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 bnicho
A.k.a.: Brett Nicholson
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 02:39 PM |
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L Bug Questions!
Hi,
I went and looked at a 1973 1303S (basically an L Bug, but privately imported). As it's about 15 years since I looked at any Beetle, I have a few
questions:
- Where are the rear setbelt mounts in an Aussie L? This car had no rear belts, which apart from being illegal, is unacceptable to me as I have a son
and another child on the way. If I purchased the car I'd have to fit rear belts, and I couldn't find any sign of mounts in the C pillars!
- How do you adjust the steering box? Is it necessary to remove the fuel tank?
- Are the front disks and pads the same on an L as a 1500 Beetle?
- Do all L models have the big cutouts for the bumper mounts at the front (to take the American 5mph shocks)? This car had the big cutouts, which to
me indicates it may have had the front guards replaced. But I could find no signs of accident damage under the bonnet. The rear guards had the
normal small bumper cutouts. Both ends had grommets that looked like they had been there since day one.
Thanks,
Brett Nicholson
Melbourne, Victoria
1974 VW Superbug L - Olive 
1971 Morris Mini Moke - Mopoke
1966 Austin Mini - Audrey
1965 Morris Mini Traveller - Trixie
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2
2009 Nissan Pathfinder |
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colonel mustard
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 02:47 PM |
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Well. It is imported.
So, it may be that the country that the car was imported from did not need rear belts..... not sure
As for the bumpers at the front, were they like half a circle??? these were not introduced until 75 (on L's) in aus.
Hope that helps a little...
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colonel mustard
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 03:16 PM |
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this is the back seat of my 73 L
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bnicho
A.k.a.: Brett Nicholson
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 04:40 PM |
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Thanks, I was looking further back than that.
The car came from the UK where they did not legally require rear belts until about 1980! But I would have figured the authorities here would have
demanded the rear belts be fitted. They certainly did for my 75 Corona Coupe which I imported in 2006.
This Beetle has been registered in QLD before (now expired) and it has been in Aus since 1975ish.
The bumper mounts and brackets are normal at the front, it just has the huge cutouts in the guards .
Brett Nicholson
Melbourne, Victoria
1974 VW Superbug L - Olive
1971 Morris Mini Moke - Mopoke
1966 Austin Mini - Audrey
1965 Morris Mini Traveller - Trixie
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2
2009 Nissan Pathfinder |
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 helbus
A.k.a.: Pete S
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 05:04 PM |
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We have a 1971 S bug, and the rear belts are in the same spot as colonel mustard. I would assume there is a thread in the body at that point that was
built in from factory for these models. We have two children 5 months and 2 years. We cannot travel together in the bug because I have only one baby
bolt fitted. It is behind the passenger seat. To fit a capsule in this position the passenger front seat has to be moved forward to the point where a
passenger cannot be in the seat. Just something to consider when calculating how many people and children you will be fitting in the car. Also
consider only a small simple stroller will fit under the front bonnet cargo area. Also consider you cant fit a baby capsule and have it touching the
seat in front of it. This is not a dollar cost, it is golden children. We use the VW Bus to put the two baby seats, one forward, one backwards, and
fit them on the back seat, heaps of room for children and pram.
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bnicho
A.k.a.: Brett Nicholson
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 05:27 PM |
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You know Helbus, you have just paraphrased the conversation between my wife and I over the last hour.
My intention was to buy an L model as a daily car, replacing my very clean and reliable but thoroughly boring 1980 Corona Liftback. 90% of the time
it would just be me driving it, but occasionally I need to use the 4x4 for towing, and then my wife would be driving it.
I already have the JDM Corona Coupe and Moke which are strictly for weekend and pleasure use, as neither makes a practical daily car. The last thing
I need is another "weekend use only" car, and I'm not prepared to part with either of them at this stage.
I thought an L with the nicer dash, better seats and more boot space would be practical, but it's funny how over 15+ years ago an L seemed so much
larger inside and under the bonnet than now!
It seems maybe even an L would not really do what I want as a second car. I've not ruled it out yet though.
Brett Nicholson
Melbourne, Victoria
1974 VW Superbug L - Olive
1971 Morris Mini Moke - Mopoke
1966 Austin Mini - Audrey
1965 Morris Mini Traveller - Trixie
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2
2009 Nissan Pathfinder |
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helbus
A.k.a.: Pete S
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 06:02 PM |
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For us the bus is the daily driver, and the bug is for one adult only or/ and one child at this stage. It is not until the kids are old enough to have
seatbelts with no boosters we would consider all being in the bug. Then if we have a third puppy, then it all gets even more complicated.
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philew
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 06:27 PM |
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i have a 1974 L bug, it has the larger somewhat triangular cutouts in the front mudguards but the earlier bumper brackets etc
same rear seatbelt mounting points as above(col.mustard) although i replaced the seat belts with new ones as the old ones were clearly unserviceable
as were the front ones which now have retractable belts. try feeling the trim in that area to find the threaded mounts.
the steering box can be topped up and adjusted to take up slack, through the removable plate under the bonnet.
for years my kids loved traveling around town in the bug.
phil.
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vw54
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 06:27 PM |
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use a pin to locate the mount holes through the headliner
you wont damage it that way
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Joel
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 06:47 PM |
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the mounts will be there its just a matter of findign them
all 68 on bodys had front and rear mounts
interesting that it has Lowback seats tho that was a 1303 thing not 1303S
all 74 on Lbugs regardless of country have the trianglular front bumper holes just non US bugs had a grommet to take the standard brackets
with the brake pads you will have to see whether they are single or double pin pads as they often get replaced with different to originals
and to adjust the steering box is a little round inspection plate to the right of the spare tyre well below the fuel tank
under it is the adjuster and lock nut for the steering box
Dave 74 on bugs dont have perforated headliners so the pin trick doent work
but you should be able to feel around for the hole thro the vynil
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1303Steve
A.k.a.: Steve Carter
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 06:54 PM |
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Hi
If it came from the UK have good look over it for rust.
The L bug had almost round brake pads, they are different to 1500 Beetle brake pads, the rotors are the same though.
Steve
The different pads,
1500 Beetle
L bug
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bnicho
A.k.a.: Brett Nicholson
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 08:55 PM |
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Thanks for all the suggestions.
Yes, I was surprised at the low-back seats too.
Rust wise it is very good, almost rust-free! There's a small hole developing above the jacking point on one side and some evdence of old repairs
under the front guards in the usual spot. No rust in the A or C pillars evident, or in the gutters. Even under the battery is clean!! The door
bottoms has some minor rust. The whole floor underneath is old matt black paint, not globbed in underseal, so I'm pretty confident it's all
original Wolfsburg metal, or maybe it has had new floors at some point. Under the carpets it had sound deadening pads that were stuck to the floor
that was difficult to remove, so they may be hiding something....
It started easily, idled nicely and drove well (in the driveway) so it seemed mechanically sound. The engine was neither spotlessly clean nor
excessively dirty and had the usual small oil drips you'd expect. CV boots were intact. Tyres were Michelin with plenty of tread and they didn't
look very old. Could do with new discs and pads. Steering had a lot of play. Heater tubes were disconnected at the fan shroud.
Overall, I think it's a nice little car, just a bit cosmetically challenged. Im just not so sure it's the right car for me.
Brett Nicholson
Melbourne, Victoria
1974 VW Superbug L - Olive
1971 Morris Mini Moke - Mopoke
1966 Austin Mini - Audrey
1965 Morris Mini Traveller - Trixie
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2
2009 Nissan Pathfinder |
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colonel mustard
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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| posted on March 29th, 2009 at 11:05 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by bnicho
Could do with new discs and pads.
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cause it squealed???? They have a habit of this, I am told.
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bnicho
A.k.a.: Brett Nicholson
Wolfsburg Wizard
Posts: 436
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| posted on March 30th, 2009 at 06:01 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by colonel mustard
| Quote: | Originally
posted by bnicho
Could do with new discs and pads.
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cause it squealed???? They have a habit of this, I am told.
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No, because the discs were rusty and deeply scored. They didn't look like they would skim sucessfully.
Brett Nicholson
Melbourne, Victoria
1974 VW Superbug L - Olive
1971 Morris Mini Moke - Mopoke
1966 Austin Mini - Audrey
1965 Morris Mini Traveller - Trixie
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2
2009 Nissan Pathfinder |
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