advice for a first time bug builder.

tm000 Learner Dubber

3 posts · joined Sep 2013 · 13 Sep 2013, 11:26 am

#969775

Hey guys, just joined up as im looking for a little advice.
I bought my girlfriend a '68 beetle for her birthday as a project we could do together, ive played around with cars before, did a ground up rebuild on my first car a WB one tonner, but had never touched a bug.
ive got it running, which is a start, but theres a few electrical problems, wipers dont work, indcators dont work, few other things, and after looking under the hood the wires running them all are a huge mess and im pretty sure half of them are missing.

Now ive got a workshop manual with the schematic diagram, and am considering tearing them all out and starting from scratch and running all new cables. just want to know if this is biting off more than i think i can chew, is it something thats known to be harder than it looks, or with the right info is it do-able?

Any other advice on what to look for would be great cheers 🙂

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 13 Sep 2013, 2:07 pm

#969790

Hi there,

I say go for it. I was thinking as I was reading your post, 'tear everything out and start from scratch'. But that is just my thoughts as I made my complete wiring system in my car, my self from rolls of wire. If you have half a clue and the wiring diagram you will be fine.

You may want to have a quick look to see what is already there and see if you can save yourself some work first.

Should be easy with standard dash, as mine now has a few more gauges (6 in total) 😁

Kev

I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 13 Sep 2013, 6:02 pm

#969806

Baja it! 😀

welcome by the way

Quit calling rust patina

TorxKiwi Officially Full-On Dubber

231 posts · joined Jun 2011 · 14 Sep 2013, 6:06 am

#969867

Where are you?

"Ownership of a Beetle is not a destination it is a journey."

Paulc1964au Custom Title Time!

1,627 posts · joined Mar 2010 · 14 Sep 2013, 7:47 am

#969870

Camo wrote:Hi there,

I say go for it. I was thinking as I was reading your post, 'tear everything out and start from scratch'. But that is just my thoughts as I made my complete wiring system in my car, my self from rolls of wire. If you have half a clue and the wiring diagram you will be fine.

You may want to have a quick look to see what is already there and see if you can save yourself some work first.

Should be easy with standard dash, as mine now has a few more gauges (6 in total) 😁

Kev

So that explains when you turn left you right indicator flashes 😄

/url]Streetwise Aircooled Volkswagens
My 69 Bug

tm000 Learner Dubber

3 posts · joined Sep 2013 · 14 Sep 2013, 2:34 pm

#969897

cheers kev i appreciate it,
i work at super cheap aswell, so a wiring kit at cost price will make a nice weekend job for me haha...

and im in wollongong TorxKiwi 🙂

TorxKiwi Officially Full-On Dubber

231 posts · joined Jun 2011 · 14 Sep 2013, 3:53 pm

#969905

There seems to be a stack of forum members in your area to tap into. Take your time and have fun, electrics are pretty much guaranteed to give you the shits so be ready for it!!

"Ownership of a Beetle is not a destination it is a journey."

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 14 Sep 2013, 8:09 pm

#969932

tm000 wrote:cheers kev i appreciate it,
i work at super cheap aswell, so a wiring kit at cost price will make a nice weekend job for me haha...

and im in wollongong TorxKiwi 🙂

Does Supercheap do a wiring kit for bugs?

tm000 Learner Dubber

3 posts · joined Sep 2013 · 22 May 2014, 1:48 pm

#991428

sorry to bug you all again (yeah that pun..) but after trying to get stuck into this thing after moving houses a few times and not having the chance to work at it. the prick wont start, ive got no spark at the plugs anymore but i cant figure out why since it ran fine 6months ago. its been treated to a brand new carby, coil, plugs and leads but i cant imagine what ive touched and messed up that would cause no spark...

any ideas? 🙁🙁

i dont have a voltmeter so i havent been able to test points along the way but is there anything else that's prone to failing?