No Fahrvergnugen and Other Issues

[zoobyshoe]

I have four different questions, but I'll bundle them together in one thread.

1.)The first is what is the purpose of dual ports? How is this better or different than a single port? What were they trying to accomplish in engineering the dual port engine? All I have been able to find out is that, in a certain year, they started issuing Bugs with a dual port 1600 engine. The implication is that this improves something, or solved a problem, but I haven't found anything that explains the solution or improvement it represents.

2.)The second issue is that I have no Fahrvergnugen. My 72 standard seems to have all the suspension niceties of a Radio Flyer toy wagon. I get a smooth ride only when the road I'm on happens to be perfectly smooth. Otherwise, it's pure rock n' roll, but not in a good way. I just put 4 new shocks on, and it did very little to improve this. Is this the way Beetles are? I can't believe they would ever have become so popular if it is. Also: on the highway any car bigger than mine that passes seems to threaten to blow me off the road with it's 'bow wave'. An SUV is as bad as a Mack truck in this regard. I was kinda pleased to find out my engine doesn't seem to mind doing 60 - 65, but this feeling of being blown out of my lane by passing vehicles has made me avoid highway driving.

3.) My title says it's a 1972, but the sticker by the door says Dec. 1971 ("Manufactured by VOLKSWAGENWERK AG 12/71"). Should I be looking for info about the '71 when I consult manuals, or are cars manufactured very late in one year considered to be cars from the next year?

4.)The fourth thing, related to the first perhaps, is that I don't exactly understand my exhaust system. I'll post a pic. It looks like the exhaust and muffler are not original. What would someone have been trying to accomplish by switching from the original to the one that's now there? My rear apron has the two grooves for the two tail pipes, but, as you can see, the current muffler is designed differently.

Here's the muffler:

[Randy in Maine]

Dual ports breath better at higher flows for a tweak more HP at speed. 1971 was the first year of the dual ports in Type 1s.

The model year starts on August 1 for the next year, so acar made on August 2, 1971 would be a 1972 model.

Make sure your tires are correctly inflated. 16-17 psi up front and 25-27 psi in the rear will get you close. If that doesn't help, a front end inspection would be in order. If you have gas shocks (as opposed to the stock oil filled shocks) it will make the ride a lot stiffer.

Yes that is an after marked muffler. I prefer the stock ones as they have the ability to provide heat to a stock center mounted carb. Pluse they give that "fweem" that we so love.

Here is an owner's manual


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/72bug.php

[TheAmazingDave]

The dual port engine flows air better. Better air flow = better power. This is especially true on the highway. Having used both engines, I can feel the difference in "high-speed" acceleration.

I haven't been in a Standard Bug in a long time, but I believe that's typical. The torsion beams provide a harsher ride than the Super's strut front end. That's the way it is. There's a video floating around of a Super driving next to a Standard on a bumpy road which illustrates this beautifully. Getting blown around is par for the course. These cars are very light. A bit of research about Beetles in a crosswind would have revealed this to you. Sorry you're learning the hard way. Lowering my Super a bit reduced the issue, but I still get tossed around a bit. Just expect it, and always have two hands on the wheel.

The next model year generally starts production late in the last model year. You have a 72.

Looks like you have a header on there. The mod was likely performance oriented. I'm guessing you no longer have heater boxes though. That's usually the trade-off, I reckon.
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[60ragtop]

Do you have stock size tires, 165 80 15?
Did you put on gas charged shocks?
Stock type muffler

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[morymob]

If u have 'bias ply tires & they r old ,worse combo, bp' tires wont drive worth squat if new, liketo follow cracks,uneven parts of road, short life most of them. How much play is in steering also steering part up front. Good tires with a bit more air, some trial/error to get it's best, good suspension, is about as good as it gets.

[jhicken]

Think of the motor as a big air-pump, air comes in, and air goes out. To increase performance you need to get the air in and out quicker. The dual port head allows more air/fuel into the combustion chamber, more air/fuel, bigger bang = better performance. Next comes getting the air out. That happens through the exhaust. A freer flowing exhaust helps get the air/exhaust out quicker so the aftermarket exhaust helps do this. There is a lot more to engine performance but these are the basic principals.

As for handling, you might be expecting to much from a stock 40yo car. FWIW, the Fahrvergnugen campaign referred to later, water-cooled vw's, not the Beetles. That doesn't mean they are not fun to drive and will bring you a lifetime of joy, your criteria just may need to be adjusted.

Pick up the Muir Book "How to Keep your Volkswagen Alive" it's a great primer for a novice.

-jeffrey
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[zoobyshoe]

Thanks for the responses everyone! Much appreciated.

The tires are something I hadn't even considered. Here are some detail pictures, and a shot of my tire info sticker in the glovebox:

Does this bug have the wrong tires on it?

[Multi69s]

Yes the bugs do get blown around, but if an SUV is doing it, the car needs a little help. The first step I would take is to get the car to an alignment shop that can do a 4 wheel alignment on the bug. These shops are getting rare though. Also, do you know if your sway bar is still attached, if you don't know, the shop can tell you. You may also have a lot of front end pieces worn out (ball joints, tie rod ends, steering dampener etc.), but the shop can tell you this as well.

In reality, your VW will never ride like a modern car. However, once everything is sorted out, you WILL experience Fahrvergnugen when you zip your 1,900lb car on the really twisty and winding roads .
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[sb001]

[76VDubya]

I have read from several different sources, that installing gas-charged shocks will make a Bug ride rough. They all recommended the stock type ones. I guess the reason for this, is because the car doesn't weigh enough for the gas ones to operate correctly...probably the same reason it gets blown around on the road too.

[jhicken]

Most gas shocks are stiffer, performance oriented shocks, by their nature you'll have a harsher ride because the beetle is a light weight car, specially in the front. If you are looking for comfort, stock Boge or Sachs shocks will do the trick.

-jeffrey
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[zoobyshoe]

[zoobyshoe]

[Randy in Maine]

I always use something like these (on the front at least) to spare my teeth being jarred on every concrete cut....

http://www.busdepot.com/113413031e

[zoobyshoe]

[[email protected]]

Nobody asked if it was a Super which are famous for having loose steering.

When someone mentioned alignment, they were suggesting that you point both wheels straight ahead, 1/8 inch toe in actually, and lined up perpendicular to the road. These things can go out of alignment. Also the steering box could be way loose allowing the front wheels to do their own thing.

Those tires are too old to be safe. Anyone notice the lack of aspect ratio. Maybe someone who trailers their car to shows might appreciate the antique tire but a tire more than a decade old, and yours are several decades old, should be replaced.

[zoobyshoe]

[jhicken]

The 155 refers to 155mm tread width. Although you can still find 155mm tires, 165's are more common and cheaper. As noted before, your tires are old and that will also contribute to poor ride and handling. A new set of Boge or Sachs shocks and a set of tires will do wonders for the car.

Go to your local tire shop, he can order the tires and shocks. When they get in, have them install the shocks, mount and balance the tires and align everything. If he has problems locating the tires, check with your local VW parts retailer, they will be able to help.

-jeffrey
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[zoobyshoe]

[mukluk]