Good to know this.  I have a spare Reinz Wbxr Gasket Set along with a few
Brazilian and German (Elring) 1600 Gasket  Sets in my stash.  When I get
the time, I will pull the OP gaskets from each kit to measure and in
addition, measure the individual gaskets on the shelf at work.  The Oil
Pump for the 72-79 1600 w/Dished Camshaft is the same as for the
Wasserboxer, therefore the gaskets *should* be the same.

--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
75 914 1.8 "Nancy"
Full Timing From March 1999 To January 2012
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
Find me on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Thompson/100000710343835
***********************************

On Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 7:41 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm not sure if this is a known issue or even an important one, but I
> discovered something about the oil pump cover gasket in the Victor Reinz
> full gasket kit.
>
> I've just finished a head replacement in my old 2.1 engine. I replaced the
> oil pump cover gasket during the process. I measured the clearance of the
> pump gears to be between 0.002" and 0.003" so I elected to use the gasket
> instead of going commando as Tencentlife on the Samba has recommended. I
> did use the correct gasket, I did not mix up the front and rear gaskets.
>
> So when I finally started the engine I had very low oil pressure. Cold
> idle was 25 psi, cold max pressure was 60 psi.
> When hot, oil pressure was close to zero, max was 25 psi. With oil temp
> >80C, and at 2000 rpm, oil pressure was 25 psi.
>
> You can imagine my concern.
>
> I pulled the engine carrier, muffler, and damn skid plate (its a syncro)
> to get at the oil pressure relief valve. I was grasping at straws you
> understand, and I pulled the spring and piston (no, the piston was not
> stuck). The spring was 59.3mm long. There are threads the Samba that gave
> me the hope that perhaps shimming (in lieu of a new spring) the spring
> would boost pressure a little.
> I made a shim from brass which added 3mm to spring length.
>
> I re-connected muffler (supported on jack stands) and started engine. I
> got 30 psi cold at idle, max 75 psi. Hot pressures were 7-10 psi idle, 45
> psi max, and just shy of 20 psi at 2000 rpm.
>
> Improved but still not right. A new filter added maybe 2 psi to all values.
>
> Oh, I should mention I was using 15w-40 oil, my winter oil.
>
> Then I pulled the cover from the oil pump. I was *this* close to putting
> it back on sans gasket, but I decided to use a 0.004" gasket I got from
> local mechanic. I did not have this gasket before.
>
> Ok, added a little grease to pump gears (to help in priming), all the
> other things all put back on, coolant replaced, oil replaced.
>
> Engine start... cold pressures: idle 70 psi, max 90 psi. Hot pressures,
> idle 20 psi, max 60 psi, a solid 30 psi at 2000 rpm.
>
> (engine is old, only the heads were replaced, case not split)
>
> I'm happy with these pressures.
>
> So back, finally, to the gasket. I measured the gasket I removed and it
> was 0.011" thick. The back of the pump gasket (unused) was 0.012" thick.
>
> It looks like, at least in the kit I got, the thicknesses of the rear and
> front gaskets for the oil pump were the same.
>
> I don't know if this is a mistake on the part of Victor Reinz, but in my
> case the thick gasket resulted in very poor oil pressure.
>
> I hope this helps someone,
>
> cheers
>
> alistair