The Stupid Question Thread

[Patty B.]

Feels like it's a stupid question--I have had my bug parked for a few years while we got some financials in order. I am so excited to get it back on the road again this year! Here's the stupid question as when I went and stood in the motor oil section I was overwhelmed---what oil are you putting in your stock 46 yr old (1969) 83thousand mile beetle? Something without seal swellers!

[[email protected]]

[Patty B.]

Thanks ptjjb!

[rickrey]

Not sure if this qualifies for the stupid question category or not. What is the correct way to bend a bale to make it fit tighter onto the valve cover. I have a, 69 with rubber gaskets drivers side is tight , passengers is loose, I have cleaned both surfaces of junk, but still get a healthy drip. and bale just does not seem tight enough. Thanks for any help on this...........

[Walter4]

I don't know if it's the "right way" but to tighten my bales, I just pull them off the car (they are held on by their own tension, no bolts) and then bend in the sides while putting my knee in the middle to bend that. Doesn't take much.

[atticus finch]

I"ll go ahead & ask what might be a dumb question: I have a `70 beetle with a stock electrical system, does the car have a generator or an alternator? Whatever is back there is stone stock VW, no alterations of any sort.

In stating or using the word alternator, I reference a std GM alternator where the field is artificially or electrically induced via the voltage regulator.

My understanding of a generator is it's a permanant magnet, hence no artificially induced field, the permanant magnet does that job.

Which does my beetle have? Either or a combination thereof?

My understanding is it's a generator in the traditional sense or understanding of the definition, yet there's a green field wire on there so I'm stuck on what I'm looking at.
What is stock on a 70 beetle?

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[MagmaJctAz]

[Danwvw]

I really like the simplicity of the Alternator, The Armature is just and Electro Magnet and it only takes about an amp through it to generate something like 20 amps in the stater windings.

Alternator Stater:

And Here is a Generator Apart:

Generator field coil:

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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[SBD]

I've been searching to find some sort of verification or assurance with no luck so here I am at the Stupid Question Thread.

My Kelmark is built on (as far a I can tell) a pretty much bone stock 1970 manual trans Beetle with a 1600 SP. It has a 30 PICT-3 carb (revision # VW 226-1) and (when I bought it) came equipped with a 231 115 078 (113 905 205 AA) distributor. My research says this distributor is for a 1969 Beetle with an auto stick trans but it can be used as a replacement for a 1970 model with an auto stick. The vacuum advance diaphragm was dead on the distributor when I got the car so I pulled it and stuck in an 009 with a Pertronix unit that I had.

The 078 distributor is in great shape, with no slop, and the PO even replaced the cap, rotor and points right before I bought the car. I'd like to put an SVDA type distributor on the car for all of the advantages they offer but I know that most won't work with my carb. So, here's my stupid question. Will the 078 play nice with my 30 PICT-3 like I THINK it will (and will I be sorta' happy, even though it was intended for an auto stick car)? Is it worth finding a new vacuum advance can (#277) and putting it in the car?

And I can probably do some more research and find out, but does anybody here know if the 009 Pertronix Ignitor will fit in the 078 distributor? Thanks everybody!

EDIT: Okay, found the answer about the Ignitor. It's a no-go. The distributors use 2 different kits.

ANOTHER EDIT: I took the gamble and bought a NOS vacuum can for the distributor. Cleaned & lubed the distributor (both the vacuum and mechanical advances were frozen up from caked up crud), installed the vacuum canister and installed it in my car, timed at 0*. The carb and distributor play VERY WELL together. Its only been in there a couple of days so I haven't run it enough to get any mileage numbers but the car seems to run smoother and is much easier to drive than it was with the 009/Pertronix Ignitor combo I had (Yeah, big surprise there ). I've already ordered a points eliminator module for the distributor and plan to use it and keep the 009 as a backup.
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"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"

[Walter4]

What's so special about a HURST shifter?

[Relyt]

[67jason]

[Walter4]

I was asking because my car has one. The PO said he got it as an upgrade from VW when he bought the car. (Sometimes it's so nice to have contact with the PO/OO). I don't care for the way it looks, but it sounds like replacing it with a "stock" lever might cause more trouble than it's worth.

[Walter4]

Another question:

I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge. I can see in the tubing that there are large air pockets. Do I need to do something about them? Are they affecting the readings of the gauge?

[clutch276]

I have 68 beetle and 69 beetle parts car. My question is will the 69 beam fit on my 68?

[SBD]

[Volks Wagen]

[caffeine]

So are any of you static drop folk using any sort of sacrificial scraping material or are you just letting the lowest spots "auto clearance"?
I googled the crap out of it and can't find any good info. I'd like to use something that's easily replaceable. Once the pinch welds on the beam are gone what's next?

[Middle child]

I guess the subject line tells or asks what I am wanting to read. Nothing I typed into the search bar came up with too much of anything. I have a donor car picked out if what's his name ever gets off his duff and gives me a $$ number.