well we got our finished 63 resto cal bug back from the mechanic on friday, she had the engine put back in and all safety checks done, she ran like a dream, poor baby had only been firing on 3 cylinders before resto... now she might make it up the brissy hills..

friends and onlookers marvelled at her beauty and the trauma of restoring her has started to fade away... until

sunday out crusing, 25km done, we are going around a notorious bend at kedron on the Lutwych road and .........
........ the breaks completely failed.............

glad i made my husbane drive, we were unbeliably lucky, going at 60k's, to not have anyone near us and we pulled into the near lane and manged to save the car from any crashs............... because of course we were going down a slight hill.

so thanks to the RACQ for rescue and then leaving us to walk 4km home as they drop the car at the garage but not us anywhere...... :cry

i love my bug!!!!:o

That is a cryin shame Vickie, there are many crude acronyms for racq, they don't deserve capital letters for a start. Glad to hear nobody was injured and your bug, apart from brakes? is okay. Hope it works out in your favor

hey there vickie.

i feel your pain. i think many of us have been down this road also. i know i have travelled the exact path you have, so be warned... my very next problem after various engine faults and the brake failure was the 'THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN MY HANDS WHILE DRIVING'!

hope this doesnt deter your passion and you get to enjoy your bug.

is the handbrake not independent of the pedal operated brakes ?

Vickie,

I have herd many weird and wacky things that have happened to friends bugs. But don't forget once it is fixed you know that they are going to work again, and once you have worked through all the bugs/problems you will restore your confidence.

Don't forget to venture out on to the streets in intervals, each trip you make, just go that little bit further and harder.....

Good to hear that it didn't end up in a major fender bender, it would be a real sad event if you bent that lovely beetle so soon after getting it back on the road.

ps.

Cheers for the bumper, polished up a treat.

Matt.

i saw her the morning at the garage and her beauty restored my love, and forgiveness is forthcoming as it is my fault she was laid up for 14 months.

Her master cylinder has been changed and she now been lowered, so she'll be good... we hope for dubs at the pub.

hope so... especially as it is a 200km drive!!!

'THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN MY HANDS WHILE DRIVING'... sounds traumatic...

Glad to hear that you are ok and you weren't hurt as a result! Funny thing about VW's, they can break down, catch fire, have things fall off in the most unopportune moment but we still love, cherish and forgive them and then go back for more !!!

Things could have been worse, this happened in townsville on friday

hope this doesn't put her off VW's

i am cheered to read it is not uncommon for VW to catch fire!!!!

It should put her off her mechanic for not replacing and clamping her fuel lines properly, glad to hear your adventure had a happy ending.

[ Edited on 12-2-2007 by mackaymanx ]

:o

greyhound bus engines are in the back. Howcome they dont catch fire? The magna I saw in flames must have had a custome rear engine mod too.

haha. jsut read this article. funny they blame the 'engine location' as the cause of hte fire. not the fuel line deterioration or fittings.

I saw a 77/78 fairlane burn years ago.
Gut walked into a newsagent, left his car running, it just burst into flame in front of us.

I've done the same thing with the brakes though.
Relined the lot on a 62 beetle, master cylinder failed within two days. I did think to use the handbrake.

When I rebuilt #1 son's brakes, I replaced the master cylinder as well.
Lesson learned.

I always change fuel lines etc on any car I have.
I use clamps on the fuel lines, but factory I think most never had clamps but it all depends on if you have the suited correct fuel line.

Even brakes for what liitle cost they are are well worth doing.
Then you have piece of mind that its all ok. Things still fail even new but chances are a lot less.:thumb

it seems the master cylinder was full of sand after the sand blasting..... i love not knowing what we are doing with this car resto.... all the things you'd never even think of!!!!

well drove her yesterday and she back to dreamy status, all lowered and looking shiney..... will post pix soon, as she's just back to the panel beaters for unpainted door hinges, so still waiting .....

You should replace all the brake lines, too: The steel ones on the chassis and the rubber ones nearer the wheels. They rust/perish and should be replaced every 15 years or so to prevent accidental death

All my years of driving new, old and ancient motor vehicles I have never had to replace the brake hoses, Monday took my buggy to see why I couldnt stop a binding disk and seems that the rubber hose to the caliper is so blocked that the fluid can get forced through but cant come back, will know tomorrow if that fixed it, so would have to agree, can't be too carefull with the anchors.

the townsville girl from the article - "i could smell a really stong fuel smell"

.... so i decided it be best i keep driving? hmmmmm