My New Beetle

Well I thought instead of creating multiple threads about the same car I will just open up one so if I get stuck with anything I can just post in here.

I'll upload some pictures tomorrow.

First of all however, my car doesn't have reversing lights which I'm pretty sure I need to pass rego.

It's a 1970 Beetle. The problem is there is no wiring to the rear taillights for a reversing light. Did some models come with them and so not? What is the easiest way of installing a switch? I can run the wires it just the switch im not too sure on.

My 69 has a switch in the gearbox for the reversing light but if the car doesn't come standard then I don't think you need to have one installed.

Looking forward to see pics of your new beetle

mines a 71 s bug, does have a switch, but not wired up. Apparently my year didnt come with reversing lights so i didnt need them to pass rego so i didnt bother re-wiring them up. Pretty sure the switch may have been put in later cause what was left of the wiring wasnt original, and Im pretty sure they only had reversing lights from 72 onwards

Ahh I am very glad to hear that. Just one more thing to tick off the list of things to do.

I'll be reupholstering the front seats soon but I am struggling to find a place for material. I went to spotlight but they really didn't have anything. Does anyone know where to go? I don't want leather simply because of the price.

Yep, reversing lights were unnecessary luxury features in 1970. As for upholstery material, try an upholstery suppliers! They do exist, look in the phone book. Several people sell upholstery supplies on eBay as well for reasonable prices.

reverse lights didn't start on aussie bugs and kombis veedubs till 72, type3s were a year or 2 earlier though

most of the earlier cars that have the switches have usually just had gearbox swap from a later car.
not unusual after 4 decades

Ahh ok well I'll have a look around this weekend and see what I can find.

Well here are the pictures. Sorry about the camera, its waterproof one but hates being used when its not in the water.

[IMG]https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/2628/p4230397.th.jpg[/IMG]

The engine lid and boot? have been primed ready for a respray.

Currently the car has no carby's, changing from dual to single carby, Back seats have already been upholstered, new cd player was installed, tacho was installed (got it for free so I thought I may as well use it).

[IMG]https://img693.imageshack.us/img693/510/p4230396.th.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]https://img693.imageshack.us/img693

[URL=http://img707.imageshack.us/i/p4230398.jpg/][IMG]http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/7372/p4230398.th.jpg[/IMG]



[IMG]https://img693.imageshack.us/img693/8890/p4230405.th.jpg[/IMG]


The car has an alarm system.. I guess. I mean theres a blinking light in the dash and a black box in the front, but all it seems to do is make the LED flash.

As for the back, the picture is blurry but there are water marks in the back corners, I have no idea why this is showing, there are water marks around the sun roof but that was because it was leaking. Anyone have any idea?




Also the door pillar seems to be pretty rusted out, still trying to come up with a plan for that one.

[IMG]https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/492/p4230401.th.jpg[/IMG]


So as you can see it isn't too bad condition, the car needs a new paint job, but interior wise its in good condition.

I haven't really done much to it since I have bought it. I've only really installed a 12volt port for the gps and phone charger, installed the cd player and speakers, put a new interior light in under the dash (the other one wasn't illuminating enough), installed a light in the bonnet to turn on when its opened, changed the brake pads, removed the master and cleaned it out (had alot of dirt in it), installed electric washer pump and just started painting the lids. What else do you think I should do?

What are you going to do with the dual carbs?

Looking good how difficult was it to install the tacho?

I've swapped the dual carbs for a single with someone in the forum, I'm more comfortable with tuning single carby than the dual.

The tacho was easy, the hardest part was running the signal wire, I'm not used to running them into the back of a car so finding a route which wouldn't pick up interference and wouldn't get damaged was difficult. I ending up just running it along side the factory wiring. It isn't the best tacho however, it's a bit slow, but it helps to adjust the idles.

Just finished I guess you could call retrofitting a washer pump to the stock washer bottle. Isn't installed yet but I'll do that tomorrow and see how it goes. Here are some pictures for now.

Sorry to double post guys.

But my plan was to spray to engine lid and bonnet, but it started to pour down today and there is now just too much moister in the air. So I though while the bonnet was off it would give me a good chance to tackle the birdsnest of wires that the previous somehow managed to create!

As I said there is some black security box they added which is where most of the mess is coming from. Now has anyone written up a thread on how to tidy up the wiring or can anyone give me a guide. I have the haynes workshop manual but the wiring diagram doesn't really help!!

So I got the boot lid finished today. I put the clear coat on about 2 hours ago. I think it came up alright, it needs a little bit of wet sand.

Now I just have to move onto the whole car. Let me know what you think.

mickey_0789 wrote:The tacho was easy, the hardest part was running the signal wire, I'm not used to running them into the back of a car so finding a route which wouldn't pick up interference and wouldn't get damaged was difficult. I ending up just running it along side the factory wiring. It isn't the best tacho however, it's a bit slow, but it helps to adjust the idles.

the lazy/psycho tach in bugs is a pretty easy fix
most modern tachs now, especiallly the cheaper chinese ones are made for modern EFI cars so run on a nice clean computer generated tach signal so they often dont work too well in an old car with shaky points ignition or even some of these aftermarket electronic ignition kits for vws

the fix is to chuck a rectifyier diode on the signal line which cleans the signal up heaps
I've had to do it for a few bugs now where modern tachs don't function right and it works every time

Just go to dicksmith and get a rectifier diode (part number IN4004) and put it in the signal wire to the tach but put it near the tach end.
i was originally putting them at the coil end and the heat kills them. they only work one way though so if no worky flip it around
they were 10cents each last time i bought one

also not that its important but i had a look at your bug for a freind when it was on ebay and unless its had a body swap which isnt uncommon its a 68.
it may have a 70 floor pan which is why it could be reg'd as a 70 but the body is definatley 68

if it is a 68 the first 3 digits of the VIN under the backseat will be 118 if its a 70 it'll be 110

Hey Joel

My bug seems to be a bag of mixed goodies. I just found out today that the engine isn't a beetle engine. The start of the engine code is HO which according to the code library is a type 2 engine. I seem to be having nothing but troubles with this beetle, from bog, to engine, to brakes and just recently turn signals!! Not to mention BAD wiring, I bought her for way too much. I honestly haven't look at the VIN yet, its the last thing on my mind but that the first thing on my list tomorrow.

Thanks for your help with the tacho!!

What were your thoughts when you went and looked at it?



Just had a look at the vin, it looks like 110 however half of the 0 seems to be cut off so it could be 8. I'll get in there with the wire brush tomorrow.

wiring on any 40+ year old car is never a pretty sight especially when umpteen previous owners have all done their own thing with it

i didnt actually look at in person, just the ebay listing, a mate wanted to know if it was worth going to look at

that would more than likely be a bug motor and could even be the original, aussie 1500 bugs still used H engines

its pointless using most online sites for technical info as they all use german or US specs which were totally different to aus assembled bugs

Well thanks for your help joel.

Only reason I say its not a beetle engine is because I did a carby swap with Shane and when he went to put the manifold on his beetle they were WAY too big. He thought it could of been a type 3 engine or the head's were changed.

Im still trying to find out 100% that single port type 3s are bigger than beetle,these manifolds dont even go close to fitting??? its🤪

the core engine itself is pretty well the same from bug,type3 and kombi, its only cooling, carb, hanger mounts etc thats different

Shane its not something sillly like early 1300sp heads and late 1500 manifolds?

Im not sure joel,the manifolds are home made and the casrbys are type 3 ,but they dont fit both my 1500 single ports they are bigger,one is a kombi motor the other from a beetle,do you know the distance between the inlet studs on a type 3 single port by anychance???

no idea sorrry

but has a stock 1500 manifold fitted mickeys engine?

Shane's carby kit should be here tomorrow, I'll have to look at it.

From stud to stud is 65mm and diameter of inlet hole is 30mm... I haven't fitted yours yet shane but the measurements on my heads match the measurements on the intake manifold you sent me. I'll try and put it on now and let you know how it goes.

Starting on tidying up the wiring this afternoon and pulled the full tank out to have a look at the master cylinder.

I had a few problems with the brakes about 2 weeks ago were they locked on, I was just about to buy a new master cylinder when I had to move the car and the brakes were fine. I checked the reservoir and I accidentally left the lid off for about 5 days. So I just took a picture of it and asking a few of you guys and gals how it looks, if I need to rebuild it or it looks fine.

Cheers

Mickey have you thought about changing your heads??? you might be better of buying a cheap 1500 from a beetle and using the heads manifold and carby from it,im sure theres no single manifold to fit your heads??? cheers shane.

Yup thats my plans now. I'm just trying to find a cheap motor.

I may know of one at gosford,i sold it to a mate a while ago but he never used it,i will give him a ring and see if he still has it ??? cheers shane.

Sounds good mate.

I really appreciate your help!!

No updates unfortunately 🙁

Bike season is back in and time to get all the bikes out and tune them and start training again. I have purchased new running boards from brazil (please don't scream at me), they only cost me $50 AUD as I have a friend over in South America coming home soon so he will bring them home. I was hoping to get her registered before summer but I don't think this is going to happen. I still don't even know what my plans are yet!!

I'm going to try and get the pillar repaired and overhaul the engine, but as for paint, I will probably just leave as is. I'll just get my mate to air brush here and there.

If anyone can give me some advice too for lowering her as low as possible keeping it legal that would be great (doing it after blue slip). Just parts and prices and problems I might run into would help 🙂

Thank you

Just a quick question guys...

What is the furthest anyone has driven in their beetle with original engines? A few of my friends want to do a road trip up to surfers in our beetles but are worried about them not making it up there.

Cheers.

mickey_0789 wrote:Just a quick question guys...

What is the furthest anyone has driven in their beetle with original engines? A few of my friends want to do a road trip up to surfers in our beetles but are worried about them not making it up there.

Cheers.

Do you mean the highest mileage Beetle ever or the longest road-trip anyone has done with a Beetle? Either way, any Beetle in half-reasonable condition has a better chance of making it to Surfers than many cars on the road. Beetles are extremely reliable, even more so than modern cars, provided that they've been maintained. You should have no trouble driving to Surfers, and if you wished you could then put your Bug on a boat, ship it to which ever continent you desired and drive the length and breadth of that as well.

Beetles were the first car officially used by the Australian Antarctic Expedition for polar exploration in the 1960s, and they served well in extreme conditions with only light modifications such as super-thin oil and blocked-off air intakes. The story is a cracking one, here: http://www.vw-resource.com/antarctic.html

Here's another story of a couple of tourists who took a 1974 Beetle on a 12,000km adventure through Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique, often travelling through areas where there are no roads, deserts, river crossings and going on safaris of game reserves. From their story it seems that the biggest drama they had was a broken clutch cable, which they got fixed in less than a day by a local bush mechanic.
http://www.stoessel.ch/beetle_africa.htm

Edit: I've also just found that in 1993 the World Record Books had this bug: "The highest recorded mileage for a car was 1,442,044 authenticated miles up to 25 Jan 1993 for a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle owned by Albert Klein of Pasadena, CA. " This wasn't on the original engine though, and most probably it had used up several replacement engines and gearboxes. Beetle engines in general are not built for high mileage, a good life for a Beetle engine is somewhere around 100,000 miles. It's easily possible that the record-breaking Beetle in question could have had as many as 10-15 engines!

mickey_0789 wrote:Just a quick question guys...

What is the furthest anyone has driven in their beetle with original engines? A few of my friends want to do a road trip up to surfers in our beetles but are worried about them not making it up there.

Cheers.

piece of string kinda question
if all properly maintained you can drive till you run out of fuel
Ive driven mine when it was a stock 1600 a trip of 2100kms in 2 days halfway across australia in heat of 38-40c then back again a week later and it loved it

well till i got a load of bad fuel on the way home and cooked 2 exhaust valves but it still got me home.

and i hate to think how many laps of oz some campers have done

just make sure your cooling systems upto scratch and engines in tune and your laughing

Thanks for the input mate. The trip won't be for a while. I had to laugh at all my mates though, when I picked my beetle up they all had a go at me and since then about 4 of them have bought one now. Mines still in the best condition 😀

Well I tackled some of the birds nest in the front today, seems as the though the previous owner had intended to run new wiring through but couldn't be bothered to finish the job. It really wasn't that hard, most of the mess was from that stupid black box, a few unconnected wires?? and wires that were WAY too long. Heres a picture. I'm still not done yet, I'm thinking of wrapping some of the wires in heat shrink, and I have to get the front inside respray white. Originally I had put just a regular interior light in the front for night time, but since I'm not longer keeping her original I ordered a strip of white LEDs to go on both sides of the storage compartment to light it more.

First picture is before and the second is after.

thats the usual situation, original wiring is all still intact, just PO add ons with stereos, alarms, driving lights, electric washers etc

also you flasher relay has fallen off its mount (black box with hella on it)
it supposed to sit on the bracket along side the highbeam relay which is the silver one with 12 volt on it

bouncing round loose like that its likley to short out on soemthing

Yeah I know, when I first got it and was testing all the lights it shorted, blew a fuse and then the blinker switch stopped working (tested the flasher unit and its still working). The battery has been out of it for about 2 weeks now so nothing is going to short out atm. I didn't get finished, it became dark quickly and couldn't move it in the shed coz I'm changing my clutch in the ute in there.

Thanks for telling me where the flasher unit sits though... i had NO idea where to put. You've been throwing out some helpful advice 👍

Hey Guys,

Well I applied for work over in W.A and got it. I don't have the time for the beetle anymore (I am extremely disappointed!).

I need to get rid of it (depending on much I'm going to get for it). It has brand new running boards (comes with old ones as well), brand new sound system, 6 month old battery, rear seats are upholstered, fuel tank flushed, wiring in the bonnet was tidied, sun roof, rebuilt master cylinder, new tail lights, new tyres, lights have been added in the bonnet, tacho, engine has one of the chrome kits, twin carby (although one of the valves are apparently nearly gone), 1 year old carpet kit on the inside.

Rust in the drivers door pillar and new turn signal switch needs to be installed. I have aftermarket projector headlights I originally intended to put in but didn't get time so there included too.

Make some offers and we will go from there.

I really don't want to sell it, I never even got to drive her.

bring it with ya! we need more dubs in the west

Hey guys,

I just keep coming and going with my beetle! It's getting a little bit annoying. So my plans on getting her registered and road worthy have gone, I just don't have the time, patience and I can't stop spending money on new toys!

So this is my next question, can you get recreational (conditional) registration on an actual car for stockton sand dunes without the car being road registered. I am considering transforming her into a baja, however I would have no idea where to begin. So could anyone give me some tips and perhaps provide a few visual aids?

Thanks.