I was driving my buddy's vw 1960 beetle 1600cc engine down the freeway at 80 miles per hour for over a half hour. I heard a tick tick tick sound and started to lose power. When i reved it, it got louder. I pulled over and looked at the engine. I thought it was a miss. but with the engine turned on, it was loud and made a banging noise. with the engine off, i checked the points but turning the alternator by hand clockwise to see the gap open on the points. I thought it was the fan banging. so I went to drive it, and it stalled when i applied 1st gear. i put it in neutral and started it again, then it died making that noise ( i know its not a fuel, spark, or air problem) I thought maybe it was the tranny clutch, but it moves freely in neutral. but trying to start it again. the starter clicked, i tried turning the alternator pully clockwise again, and it wouldn't turn. i got it towed home and took off the alternator belt and the alternator freely spun.. no noise from the fan either BUT check this, i tried turning the crankshaft pulley by hand...seized!! i put a wrench on it,,no luck. IM thinking of three possible causes....1. it threw a rod 2. overheated and rendered the oil useless seizing the bearings 3. valve bent. Im leaning towards a rod. because the sound it made. BTW its a 1960 VW beetle aircooled 1600cc. almost 50K miles and had full tank of gas. and oil was up to level.everything looks okay. Ive worked on the engine several times b4 fixing it, by replace a bad coil, tune up, new carb, dizzy component upgrades, timed it, tranny bushing, you name ive probably fixed it. BUT it strange this happened. Its not my repairs but rather my neglect to keep the rpms lower in forth gear and lugging it.
I have to fix it because i drove it. Its not even my car, i got to try it once and it breaks on me. but then again 80 is ridiculous . so is it a rod? i got the engine almost ready to be removed from the car almost. please help//
