can anyone tell me perhaps if they have come across this before, My 71 is wired Positive Ground, I am happy to switch it around , change the battery and re-polarise the coil, making it regular Negative grounding however will this affect or damage any electrical components, specifically the fuel gauge ?
I know the radio I plan to fit will work but the gauge is a concern to me , has anyone gone through this procedure who can shed some light for me ?

You are 100% sure is is +ve earth

Not saying you are wrong - just saying it is the first beetle I have heard being wired that way.
Would love to know why

The battery wont need changing, just re-wiring / swapping terminals?
Things like radios will need to be swapped around as +ve needs to be +ve

Anything that is "just" a coil (fuel gauge) would just work backwards.

But regulators and the like will need to re-wire.

that is just too weird for me at the moment

check it with a multi meter first, could be a mislabelled battery

ONLY pommie cars are wire back the front

check as per above

checked the battery and it definitely is connected with positive to earth, would it make a difference to the fuel gauge if I disconnect it before switching over the terminals and depolarising the coil?

There may be other things to consider. Depending on the complexity of the items. Coil, Generator, Flasher unit, Headlight relay. Anyone with Auto Elec knowledge on here.

I know with the English cars at our work that are Positive earth, when they convert them, it is not a complicated procedure, as they are 1950's cars usually, and there isn't even a radio installed.

Double check that the wire connected to the positive is actually the ground.

I've seen many people on the forums over the years think they have a positive ground bug but all it is was the ground strap had been remade with red cable so it "looked" like it was positive ground ( stock pos cable is black)


No aircooleds were ever made pos ground and it would be a huge backwards step to convert one, like swapping discs out for drums.

That is a point. Does the +ve on the battery actually have a short cable that goes from the +ve terminal directly bolted to the body right next to the battery? Ignore any colours. Actually point your finger at the +ve on the battery and follow it to the end of the cable. Or does the -ve terminal go to the body? Take a picture and post it.

I repeat could be a mislabelled battery, only a multi meter will tell you this

I've heard of people putting a dead flat battery in a pommie car the wrong way around, push starting it and the battery charging backwards. Multimeter first I think.

Thanks everyone for the replies and advice, it appears, after some checks that it is only the battery that was connected up wrongly, switched it around, checked all wiring to Generator and regulator and all was correct, everything seems to work fine, radio, fuel gauge etc. and the generator and battery seem to be working/charging okay.
No need to re-polarise the generator either.