Observations of a Junkyard Engine

Recently I bought a 36hp air-cooled VW engine that had been sitting outside for several decades. It was $60, purchased for the sake of taking it apart, inspecting the damage, and retaining anything that could be salvaged. I expected most of it would be ruined from being out in the elements, and my expectations did not fall short.

The image above was taken moments after I removed the valve cover. Big time yuck! The different colors that you see are the result of years of corrosion and oxidation on this VW engine; basically oil, carbon, water, oxidized aluminum, and rust that has accumulated and coagulated over time.

Despite the mess, there ARE items that can be saved if they pass inspection. Most of the hardware can be kept once cleaned, as well as the valve cover, the rocker arm assembly, and possibly even the intake valves or valve retainers/keepers. For example, the image below is the same rocker arm assembly shown in the messy image above, just cleaned thoroughly and rebuilt! With some new nuts and screws this rocker arm assembly can be put back into service.

So, how did the engine end up like this? Well, we can't be 100% certain, but we can make educated guesses about it's life as a beetle engine. It likely:

-Ran hot for extended periods

-Suffered from poor oil maintenance

-Sat unused for long stretches of time

-Had cooling and timing issues

Then when it was removed from the vehicle, it sat outside in the elements.

This photo was taken right after the oil sump plate was removed. Stuffed and spilling out of the opening was solidified oil and dirt, the consistency of cold mashed potatoes. An air-cooled VW engine in this condition is far beyond repair. To illustrate that fact, when I began to remove the oil filter, pieces of the magnesium engine case started to crumple away. Now that's what I call extreme degradation!

Photos like these aren’t meant to scare anybody — they’re meant to educate. Regular maintenance and correct tuning are essential on air-cooled VW's. They are the difference between an engine that lasts decades and one that turns into sludge!

Have questions about what you’re seeing during your own teardown? We’re always happy to take a look and talk it through. Cheers.