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Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:09 pm

I like reading the What did you do to your bus today thread and think we bug owners need a similar thread so I'm starting one.

Wednesday the bug started making a grinding noise at idle. Thursday I went out and took the belt off to check the generator. Clicking and nasty sounding. The back of the pulley was eating into the generator bushing. The noise was the back of the pulley hitting the screw heads on the generator. Went and bought a generator and a new pulley. The key was OK though.

Took everything out and decided since I had the shroud off, I'd put the Hoover Bit that I'd ordered months ago on, and the plug wires looked old so I got new ones, and since I was pulling the plug wires off, I decided to change the plugs too. Went back to BAP and bought the plug wires and plugs. Went to AutoZone and "rented" a big socket to take the fan off. Their rental is you buy the tool, and then bring it back for a refund.

Went back home and couldn't get the damn fan off the shaft.

Today I got up and took the generator with the fan and backing plate attached over to the VW place up the street. Doug's Bugs. I never been there before, but I drive by every day. Doug loosened the nut for me and gave me some advice. No charge.

While I was there, I decided to get some Sound board. Mine looks ratty and has paint over spray on it. For $40 it will make the engine compartment look a little better. Out of stock.

Out of stock everywhere in town. I'll order some so it's here next time I have the opportunity to install it easily.

Went home started swapping the generator parts, and decided to clean everything before I got too dirty. An hour with the hand cleaner and a stiff brush and all the grease was gone from the shroud and related parts. I think it's all under my fingernails now.

While everything was drying, I swapped the plugs and plug wires.

Mounted it all back in, polarized the generator, and started it up.

Put the deck lid back on - took me 45 minutes with the sun glaring on me and I gave up with only three nuts in. It closes without hitting and I was tired of messing with it. I'd mounted it and taken it off three times to move the brackets. The fourth time will be next month when it's less than 110 out there.

Car runs good.

So what did you do to your bug this week?
Tery

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:11 pm

Drove it and enjoyed it. \:D/

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:19 pm

Hi Tery, I did an oil change, cleaned the inside, washed the out side(sat in it and drank a beer when I was done) ok 4 beers, hehehe.

I think I need to replace the master cylinder(again) if so It will be the 4th one ( but I am getting good with the swap out)

Tery what side of town do you live in. Pat

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:24 pm

I worked on my sunroof due to my crushed sunroof i had and i bought a used one. I put on the used one and it works ok just a little bit work to make it smooth as butter. I worked on my pedal cluster by swapping to different pedal cluster. Because the one i had is the wrong one and i found one from a super beetle 74 so now my gas pedal is now complete with pads instead of big fat ugly roller. I helped my friend with his 65 bug to get it running but the points were bad so tomorrow i cross my fingers that it will run with new points.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:25 pm

ts88 wrote: Hi Tery, I did an oil change, cleaned the inside, washed the out side(sat in it and drank a beer when I was done) ok 4 beers, hehehe.

I think I need to replace the master cylinder(again) if so It will be the 4th one ( but I am getting good with the swap out)

Tery what side of town do you live in. Pat

What brand of master are you using?

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:38 pm

I broke the window crank knob off of both my brand new wolfsburgwest window cranks.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:51 pm

On my '69 baja bug i removed the flywheel put in a new main seal today.Then i put on a brand new clutch setup.Tomorrow im going to put in a new transmission input shaft seal and then finish rewiring the car and hopefully putt around my backyard for a little while(if i put the main seal in right :( )

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:51 pm

i removed all the doghouse stuff from my donor 1600 engine to add to my 1500 . better cooling woo hoo .

Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:01 pm

What brand of master are you using?[/quote]

Hi Jim, the first 2 were from BAP, the 3rd was from Auto Zone. Pat

Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:05 pm

That explains it, get german MC from Wolfsburgwest i bought it and it hasnt fail on me.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:27 pm

I adjusted my valves. It has been 5,000 miles so I had been putting it off, turns out they were all still within exact specs. It made me happy.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:46 pm

ts88 wrote:

Terry what side of town do you live in. Pat

Mesa. I try to go out to the KMart cruise on Saturday evenings. Power and Hampton Roads. 5-7PM

Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:01 pm

I stared at it because i was too lazy to go get a new shifter bushing after buying a shitty non-german one.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:05 am

Used my friends 4 poster lift to get under de bug. Replaced the lower panel on the frame head. Took 4hrs to do it right. Found a leaking steering dampener. Will replace today. AND I found out that there is no thermostat on the engine and I am missing a ton of tin. Some broken and some missing. Another PO ingenious attitude, if it's not there it doesn't have to work.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:02 am

Sanded my hood. Pondered buying a new one!!!!! :shock:

Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:09 am

ts88 wrote: what side of town do you live in. Pat

I'm in NE Phoenix. My last MC (maybe 10 years ago) was a Checker or AutoZone rebuilt, lifetime warranty. BAP was farther away, and didn't have that warranty. That was before I has Internet, to shop that way.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:26 am

PARKED IT :(

front of car is low so I can not easily see front tires and when I got home i got under to check a noise i heard and guess what?
my tires are out of alignment and my front passenger tire is wore very very bad(almost totally bald).. so looks like i need to get some new front tires and then align it...

Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:52 am

One of the car mags ran an article about doing something to your car everyday, whether it be actual work or reading something or buying a part and the like. Sounds like a good idea. It keeps the spirit of the car movement alive, plus it moves you a step forward toward getting your ride the way you want it. By the way, what I did today was locate the fog light switch I want to install, and if I don't have to cut the grass, I'll install it!

Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:04 am

Cusser wrote: ts88 wrote: what side of town do you live in. Pat

I'm in NE Phoenix. My last MC (maybe 10 years ago) was a Checker or AutoZone rebuilt, lifetime warranty. BAP was farther away, and didn't have that warranty. That was before I has Internet, to shop that way.

Hi Cusser, I'm in Glendale, The BAP masters suck, I won't get any thing from them unless I have to to get back on the road in a hurry. Pat

Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:15 am

I watched mine get a major rain bath for the 4th straight day from the last outer bands of Tropical Storm Fay.