I am new to the beetle world, but I have been busy restoring an old 911 for the past couple of years, so that sort of counts. I have just recently ventured into the world of Beetles and I have picked up a surprisingly rust free '71 Super.
I have a YouTube channel as an outlet for my love of restoring classic cars, and I am really excited to get stuck into this new project. I am only new to the Beetle world so I am keen for any advice you guys can give me.
Anyway, here is my first video to give you an intro to the car.
beetleboyjeff ·
That looks like a great project Jeff (and spelt correctly too). You should also share it on SBO - Super Beetles Only - http://www.superbeetlesonly.com/ A lot of Super owners world wide would be very interested in this.
Love the presentation of the video by the way
Home Built by Jeff ·
beetleboyjeff wrote:That looks like a great project Jeff (and spelt correctly too). You should also share it on SBO - Super Beetles Only - http://www.superbeetlesonly.com/ A lot of Super owners world wide would be very interested in this.
Love the presentation of the video by the way
Thanks mate. Yep, definitely not a Gee-off.
I will go and check it out.
1303Steve ·
Great project, can't wait to see more, if you need any advice let me know
Home Built by Jeff ·
1303Steve wrote:Great project, can't wait to see more, if you need any advice let me know
Thanks mate. Progress should be pretty swift. I will post up new videos every Tuesday.
Home Built by Jeff ·
Mrs Jeff finally gets her first drive of the Beetle, but it doesn't exactly go as planned.
beetleboyjeff ·
The cause of the cutting out when hot could be the coil on it's way out, and failing when it heats up. If it was hot and you stopped for a few minutes, it could be a vapour lock in the fuel line if it is too close to the heads and getting too hot.
The most likely cause of the vague 2nd gear is the bush in the tunnel for the gear shift, or the connection of the gear shaft to the front of the gear box. They are both quite in-expensive, and the connector is quite easy to fit. The bush is a bit more fiddly, but not too bad.
If you search this site, there is already a lot of answers to these questions, or there are a number of YouTube videos to show you how to do these things, especially the gear selector shaft bush etc. - look for ones by Joel - he really knows his stuff and explains it very well
Home Built by Jeff ·
I am going to look a bit further into the not starting when hot issue, and see how it goes. I have a few tips fo things to try.
The gear bushes are definitely need to get sorted soon.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week my priority was to make the Beetle look a whole lot better, by lowering the front end.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I thought I would tackle the rust at the base of the A pillar on the Beetle, and of course there was more than I thought.
beetleboyjeff ·
I love the new CAD anagram - Cardboard Aided Design. lol
wombatventures ·
Welcome Jeff.
Great to see another Super getting some Love.
Videos are cool. Yes I Subscribed!
Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Terry
1303Steve ·
I think that A pillar rust was caused by a poor fitting plug in the antenna hole.
I used Mk 1 Golf bump stop rubbers when I lowered Supers like that in the past, it gave a little more travel
great video btw
Home Built by Jeff ·
beetleboyjeff wrote:I love the new CAD anagram - Cardboard Aided Design. lol
I can't take credit, I stole that off the Project Binky guys 😉
Home Built by Jeff ·
1303Steve wrote:I think that A pillar rust was caused by a poor fitting plug in the antenna hole.
I used Mk 1 Golf bump stop rubbers when I lowered Supers like that in the past, it gave a little more travel
great video btw
Good tip, thanks mate I will check it out and see how it is fitting.
Home Built by Jeff ·
I thought the best way to tackle my hot starting issues with the Beetle was to start by giving it a full service. So first up it is valves and timing.
1303Steve ·
Hi Jeff
Your learning quickly how to work on these oversize Meccano sets.
You can safely take the dizzy out by undoing the M8 nut that holds the clamp onto the motor, it has an offset drive so you cant get it back in wrong, you will find it much easier to work on. The bolt or male threaded section is welded to the clamp.
You have your timing marks mixed up as well. TDC is on the outer rim and looks like a grinder mark.
Looks like a thread was stripped in the head previously, get a new plug and leave like that unless you want start tearing the motor down.
Steve
1303Steve ·
forgot to say that your choke must still be on for the fast idle cam to be sitting where it is. The screw in the arm is used setting the throttle plate so that it doesn't jam when the throttle is released quickly, so it should just touch the fast idle cam
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I finished off servicing the Bug, which included replacing the fluids, and relocating the fuel filter. I also got around to replacing the broken quarter window latch.
beetleboyjeff ·
Good move to get that fuel filter out of the engine bay. :-)
m4co ·
Cool video series, about time that oil was changed!
wombatventures ·
Your Vids are good inspiration Jeff. I'm now working my way through the Porsche and 240Z ones as well.
I'm off to see if I can find my workshop again.
Home Built by Jeff ·
Thanks guys, I am glad you are enjoying them.
Another week working on the bug and this time I tackled repairing the dash where some moron bashed in the previous stereo and installed a new one.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I tackled the rusty drivers door on the Beetle, so we are getting there. Slowly but surely it is all coming together.
Home Built by Jeff ·
I am back into the Beetle and this week I repair the rust in the battery tray and then tidy up the engine bay.
paslow22 ·
Home Built by Jeff wrote:I am back into the Beetle and this week I repair the rust in the battery tray and then tidy up the engine bay.
Hi,
Like you videos they are great and I just watched your battery box repair and painting the engine bay and noticed that you may want to fit a hose clamp on the top hose on your fuel pump which you may have done already.
I mention this because I purchased a 71 bug that a young guy who pent 3 years getting it restored by a company in Cromer and after having it for 12 months had a mechanic remove a relay off an electric fuel pump and 10 minutes down the road it caught on fire and as he had spent a bomb on it, how does $170,000 sound as he gave me all the receipts, he didn't want to spend any more on it and I was the lucky one to buy it.
He even had it investigated but to no avail they couldn't prove that the mechanic had done it, he also gave me the copies of the investigation.
Anyway that's the reason I mention the clamp om the fuel line.
The previous owner put the 3 year restoration on you Tube as 1971 Kameleon VW Beetle restoration there is about 12 pieces in it .
Regards
Darryl
Home Built by Jeff ·
Thanks Darryl. I have clamps on the fuel line from the pump to the carby, but I need to go back and put some more on the line to the fuel pump. It is very tight, but it doesn't hurt to be over cautious.
This week the plan was to do the brakes, but first I had to replace the dodgy fuel pump that started leaking in last weeks episode.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week my goals were to replace the rear brakes, but first I thought I would fix the dodgy fuel pump issue... Well there was a slight issue with that.
beetleboyjeff ·
Jeff, to undo the axle nut without the wheel on, get a longish, heavy piece of steel angle (say 1m or more) with a hole in one end, and use one of the wheel nuts to bolt it to the drum. With the other end of the angle on the ground, let the drum rotate until the angle hits on the centre of the drum. This will then stop any movement at the nut as you try to undo it.
The other way to do it is with a torque multiplier . Have a talk to Vintage Vee Dub Supplies (Boris) - 02 97 891 777 - he may have them, or have other suggestions.
Home Built by Jeff ·
I will see how I go, I have a couple of options that I am going to try.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week first job was to work out why the car was breaking down on me, and then there is the issue of that super tight hub nut.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I attempt to stop the infuriating squealing brakes, and then bleed them all.
1303Steve ·
Jeff, is your Porsche colour Blood Orange?
Home Built by Jeff ·
1303Steve wrote:Jeff, is your Porsche colour Blood Orange?
No, my 911 is Gluf Orange 😀
I am in the final stretch with the Beetle build now and this week I got stuck into tidying up the froot.
Home Built by Jeff ·
My Beetle's rolling resto phase has come to an end. This week I have stripped the entire car down to prepare it for paint.
1303Steve ·
So what colour are you going top paint the bug?
Good work not cutting the head light socket off.
this picture should help you with the wiring
Home Built by Jeff ·
1303Steve wrote:So what colour are you going top paint the bug?
Good work not cutting the head light socket off.
this picture should help you with the wiring
Thanks for the pic, that might come in handy. As for the colour, I am going Beat blue over white. I think it should look pretty good.
This week the plan was to clean up the shell of the car and get a coat of primer on it. I say was....
1303Steve ·
Hi
Good work, not sure if you are going to do it, but its really easy to remove the wiper motor, it will give a much cleaner finish
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I finally get the body of the Beetle in primer.
Home Built by Jeff ·
1303Steve wrote:Hi
Good work, not sure if you are going to do it, but its really easy to remove the wiper motor, it will give a much cleaner finish
Yep, I just unbolted it from the splines and let it drop down under the cowling. I didn't realise it would be so easy, as on other cars it can be a lot more involved 😀
pv370 ·
Steering wheel removal tip for future reference..............as the thread is fairly long leave the nut on a couple of turns, that way the wheel doesnt hit you in the face when it finally releases
Home Built by Jeff ·
pv370 wrote:Steering wheel removal tip for future reference..............as the thread is fairly long leave the nut on a couple of turns, that way the wheel doesnt hit you in the face when it finally releases
Good tip 😉
This week we get the bottom half of the 2 tone paint job on the shell of John Lemon.
Home Built by Jeff ·
I have finally got the new colour on John Lemon and it looks awesome!
beetleboyjeff ·
I agree, that colour does look good
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I tidy up and put some primer on the rest of John Lemon's parts.
Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get my steering wheel to work...?
barls ·
apart from changing the spline but im fairly sure the supers have a different length in the shaft to the early models. as they take a slightly different path and use a different steering box as well.
i probably have a standard wheel for a super up at grumbles but not 100% on that.
Home Built by Jeff ·
barls wrote:apart from changing the spline but im fairly sure the supers have a different length in the shaft to the early models. as they take a slightly different path and use a different steering box as well.
i probably have a standard wheel for a super up at grumbles but not 100% on that.
Is the standard early super wheel the same style as the one I have, or is it the ugly plastic one. I really like this old style wheel, so that is what I am really looking for if I can make it work.
Home Built by Jeff ·
I have just done some research on what I have, and the wheel I bought was for '74 and newer. It turns out I actually need an earlier steering wheel. I have reached out to VW Heritage, where I bought the wheel, so hopefully I an exchange it. It will cost me some shipping but hopefully I can sort it out.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I cut out my runs and get some paint on the doors.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I get all the remaining parts of my Beetle 'John Lemon' painted, but it doesn't all go to plan.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I continue assembling John Lemon. It is not done, but at least now I can now drive it again.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This weeks Beetle escapades move to doing something about the old ratty wheels and also refreshing the speedo.
Home Built by Jeff ·
My Beetle 'John Lemon' is really starting to look the part. This weeks task was to do something about the terrible old interior. It is getting so close to being finished. I love it.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I try to button up a bunch of little things on John Lemon. 1 out of 4 will have to do.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I fix the fuel pressure but I am still suffering with warm start issues. I also install the new gear bushing which has transformed the shifting.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This week I keep attacking my warm start issues by stripping and cleaning up the carb, and then finish some paint correction.
Home Built by Jeff ·
This is the series final of project John Lemon, and this week I replace the shocks and lower the rear of the Beetle.
beetleboyjeff ·
Great job, well done, and thank you so much for sharing
Home Built by Jeff ·
This is just a quick video trying some of the suggested tests for my warm start issues. At this stage it is still not fixed.
hulbyw ·
beetleboyjeff wrote:Great job, well done, and thank you so much for sharing
X 2
Cheers
Home Built by Jeff ·
John Lemon is finally finished, so here is the entire journey wrapped up in 5 minutes.
56astro ·
Great stuff
Home Built by Jeff ·
This episode I finally sort out the last couple of niggly bits on John Lemon and then I get Mrs Jeff's final verdict on the finished car.
beetleboyjeff ·
Great job, and I have been loving your blogs. Thank you very much
Bizarre ·
Nice work
hulbyw ·
Yes, me too. Thanks for posting up on the forum all your work and ideas
Cheers..............Wayne