One more thing... I assume you've checked valve lash, but if not... a tight intake valve will definitely cause "pop back".

The number isn't specific, but it does need to be in that range. Actual snail reading kinda depends on how high/low you like to set the idle at. I'm running 44IDF's also with a little bigger engine and mine usually read about 6 on the snail. My idle is probably a tad on the high side. If you start getting up beyond 7 or so, then something is out of whack.





Thanks for the info on the snail numbers. I ran a snail synch tonight after the Bug warmed up. I unhooked the carb linkage and tested the air flow on each cylinder; No. 4 and 3 hit at 5, while No. 1 and 2 reached 4. I took the high flow down to the low flow until they all read 4. The idle was around 700; it sounded happy.

Too bad it was raining like hell (again) so I didn't road test the Bug. The carb pop almost always happens under load, not reving in the garage.

In regards to timing, the Bug is set at 36 deg. total timing. Thanks for the carb info. I've got info from Weber Redline, Chirco.com and Konstantin sent a great PDF file on tuning dual Weber IDF carbs.

What are you running under those 44s?

Yep, did a valve adjustment (couple months ago now). Both the intake and exhaust valves were set at .006.

FYI: I had the sputter/pop before the valve adjustment; upon inspection, No. 2 and No. 3 intake valves were a bit tight - each set at .006. No. 1 and No. 4 valves were both OK.

Bug has an Engle 110 cam.

It's a 2387, mild 125 Webcam,fairly low compression, and a nice set of Steve Tims heads. It's a really smooth running motor with plenty of torque. Just right for pushing a bus down the higjhway

I've got engine envy. I'll have to further investigate your DC post.

No new word on the Bug. My Jeep took a trans solenoid crap on me; so the day and dollars were spent on that joy.

The Bug was still suffering exhaust pop or carb huff so I sought professional help - for the Bug (although I could use some as well ).

I also decided the Bug was riding too low for real road use. I adjusted the beam back up so the Bug wasn't at ant-rape height. It's still way lower than stock. That's all I did before I took it over to the shop. Oh, I did use the new snail gauge to measure/adjust the carbs air flow.

Of course it ran perfect all the way there. I had the guy look it over, test drive, etc. He said it ran like a top for him. It ran like a f-ing champ all the way home from the shop, too. Weird.

I asked guy to look at the trans level up on the hoist. He said it was low, filled to proper level. Well, I now have a new leak on the garage floor. I'm 99 % sure he didn't overfill the 90 hypoid oil. I'm guessing there is a bad seal and it didn't start leaking until the hypoid was above that point.

I haven't driven the Bug since; it's still leaking hypoid. I'm going to bring it over to my buddy's place with a lift on Thursday. From what I can see, which isn't much, it's not leaking around the drain plug or fill plug.

I fear it might be a pull-the-engine out trans seal leak job. I'll have a better idea when I can see the Bug's underside. Anyone have advice if it's indeed a trans seal leak?

Finally got the Bug up in the air to take a look at my leak. It helps to have friends with a lift in their garage

Found one problem: pass. side axle boot was loose. Easy fix that did stop one drip point. It also appeared that hypoid was leaking out by the reverse light switch (doesn't work - not hooked up). We plugged the switch - again, helps to have friends with torch, welder, grinder, etc.

I also discovered the accelerator cable was sawing into the trans case (no VW condom wrapper over the cable). That's a battle the cable won't win - and I'll be the loser stuck on the side of the road.

I ordered an accelerator cable flex tube and the cable tube that fits through the fan shroud.

The transaxle leak is better after our work, but it's still pooling up on cool down after a run. I hope to get parts and back up on the lift ASAP.

I ran into this fellow 64 in town! It's a sweet ride: stock 1200, rolls on BRMs and rides low on bags. We exchanged numbers so we can cruise.

Good to hear .... your friend has a in ground lift ? Like a old gas station?

No ... but that would be cool. It's a pole barn style garage with a regular lift. Here's the Bug on the lift during a previous valve adjustment.

I skipped out of work early today to bring the Bug to a big cruise/show at Culver's. There was about 300 cars squeezed into the restaurant parking lot and a few adjacent lots.

On the drive over I found out the hard way my gas tank float might not be accurate with the new tank. I hit 1/4 mark before the Reserve, it sputtered a few times in fourth. I wheeled it off to the side before it died (thought it was the carb issue - said lots of words). Turns out it was just stupid me - out of gas. A buddy brought some gas roadside and I made it to the show.

I topped off tank with 6 gallons on the way home - on top of the 3 gallons roadside. My math says 9 gallons in a 10.5 gallon tank. Hmm

The other photo is my father-in-law saying his prayers before I took him on a hot lap last week. He had a 64 Bug back in 1964. He said his stock ride never ran like Bella.