Tapping/knocking on acceleration - likely rod knock. When followed by
sudden engine stoppage - probably catastrophic engine failure. Sounds
like new engine time.

Before anything else - drain the oil through a fine paint strainer. It
there is metal - dead engine. Also pull the oil filter and cut it open,
washing out the contents and spreading over a white cloth or paper
towels. Lots of metal - dead engine. Next, see if you can turn the
engine over by had (with plugs removed of course). If no turn - dead
engine.

Just my $0.02.

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 5/24/2010 4:47 PM, Jack Reynaert wrote:
> Not sure what happened, but as we were following our friends 90 Westy
> "automatic" on the highway, their motor just stopped as they were traveling
> at 70MPH.
>
> About 60k miles on the engine.
>
>
>
> Good thing we were behind them in our Westy, as we were able to transfer
> their stuff as they had it towed to a foreign car mechanic we found on
> Autohaus (only 6 miles from their breakdown), had a nice dinner in Grand
> Ledge MI, and drove them home to Detroit.
>
>
>
> No warning lights, no overheat, full battery power... when we pulled the
> motor cover, both fan belts were off the motor and the starter wouldn't turn
> the motor.
>
> Nothing leaking from below.
>
>
>
> There was a tapping sound upon acceleration, but that went away, and didn't
> make the sound when in Park with engine rev.
>
>
>
> Sounds like a catastrophic failure eh?
>
>
>
> If the motor has failed, we will likely go with the Bostig conversion.
>
>
>
> Any ideas what might have happened, based on the clues above?!?
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Jack R.
>
> 84 Westy
>
>
>
> On behalf of our Friends
>
> Chris&  Bob
>
> 90 Westy
>
>
>