DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Points had burnt out wasn't helping the poor starting and running, but more worrying is the 60/80/80/0 compression results.

Can't afford a rebuild at the mo so looks like the 912 might be innactive for a while. Either that, or I sell it as it is.

Martin it's not all that bad.. Drop the engine and strip the heads off and look for some new rings. Re home the cylinders and measure what you have. If needed then look for a good set of secondhand P/C set

all this could also be valve related and also that can be seen once the heads are off.

there is alots of basic stuff to look at first before you spend lots of money

60/80/80/0

Not just a typing error then...

Do you have leak down test results to see if it's top or bottom end?

You could just do one cylinder to get you back on the road and try hard to avoid the 'while your at it' financial pit.

little bit of a lifeline - a good friend who is an engine builder by trade and has done all the other engines on my cars just called to say get the engine over to him ASAP and he'll start stripping down and rebuilding it for me. I know that he will do it for beer money and trade parts prices, so I might be okay. I think I've recovered a bit from the initial shock...

As good as that is it is worth taking a look as some of the more correct methods of rebuilding this car.. AS much as your mate is able to do it.. make sure some basic steps are not ignored. Like for starts if he regrinds the crank then it must have the correct radius on it.. if not it;s a paper weight.

I agree. Everything I have read about these engines point to the fact that they have to be done properly and with proper parts. I will be stressing that to him (in a nice way of course), but he is genuinely an extremely knowledgeable and capable guy who will also not walk away or ignore the project should anything be not quite right afterwards. Seeing as my options at the moment are

a) sell the car with a knackered engine

b) attempt to do all the work myself (too busy rebuilding my flooded house, plus have never done anything as involved)

c) pay a specialist to do the work (which would then result in me having to sell the car to pay for it!)

d) get my friend to do it

... I reckon I'm better of chancing it with d)!


Any other advice that I can pass on to him (quality of parts, suppliers etc) would be gratefully received and thanks for the kind words so far...

no worries first drop that engine and strip the heads off and have a look then photo gragh and report back

Will do. Going to get the car into the garage on Tuesday. Then the fun begins...

its only nuts and bolts mate, you'll get it sorted

Thanks Nige - I guess sometimes it pays to remind ourselves that ultimately that's all it is!

best one to keep saying in your head is, 'hell its only a beetle' that's what I keep chanting anyway.

Not sure I can bring myself to do that!