| [ Total Views: 972 | Total Replies: 35 | Thread Id: 24238 ] |
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 $2.63 homebrand baja
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 12:04 PM |
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Has anyone reached vw mechanical nirvana?
(moved it as I realised i had accidentally put it in tech section, I already post enough dribble as is, without clogging up wrong forum!).
has anyone in here, restoring, repairing etc a vw reached a mechanical point where they are trully happy and confident it is 'there', nothing more
to do? works well as a daily drive? no longer have that doubt or desire to chuck it in and buy a new car?
Just posting this in the hope someone can give peeps like me the little lift they need to keep hanging in there!
My car has been really well behaved this week, but instead of being excited I know in the back of my mind there is a fear of what it is going to do to
me next week ! I am tired of suffering like this.lol. Am I alone in feeling this way? or are there others who often turn off the stereo an tune into
the engine hum at the slightest noise. I really feel this is turning into a one sided abusive relationship with my bug! |
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 02:17 PM |
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Its pretty normal for old cars like this !
Its not abuse, it just you showing love for your bug
I dont think you can ever get to that stage of nirvana. At least I know I never will anyways...
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BiX
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 02:32 PM |
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no it will never reach that point. it will never be perfect!!
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!
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PurpleT3
Fahrvergnugen
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 02:49 PM |
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I think we all feel like that homebrand. I know I hate it when every thing seems perfect, cos I know it's the calm before the storm. I much prefer
it with all the rattles, coughs, hesitations etc. etc., that's normal.
Isn't that the point though. If we just wanted to get in and drive without worrying or thinking, we wouldn't own old VWs (we'd have new ones).
It's the challenge we enjoy.
It will never be perfect. Once she runs beautifully, different wheels would look better, or a NOS breezy would become an essential. It's a lot like
marriage (or so I've been told) lots of work but very rewarding and even if you're fighting, you don't want somebody else having a ride.
Ain't nothin' like the wind in your hair.
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ratty 63
A.k.a.: Rossco
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 02:50 PM |
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Nope - your not alone on this one - I have been restoring a '65 bug for over 5 years (lack of finance and time keeps delaying it). It's taking up
all of our double car garage and its only now that I am finally getting it back together (still have to paint the body but the mechanicals are going
back together). My wife has a go at me for taking up her space in the garage on a weekly basis (sometimes more often - depends how often I see her
during the week - I work nights, she works days...) and then things go wrong and it all makes you wonder why you bother.
Yep, it would be easier to go an buy a new car, but thats not what its all about is it? Think of the experiences that your little mechanical problems
have created, all the things you have learnt and all the things that you now know because of your cars 'bad temper'. If nothing else, it has taught
you to perservere(sp?), and to solve problems!
Stick with it - it will (most likely) make you a better person!! (Not that I am saying you are not a 'better' person now, but....oh...you know what
I mean!)
Finally, remember, we're all here for you :kiss
R ~
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ratty 63
A.k.a.: Rossco
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 02:56 PM |
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...Oh yeah - here's one for you - I have just replaced the flywheel oil seal, put the engine back in, then discovered that the input shaf seal in the
gearbox was leaking - pulled the engine back out and replaced that seal, put the engine back in, now I discover that I have two (not one but two!)
cracked pushrod tubes that I am going to have to replace - then hopefully I will have cured the major oil leaks .... or thats the theory anyway!
Grrr!
R
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$2.63 homebrand baja
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 04:00 PM |
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:thumb thanx guys I feel much better after reading these posts. I swear I think I am one of only a handful of females who carry round a big plastic
box of tools in my car.
It seems that the minuate you tighten say one little 10mm nut on the fan shroud, it causes a whole chain of events, ranging from heads falling off to
your brake drums exploding, which in turn causes your gears to of course all shatter and ultimately the wiper motor will burn out! (not to mention the
rear indicator bulb burning out). But even so you don't want to get rid of the car (uno wat i mean). lol.
the number of times I have been on side of road (dressed up 4 a night out) fixing things :cussing passers by amused by a girl in heels with a pair of
wire strippers, re connecting headlights for example (minor pitstop a couple of weeks ago).  ahahaha. But I don't think I could ever be without a bug.
Think I need a kombi, that way I could just carry round a whole spare gearbox and engine with me (just in case)... Talk about cwazy.
I am tired though of always having grease covered hands, not very fem!
:puke |
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 04:16 PM |
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I must say, you are a rare breed of lady...... very rare indeed !
ps nice baja
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LOWBUG
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 05:04 PM |
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I have so been there, driving along knowing every creek and sqweek, noting every abnormal sound with scences hightened, smeeling fuel and oil smells
or evan electrical smell. So I've been there too. That was also a good few years ago.
Now I feel close to nirvana I've become intimate with my car I've removed and replaced every nut and bolt, the suspension, gear box and engine,
everything is done.
But I still drive at full alert, but not worried, more like feeling the car.
Am I really that obsest?, tell me I'm not alone.
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Dannyboy
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half man , half horse
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 05:55 PM |
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Know the feeeling as i've always driven old cars , mainly aircooled vw's. Suppose the one thing i've learnt is that if you spend the money and look
after them , serviced etc , normally they are really reliable. Pretty basic set up as opposed to a new high tec motor. I carry some bulbs , fuses ,
toolkit , belt , plugs and points, a manual and have road assistance just to be on the safe side.
I to listen to the engine , listen for rattles and squeaks but mainly as i don't have a stereo!
Also agree that you never reach a point on being totally happy with your ride. I remember saying that i'd leave my tidy 67 totally standard as it was
1 owner etc etc. Within a week of owning it the front was dumped and i'm now planning a stroker motor! LOL. You'll always find something you want to
change and waste your money on!
Great fun though! Remember your only here once!
Dan
"If i had to explain you wouldnt understand"
The Lower Class
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$2.63 homebrand baja
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 06:22 PM |
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I agree, the idea of the new fang dangled cars, with pootas etc, freak me out. So much more to go wrong, plus the feeling of being a little further
distanced from the road. If something is up with the bug, it lets you know fairly quickly.
At the risk of sounding a little perverse I am an avid sniffer lowbug, you have nothing to worry about.lol. I sniff around at the first sign of
danger. i have tracked a couple of electrical faults using this method.lol. You become well aquainted with ur bugs bodily fluids over time. Good
diagnostic tool!
Cept when you drive past steel works or the likes and start panicing as you think you have encountered a wiry burnie problem! Peeps look at me funny
as i often will hop out and stick my hands near exhaust and have a sniff (bit like a chef checking on the cooking!). Not weird at all,, no siree!
I look forward to the day I can take mine off the road and are financial enough to replace EVERYTHING.lol. |
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LOWBUG
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 08:21 PM |
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Yes the refurb was fun, did most of the work myself still cost an obsene amount of money (and is still costing), but it was done over a period of 81/2
years, and it really dosn't rattle or squeek its nice, but I still get a wiff of feul evey once and a while, and that keeps it real.
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Jamox
Seriously Crusin Dubber
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 08:50 PM |
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Yep, I beleive dubbers invariably develope an extra-sensitive set of nostrils.
I am with you, but I also think that bajas are the worst cos the engine is SO loud and out there and always ends up beign more of a worry. i was
driving down the road and smelt somehtign hot. I peered into the blackness under the bonnet(through the air vents) and couldn't see any flames so I
thought it was OK. THen i really got worried that somethign was wrong. I thought to myself "Geez, that smells like ironing??!!"
I slammed on the skids and jumped out to smoke billowing behind. I had been working on my engine and thrown my jumper and work pants on the hot-dogs,
and fogotten about them (obviously). But I tell that story all the time cos I am a clown, it is funny and I love my baja.
Catch you in the funny pages.
Dance like a blind person |
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 helbus
A.k.a.: Pete S
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 08:54 PM |
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It is hard to do. I finished my car, the EH, so I started on Fleurs Kombi, then Beetle, now back to the bus again for a Suby implant
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Cruzin in a Golf
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| posted on June 11th, 2004 at 09:00 PM |
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he he Jamox, i have heard stories that some not so smarties have decided that they could put things under the bonnet when they ran out of space in the
rest of the car. So you havent fallen too far. I hope it wasnt an aussieveedubber cos now i might have offended them..oh well bad luck i spose.
"I choose to Cruze VW Golf Mk1 Style!!!"
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$2.63 homebrand baja
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 09:56 AM |
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hehehe, the only burnies I have had on exhaust were wires or spark leads coming loose,,,:o lol. The good thing bout baja is the tool tray..I mean
engine cage. I have lost a few tools because of this. Had to promptly stop after a roundabout once, heard a clink clink clink, checked for any wheel
or tie rod end nuts (as you do.lol) and realised it was much worse,,, my socket drive with the 10mm socket was sitting in the middle of the
road...(very crucial one to loose there).....phew! lol.
hey helbus, think fleur is onto a good thing there. I was stupid and revealed to males i could fix cars myself, now I am stuck with doing it.lol
(shulda just been like my sister and mum,,, "I wouldn't know the first thing about cars, someone do it for me!",,,,,,but I have seen them checking
levels and poking around the engine bays when no ones looking,, yup.. I seen em..lol  ) |
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SteveMk2
Officially Full-On Dubber
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 11:32 AM |
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My car was never a resto, but it is 1000% on what it was when I bought it. I have owned the 85 model GTI for 3 and a half years, and it is nearly at
the stage that I want it at. I dont believe any car will ever be perfect. Whenever I get disheartened, I just go and drive, and my enthusiasm is
renewed. Hang in there, bud!!!
Steve. Classic 85 Mk2 2dr GTI 8v Optioned sunroof and 15"BBS RS alloys. Koni yellow and H&R, Balanced bottom end, flowed top end, Neuspeed
268 cam. |
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Boozer
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 11:59 AM |
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ha ha ha! Hey $2.63 your baja sounds like mine! I often get the comment from passengers "what's that burning smell?". At the moment my oil leak is
stable and my regulator has shat itself (YAY!) oh well.:thumb
THe MC Bat Commander's motto: "Never do now, what you could do for 24 hours straight, all night, the night before."
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Kippa-Dee
Commited Dubber
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 04:50 PM |
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after reading this thread... *cowers and worries about owning his first bug* yipe!!!!
Oh well, all part of the fun. I love tinkering, so it's allll good
I wub my VeeDub
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$2.63 homebrand baja
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 05:56 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Kippa-Dee
after reading this thread... *cowers and worries about owning his first bug* yipe!!!!
Oh well, all part of the fun. I love tinkering, so it's allll good
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don't stress, it's wen u start to believe it's alive and start talking to it....and it answers back...now thats wen things get scary.
Hey boozer I swear mine is alive,, wasn't burnie smell today,, was petrol smell. Smell was getting worse, beyond the normal 'Just filled smell'...
So I decided to hunt it down. On my expedition into the unknown I discovered the zip tie thing I had used to secure the rubber fuel line had come
loose. the hose was dangerously close to exhaust....... secured it all back up....... no more smell on way home....... (there was no leak
etc.......... bug talks to me..... :o it's hauuu-nnnted.... but in
a good way!lol) |
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LOWBUG
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 09:00 PM |
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What are you talking about, I talk to my car all the time. I make sure I stop into the garage when I get home. And when the family is going nutts I
slip into the garage and get really good converations with my car. We discuss what we are going to improve next and plan it all out the best way to
get rid of them all..... what do you mean, my car is alive, and don't say it isn't
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Kippa-Dee
Commited Dubber
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 09:47 PM |
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Ah, but how does your car talk to you? Does she purr? Does she seduce you? Does she talk sweetly? Or does he command you? Does he have good
conversations about the rims on that fancy little purple number with the nice body(kit) next door? Does he chat to you while you drink your respective
beers and petrol?
I wub my VeeDub
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VWFOOL
Bishop of Volkswagenism
King for a day, Fool for a lifetime.
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 10:42 PM |
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so my question is, why do ppl say Veedubs are "so reliable"?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One man's junk...
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Kippa-Dee
Commited Dubber
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 10:46 PM |
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reliable.. coz when they tell you theyve got aproblem, they do.
They can be relied upon to inform you of any problems
I wub my VeeDub
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
Aircooled Master
Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138% - YIKES --
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| posted on June 12th, 2004 at 11:48 PM |
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Back in the 50s & 60s most other cars spent most of their life locked in the garage or if driven... at the local service station getting fixed...
cars back then were NOT reliable as VWs were/are... its just that they are old...
I have replaced virtually everything in mine... so the overhauled engine will [I hope run for many years] but they do seem to make funny noises etc
fairly often... maybe when We are contented driving the VW it likes to keep us on our toes by making strange noises etc... every now & then...
Tappets too tight ?? points OK?? distributor cap OK?? condensor OK?? rotor OK?? spark plug leads not shorting out?? spark plugs still firing??
Engine not over heating ?? well whats that smell???
Oil level OK?? the rest of My Car is virtually new so the engine is the only Qustion Mark... how long will it go?? will it drop a valve.. etc...
How will I sleep tonight????
Nirvarna --- what the hell is that?????
thanks Home Brand $2-63 (on special}??
Lee -- Scone -- 2C temp...
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- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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Oasis
Custom Title Time!
Going alone...
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| posted on June 13th, 2004 at 02:25 AM |
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Well to be honest I want a new car as well so I can enjoy my bug and not have to rely on it as my only form of transport. I've had to go to work and
a couple of times couldn't start the car. My '62 never broke down once, glorious 6V and occy strap to hold it in gear, but it never stopped once
except for when the coil dropped off. That was reliable.
As for smells, there's the petrol smell, the melted plastic heater hose smell, the FIRE smell, the ironing smell, the running too hot smell, the
electrical short smell, the electrical fire smell etc.....
Sounds are too many and varied, but a couple would be Tappets, Backfiring, brakes rubbing, fanbelt slipping, pulling my hair out, and ANYTHING
else... :alien
"Tell him 'We've already got one'"
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tonyg
Seriously Crusin Dubber
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| posted on June 13th, 2004 at 06:36 AM |
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Wrapped in fems that know our stuff as well as there own: We were going out with friends for lunch a few weeks ago and I picked 'em up en route.
Soon as we left their place the car started misfiring and burping and conking out at lights and strong fuel smell...etc. *&^%^&* I thought to
myself, thinking " here we go again! more bloody expense!" Thinking burnt valves, lblown cyl head gasket, broken dissy drive , crapped out fuel
pump etc. My missus, who is NOT mechanically minded.. said "sounds like spark plugs to me"...
I poo pooed that idea but later when home, thought I'd better check the plugs and ripped 'em out. Sure enuf, they were stuffed. A quick trip to
super cheap sorted that out. The fuel smell was actually exhaust fumes leaking in from having the boot open.. carrying many boxes beer and other
stuff. (this was in the old ford, not the duberoo). My missus seems to be right more often than I care to recall.
they took me away haha, hope the medication works
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Kippa-Dee
Commited Dubber
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| posted on June 13th, 2004 at 08:13 AM |
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Way to scare the hell out of a learner dubber guys! :P
I wub my VeeDub
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Oasis
Custom Title Time!
Going alone...
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| posted on June 13th, 2004 at 01:28 PM |
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Don't be scared, just buy a peg for your nose, earplugs, and keep your eyes shut, then your car should run perfectly (in your head).
"Tell him 'We've already got one'"
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LOWBUG
Insano Dub Head
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| posted on June 13th, 2004 at 02:35 PM |
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Yeah disconnect the dash lihgts and don't have any gauges, and then you can motor away in total bliss. Until it come to an abrupt halt lol.
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