New L Bug owner near Sydney

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 29 Jun 2013, 8:21 pm

#961453

Hi all,

I have recently purchased my first air cooled VW, which now sits alongside my less stylish but somewhat more frugal 2006 Polo TDi.

Armed only with basic knowledge, the experience of previously owning an '88 LHD camper which threw a clutch and then finally a head around Europe after 6 months, and a torch, I inspected and purchased an original condition blue unloved but registered L Bug for spare change. Then drove it home across Sydney.

It is to be a learning project for myself and also qualifies as a 'push present' for the missus who has always wanted one and just brought our third child into the world.

I imagine a world of pain awaits, but a new passenger floor pan is the first step, along with a professional service from a real mechanic who can tell me what needs doing.

Relocating the fuel filter seems to be a popular early job, any advice on what else I should look into greatly appreciated. An annoying 'feature' is a tendency to stall when slowing down to a stop, which is very concerning at intersections. Thoughts?

Which online part stores are recommended?

Thanks for your time and the great forums, Tim.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Jun 2013, 10:00 pm

#961460

Sounds like it needs a good service
The stalling could be several things, vac leaks, choke, or just a carb setting to name a few things.
Biggest culprit of L bugs is the front set up.
A new set of front bushings should be looked at.

What year is your L - early 3 bolt strut (73 - 74) 2 bolt (74) or late 2 bolt rack and pinion steering (75)

Where abouts are you?

Futue te ipsum!!!

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 29 Jun 2013, 10:26 pm

#961462

Thanks - planning a service this coming week with a local shop who appear to know these cars. Muir book in the mail too for future reference.

It's a 75 according to chassis number (76 on rego papers) but the struts appear to have 3 bolts I thought. Will check again in the morning.

I'm in Razorback, just past Camden. Cheers.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Jun 2013, 11:40 pm

#961465

Hi

Congratulations on purchasing the best model bug.

The closet good VW place is Klaak Motors in Fairfield or a mobile guy called Mountain Mechanics.

I have a friend in Razorback who's VW nut as well.

Steve

Paulc1964au Custom Title Time!

1,627 posts · joined Mar 2010 · 30 Jun 2013, 8:29 am

#961473

Welcome Tim quite a number of VW enthusiasts live out the south west including myself.

Some good online stores I recommend are vintage Vw they ALS have a store and workshop at Kingsgrove and Vollks.com.au

Can u post some pics would be great to see your new purchase

/url]Streetwise Aircooled Volkswagens
My 69 Bug

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 30 Jun 2013, 11:32 am

#961490

Was that by chance the harbour blue 75 on Gumtree that had the fibreglass scoop on the rear air vents and SA plates?

That looked like a good base for a resto

Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!

1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 30 Jun 2013, 1:51 pm

#961515

reverb wrote:It's a 75 according to chassis number (76 on rego papers) but the struts appear to have 3 bolts I thought.

Welcome to the forum. The bolts referred to are at the bottom of the strut at the spindle, not where it bolts to the top under the bonnet. You will need to check there to know which strut you have.

Yogie

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 30 Jun 2013, 3:38 pm

#961521

Joel wrote:Was that by chance the harbour blue 75 on Gumtree that had the fibreglass scoop on the rear air vents and SA plates?

That looked like a good base for a resto

Yep that's the one, I figured I wouldn't have been the only one who spotted it 🙂

Given it runs reasonably well and I've only found the floorpan rust thus far it seems a decent buy.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 30 Jun 2013, 4:32 pm

#961525

You got the best model if you got a 75 with rack and pinion 👍

Futue te ipsum!!!

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 30 Jun 2013, 8:02 pm

#961564

Yogie wrote:Welcome to the forum. The bolts referred to are at the bottom of the strut at the spindle, not where it bolts to the top under the bonnet. You will need to check there to know which strut you have.

Yogie

Thanks - obvious n00b here. Very definitely two bolts at the bottom of the struts.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 30 Jun 2013, 9:57 pm

#961584

Paulc1964au wrote:Welcome Tim quite a number of VW enthusiasts live out the south west including myself.

Some good online stores I recommend are vintage Vw they ALS have a store and workshop at Kingsgrove and Vollks.com.au

Can u post some pics would be great to see your new purchase

Thanks for the tips.

Some photos in purchased condition now online here on Flickr

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 30 Jun 2013, 10:01 pm

#961585

1303Steve wrote:Hi

Congratulations on purchasing the best model bug.

The closet good VW place is Klaak Motors in Fairfield or a mobile guy called Mountain Mechanics.

I have a friend in Razorback who's VW nut as well.

Steve

Thanks for the tips - for initial service Fairfield is a stretch so was planning on Macarthur Grange who seem to know their stuff. If that doesn't end well I'll travel further afar for later work.

If your Razorback mate is nutty enough to want to have a look feel free to get in touch via PM. I'd certainly appreciate the impartial advice.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 19 Dec 2013, 7:19 am

#978131

Finally got the bug back yesterday, floor pan re-welded, and stalling fixed (new coil).

Various other repairs including front lower ball joints, fuel pump replaced, fuel filter relocated, plus a whole pile of little things I'm sure you can all imagine.

I had decided I wanted it roadworthy to drive home, knowing I could improve it from there, so most importantly the blue bug now has a blue slip. This should make it much easier to get one again when I take it back to the same guy at some point in the future ready to actually register it.

Time to clear out the shed and have a good think about what steps to take next. I'm not sure if it will need body off, so probably going to spend some time investigating before deciding. Perhaps fully strip the interior and look around potential dodgy areas.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 2 Feb 2014, 5:16 pm

#982192

Gutting interior, peeling back the 39 years of previous ownership. Somewhat surprised that I haven't found any major rust yet. Could be under the very next bolt...

Have cleaned off the engine somewhat so can see what leaks are current. Seems to be a bit of fuel leaking from the "smog vacuum control device" on the RHS of the H30/31 PICT. Rebuild or replace?

Also leaking oil from somewhere near transmission, need to clean that all well to work out where. Happy to pull the motor and make it all like new one day, but would rather this be a bit futher down the ownership path.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Feb 2014, 5:14 pm

#982271

reverb wrote:Also leaking oil from somewhere near transmission,

Front engine seal??

I would get your hands on a OG 34 Pict and get that rebuilt

Futue te ipsum!!!

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 3 Feb 2014, 6:10 pm

#982275

1303Steve wrote:Hi
Congratulations on purchasing the best model bug.

YAWN......🙅

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 3 Feb 2014, 6:47 pm

#982277

Bizarre wrote:
reverb wrote:Also leaking oil from somewhere near transmission,
Front engine seal??

I would get your hands on a OG 34 Pict and get that rebuilt

Yeah I think it is the front seal, had a good look today and leak is almost definitely coming from between engine and transmission. No simple fix, but well worth doing. I'd guess this motor hasn't been removed for a very long time, was an unloved daily driver before I got it.

I'm going with minimal budget maximum learning approach to start with, so might aim to rebuild the current carb as the first option. But yes 34 is the logical place to go if that fails.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 3 Feb 2014, 6:48 pm

#982278

Stripped more interior. Still no rust... (except for surface of course)

It came from SA - well known as good or bad for rust anyone?

Maybe I'm just paranoid?

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 3 Feb 2014, 6:51 pm

#982279

Craig Torrens wrote:
1303Steve wrote:Hi
Congratulations on purchasing the best model bug.
YAWN......🙅

Each to their own - I'd happily have an older one as well one day, but the relative 'newness' of this seems better for a complete amateur mechinic thus far.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Feb 2014, 7:35 pm

#982286

Dont worry about Craig, hes likes to heckle like Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets

rickp Officially Full-On Dubber

200 posts · joined Apr 2010 · 3 Feb 2014, 8:43 pm

#982296

another westerner.. maybe we should start our own contingent😂

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 11 Feb 2014, 6:55 am

#982992

Finally found some rust, in the obligatory behind-dash position. Although from pictures I've seen online I'm getting off pretty lightly.

Next steps: remove fresh air box, remove fuel tank, acquire welder, re-teach self to weld.

I did say this was a project.

Home welding suggestions? Cheap but straightforward please 🙂

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Feb 2014, 8:01 am

#982999

Hi

I got rid of the vent in the front scuttle panel, water will never get in there again.

Steve

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 11 Feb 2014, 8:45 am

#983002

1303Steve wrote:Hi

I got rid of the vent in the front scuttle panel, water will never get in there again.

Steve

Hmmm, interesting approach. I think mine is unlikely to make it to daily driver status so water should be minimal.
Mind you until I fix all air leakage into cabin, new bonnet plus seals etc. I don't really need a fan.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 11 Feb 2014, 8:48 am

#983003

reverb wrote:Finally found some rust, in the obligatory behind-dash position. Although from pictures I've seen online I'm getting off pretty lightly.

If you are talking about my convertible from the dash removal threads it was a pretty severe case from sitting unused in a backyard under trees for many years.

Normally if they rusted much worse than yours the whole car is a rust heap.

As Steve says just fill in the vents, I did the same.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Feb 2014, 2:44 pm

#983030

I agree - fill in the vents. Especially if daily driver. It isn't so much the water but the dust and leaves etc that fill up the air box and form a layer of silt that corrodes away
When you take the air box cover off you will see the drain point is not the lowest point.

I use to leave the air box cover off so as the fan just draws air in from the boot for the demister

Futue te ipsum!!!

reverb Learner Dubber

14 posts · joined Jun 2013 · 2 Mar 2014, 7:14 pm

#984843

OK I'm hoping someone can give me an interesting history lesson. The chassis number under the back seat is 135214xxxx, which I understand means 1975 model year, but the plate next to the spare wheel with the body number has 136031yyyy, meaning a 1976 model year.
I assume this means the chassis dates somewhere from mid 1974 to 1975 and the body somewhere from mid 1975 to mid 1976?
Does this also mean that they were originally from different cars, or perhaps just towards the end of the run VW AU started to mix and match what they had left?
I believe there is supposed to be a third plate, but mine is missing most likely lost during a respray.

Someone else had a car like this in this old SBO thread .

It's definitely not a "1976 Beetle" though (based on non-Super) - it's a got the fat ugly face, struts, discs, etc.

1975 L Bug
2006 Polo TDi
1988 Transporter T3 Camper (R.I.P)

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 Mar 2014, 8:21 pm

#984848

The VIN under the rear seat on the chassis is the important one

There are 2 other tags.

The one that is (usually) on the front apron near the hood latch.
That is a compliance plate. That is the one I was talking about in the link you posted above.

The one near the wheel well is a body tag or something.
I have never worried about those.

PS
Give me your R&P ugly bug any day over a 1976 standard
Make no sense at all

PM Joel - he will tall you the facts

Futue te ipsum!!!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 2 Mar 2014, 8:59 pm

#984855

reverb wrote:but the plate next to the spare wheel with the body number has 136031yyyy, meaning a 1976 model year.

You mean like this 😉

It's not a VIN number.
That is the model number