able to rev it enough to keep from getting stuck. A better option is to pull the engine and drop it into the GLC since it needs an engine right now and the engine bay is fully compatible. All the mechanical work is complete in the baja so it's just a few bolts to pull it. It would take no time at all. Couple days, really.

11-17-2008, 04:39 PM	#36
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	I could but I'm not that desperate to get it running with a leaky radiator. It's not a big deal to pull the engine. Infact this engine was actually in the Cosmo for a while last year for precisely the reasons stated above (to get it broken in etc) but ran out of time and my bro was interested in the Cosmo so I had to put a different engine in it. So I rushed the baja project along and figured I could get away with a fresh rebuild as long as I got it in there and running before the winter. Well, winter is pretty much here now and no runny. Anyhoo the cut-off point for getting the GLC running is Feb so I have from now till then to come up with an alternative engine for it. Why not use the baja engine in the mean time? That's the part that makes sense to me. So that's most likely what I'm going to do. I'll get a pic before I pull it in a few days so you can see how the exhaust is routed, wires etc.

11-18-2008, 04:57 PM	#38
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA iTrader: (1) Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 18	Ah man - it looks so good in there. You can put a different engine in the GLC!!

11-18-2008, 09:34 PM	#39
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	The strongest VW starter is unable to start it. I need a loosened up engine. There's one in the white truck...

11-20-2008, 01:08 AM	#40
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	I found an old loose 6 port FC S4 engine that I can use in the baja until its tight engine is broken in enough to start quickly and easily.

12-02-2008, 02:13 AM	#43
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	Cool, yeah you are, kinda. It turns out the core in the baja's radiator is apparently partially clogged. I pulled it today and gave it a quick rinse. I filled it all the way up with water and let it all drain out. It displayed tell tale signs of a clog. I've seen it before where after you thought all the water was out, you tilt it and some greenish liquid comes out (diluted coolant). You wait a little longer, tilt it and some more greenish liquid. I'll go with a 1st gen rad and mod it where necessary. At least if it gets damaged, I can replace it easily enough. Gotta get creative for how to mounts the fans, though. The core is smaller, leaving less room. I gotta say I'm feeling relieved that I'm going with a 1st gen rad. I'll mod it in a similar way to the rad in the GLC.

12-11-2008, 03:35 PM	#45
Jeff20B Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 215 Rep Power: 17	1st gen beetles came out many decades ago and none of them had radiators, so what do you think?