1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Thing.

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cegammel
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Location: Thomasville Georgia
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Sun Oct 16, 2016 2:31 pm

Switch voltage was good, so replaced starter...all is well in beetleland for a little while longer.

cegammel
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Sat Dec 03, 2016 3:40 pm

Replaced front bearings, leaky wheel cylinder, old, cracked brake hoses and lines. This beetle finally has real brakes! But...when I got to the end of the driveway, a significant amount of brake fluid dribbled onto the pavement...from the inside of the frame channel. The level in the reservoir did not change, so i hope I somehow spilled it, and there isn't a leak. Any idea how brake fluid could get into the channel?

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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by Amskeptic » Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:37 pm

cegammel wrote:Replaced front bearings, leaky wheel cylinder, old, cracked brake hoses and lines. This beetle finally has real brakes! But...when I got to the end of the driveway, a significant amount of brake fluid dribbled onto the pavement...from the inside of the frame channel. The level in the reservoir did not change, so i hope I somehow spilled it, and there isn't a leak. Any idea how brake fluid could get into the channel?
Yeah . . . a leak in a rusty rear brake line that traverses the inside of the channel.
Fill reservoir to top line and apply the brakes several times. Look for a drop.
Good thing you love that fine car so much, as does your daughter very very much.
Colin :blackeye:
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

cegammel
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Mon Dec 05, 2016 4:27 am

That rear line runs over the frame, and I could not find a leak by feel... will check again a few days.

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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by Amskeptic » Mon Dec 05, 2016 11:56 am

cegammel wrote:That rear line runs over the frame, and I could not find a leak by feel... will check again a few days.
Damn, I'm slipping. Fuel line? But it would smell like fuel.
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

cegammel
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Mon Dec 05, 2016 5:21 pm

I think it is the master, dripping between the layers of frame tube...alternatively, maybe I just dumped that shit in there.

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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by Amskeptic » Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:09 pm

cegammel wrote:I think it is the master, dripping between the layers of frame tube...alternatively, maybe I just dumped that shit in there.
You know the drill:

a) clean and dry

b) drive

c) inspect

d) report back . . . before it gets too cold.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

cegammel
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:40 pm

Yep...definitely seems to be master cylinder. This one is 1.5 years old...Brazilian. New one is German, FTE.

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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by Amskeptic » Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:00 am

cegammel wrote:Yep...definitely seems to be master cylinder. This one is 1.5 years old...Brazilian. New one is German, FTE.
I see nothing on the horizon to suggest that large businesses are going to pay any attention to us little mites in the blanket of greed coming down upon us. Get the best you can afford and cross yer fingers.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

cegammel
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Sun Dec 11, 2016 4:33 pm

New master cylinder went in easy peasy...right up to bleeding, at which I royally suck. Because I suck, I purchased a MAC (or Matco?) bleeder wrench...which is now AWOL. I only own about 4 truck brand tools...oh wait, 3.

Anyway, brakes are acceptable, and will be bled again in the daylight. Watching for leaks and creeping pedals in the meantime.

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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by Amskeptic » Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:45 am

cegammel wrote:New master cylinder went in easy peasy...right up to bleeding, at which I royally suck. Because I suck, I purchased a MAC (or Matco?) bleeder wrench...which is now AWOL. I only own about 4 truck brand tools...oh wait, 3.

Anyway, brakes are acceptable, and will be bled again in the daylight. Watching for leaks and creeping pedals in the meantime.
Me too. The "trac" light went on in my Lexus-with-the-summer-tires just in time for impending sleet/snow/slush. The traction control system uses brake applications to prevent wheel spin. The code alleges that the accumulator pump/reservoir is leaking. I miss my Volkswagen.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

cegammel
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Location: Thomasville Georgia
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:02 pm

Drive it into the cold, salty, car devouring ground...then another beater for winter driving up north...

cegammel
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Sun Mar 10, 2019 3:29 pm

Newest saga: drove the bug to our favorite pizza place, about 30 miles round trip at 60-62 mph. Car was perfect...except when that semi passed...put my pucker reflex in full suction mode.

Got up next morning, the car popped as if it would start, but nothing. Every turn of the key gave a same result: pop, then nothing. I was planning a tune up anyway, so finally got a dry morning today.

Compression is 120-124 on all cylinders.
Exhaust valves were a bit loose, bit all good on the valves.
Timing is spot on.
Idle was high, about 1400 rpms...brought it back down to 900.
The points...were barely opening. Readjust, and all is well!

I love an unexpectedly easy fix!

Current issues:. I drained the oil and THEN realized that I had no new screen gaskets...so, I reused the old ones and the old copper washers.
One more of my screen studs is pulling out. So, next oil change, I'll drill and retap that.
I still have gas sloshing out of the filler on left hand turns. I've tried a new cap with no good results. I can't find a replacement neck, but I am assuming mine is bent or something...
Front hood springs...my stick is really beginning to annoy me.

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Amskeptic
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Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by Amskeptic » Tue Mar 12, 2019 10:25 am

cegammel wrote:
Sun Mar 10, 2019 3:29 pm
Newest saga:
The points...were barely opening. Readjust, and all is well!
One more of my screen studs is pulling out. I'll drill and retap that.
I still have gas sloshing out of the filler on left hand turns.
Front hood springs...

Did you lubricate the breaker point rubbing block with your very finest dab of molybdenum disulfide fortified Valvoline Durablend grease?

This is a helicoil/timesert installation? Use the strainer plate as your pilot, and run a couple of quarts of used oil through the sump when you are done drilling, like the oil you just drained to access the work site ...

How does gas slosh out of the filler on LEFT turns?

Oh I hate those cheap hinges and springs. Once the hinges have buckled, there is no path out but full replacement. Are you merely missing springs?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

cegammel
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Location: Thomasville Georgia
Status: Offline

Re: 1974 Super beetle, basket case...

Post by cegammel » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:37 am

Springs are there, but the arms are hopelessly bent.

Gas sloshes due to centrifugal force...I think? Physics was a long time ago.

I bought a set of studs just for the strainer repair. I can't remember what they are called, but they are larger on one end than the other...drill, tap, and glue in. It was easy peasy last time.

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