Jörg the Beetle
From Makers Local 256
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Creator: |
Contents
Overview
I got a 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle that hasn't run in 8 years for $700 (And Burned it down). I plan on doing a full restoration, however right now my focus is to get it driving so I can move it around without having to push it.
Things He Needs
- New Carburetor again (Should be here 'soon')
- New tires (Old tires seem to hold air for now)
- Patched Floor Pans
- New Coat of Paint (and paint on engine)
- Whole New Interior
- New Seat Upholstery (Back seats are in good shape)
- New Headliner
- New Carpet
- New/Repaired Steering Wheel
- New/Repaired Dash
- New Rear Seatbelts
Things He's Got
- Fresh Engine Oil
- Fresh Fuel Filter
- New Ignition Switch
- New Hoses
- New Pulley Belt
- New Battery
- New Spark Plugs
- New Spark Plug Wires
- New Distributor Cap
- New Ignition Coil
- New Ignition Condenser
- New Fuel Pump and Push Rod
- New and Freshly Broken Carburetor
- A Fire Extinguisher to keep in the car
Week One (12/30/18 to 1/5/19)
I got the car and struggled with the carburetor and a vague electrical problem.
Big List of Stuff
- Bought the darn thing
- Put air in the tires
- Travis helped me tow it to the shop with the towbar he uses for his Miata
- Pressure washed the outside of it to get the 8 year old schmutts off of it
- Pulled the old carburetor out
- Tore apart the old carburetor in hopes of rebuilding it
- Bought a rebuild kit
- Became disheartened while cleaning the nasty old carb
- Noticed that a brand new carburetor is only 30$ more than the rebuild kit
- Returned the rebuild kit and ordered a new carb off of Ebay for $60
- I noticed it had a vague electrical problem that caused nothing to work at all
- Bought a new battery
- Made sure all the fuses were good
- Used sandpaper to get any oxidation off of the fuse contacts
- Bought a can of contact cleaner and sprayed it on anything electrical
- Noticed that the hazard lights worked
- Tested continuity around the fusebox
- Used a piece of wire to bypass the ignition switch and suddenly it worked
- Bought and installed a new ignition switch
- Now the electrical system works except for the turn signals and the passenger side headlight
Week Two (1/6/19 to 1/12/19)
I got the car running for a hot minute.
Big List of Stuff
- Fixed the rest of the electrical problems
- Turn signals and headlight had oxidized connections
- New carb came in
- Installed without a hitch
- Noticed that the engine wasn't getting spark
- Set the gap on the distributor points
- Got and installed new spark plugs
- Now it has spark but it isn't getting fuel to the carb
- Found out there is a clog between the fuel tank and the fuel pump
- Decide to deal with it later and run a hose from a plastic gas tank to the fuel pump
- Fiddled with the carb adjustment screws until the car starts
- Fiddle with it again until it idles
- Go to bed eager to test drive it in the morning.
Week Three (1/13/19 to 1/19/19)
An engine fire ruined all of my work.
Big List of Stuff
- Attached a plastic gas tank to the bumper using a ratchet strap
- Fiddled with the carb a little more to get it to run smoother
- Put it in gear and go for my first test drive around the block
- After I got to the old firehouse on Dallas I saw fire in my rear view window
- Killed the engine and jump out of the car
- Ran to the shop to grab fire extinguisher
- Norm Andrew and I ran over and put it out with 3 fire extinguishers
- Luckily the 5 gallon gas tank didn't catch fire
- Firemen showed up to clean up gas we spilled on the street while getting the gas tank away from the fire.
- Luckily I didn't get a ticket from the Firemen
- Luckily the fire didn't spread out of the engine bay
- Used the tow bar to pull Jörg back to the shop
- Cleaned up the engine bay some
- Bought new belt and hoses and spark plug wires
- Installed new belt and hoses
- Installed new Plug wires and Distributor cap
- Found and fixed the clog on the fuel line
- Put the gas tank back in the car
- Spliced new wires onto the burnt up wiring harness
Week Four (1/20/19 to 1/26/19)
I almost got it back to working.
Big List of Stuff
- Noticed that it wasn't getting fuel to the carb
- Bought a new fuel pump and a fire extinguisher to keep in the car.
- Installed the new fuel pump
- Now it gets fuel but no spark
- Bought and installed a new Ignition Coil and Condenser
- Set the points on the distributor again
- It wouldn't start because the distributor was out of time
- Set the static timing on the distributor
- Engine make sputering and explosion noises when you try to start it
- Seems like the crispy carb isn't carbureating like it ought to
- Already had a new carb coming on the way again
- Took off one of the valve covers and tried to set the gap
- Set 3 of the 4 passenger side valves well, the rearmost valve is seized and will require Travis help.
