bt wrote:Hello, I searched the data base but I can't find it. I have a engine that I want to start that is not installed. I need to now how to wire it so that it can run on the ground. I have the trans,starter and a starting switch. I want to know how to get power to the coil/points/etc. correctly.
Thanks, BT
Starting a VW Engine on the ground
- david58
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Starting a VW Engine on the ground
Hot, humid air is less dense than cooler, drier air. This can allow a golf ball to fly through the air with greater ease, as there won't be as much resistance on the ball.
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Heavy gauge wire from battery positive terminal to starter screw-on terminal.
Heavy gauge wire to a place where both engine and starter get good shared ground. Engine mounting bolt, for example, to whatever you use to mount it to so you can hook up the starter.. a baywindow type 2 (bus) transmission bellhousing works great, they unbolt from the transmission casing. You said you already have the engine hooked up to a transmission so you're good to go with just about any 13mm bolt head/nut for ground.
Smaller gauge wire from battery positive to a power switch, from where it goes to coil positive terminal.
Coil negative terminal connects to the distributor.
To start the engine, turn ignition power on from the switch, then power the starter with your starter switch.
Those who don't have a starter switch, short the starter BIG terminal (with cable from the battery coming to it) with the small push-on terminal with a heavy metal object, like a wrench or something. Sparks will fly, keep flammables away. Thats' normal. Need a firm, determined, quick connect across the terminals to reduce sparks.
You can get a 'remote starter' cheap from most any auto parts store.
It's just a push button switch with two leads, and a big alligator clip at each of them to connect to the starter terminals.
You need nothing else to run the engine, but if you want the charging system to work too, you will need some more wiring. Details depend on the model of alternator/generator.
Jan
Heavy gauge wire to a place where both engine and starter get good shared ground. Engine mounting bolt, for example, to whatever you use to mount it to so you can hook up the starter.. a baywindow type 2 (bus) transmission bellhousing works great, they unbolt from the transmission casing. You said you already have the engine hooked up to a transmission so you're good to go with just about any 13mm bolt head/nut for ground.
Smaller gauge wire from battery positive to a power switch, from where it goes to coil positive terminal.
Coil negative terminal connects to the distributor.
To start the engine, turn ignition power on from the switch, then power the starter with your starter switch.
Those who don't have a starter switch, short the starter BIG terminal (with cable from the battery coming to it) with the small push-on terminal with a heavy metal object, like a wrench or something. Sparks will fly, keep flammables away. Thats' normal. Need a firm, determined, quick connect across the terminals to reduce sparks.
You can get a 'remote starter' cheap from most any auto parts store.
It's just a push button switch with two leads, and a big alligator clip at each of them to connect to the starter terminals.
You need nothing else to run the engine, but if you want the charging system to work too, you will need some more wiring. Details depend on the model of alternator/generator.
Jan
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I started to answer this but had second thoughs about it. You can short cut this even more, but you are hotwiring an engine! Again I didn't feel comfortable posting it.
I do not recommend this if you have an electronic distributor. Hook up the ground wire last to avoid random arcs. Don't run it for over a few seconds without the fan going or it will over heat.
I do not recommend this if you have an electronic distributor. Hook up the ground wire last to avoid random arcs. Don't run it for over a few seconds without the fan going or it will over heat.
Lee
My opinion is worth slightly less than what you paid for it.
My opinion is worth slightly less than what you paid for it.
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Fuel
LOL this was forgotten..........I use a marine fuel tank (2 or 5 gallon) with the siphon tube that runs from the top of the can to the bottom. Make sure all your fuel connections are tight both at the tank & the fuel pump inlet. Flames are NOT your friend.
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This is true.
One of the reasons I had stopped answering this question is as far as I know, it is still illegal to tell someone how to hot wire a car (liability). Also, as you pointed out, the practice is dangerious even for experienced people. (Open) Fuel, electricity, and heat in the same general area is not good. Starting the engine then blapping it (onomatopoeia – quickly revving it), even while the engine sits on the ground, can cause the engine to walk (torque) on you.
I bought an engine at a junk yard once (many, many years ago) and they started it up for me so I could hear it run. No exhaust... hear what? Unless the rods were coming out the side, you couldn't tell anything. They sat the engine in a tire so it would sit up-right. After running a fuel line to the fuel pump from a gas (yup!) can they hooked the battery up started it up. They even blapped the engine and it almost jumped out of the center of the tire. Oops! (the engine turned out to be a good one by-the-way)
Anyway, not a good practice and, unless you know what you are doing and looking for, I don't recommend doing it.
One of the reasons I had stopped answering this question is as far as I know, it is still illegal to tell someone how to hot wire a car (liability). Also, as you pointed out, the practice is dangerious even for experienced people. (Open) Fuel, electricity, and heat in the same general area is not good. Starting the engine then blapping it (onomatopoeia – quickly revving it), even while the engine sits on the ground, can cause the engine to walk (torque) on you.
I bought an engine at a junk yard once (many, many years ago) and they started it up for me so I could hear it run. No exhaust... hear what? Unless the rods were coming out the side, you couldn't tell anything. They sat the engine in a tire so it would sit up-right. After running a fuel line to the fuel pump from a gas (yup!) can they hooked the battery up started it up. They even blapped the engine and it almost jumped out of the center of the tire. Oops! (the engine turned out to be a good one by-the-way)
Anyway, not a good practice and, unless you know what you are doing and looking for, I don't recommend doing it.
Lee
My opinion is worth slightly less than what you paid for it.
My opinion is worth slightly less than what you paid for it.
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