Finally figured out where the other end of the 'lighting loom' is: on the tow bar! The tow bar is in storage and I'd quite forgotten about it. I think the wiring is running from the car's rear lights but I can't really see until I take the lights out. I do have a couple of other wiring questions tho...

I'll try to post a photo if I can work out how to. The engine wiring loom(s) are all intact, if not labelled. I've worked out most of it but may need a little help with a few connections. I suspect it was just quicker to cut the rear lighting loom even if it isn't really necessary. A few other wires...

Hello again. I've been working out all the unlabelled electrics in the back of my car, a '72 412, but the one thing I can't work out is rear light loom. It has been cut clean through, when removing the engine I imagine, and the wiring curled up and tied under the engine air scoop at the back of the ...

Hello again. I've been looking for a throttle return spring for my 1700 FI type 4 motor but can't seem to find one. The one I have is stretched and has been hooked onto the oil breather box spring rather than the air distributor. Can anyone tell me what the part number for the correct spring is and ...

So after a bit of investigation I found the cause of the problem. One of the rocker shaft studs was not fully installed. I simply didn't notice when installing the rockers. Silly me! A cautionary note to self to be more thorough in checking my work.

Thanks for the reply. The cam was replaced when the block was overhauled and the pushrods are the bigger type 4 variety and all straight. Perhaps there is something odd about the valve seats. I know the valves themselves are correct. The problem is only really on cylinder 4 so I am beginning to wond...

I need a bit of advice. I've been trying to adjust the valve gaps on my W code 1700 type 4 engine but the screws are not long enough to attain the required gap. On cylinder 4 the best I can do, and still get the nut on, is 0.015 in which is rather more than the 0.006 in the manual states. The heads ...

Grand. I thought they must be okay given how very flat they all are. I also looked on Just Kampers and those followers looked flat although it can be hard to tell sometimes with the teeny tiny mobile phone screen!

Thanks muchly.

Just a quick question about cam followers/lifters on my 1700 type 4. The followers are all flat topped. Not concave, pitted or carbonised. Just very flat. Are type 4 followers supposed to have convex tops, in which case, do I need to replace them?

Thanks again for your advice.

Yes, the inlet and exhaust stems are different diameters (approx. 8mm and 9mm). I ordered up some seals/rings (choose your own nomenclature!) from VW Heritage, which it did say were T1-3 but given they were cheap I thought I'd chance it, and of course they do not fit. Obviously, they are only one di...

With the distributor shaft query resolved I've moved onto my next bit of head scratching: oil deflector rings. My engine is the 1679 FI W-code. When I got it the heads had been reconditioned with new guides and the valves fit well without being lose or sticky. There were also the remains of the oil ...

Thanks for the responses. I have the Haynes manual, amongst others, and read the same procedure with it referring to setting the engine to it's firing point and twisting to engage the gears. I particularly like the unclear photo cast in shadow so you can't see what the text is referring to! Some man...

Thanks for the information. I'll mark at 7.5 BTDC for future timing set-up. At the minute the engine is just the short block on a stand. Having consulted several manuals I still can't make out where to position no 1 con-rod for installation of the distributor drive shaft; at TDC or 27 degrees BTDC. ...

Hello all. I'm into the engine rebuild and seeking some clarification on fitting the distributor drive shaft. The fan has two marks stamped on it: one a red line and the second a zero, ~30 degrees anti-clockwise from the red line as you look from the back off the car. All the manuals seem to suggest...

The first one I noticed was the alternator elbow but since then I've found the rubbers protecting the gear linkage and on the eber are not so good either. These ones aren't holed but when flexed the cracks are obvious. I was just wondering if this sort of age related damage can be repaired/treated. ...

So after a short intermerweb search it seems rubber parts for the engine are available from the usual suppliers but how to sort the rubbers on the rest of my 412, which look rather harder to find?

Going through the boxes of parts for my type 4 engine I've found several rubber parts which are quite badly perished, cracked and/or holed. I'm not surprised as they are forty odd years old but I wonder if any of you have any tricks or tips for repairing them or can recommend any products that might...

Thank you indeed for all the information. It seems like testing on the engine is the way to go so I shall do that, if my kids ever allow me a moment to put the engine back together (its on the stand and all the bits are ready)! I've only ever worked on engines with carbs so I can see I shall need to...

Thanks for the advice. The hoses are all off and the injector barbs are okay with no nicks out of them. The pins all move. I must admit my knowledge of electrical testing is nowhere near that of good old-fashioned spannering, rather lacking in fact. Is there an idiots guide available online or a boo...

Hello to all. Can anyone tell me if there is a way to check if a fuel injector is still good to use? I have a dozen or so that I got with some other stuff in a job lot and I'd like to work out if they're worth keeping. I imagine hooking them up to the engine might tell me but unfortunately the engin...

My car is the black one. Its been off the road a while but dry stored so still looking pretty good. Nice interior which looks original. Unfortunately, someone over-tightened the oil pick up nut and cracked the case. Engine was stripped and welded and the case put back together with new internals. I ...

Thanks for the info. Looked again and I made a typo! Good to know what its for a might help get the Eberspacher working again although I suspect the plugged and crunchy fuel line might be the biggest problem. Anyone out there got any history or pictures of HVF974L? I got some history and pictures fr...

Hello all. I'm kind of new to type 4 ownership and have a few questions if I may and I wonder whether anyone might be able to help. 1. I have a spare Eberspacher switch. When I push in the switch and turn clockwise I can hear the mechanism whirring away but it goes on for ages and ages. The switch d...

I think there's a 412 in the desert scenes in the Transformers film and there's a silver 411 fastback in an episode of the Sweeney.