TheSamba.com :: View topic - Pigalle- 7-23-08 <Weber 34 ICT Rebuild/Parts question>

Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:21 am

About a month ago Tram linked to a craigslist ad for a Pigalle in South Lake Tahoe.

I called around getting quotes to transport the square that ranged from $1150 to $490 for 712 miles of transport. I decided to use cosmo transport who quoted the $490. As soon as I told them that the ride was in Lake Tahoe I got the “oh” followed by a pause. Well I waited a week and no one had stepped up to the plate so last Friday I started asking my co-workers if anyone had a car trailer. It turns out that this girl I work with who has a horse farm had just what I needed. The best thing was it was “FREE”. U-haul wanted 250 for a dolly (no way would I use this for my new old ride) and $500 for a full car trailer. So I get off of work on Friday and tell my wife “pack the bags, we are going to Tahoe”.
I had a slight problem weighing on my mind though. I only spoke with the PO about a transport company and not me coming to pick up the ride. I called him three times Friday night with no luck. I figured he was gonna be out of town…and probably not be back until Sunday night. With this in mind I brought a tent, air mattress and enough blankets to stay warm in low 40 degree weather. So off we go Friday night at 8 p.m. with a four pack of red bull, a cooler and some tools. I drove until about 2 am then my wife drove from 2-5:30 and I took the wheel all the way to Tahoe.
At 8 am Saturday I finally reached the PO and he said no problem the ride will be waiting for me at his shop (Subaru mechanic). I realized why no transport truck had jumped on this one….getting in and out of Tahoe was difficult for the average vehicle let alone a semi with transport trailer. So at 10:30 14.5 hours after we left Phoenix I get to his shop and there sits my squareback…..

This is the first time I have ever driven a VW, fire it up and pull it over to the trailer.

Squareback is loaded and ready to go. Since we spent 14 hours driving Tanya and I decide to have lunch by Lake Tahoe. Beautiful Lake Tahoe…..

We met up with the PO at a bicycle shop and BS’ed for about 20 minutes and he told us about a route out of Tahoe. Well we took monitors pass, which is the steepest route out and on top of that there was a bicycle race on the same path. Narrow two lane mountain roads, trailer wider than my truck, straight uphill, and some loons on bikes taking up most of my lane…..had some close calls with oncoming traffic-nerve wracking…..

Lake Tahoe scenery

Me standing by a waterfall. The weather was in the 70's pretty damn nice when you consider Phoenix was 102....

You can see the road in the valley.

Awesome shot of the squareback in front of Mono Lake. Mono Lake is about 11 miles east of Yosemite.

So we get out of Cali and start driving in the Nevada desert. This is what you see, seems like forever and never ending. No wonder they tested nuclear weapons there as there is absofukinlutely nothing in the desert.

I love riding my Honda 250r three wheeler in Glamis and got to see the Armagosa sand dunes somewhere north of Vegas, can’t remember how far, but this is very small compared to Glamis and the Imperial Sand dunes.

By dusk Saturday I had my wife take over again and took this shot of the “tailgater” I had behind me since Tahoe……

This is a photo of a typical town you come across in the Nevada desert off in the distance. I think we came across three or four towns between Vegas and the Cali/Nevada border. I spotted lots of bugs, couple busses and one fastback all sitting in people’s yards rotting away.

Tanya and I got home at 2:30 am Sunday; 14.5 hours after leaving Tahoe. The Dodge was getting anywhere from 17 mpg to at some points 20 mpg on the way up. I averaged 15.5 mpg on the way home with the squareback on the trailer which I was expecting about 10…..So it cost me a little less than 400 in gas. I also brought three 5 gallon gas cans, as gas was very expensive in Cali ($5) and the small towns. It also was cheap insurance as there are stretches of road that go on seemingly forever with nothing and nobody around.
I got up at nine on Sunday like a kid on Christmas morning, unloaded the squareback and started to see what goodies awaited me.

The paint is pearl white? German speakers……More evidence to verify that it is a Pigalle?

So I drove it around my neighborhood and the front end is a little loose, it clunks going into 2nd gear and the brakes are not all that. The motor leaks oil like crazy, valves need adjusted and priority one is to get that plastic fuel filter out. The carbs are the Weber ICT’s. The PO told me this car is a factory dual carb square and I got the OG carbs in a box. So my plan of attack is to get the front end tightened up with new brakes and then tackle the rear suspension and motor. I really want to put a wheel to the paint and buff it out, but mechanically safe is more important than looks right now.

Last night after work I took off the front wheels and started to inspect the front end. Nothing looks jacked up real bad, 3 and 9 on the wheel and I get some play, so I suspect I need tie rod ends. The tie rod ends have VW logos on them and the ball joints have yellow paint, which I suspect is factory markings? I will be lowering the front end a click or two so I started to see if bolts would break loose and every single one of them did. Even the hex set screw that holds the lower arm to the beam came loose with minimal effort.
The windows don’t roll up or down worth a shit. The passenger door lower hinge is jacked up, when you open the door it sags about a half inch and the hinge moves away from the pillar like it rusted away from the back side. All seals, and weatherstrip is dry and brittle. The roof rack has some nice sheet metal screws holding it on and will need to come off. I am sure I am missing stuff but overall I am real happy with the square and look forward to driving it regulary. I will be slowly working the mechanical aspects then onto pretty it up. I will get better overall pics of the car tonight.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:31 am

hey, congratulations! 66 is a great year and i've always had a soft spot in my heart for pigalles.

can't wait to see your progress.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:45 am

Good for you and the wife on "getting it done" rather than futzing around too long with trying to talk somebody else into doing it! :D

Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:01 pm

sweet dude! we will have to get our Pigalles together when I get mine going :D

Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:31 pm

slicknapier wrote: sweet dude! we will have to get our Pigalles together when I get mine going :D

That would be very cool!! :D

Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:19 pm

Congratulations! Sounds like you have a good wife, too, if I may say. So, lowering the front... what else are your plans? Resto-custom?

Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:24 pm

Sweet ride. Great pics too

Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:55 pm

architect_7 wrote:
Congratulations! Sounds like you have a good wife, too, if I may say. So, lowering the front... what else are your plans? Resto-custom?

Thanks!!! Tanya is great. We moved from Florida to Arizona in January and drove 2200 miles (32 hours). Less than six months later here we go again driving 28 hours and she did not complain at all. As a matter of fact she loved the trip and got to go to another place she has never been. She even asked if she could drive the square when it is done and the weather has cooled.

Plans for the square are to get it mechanically sound to drive and fix it up as I go. I have a 57 chevy so both cars can back each other up. I want to set up the stance then restore it as correctly as $$$ allows. I may have to compromise on NOS items, but interior will be made to look correct. Then go one panel at a time and make the paint work beautiful. So I guess that would be resto-custom....although not much custom other than the stance.

By the way you are doing a great job on your square...other than the recent setback. I have been following your thread since I joined about two months ago and look forward to future posts.....

Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:31 pm

aircooled freak wrote:

Very nice and 66. Some of those panels look really good. Like that red! What is the button right under the clock? Curious because my car had one just like it same position and I always thought it was added on as a starter button. If you want to put a dual MC on it get a 67 resevoir. I think that is the only year that has a "twin" single. Your mount strap can bend around it in the same position.
Looks like the dist is still short cap. Very cool. Keep the progress posted.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:50 pm

Very happy to see that you came up and picked up that rare square. If i would have had the money i would have got it and drove it down here in carson city... Im glad you also got to see the beauty which is Lake Tahoe. and please dont mind all my Nevada Drivers who dont have a clue!! Nevada is barren everywhere but here in the Carson Valley and Washoe valley areas. Thank you for giving that beauty a loving home!! wish i could have got it! :)

KEEP TAHOE BLUE!
Trevor
69 Fasty
Carson City Nevada

Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:54 pm

So are you thanking me or cursing me? :lol:

Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:02 pm

Thanking you , i dont think my wife would have been understanding if brought another VW home.... im at my limit... 1 project at a time.......

Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:05 pm

most likely thanking you now and cursing you later 8)

that is a very cool car

Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:40 pm

aircooled freak wrote: architect_7 wrote:
Congratulations! Sounds like you have a good wife, too, if I may say. So, lowering the front... what else are your plans? Resto-custom?

Thanks!!! Tanya is great. We moved from Florida to Arizona in January and drove 2200 miles (32 hours). Less than six months later here we go again driving 28 hours and she did not complain at all. As a matter of fact she loved the trip and got to go to another place she has never been. She even asked if she could drive the square when it is done and the weather has cooled.

Plans for the square are to get it mechanically sound to drive and fix it up as I go. I have a 57 chevy so both cars can back each other up. I want to set up the stance then restore it as correctly as $$$ allows. I may have to compromise on NOS items, but interior will be made to look correct. Then go one panel at a time and make the paint work beautiful. So I guess that would be resto-custom....although not much custom other than the stance.

By the way you are doing a great job on your square...other than the recent setback. I have been following your thread since I joined about two months ago and look forward to future posts.....

Nice! :D =D> I am glad you are going to keep it stock, especially that which is easily changeable (plus period change). I would say you are doing a rejuvenation, not a restoration. The former is were you spruce things up as you go, only doing what is necessary, thus saving as much of the original. The later is were one strips the entire thing, and replaces everything (especially after-market, which is junk).

This then brings me to your flattering remark, which I thank you for. Sometimes I wonder why I am doing it for myself, and then I meet people like you. :D Once Jack gets his stuff taken care of, the Squareback will be next. So, I am hoping for a new post at the end of June. 8)

Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:55 pm

Tram wrote: So are you thanking me or cursing me? :lol:

I guess I should have posted a thank you!! =D> I was going to settle for another squareback that was 10 minutes from my house, but it was not what I really wanted. I was literally about to pull the trigger and you posted that link.

I have to admit now I had no idea what a Pigalle was, it wasnt until I started to search the forum that I learned how special these are and will treat it as such.

66311 wrote: What is the button right under the clock? Curious because my car had one just like it same position and I always thought it was added on as a starter button.

:lol: It is the starter button. I was going to ask about that. When I jumped in the square in Tahoe and turned the ignition key nothing happened.....tried it again....nothing....spotted that button and it cranked right up. Is this correct or has the PO just wired that button to be used as the starter. If that is the case then what was the button for??

No bentley manual yet, it is on the list.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:21 pm

no, it's not correct, but if it works leave it for now. originally it would have just used the key ignition on the column. look in the classifieds or on ebay for a new ignition switch, or you can have yourse rebuilt possibly.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:21 pm

aircooled freak wrote: [...]

66311 wrote: What is the button right under the clock? Curious because my car had one just like it same position and I always thought it was added on as a starter button.

:lol: It is the starter button. I was going to ask about that. When I jumped in the square in Tahoe and turned the ignition key nothing happened.....tried it again....nothing....spotted that button and it cranked right up. Is this correct or has the PO just wired that button to be used as the starter. If that is the case then what was the button for??

No bentley manual yet, it is on the list.

Your ignition switch is shot. Here is the replacement: http://www.vwispwest.com/product.php?ispproduct=vwispwest&cat=347&page=1&part=311905851A. I had the same thing, and now I do not have the push button, I love having just one thing to do. Plus things work better. If you want more information, go to here: http://www.type3.org/ and post the question. There was just a bunch of discussion, but I did not keep them, but someone may have, and be able to help.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:00 pm

aircooled freak wrote: I have to admit now I had no idea what a Pigalle was, it wasnt until I started to search the forum that I learned how special these are and will treat it as such.

THANK YOU!!! :D

Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:02 pm

architect_7 wrote: aircooled freak wrote: [...]

66311 wrote: What is the button right under the clock? Curious because my car had one just like it same position and I always thought it was added on as a starter button.

:lol: It is the starter button. I was going to ask about that. When I jumped in the square in Tahoe and turned the ignition key nothing happened.....tried it again....nothing....spotted that button and it cranked right up. Is this correct or has the PO just wired that button to be used as the starter. If that is the case then what was the button for??

No bentley manual yet, it is on the list.

Your ignition switch is shot. Here is the replacement: http://www.vwispwest.com/product.php?ispproduct=vwispwest&cat=347&page=1&part=311905851A. I had the same thing, and now I do not have the push button, I love having just one thing to do. Plus things work better. If you want more information, go to here: http://www.type3.org/ and post the question. There was just a bunch of discussion, but I did not keep them, but someone may have, and be able to help.

Of course, you'll have a hole in the dash where that stupid button was. The good news is that you can install a European style "accessory plug" there and have a nice dealer accessory to plug the damn hole.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:22 pm

Nice trip report. Congrats on the new Pigalle. I hope to see it at a local Phoenix/Tucson show, maybe at the Chirco show later this year?

Now if we could only get the other Pigalles in Phoenix on the road, there are at least 2 around town.