Possible fuel starvation issues with the GTS

[RussGLAuto]

Yes, you can get the plastic spray covers for the 8v. I have one but never fitted it as it wasn't the source of the contamination for me.

[GT_II]

Mk2 golf's had a plastic oil spray tray/cover under the camshaft cover

The parts diagrams show these fitted to all 1.6 and 1.8 8v Scirocco engines from 1982 - part no 026103547 - pretty cheap as an aftermarket part.

[Brenjacques]

Great, I'll get one of these ordered too then, hopefully that will put an end to the oily carb problem. I'm surprised they show up on the parts diagrams for post 82, can't say I've seen many scirocco's with them fitted but a lot of later golf's have them.

Sounds like that's my weekend sorted out, I'll be putting the carb back on, giving the battery a charge and getting it set all back up before the tank and neck come off for inspection and replacement.

[GT_II]

I'm surprised they show up on the parts diagrams for post 82, can't say I've seen many scirocco's with them fitted but a lot of later golf's have them.

I'm guessing they came in later than '82, likely in response to the issue you have experienced, but given the part was known to be compatible for earlier years, there was no need to specifically note its omission when the microfiches were next updated.

[mark1gls]

The camshaft splash cover will fit older cars as I’ve fitted one to my 1978 Mk1 Scirocco.
The cut out holes fit the camshaft cog end (cylinder 1)

https://www.classic-vw.co.uk/15---18-ca ... 0144-p.asp

[Brenjacques]

Got one on order, hopefully that'll be less oil down the carb now. Was thinking of fitting a catch tank but really a bit unsightly and I'm sure the cover will improve things.

Also ordered another carb flange. I changed this a few months ago when the saga started but I'm not a fan of these new febi ones, they look like a rough ally surface on the bottom side with an O ring for sealing, wasn't wholly convinced of it's quality and upon inspection it's leaking tarry stuff from the join between that and the manifold. Managed to source one of the full rubber types which incidentally has a wider diameter sealing area so I'm hoping that will be a little better. Doesn't seem to be much choice in them now, would be good if a well known manufacturer made a good quality one.

[GT_II]

I spotted the other day that VW Classic parts are now selling a "Genuine reproduction quality" version of the flange here:

https://www.volkswagen-classic-parts.co ... 026129761E

"Genuine reproduction quality" means made to original specification with original tooling. Relatively pricey, but likely worth spending if as good as the genuine part, which would expect to have beem designed for 10 years/100,000 miles.

[Brenjacques]

Ah that looks pretty good, I'll have to keep that in mind and maybe purchase one as a spare as no doubt it'll be being changed again in the future.

Just started out on operation splash guard and it's immediately been ballsed up. Ordered a Febi one a few days back and it just won't fit! It looks as though the holes/forms for the camshaft nuts become mispositioned along the length. Tried to take a photo showing it, despite my best efforts they're just too far out to get it on completely, after about half way it's impossible. That's held me up a few days but there's not much I can do other than order another brand.

https://flic.kr/p/2pgmo3r

[mark1gls]

Might be better getting a genuine VW splash guard as the one you have look different to what’s fitted to my engine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115980535012 ... R-CArsL8Yg

[Brenjacques]

I've ordered that one so we'll see if it fits any better. Somebody in the states said they also had the same problem and that there's two different types that look very similar

Can't imagine there's a big difference between all 8v engine heads and especially camshaft caps being just slightly different in spacing.

[Brenjacques]

Well the second replacement splash guard arrived today. Haven't got around to fitting it yet but I've compared it to the Febi one that didn't fit and the spacings are indeed slightly different, hopefully this genuine one will fit okay and I can finish off getting the engine back together and tuned up.

Just ordered a Gunson Colortune to get the fuel mix set up adequately, has anyone used one for these before? Never had any experience with them and thought they're probably a load of rubbish but people seem to be quite happy with them online and I suppose the principle of how they work is correct.

[GT_II]

Just ordered a Gunson Colortune to get the fuel mix set up adequately

A very popular bit of kit in the late 70s and early 80s. Probably more user friendly than the Gunsons exhaust gas analyser I bought at the time which displayed so much drift in % CO reading over multiple attempts I was never sure I had got it correct.

Do you have a xenon light to check the ignition timing first?

[Brenjacques]

At one time I did want the CO analyser that they do but I read similar things online of people having trouble with accuracy and it put me off a bit. At least with the colortune I can adjust to a nice complete combustion and also check it along the cylinders, different revs etc, would also be a good tool to adjust the choke/throttle relation during warm up too.

Yes I have a couple of strobe guns, I have one with a timing adjustment too as the car currently has a 6° flywheel on it. I have to set it with the gun at 12° to get the overall 18. Will put the original flywheel back on when the clutch is looked at again, seals were changed last time around but after 500 miles or so it feels like the leak has returned.

[Brenjacques]

Some good progress made in the GTS today. The original VW splash guard fitted perfectly so that was put in place, new cam cover gasket and cover refitted. I replaced the carb flange again with an all rubber type which looks to be a much better fit and the sealing area much better than the Febi one. All the air box cleaned out so no oily sludge remains and a new vacuum hose fitted directly from the vac supply to the warm air flap as the temperature switch on the air box is leaky, anybody know of these are available anywhere?

After all of that I refitted the carb, the car must have previously been running quite rich as the spark plug I removed to fit the colortune was quite heavily fouled with carbon. Setup with the colortune went easily too but as Alan Fielding of Carbcare (highly recommend if you're having carb trouble) said before, the mixture screw is quite sensitive on this carb, only needing around a quarter turn to go from lean to rich.

All of that done, cleaned out the pool of water that's collected in the boot (another job to do) freed off the rear brakes which tend to stick if it sits more than a week and took it for a drive. Results were good, didn't encounter the problem I've been having and now the mixture has been adjusted it runs really well with a nice bit of poke.

Found a classic car specialist who is quite happy to remove the fuel tank and do a full inspection, clean or replace whatever is necessary so he'll be taking it next and checking everything fuel wise over. I have noticed some hoses in the engine bay have begun to go flat in shape, that's probably not helping things either so they'll be replaced too.

All in all very happy with how it's come along, time will tell if the splash cover is going to do the job okay but I'm sure it will offer an improvement.

[mark1gls]

Great to hear it’s up and running again.
If you leave your car on a flat ish surface maybe just leave it in 1st gear and leave the handbrake off, that’s how I leave my car when it’s parked up in the garage for a few weeks.