must do mods ?

So Im sitting here reading all the ideas that people have to mod their dubs. and the question comes across my mind, "Is the there one 'must do' mod??" I know it would vary from model to model, but in terms of the ole dak dak motor in all itsdifferent forms, is there one thing that everyone would do? I'll put it out there and see what you come up with!
Cheers Todd 😀🥷

Lower it by about 50mm.

im going with the t4 conversion and a brake upgrade. also depending on where you are a heater upgrade.

new coupler and bush on the gear shift rod

Flanged connectors on heater boxes

Actually, if it is in relation only to the motor itself, then I will say fitting a threaded barb to the fuel pump and carby with the fuel line in one pice between the two with the filter under the car.

Beetles would not have as much chance of catching on fire with this mod.

nolathane bushes, electric window washer pump spray thingie, painted caliper (+5hp), starter relay
a cup holder would be nice but i just wedge it between front seats.

I know old VW's have been running for years and years without it but a full flow oil system seems a pretty smart investment for your aircooled engine for these modern times.

some evry interesting replies. I was sure that there would be more about cranking the horsepower etc etc ..... I was mistaken ...

chippy wrote:So I'm sitting here reading all the ideas that people have to mod their dubs. and the question comes across my mind, "Is the there one 'must do' mod??" I know it would vary from model to model, but in terms of the ole dak dak motor in all its different forms, is there one thing that everyone would do? I'll put it out there and see what you come up with!
Cheers Todd 😀🥷

well We are all different Todd, so expect a lot of different answers...
My 68 semi auto beetle already has front disc brakes and the IRS rear end with CV joints.

*My first MUST DO was to add a doghouse oil cooler with wider fan etc..
lol

**next was an adjustable front end

***next to have a late model engine cover with the 4 sets of vents.

****next was an alternator and driving and fog lamps...

*****then weber Electronic ignition... [now dead]
have a new dizzy with Pertronix ignition to fit..

*****Air Horns naturally... must have ***

***** remote alarm... must have ***

weber carby and free flowing exhaust
[now replaced by NOS GENIE extractors]

Pop out windows.. [not yet fitted]

I am still trying different oil coolers... external.. just Me

alloy tappet covers... Extra sump with filter...

Lee

chippy wrote:some very interesting replies. I was sure that there would be more about cranking the horsepower etc etc ..... I was mistaken ...

there are many people with hot engines etc...

but the majority of Us are quite happy with a 1500 or 1600 engine...

I love driving My beetle, but not in 40C degree temps as like today... or even 35-36C like last week etc...

but when its cooler, I love driving it...

it has enough power for Me...

sometimes i think I would like a bit more power..
but once I tune the engine etc...

it goes quite well.... and i can keep up with traffic at all times... and beat most people at traffic lights... lol

LEE

I have to confess Lee that I'm not a HUGE fan of the later model beetles. However your bug is a very tidy example of a classy VW ... nice work! 😀 (I've always wanted to drive a semi-auto .... )
Todd

what is the green thing with the red hose going to it , in the top left of the engine bay ??


Clutch servo CONTROL VALVE which works off Vacuum
RED hose is the main Vacuum hose

LEE

I would think the 'must have' speed mod that everybody starts with is an upgraded exhaust system. You got to loose that pee shooter if your chasing hp.

Electronic ignition

FIRE EXTINGUISHER!
every car should have one.. or more

decent exhaust and electronic ignition

Here is a good list of things

http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/mods.htm

At least a 1915cc 😉

Hey - no-one's said sound system yet !!!

Doesn't have to be exxy with massive subs or anything like that, but something that sounds reasonable and is on par with a modern car.

I'm not a doof doof kinda guy, but bigger engine or exhaust also means bigger sound system in my book....

" Dump it".😀

Sides wrote:Hey - no-one's said sound system yet !!!

Doesn't have to be exxy with massive subs or anything like that, but something that sounds reasonable and is on par with a modern car.

I'm not a doof doof kinda guy, but bigger engine or exhaust also means bigger sound system in my book....

Yes,
Most of Us do like listening to good music [whatever that may be] thru a good sound system...
these days its a CD player/Radio..

I have a JVC CD player with 4 speakers and its loud enough for Me... lol

so this is also a NECESSITY for many VW Owners..

LEE

what are the lights down the right side of the dash for lee ??
T

chippy wrote:what is the green thing with the red hose going to it , in the top left of the engine bay ??

That is the clutch servo control valve and the red hose is for vacuum from the inlet manifold...
there is also a vacuum tank under the LHS rear guard...
there is a clutch in the gearbox, its operated by a servo by vacuum.. its either IN or OUT.. so no slippage and no wear..

this is all done when I move the gear lever forwards or backwards as there is an electric switch in the lower part of the gear lever.. which switches the control valve on...

its a very complicated piece of machinery...

it also has a torque converter which actually drives the car..
the engine does NOT drive the gearbox..

under the RHS rear guard is an Automatic Transmission Fluid tank..

cheers

LEE

Ask Dave carter what is needed for a good beetle sound system.... Good fun.

chippy wrote:what are the lights down the right side of the dash for lee ??
T

You have good eyesight Todd... lol

the top blue one has a very bright white LED inside it connected to the alarm system.. and flashes when the alarm is on..

the others are Electric fuel pump OFF - light is on - ignition on-

temperature of ATF is too hot - also a light in the speedo..

Fog lamps are on...

the bulbs in those lights are fiddly.. most of the time they don;'t work... so I've replaced all the bulbs with bright white LEDs...

I also have super bright LEDs in My Speedo too excepting the alternator lamp which needs a bulb to work...

Lee

remove the death foam NOWOWWWW!! If u got a later beetle... but i don't think u do, when u mentioned ur not all that much of a fan with them :P

Number one mod for me: 6" wide rims. Makes such a difference to the handling, looks much better and the wider tyres are cheaper and easier to find.

Following that, electric windscreen washer bottle. And modern globes for the headlamps.

Sportier seats and steering wheel make a big difference to the driving experience too, if you don't mind loosing a bit of originality (which I certainly don't).

From there on in, whatever makes you happy!

death foam ???????

chippy wrote:death foam ???????

Later model bugs... I think from 68 on... the factory glued foam up inside the C pillars near the bottom corners of the back window.

It was apparently meant to stop engine noise going up the roof line there into the cabin, but in reality all it did was trap water there and cause rust.

Rust = death to metal things (obviously), hence - death foam.

Earlier bugs had triangular pillow type things shoved up there, but they don't seem to have caused much trouble... NFI why they changed to the foam in the first place !!!

I thought it was 71 on cause thats when the got those vents behind the quarter windows.

waveman1500 wrote:
Number one mod for me: 6" wide rims. Makes such a difference to the handling, looks much better and the wider tyres are cheaper and easier to find. AGREE

Following that, electric windscreen washer bottle. And modern Xenon globes for the headlamps. AGREE

Sportier seats and steering wheel make a big difference to the driving experience too, if you don't mind loosing a bit of originality (which I certainly don't).

From there on in, whatever makes you happy!

I have 1302S seats which are OK.. but prefer the larger original VW 1973 type 3 collapsible steering wheel.

I have a small wooden one but didn;t like it..much too small..

Bonnet protector is also a good addition..
stone guards on the guards is another one if you live in the country..
I wouldn't be without a remote alarm system.


LEE