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Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 1:33 pm
by Dan Mazur
Hi Folks,
Im putting together a test stand for my 356 C, 6volt engine.
I acquired what appears to be a later VW buss bell housing and fabbed up a weldment to mount it to the engine stand.
Silly me, I didn't read up on the forum before starting down this rabbit hole and now realize the issues with starter motors not fitting, bushings too small, etc.
I did machine away some of the casting so the 356 lower bolts were accessible for nuts and washers.

It seems this was addressed in an earlier thread, but no final resolution was posted.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4630

Question for those who have gone before; Is there a way to make this work with a 6 volt 356 engine, or should I bail out before diving deeper in the rabbit hole?

Thanks and Kind Regards
Dan

Re: Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 5:06 pm
by David Jones
Dan, one issue with the bus trans piece if it was for a 12 volt starter will be the diameter of the hole for the starter shaft. It is smaller than the 6 volt starter so will not fit. The solution is to turn the starter shaft down on a lathe which unfortunately requires dismantling the starter motor.
A VW starter from a parts store is cheap and if you use 12 volts it will spin the engine over very well.

Re: Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 5:10 pm
by Doug McDonnell
PM sent

Re: Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:17 pm
by John Brooks
Dan

Does the 6V starter bolt up? Enlarging the hole is pretty easy, and putting in the bushing. I have used an old bent window case half for years and it works for 6V like it should, and my 12V started does not have the extended shaft for the bushing so it works both ways.
You might find your setup a little shaky that far up the pole, when running. Mine is below


http://www.abcgt.com/forum/14-356-Resto ... stand.html

Re: Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 7:49 am
by John Weyand
Don't alter the trans starter bushing hole, use a special bushing bushing that the buggy guys have used for years. It will allow a 12 volt starter to fit a 6 volt mount.

https://www.appletreeauto.com/12V-TO-6V ... a30ab5f939

Re: Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 9:53 am
by David Jones
But a 12 volt starter has the wrong starter dog and will not mesh with the 6 volt starter ring gear and there is no bushing that can fit in the already smaller diameter hole in the 12 volt starter case. Ask me how I know because I just did it with a bus trans starter housing. A new 12 volt starter with the correct 6 volt starter dog will cost more than using a new 6 volt VW starter with a turned down starter shaft. The 6 volt VW starter will work very well with 12 volts and as it is not in frequent use should not cause any significant damage to the starter ring gear.

Re: Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:22 am
by Wil Mittelbach
Dan -
Perhaps of alternative interest:-
As depicted below, I used Tom Perazzo's engine stand adapter for my 6v C engine and starter.
Tom's Zalex Industries' adapter comes in full or half ring configurations with starter mount.
For specific info: <zalexindustries.com> or call Tom at (858) 243-0476.
- Wil

Re: Engine Test Stand Question

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2018 9:49 am
by Dan Epperly
I use an old VW bell housing on both my Porsche and VW engine builds 6 or 12 volt. The OD on the bushing housing is the same, the ID is different, so as someone pointed out you just need to get the adapter bushing. For the 12v its a narrower ID. With a fatter OD assuming it's a six volt flywheel.
Everything else should fit right up.