TheSamba.com :: View topic - I Just Purchased a 1955 Oval VW From San Francisco 2 Gilroy

Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:45 pm

I BOUGHT A STOCK 36HP VW 1955 OVAL HARDTOP BUG...DROVE IT FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO GILROY 70 MILES DISTANCE AT ABOUT 65MPH...NON STOP....NOW IT WON'T START...IT SOUNDS LIKE IF WANTS TO START...BUT IT WON;T....THIS IS MY FIRST EVER BUG ...NEVER DRIVEN ONE BEFORE...ON THE FREEWAY IT GAE ME NO PROBLEMS.....ANY IDEAS? LIKE I SAID IT DROVE FINE UNTIL I STOPPED IT AND TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT...ANY GOOD TROUBLE SHOOTING SITES?

Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:52 pm

Hello-

If the engine is too hot, it may be vapor lock.

Make sure you have gas in the gas tank.

Check your fuel lines (you would be amazed how much crud is in the gas tank).

Make sure all your electrical connections are tight.

Paul

Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:16 pm

is it like a battery is dead sound?...or is it like I got no gas sound? Can you push start it?

Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:52 pm

At first i heard clicking so i checked the battery...then the car sound like it was going to start, but nothing....i read in a manual...something about a red and green light on the speedo....not sure what that means....then i tried putting a little gas in the carb....incidently the air cover spilled oil when i accidently tipped it over and cleaned it up right away...is the oil in this cover over...and the fact that csome leaked out mean that i have to replace the oil....and yes there is plenty of gas in the tank...i made sure of that. the battery positive wire is rather crusty and greenish but that was not an issue when i first started the car....i have to do my homework....paid 3700.00 for it...how did i do...headliner is toast, but owner has a replacement, the car was running, dash has nice aged look, the wipers are gone and not sure the wiper motor works, i guess pics are in order to get opinions....any help will be appreciated....vapor lock? how does this prevent the car from starting?

Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:58 pm

was it this one?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=922840

first check that your getting gasoline to the carb,

could be fuel pump , / gas tank clogged

then check spark/ timing probably the points

Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:14 pm

65ghia wrote: was it this one?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=922840

first check that your getting gasoline to the carb,

could be fuel pump , / gas tank clogged

then check spark/ timing probably the points

YES THIS BE THE ONE....NICE CAR...I LOVE IT :D

Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:47 am

Vapor lock is boiling gasoline. If this happens the pump can not pull the fuel in to transfer it to the carb. If the car cools down and then starts I would check for that first. Is the fan belt tight? You mentioned the starter just clicked. Does the engine turn over properly now? Have you tried charging the battery? An engine needs 3 things to run, Fuel, Air and Spark. Find out which is missing and go from there just as you would any other engine. Good luck and report back on what you find.

Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:18 am

Viande wrote: Vapor lock is boiling gasoline. If this happens the pump can not pull the fuel in to transfer it to the carb. If the car cools down and then starts I would check for that first. Is the fan belt tight? You mentioned the starter just clicked. Does the engine turn over properly now? Have you tried charging the battery? An engine needs 3 things to run, Fuel, Air and Spark. Find out which is missing and go from there just as you would any other engine. Good luck and report back on what you find.

Thanks for the tip...just need to learn the air cooled engine more. Like i said it ran great...no problems along the way...incidently if traveling at 65 mph...how far can the car travel?? i guess it depends on the temp too right....i have been driving since 17 and am now 34, but let me tell you i felt like moron trying to figure it out....the car is cold so i will give it a wirl later today...

Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:25 am

SJ_BIKER wrote: Viande wrote: Vapor lock is boiling gasoline. If this happens the pump can not pull the fuel in to transfer it to the carb. If the car cools down and then starts I would check for that first. Is the fan belt tight? You mentioned the starter just clicked. Does the engine turn over properly now? Have you tried charging the battery? An engine needs 3 things to run, Fuel, Air and Spark. Find out which is missing and go from there just as you would any other engine. Good luck and report back on what you find.

Thanks for the tip...just need to learn the air cooled engine more. Like i said it ran great...no problems along the way...incidently if traveling at 65 mph...how far can the car travel?? i guess it depends on the temp too right....i have been driving since 17 and am now 34, but let me tell you i felt like moron trying to figure it out....the car is cold so i will give it a wirl later today...

At 65mph the car can travel the distance allowed by the fuel contained in your tank. :wink:

You should post a pic of your engine we may see something the just stands out. Are all the tins in place? Missing tin will cause the engine to overheat as you will draw hot air from below rather than fresh from above as designed.

Do report back with your findings so the good people here can help you get your new toy going again. good luck

Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:29 pm

Get a berg temp dipstick, to tell you when the engine gets above 210 degrees. Takes 5 min to install

http://www.geneberg.com/product_info.php?products_id=256

Also when driving its helpful to have , an extra set of points, extra coil, extra fuel pump & carb.

i would also check the brakes, inspect the link pin suspension, check the tranny fluid level, make sure you have all the original tin.

you might also check to see if the car is running lean. those 4 tip exhaust may add or restrict flow

Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:53 am

adjust your valves and give it a tune up, oil change. Replace any rubber hoses and install a fuel filter either under the tank or under the car by the transmission where the hard line exits the pan and before the engine tin.

Mon Mar 08, 2010 1:18 pm

HERE ARE SOME PICS OF THE 55 OVAL AND BY THE WAY THE CAR STARTED WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE WIRE FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR TO THE COIL WAS ARCHING ACCORDING TO THE AUTO PARTS GUY I SPOKE WITH...HE SIMPLY REPLACED THE BUSTED METAL TIP OFF THE WIRE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE.... CRIMPED IT DOWN ...I INSTALLED IT WHEN I GOT HOME...CONNECTED THE BATTERY...PUT SOME STARTING FLUID IN THE CARB...AND BAM..STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY....LIKE A JUNK YARD DOG CHASING THE MAIL CARRIER AWAY....ANYHOW..HERE ARE THE PICS...VERY EXCITED TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD....AND BY THE WAY.... A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THAT RESPONDED IN MY TIME OF NEED....I AM NEW TO THIS FORUM AND WILL BE VISITING FROM TIME TO TIME....SO FROM SUNNY CALIFORNIA....GOOD DAY LADIES AND GENTS :D ....DARN IT NOW I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LOAD PICS ON THIS SITE....DOH....

Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:47 pm

Could be 'cause its black. My black one does that all the time...

Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:50 pm

SJ_BIKER wrote: HERE ARE SOME PICS OF THE 55 OVAL AND BY THE WAY THE CAR STARTED WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE WIRE FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR TO THE COIL WAS ARCHING ACCORDING TO THE AUTO PARTS GUY I SPOKE WITH...HE SIMPLY REPLACED THE BUSTED METAL TIP OFF THE WIRE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE.... CRIMPED IT DOWN ...I INSTALLED IT WHEN I GOT HOME...CONNECTED THE BATTERY...PUT SOME STARTING FLUID IN THE CARB...AND BAM..STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY....LIKE A JUNK YARD DOG CHASING THE MAIL CARRIER AWAY....ANYHOW..HERE ARE THE PICS...VERY EXCITED TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD....AND BY THE WAY.... A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THAT RESPONDED IN MY TIME OF NEED....I AM NEW TO THIS FORUM AND WILL BE VISITING FROM TIME TO TIME....SO FROM SUNNY CALIFORNIA....GOOD DAY LADIES AND GENTS :D ....DARN IT NOW I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LOAD PICS ON THIS SITE....DOH....

First welcome, Glad you found the problem with the car!

2nd, please turn off your caps, you are SHOUTING at all of us with it turned on.

3rd. No pictures. Read the sticky at the top on how to post photos. Simply click on Gallery and click add photo and follow directions, real easy if you fill in the proper blanks and the photo is sized correctly.

Good Luck
Dave

Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:26 pm

Good to see another oval owner in the "bay area". If you get a chance you should check out http://www.norcalaircooledgroup.org/forums/
We meet every 2nd fri in pleasanton at the inNout(happens to be this friday)

Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:29 pm

sixty9fasty wrote: Good to see another oval owner in the "bay area". If you get a chance you should check out http://www.norcalaircooledgroup.org/forums/
We meet every 2nd fri in pleasanton at the inNout(happens to be this friday)

AT AGE 18 I HAD THIS FASCINATION WITH OLD VW BUGS...BUYING VW MAGS AND SEEING A FEW IN LOWRIDER MAGAZINE WHEN THEY FEATURED BUGS FOR SOME WEIRD REASON, BUT NOTHING EVER PANNED OUT WITH ME GETTING ONE...KIND OF GLAD I WAITED A WHILE SINCE I CAN NOW APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY TO RESTORE THINGS...AND AQUIRING EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE PUT TOGETHER AND REPAIRED...AND NOW I HAVE AN EXCUSE TO TINKER AROUND WITH MY 7 YEAR DAUGHTER WHO LOVES VW BUGS...HECK EVEN MY WIFE I DID NOT KNOW THIS TILL LATER LIKES VW BUGS...KIND OF ENJOYING THE MOMENT RIGHT NOW... :D

Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:31 pm

SJ_BIKER wrote: sixty9fasty wrote: Good to see another oval owner in the "bay area". If you get a chance you should check out http://www.norcalaircooledgroup.org/forums/
We meet every 2nd fri in pleasanton at the inNout(happens to be this friday)

AT AGE 18 I HAD THIS FASCINATION WITH OLD VW BUGS...BUYING VW MAGS AND SEEING A FEW IN LOWRIDER MAGAZINE WHEN THEY FEATURED BUGS FOR SOME WEIRD REASON, BUT NOTHING EVER PANNED OUT WITH ME GETTING ONE...KIND OF GLAD I WAITED A WHILE SINCE I CAN NOW APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY TO RESTORE THINGS...AND AQUIRING EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE PUT TOGETHER AND REPAIRED...AND NOW I HAVE AN EXCUSE TO TINKER AROUND WITH MY 7 YEAR DAUGHTER WHO LOVES VW BUGS...HECK EVEN MY WIFE I DID NOT KNOW THIS TILL LATER LIKES VW BUGS...KIND OF ENJOYING THE MOMENT RIGHT NOW... :D Dang it i forget to turn off the darn caps....i have to get use to this...sorry..i am not yelling i swear....no not that kind of swear....lol

Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:34 pm

What are tins? Please inform. I hope to add pics hopefully tonight so some one can school me on if the engine is looking ok as far as originality is concerned. Any one out have a good manual in mind to have so i can have handy to maintain this year beetle?

Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:10 am

SJ_BIKER wrote: What are tins? Please inform. I hope to add pics hopefully tonight so some one can school me on if the engine is looking ok as far as originality is concerned. Any one out have a good manual in mind to have so i can have handy to maintain this year beetle?

Buy the big blue "Bentley" manual 1952-1957 for Type 11, 14 & 15 (bug & ghia)...This is truly the "bible" [-o< for your car. Someone on here said you can order them through Borders or Barnes and Noble online (can't remember which) at $60-$65...or something like that. That's a deal considering they will normally set you back $90-$100 (at your local VW shop). It's a great book. As a back up, get the "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" better known as the "Idiot Manual" by John Muir. It's a good book for basics and it's humorous at the same time... :lol: :lol: It can be a little "choppy" at times (skips around a bit and you have to make sure you are reading about info pertaining to your make) but great for the basics. Good luck and enjoy that car!!! Nice car... 8) :bug_blue:

Oh ya..."tins" are the various sheet metal cooling tins in your engine compartment...It's important to have all of them on your engine. They help to correctly circulate air flow around your air cooled engine. If you are missing something, search the classifieds on here and buy it used. Don't buy the "new" crap available (Made in Taiwan, China, Karachi-Pakistan etc.-you get the idea) at your local VW superstore. Nothing against the VW shops (it's usually all they can get)...but there is nothing like original quality German parts (even used)...

Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:32 pm

That is a great year you have.