Pentroof Case Report

Muffler Mike · Post by **Muffler Mike** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:21 am

one of the things i noticed was the case color looked like it changed from the first hand full. maybe chaning alloy formula for the worst trying to get the porosity under control. ????????
mine is still good to go so far.
maybe im one of the lucky ones.
but i have yet to really put the hurt to it.

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:24 am

Mike, I'm glad you are using one and watching it...

I used a liquid dye penetrant on mine and found it had cracks all over it.. only the big ones could be seen.

When you do a teardown let me know and I'll send you my kit to do the test with, its just 3 cans and a developer. Its primarily used for checking for cracks in leading edges of airplane wings, but damn is it sweet for VW engines..

Muffler Mike · Post by **Muffler Mike** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:34 am

i have access to that stuff my self. thats a good idea. ill have to try it out at the end of the year.

57HotrodVW · Post by **57HotrodVW** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:43 am

Mike, Mark, and Jake --

Are all of you guys talking about the NEW design of the aluminum cases, otherwise known as "pent roof", and distributed by IAP and Bugpack?

I was under the impression that Jakes testing was done using one of the "first generation" Auto Linea auminum cases.

I also thought that Mike was using one of the same cases, that had been checked over very well.

Obviously, the results of Rickey's trial of the pent roof case were not good, but I didn't think that they had been around long enough to have a bunch of people using them (unless they are keeping it a secret

)

While I'm digging for the scoop, I'd also like to know who has seen, used, or knows of someone who has used one of the Precision Alloy TF-1 cases in a high HP application.

Thanks!
-Eric

Muffler Mike · Post by **Muffler Mike** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:50 am

yea, mine is the early stuff and not the pent roof.
BUT its made at the same place in the same fashion. thus somewhat related.

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:08 pm

They are all the same to me.... If it ain't mag, it ain't for me!

Mike, used the penetrant on the front of your case around the fuel pump. Mine had so many cracks it looked like a Spider web! all of the small ones led to a bigger one that was starting to run down the case parting line!

Until that case has different material, and some through bolts I won't think about using another one... Hell i think that the material is recycled aluminum, thats why it looks so horrible! Any metallurgist in the house that could test it for us?

My case was "First generation" but why the hell were they released without being tested first? I have atleast 40 emails from guys that have had cracking issues, excess oil temps and had to align bore their brand new case before using it! Couldn't someone try and install a dizzy drive pinion at the factory and see if it was anywhere close to fitting??? How about the oil pressure relief, think they could slide one in the bore and see if it fits before boxing that baby and sending it to us as the best thing since sliced bread.

If you want an aluminum case- Use a Wasser or Type IV, they are die cast...

BTW, the TF1 is a high quality part. I have one and have found ZERO issues with it, and I looked very hard.

A_67vdub · Post by **A_67vdub** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:18 pm

A couple questions:

1. Are the AS41 Mag cases sand cast or die cast?

2. Anybody have an idea of what the TF-1 case costs?

Thanks,
Steve

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:29 pm

As 41 is DIE CAST.. and is VERY VOLATILE to do... Its so volatile that if oxygen is introduced at the wrong time the results are explosive. Rumour has it that the engine factory in Mexico in the early 80s burnt down because some worker opened the door at the wrong time..

TF1 is about 1400.00 last I checked... Mine has been cut for all TIV mains and opened for a flange, so it may have been more..

Muffler Mike · Post by **Muffler Mike** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:31 pm

A_67vdub wrote:A couple questions:

1. Are the AS41 Mag cases sand cast or die cast?

2. Anybody have an idea of what the TF-1 case costs?

Thanks,
Steve

When they just came out, i think i has a quote closer to $1400 on one of the tf-1 cases.
id imagine this price might have dropped since. but at least there was some real thought in those. drop the cam and actually be able to use a big stroke and not think about it.
but they lack a large sump right off the bat. would have been nice just to incorperate some sort of maybe 3 piece design or something. or just plane ole make it deep. But thats just my opinion.
there was a day that Performance Tech was going to make one of their own with all the good fetures and choice of sump size. but that fell off the earth as far as i know. Too bad.
if i was to pay that kind of money for my race application, id probably spend it on a case with a little more race oriented fetures. (scat, pauter, etc)

A_67vdub · Post by **A_67vdub** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:32 pm

Then why don't they just use aluminum instead of magnesium? Couldn't they just use the same molds?

Steve

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:45 pm

Die casting requires dies, not molds.... It is a totally different realm.

Its not simple, thats why no aftermarket case is die cast to my knowledge.

A_67vdub · Post by **A_67vdub** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:11 pm

1400?

I'm stickin' with mag.

Steve

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:19 pm

me too... The TF1 I have is for a monster that I have been pklaying with for a while.

Pat Downs · Post by **Pat Downs** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 6:05 pm

I read this post and checked our case out for a long time. I can not find any thin areas in the case. Ricky, were are these areas in yours? We are not selling our case at this time so yours had to come from another vender. I have built two test engines with our case. One being a 400 h-p turbo engine both gave me no problems at all. I have done crack checks and I can not find any on all our test cases. I have used the TF-1 case. I had the usual aftermarket issues like the stud holes were not tapped deep enough etc. The case did perform very well though when I finished the engine. We have spent many hours making sure our case is right so the customer isnt a guinny pig. Like any man made part, problems can occur. Because of all our testing,I feel confident that our case will work like we expext it to.

vgajames · Post by **vgajames** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 6:32 pm

Pat,i know for a fact(good or not) that the current Pentroof case on the market is a case marketed by IAP West and Bugpack.Bugpack gets them from IAP,however both footed the bill to get it made with much of the leg work being done by Ron Barrett(back and forth from Rimco to Brazial many times from what i understand until all were happy).I have heard the stories they stole the idea from CB,i don't know.Is Auto Lenia making the current market as well as the CB case? Or are they different in material appearance etc?I have seen all the Auto Lenia that are on the market so far and i myself will stick to the Mag case for my builds.Not impressed with the Auto Lenia!