CHAPTER 3
Well, with the Mach 1 sold, I bought myself a 1972 Super Beetle. I went from american muscle...a 351C to a 1600cc Dual Port. Haha what a change. But I have to admit I love it. It needs some TLC but nothing too major. Wiring and ride height is the biggest problems. The thing hits every nick and crack on the road. It gets annoying and I cant enjoy the car, Oh and I have a limited time to drive the car because it has a busted generator. It also need interior work. But it is pretty spunky and has no rust.
Well, I was looking for a nice car that caught my attention for $3000 or less. All I found were typical Mustangs, which I didn't want, and Junk cars. I expanded my boundaries and this baby caught my attention immediately. I got her for $2500 up in Orlando. I rented a car, and took a road trip with my brother to go get the car. I drove her 250+ miles non stop. She gave up on my right at the exit of the expressway in a gas station. The battery was so drained, it couldn't power the fuel pump. So I bought a used battery for $30 and dorve her the extra 5 miles to get home. Its a tough engine no doubt. It made it home fine, with an untuned, non-rebuilt carb which was making my car turn off on every stop, It has fouled plugs because the air/fuel mix was off, Old Plug Wires, Busted cap and rotor, off time, Completely destroyed points, a whole strut assembly ( which I later learned) was loose form the beginning of the trip, rubbing tires, and It was a hell of a blast! I loved it. I have to give that car props for holding up. German VW's are magic.
Its funny how my girlfriend despises the car, because it has no a/c, no seatbels, its loud, it rickety, its a scraper, it gets hot, its a giant go kart, and because its a beetle......Funny thing is how I love the fact that its all of the above.
(o\!/o)
After Market Stuff:
Its dropped very low. It has Koni Adjustable Struts, rear Gas-a-just shocks (Pretty much shot), All chrome removed, bucket seats, 34PICT-3 Carb, Longtube Header exhaust (soon to be changed to a stinger exhaust), A/M Steering wheel, Custom Dash (body color), Western Wheel Turbines, BFGoodrich Touring T/A Tires, Lowered Bumpers, Cali/Euro Look, Relocated Tail lights, Pop Out Rear Windows, Tach, .009 Mechanical Adv. Dist, New Point Set, NGK Plugs, Bosch Wires, Rebuilt Carb, 3/4" sway bar & Red Urethane Bushings (Sway Bar, Shifter Linkage).
Things It Needs:
1.5-2" lift front and back, Carpeting, Headliner, Seatbelts, Rewire kit (Painless), New Ignition Harness, Generator Rebuild, Rear Shocks, Decent Sound System, Thinner Tires up front (rubbing issues)
Here are some pics.
Well, I have planned what I want for now, and are very possible.
-Empi 40mm 2bbl Carb kit.
I dont want to go with dual carb. Its too much of a hassle for everyday driving. Its constant tuning of the 2 carbs. So I'm settling for this. My Goal for my Bug is to make it fast. Not drag race fast, but enough to beat a stock v8 on the street. But eventually ill strokeit and slap on new heads. But thats when I get a better paying job. I am 17 after all.
-SCAT Cam Kit.
.320 INCH LIFT AT LOBE / 277 DEGREE C20 CAM & GEAR / SINGLE HD VALVE SPRINGS / SCAT LIFTERS / HD RETAINERS & KEEPERS
In the future im planning on going up to an 1.8L so I can still keep the carb and cam. Ill add some 1.25 rockers, and beter exhaust and mathcing heads. But thats not for now.
UPDATE!!!
Well, finally, an update. Ive been pretty broke lately. So There's this Poker Run here in Miami for Jan. 30th that is for VW's only. This inspired me to get the car running and ready for that date. That means figure out the issue I have with Gas going into the oil (supposedly from the cheap Mr.Gasket Electric Furl Pump it had). Also make sure it has no other problems running wise, replace the front springs (cut by previous owner), back shocks (shot), get plate, registration, and insurance. Pretty hefty list. The main problem is the registration and plate. But either way I have run into a wall here.
I was replacing the Electric pump to convert back to mechanical. As I was putting the th neck in, the neck wouldnt go into the giude plate inside the case. So I flash a light in there and to my surprise, the lousy previous owner snapped the neck it used to have on the guide. So I have a jammed guide plate. Which is why he placed an electric pump in the first place. Take a look. Oh fun fun. I have to spend money on Xmas, on the car stuff, on the lady, on gas, and food. I sometimes dont know how I make it. I dont even have many hours with much pay.
Here is a quick Clip of the Bug on the way home. Illpost more videos as I go along.
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a93/tonito1961/?action=view¤t=SANY0063.flv
Update!!!
Finally fixed the generator. I went crazy looking for one. No one rebuilds them, and the shops i called all wanted to charge me $120 or more. Then I remembered my buddy Marshall. He's some guy locally that has a VW shop by some warehouses. He found a used generator that worked perfect and he gave ite to me for $40!! Haha. I know Huge difference. Well, he's the guy that sold me the fuel pump mentioned earlier.
That evil little yellow light on my dash finally turned off. My next target is the front springs. I took out the struts and found out that the bump stops are chopped in half for lowering purposes, and the springs it has are cut! and
it not even VW springs!!!! So ill be going to the junkyard this weekend I hope to pull out some coils from a super. If not, back to ol' relaible Marshall! lol
Here's a couple of extra pics
Ill get pics of the struts, springs, and all that stuff tomorrow or the following day.
