Thought id finally start a post on my car, I'll get some pics next weekend but here's a start
1302 which has lived out in orange all its life, I bought it off the original owner, a 91 year old lady. Its had a very easy life!

Ive just rebuilt the engine, dont think it had ever been apart! At the moment its just a 1600 and I've added 1.4 rockers to the stock cam, ceramic coated headers and twin muffler setup I bought off here, twin 35pdsits and some minor port cleanup work. Should be able to install and start it next weekend! Hopefully goes a little better than stock.

I just placed an order today with Topline parts in the states, maxx struts new sway bar and urathane everything! Its staying on stock rims at the moment but I have the option of 17's when the budget allows with the maxx's. Still trying to work out the tyre combo, at the moment im thinking 145's front 185/65's rear. Also thinkng of spun moon discs for an old school salt flats look! Thinking about 4 inches lowered at the moment but i'll have to try it. It needs the suspension doing either way because its got bad shimmies.

Only other thing i want to do is change the steering wheel to something that doesnt rub my knees and some sort or shortened shift setup. Maybe a hidden stereo later on as I dont want to remove the original AM radio. Other than that justa general tidy up.



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... nice!

That's a nice colour, car looks pretty straight and rust free too.

Looks nice. By the low back front seats I'm guessing it's a '71? Is that the original owner in the first pic?

All the best with it and welcome to the forum!

yes that is the original owner in the first pic,she is a nice lady and she loved her car , 91 years young and still loved driving her vw. niice old 71 super bug, shame to change it so much owell atleast it will still be on the roads and I dare say going a bit faster then it has been .

Hope you replaced the window rubbers so the rear glass wont fall out when your powering it off at the lights lol

Im not doing anything to it that isnt 100% reversible, and the interior etc wont be touched. Next weekends project is the spot of rust in the rear and replace the seal while I'm at it. It wont be much faster, but Jean did say she never went over 40mph because she didnt like the shakes! lol
Its nice to pick up an original car where nearly everthing still works nearly as good as it did back in the day!

Nice and clean

Very neat clean car. Same as our 1302 beetle, low backs seats too.

What are your rear window inner trim vents like?

Package from topline arrived last week with maxx struts, lowered swaybar and urathane everything, will be a few weeks before I get a chance to fit it all. Also picked up some 17" wheels so they'll go on at the same time.

Engine wise, the new 1600 is going, but im not happy with it yet, the ignition timing doesnt feel right, dont think its advancing enough at higher rpm and load, still running the stock dist so I'll have to do some research on this one. On the plus side the exhaust is so quiet! twin stainless mufflers, I bought off the forum, very happy with it.

All the suspension work has been done, ended up setting the struts at the highest setting, it seems a lot lower than the 2 inches that settings meant to be. Rear has been slightly lowered (3 up 3 down) and i bought a set of boxster wheels on ebay tonight so they'll be fitted up asap. The ride and handling seem really good for a daily and thats without being wheel aligned yet.
The engine feels really strong, rejetted the carbs and fitted a compufire setup. Its really smooth and pulls well. Unfortunatly I sail for 5 weeks tomorrow so wont get any more done for a while but she's nearly there! Rust has been attended to as well so shes ready for next rego!

Couple of pics, havent gotten a lot done with work and all.
Picked up the correct boss kit at the nats for my Nardi steering wheel, also put in a cheapo shifter, shifts nicely for now.
The wheels are just on there for mock up purposes, getting the discs redrilled whilst im away and might end up with discs on the rear while im at it.
Seats are my next concern, need something that holds me in on the twisty stuff!
Engine is pulling nicely but im feeling the temptation for some real power already....

Thought Id put a couple of pics up now shes back on the road.

Lookin good

Hi

Looks nice, go the struts

Steve

Thanks, the pictures are a bit flattering, shes a bit rough around the edges in real life, but very solid.

Does anyone have suggestions on what size front tyres work with the above wheel combo/ride height? the struts are all the way up and it scrapes a bit cornering with 2 people in it (or one if im pushing it!) It has 205/55 16 at the moment which needs replacing. 205/50's would be about 20mm shorter overall but not sure if thats enough?

im going to have to look at what im running but im sure its 195/55 16 on the front.

NICE super
Great choice of wheels

What springs are you running??
10" or 12"

I am running 10" with a helper ( i think)
The helper adds about 1" when compressed

I have 205/55's on the same wheels

Mine is a R&P 75L bug and running 2 bolt struts



This is 195/60 series without the helper - but 15"

No idea on the spring size, Topline struts so whatever comes woth those. Ill have to get under it and work out exactly where its rubbing and go from there. Wanna sell that shifter back to me?

Quote:

Originally posted by SuperOwen Wanna sell that shifter back to me?

Just thinking - you have Topline

I am always arguing the toss on SBO about the spriing rating with them
I wonder if they are just too soft

I will get under and confirm what size i have on mine

Pretty sure they would be softer than your struts. There firmer than stock but not heaps, thats half the reason i went with them, didnt want a race setup. I know they run these with combos that come out around 600mm rolling diameter so id say thats my answer. Def need one of those shifters again!

here are a couple of sites that give the wheel info

http://www.magrowheels.com/sizing.calculator.htm 

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/mult_tire_calc/mult_tire_calc.htm 

BTW
600mm is 23.6"

Think you want more 24.75" - or 630mm

Thought Id update my ride.....
Got the front suspension sorted with some 195/50 tyres. All clearance issues solved and it steers nicer as well, much less tracking etc. They look a bit small in the pics but the car looks a ton better with them. The previous l205/55 tyres looked far too tall.
Also converted back to stock exhaust and carb. The standard air filter keeps things nice and quiet and the original german heater boxes actually work. Lost a tiny bit of poke but not enough to worry about, overall nicer to drive. Put the stock shifter back in as well.

Next job is a rear sway bar, some decent rear shocks and some sort of bucket seats so I can try the handling out properly. Might aim to put in a big motor and gearbox later in the year....

I just won some seats off ebay, they should be good but ebay seems to be the best place to get cheap seats.

Yeah, im keeping my eyes open for bargains now and a second set of seat bases so I can slide the originals back in when I want to. Trying to drive round corners fast in the original lowbacks is......interesting.

I know what you mean my drivers backrest is broken and leans inwards so lefthanders are messy as insode.

I thought this car was for sale/sold...??

+ I hear prelude seats are a good option. talk to 1303 steve, he's a super man....

and, i couldnt help but notice that you went back to stock exhaust and carb for the noise factor, but want a bigger engine...... Am I sensing some sort of subaru action?