Can't get engine in

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Jim Clement
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Re: Can't get engine in

#16 Post by Jim Clement »

You should not need a ratchet strap.. I can ( I am not a big burly guy) push the engine on.. It should just slip into place with a bit of hand pushing.. I do mine on a floor jack.. not the best or safest, but it works..
are you able to take some pictures ?
 

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Martin Benade
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Re: Can't get engine in

#17 Post by Martin Benade »

And it’s not a C muffler?
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Re: Can't get engine in

#18 Post by John Laettner »

Did you level the car and put it in neutral?
 

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Martin Benade
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Re: Can't get engine in

#19 Post by Martin Benade »

Neutral makes it much less likely for the splines to align when you turn the engine. Better in gear with the park brake on.
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Re: Can't get engine in

#20 Post by John Laettner »

If it is in neutral it can be jostled to go in, instead of being rigid. Try both ways David and see which one works.
 

David Trower
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Re: Can't get engine in

#21 Post by David Trower »

Thank you everyone who have offered sugestions. I have had the engine out again to examine things and can see no visible problems. Got engine up and in again and same problem exists. The lower studs are in 3/4 inch but can't get it in the last 1 inch. I will check angle again. Jim where are you? David

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Re: Can't get engine in

#22 Post by Don Gale »

If you have the engine out, remove the pressure plate and test fit the clutch disk by itself on the splines. It should slide on freely. Look closely for any burrs and dress with a jewelers file if needed. Put an ever so slight amount of grease on the splines and slide the disk back and forth. Be sure to assemble the pressure plate with a pilot. With the trans in gear and the handbrake set, you can rotate the generator pulley to clock the splines.

Could the end of the input shaft not fit in the gland nut bearing? If it has a bronze bushing as opposed to the needle bearing type, look to see if the end of the input shaft kicked up a burr on the gland nut bushing.
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Doug McDonnell
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Re: Can't get engine in

#23 Post by Doug McDonnell »

See Gary Cox's comment #10 You are having the same problem you had trying to remove the engine viewtopic.php?p=409671#p409671 Since the body of your car is rear end up the engine must be pointed rear end up in order to mate. If you have a piece of wood with a 1 inch hole and try to insert a 1 inch dowel it will NOT insert until both the hole and the dowell are on the same plane.
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Wes Bender
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Re: Can't get engine in

#24 Post by Wes Bender »

I would never try to remove or to reinstall an engine without the car being absolutely level and jacked up over a level surface. You have to be really, really talented to maneuver the engine along a sloping path and keep the splines from binding. Once it's loose, you can lower the front of the car to get more clearance. Likewise, the front can be lowered to get the engine under the car, but then you must level the body before trying to insert the engine.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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Emil Wojcik
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Re: Can't get engine in

#25 Post by Emil Wojcik »

Trust what Wes is saying. Raise the front of the car on jack stands to make it level with the back so the engine lines up as it should. Makes the process much easier. Before I knew this I usually struggled for hours.
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Re: Can't get engine in

#26 Post by Al Zim »

From 1962 till we got lifts Probably 1980 all the 4 cylinder 356 and 912 engines were installed with the body at an angle. It is nicer when you have a lift.
What is unknown at this point is how many hundreds of thousands (or maybe millions) of VW engines were installed without the body being lever. I can assure you that a large percentage of individuals who were working on these cars in the 60's and on did not level VW and Porsche cars to install the engine. al zim
Last edited by Al Zim on Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Jim Clement
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Re: Can't get engine in

#27 Post by Jim Clement »

Any chance you changed the transmission mounts .. and put the bolts in backwards ?? .. you all know how I know that this could happen to anyone ... !!!!
 

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Re: Can't get engine in

#28 Post by Dave Erickson »

I've installed at least 100 engines. Most were back when I was young, but I never had a problem due to the car being on an angle. However, the angle of the engine does need to match the car, try raising it in the rear a bit.

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Re: Can't get engine in

#29 Post by Martin Benade »

+1
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Jim Clement
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Re: Can't get engine in

#30 Post by Jim Clement »

David
see the two bolts that hold the trans mounts in place at the horizontal level..
if they are installed backwards they stick into the trans housing just a bit to much, and then the engine stops about an inch short of going in.. sort of like what you are discribing
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