Ran across this pic of Forever Sharp wheels on VW adapters on eBay.  It seems to really space the steering wheel farther away from the turn signal switch than necessary — intruding into the cockpit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60-73-VW-AUTO-14-BILLET-STEERING-WHEEL-WITH-AN-ADAPTER-MAHOGANY-WOOD-/261125336082

Hope Roy’s test fits look more promising…  

We are worth the price of admission, aren’t we? Glad to hear it worked out Mike. I am certain you will be pleased with the ride and handling!

My theory is similar to Roy’s.Car built with a generator. A previous owner converted to alternator, realized he/she did not have clearance and added the rubber bumpers to lift the engine cover.I am interested in Ed’s theory tho! ;-)As far as your engine mounting question, no. Not possible. VW engine mount is straight forward. Lift it up, slide it…[Read more]

How does the belt tighten on the alternator? If it’s not like the generator’s pulley-squeeze method I might have a theory.

Another satisfied customer!:-) 

Thanks once again to all you guru’s. I removed the half leaves from both torsion bars yesterday and it immediately dropped the front end 2 inches, which is what I wanted. It wasn’t quite as easy as all of you said it would be, but we did it without incident. Haven’t driven it since then but I expect it will ride softer and handle better.This is a…[Read more]

My guess, and this is just a guess, is that whoever converted from the stock generator to the alternator took some short cut and that caused the problem.  Post some pictures.  

Ed, I don’t think you should worry.  Keep going.  Lets see what some of the other guys say.  My rebuild experience always shows more surprises than this.  But, I have never taken a Japanese engine apart, my experience is mostly all with British Lotus, Triumph, AH, MG, Sunbeam stuff plus a few Mercedes &  3 VWs.  

Amazing! Thanks, Bill. But WTF is that thing doing there? I can’t believe it plays any part in the function I have always known as “head gasket sealing.” *UPDATE: NEVERMIND; found it.

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That plastic doohickey is the separator plate. It looks metal in the pic. Change it out as the plastic unit will eventually crack. Take it off and take it to your local Dealer and tell them you want one in steel.

Thanks, Bill. I’d love to know what-all that separator plate is (not to mention that big plastic dohicky screwed to the back of the engine block on the left in the pic). Maybe it’ll dawn on me when I clean her up later. Or maybe I’ll see something about these while browsing in the shop manual.

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Ditto!Great experiment Roy! Thanks!

Congrats on your TDr!We have one other IN member listed in the registry, but he has not been on the site in a couple years.But we’re all in Indiana virtually! We’ll help as much as we can!

The radiator fit is great. It appears to be easily capable of cooling the scooby motor. Your engine looks to already be equipped with the metal separator plate. That’s good. Carry on.

Gotcha Ed.  Don’t forget that I overhauled my engine 1 1/2 years ago.  Now I’m trying to figure out how to make a yard ornament out of my old engine stand……maybe if I put it between the chartreuse fluted tire planters by the front door???   Hmmm.  

The better to remove the oil pan, Roy. You do know it rotates 360 degrees, I assume!

edsnova2013-11-09 22:34:32

Ed, I think that you have the engine on the stand upside-down.  

Got my new radiator the other day. The fit behind the grill is not bad.

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That is very cool of you, Roy. Wish you could try my wheel as well. You might be surprised by the fit.

Sam, I like the 14″ Forever Sharp wheel which is really 14-1/2″ outer diam.  

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