TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Jun 29, 2025 6:46 am

Just finished my project of putting 914 tach and speedo into my 69, as well as oil press + temp and voltmeter into the radio opening. The radio blank plate was purchased on ebay. I also needed to put a fuel level gauge in, which went into the panel to the right of the center opening, as well as LED "idiot lights" for oil press. and generator. The only thing I need to do now is take the car for a drive to check the speedo calibration. I also need to go back in and put in some terminal strips for switched power and ground to make the wiring a little neater...I have a lot of piggy-backed spade terminals which are functional, but are not asthetically pleasing LOL
Also took apart the wiper assembly to clean and relube...they were slooooowww. All good now!

Sun Jun 29, 2025 7:33 am

johnnyvw164 wrote: Just finished my project of putting 914 tach and speedo into my 69, as well as oil press + temp and voltmeter into the radio opening.

Nice !!!!

I've been running these gauges with my 1835cc engine since about 1977. I cut the stock grill to make these fit (I don't know if aftermarket grills were available then).

Sun Jun 29, 2025 12:06 pm

I had gotten the gauge set with pre-cut "grills". Turns out the late model ones (padded dash) are physically smaller than the earlier ones and wouldn't fit...never did find a set for the later models. I did this same set-up on a Super I had back in the 70's (although with 912 gauges with green numbers) so wasn't afraid of taking the plunge on this. Speedo is about 5 MPH optimistic, so I know I have a "cushion" on the speed limits

Thu Jul 03, 2025 6:05 pm

Frankenbug's padded dash was removed by P.O. who also cut the dash for single DIN. I recently fashioned a radio delete plate.
I will not be replacing the padded dash anytime soon. So-
Today I painted the dash top to make it look more presentable.

Fri Jul 18, 2025 3:35 pm

Fixed (I hope) annoying rattle(s) in the passenger door.

Next up: chrome on bumpers is failing. I think I will paint them.
Not sure what color yet.
Candidates are SEM Trim Black, and Seymour Stainless Blast.

Stay tuned...

Sat Jul 19, 2025 4:57 am

johnnyvw164 wrote: Just finished my project of putting 914 tach and speedo into my 69, as well as oil press + temp and voltmeter into the radio opening. The radio blank plate was purchased on ebay. I also needed to put a fuel level gauge in, which went into the panel to the right of the center opening, as well as LED "idiot lights" for oil press. and generator. The only thing I need to do now is take the car for a drive to check the speedo calibration. I also need to go back in and put in some terminal strips for switched power and ground to make the wiring a little neater...I have a lot of piggy-backed spade terminals which are functional, but are not asthetically pleasing LOL
Also took apart the wiper assembly to clean and relube...they were slooooowww. All good now!

Very nice, I like how the gauges are in a neat row. 8)

Sat Jul 19, 2025 10:04 am

We use my 1970 VW sedan primarily for dragging the horse arena; it's dusty, but mainly rear of the VW. Today I did its yearly oil change service (STP 10W-40), new STP S16 oil filter (CB Maxi2 pump/filter), and service the stock type air cleaner.

I also stuffed some heat-resistant fiberglass tape into the crevice on left side of engine. That tin had been mangled by dealer-installed AC when VW was new, I bought it in 1972.

I also noticed that the big rubber stopper I had used to plug the hole in the rear tin had disappeared.

So I flattened a scrap piece of galvanized roof flashing I had, and cut a patch for that tin.

This VW is registered ($18 a year) and has classic insurance, so roadworthy.

Sat Jul 19, 2025 12:51 pm

Cusser wrote:
I also noticed that the big rubber stopper I had used to plug the hole in the rear tin had disappeared.

So I flattened a scrap piece of galvanized roof flashing I had, and cut a patch for that tin.

^^^^^^^^^
"Rubber stopper," hey?
Me too! Just visible in this pic:

Sat Jul 19, 2025 2:51 pm

BCE56 wrote: Cusser wrote:
I also noticed that the big rubber stopper I had used to plug the hole in the rear tin had disappeared.

So I flattened a scrap piece of galvanized roof flashing I had, and cut a patch for that tin.

My stopper was visible in this photo, from 2017, just after I rebuilt the engine.

My engine was a lot cleaner then - but that's not a priority to me since it drags the horse arena so much and racks up a bunch of dust.

Wed Jul 23, 2025 6:35 pm

BCE56 wrote:
Next up: chrome on bumpers is failing. I think I will paint them.
Not sure what color yet.

Stay tuned...
..............

Done:

Thu Jul 24, 2025 7:12 pm

I gave the buggy a bath and then took the dash apart for a redo. Going to do a wood grain/ stained look.

Tue Jul 29, 2025 11:42 am

The bad: my 1971 VW wouldn't crank today when I was in Phx and tried to drive it. I hadn't driven it in 6 weeks.

The good: I looked it up in my records, and my battery was purchased in October 2016, O'Reilly Group 42, so that's terrific for an Arizona battery where my Phx garage easily gets into the 130s.

I'll likely replace with Walmart 26R.

Sat Aug 02, 2025 2:40 pm

Installed a rear sway bar, changed the oil and put on new front brake pads ,no more squealing from the front disks...!

Sun Aug 03, 2025 4:43 pm

Applied dressing to Frankenbug and Syncro tires. Drove bug to the esplanade, then stopped at a local cafe for tacos and Bohemia.

Plan to tackle paint remediation next week.

Sun Aug 03, 2025 6:04 pm

a8ked wrote: Installed a rear sway bar, changed the oil and put on new front brake pads ,no more squealing from the front disks...!

Great condition VW, you seem to be doing excellent care with it !

Fri Aug 08, 2025 11:50 am

Having noticed that my back up lights weren’t working I spent the better part of the day tracking down the fault. Underneath the car, the wires were attached to the back up light switch. I took them loose, clean the contacts and reattach them without success. I checked the voltage and got 12 V on one wire, I use a jumper wire to short those without lights lighting up. I followed the power wire off of the coil to disappears into the tin and noted that the backup light connector was not attached to a wire. I had to remove the decklid to be able to get behind the doghouse and remove the tin and fish the wire out. I cleaned all the connectors and reattach them with success. The backup lights now work. I got the tin reinstalled and the decklid reinstalled before I remembered that I didn’t take any pictures. :shock: so I took a picture today showing the completed connection behind the doghouse where the wires disappear through the tin.

Mon Aug 11, 2025 5:14 am

Found the Death Foam!

Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:30 am

got my new (rebuilt) pierberg fuel pump from sparxwerks for my 69. Tearing out all the other PO insanity.

Sun Aug 24, 2025 6:38 pm

Steering wheel refresh;

Black carpet going in soon!

Sun Aug 24, 2025 7:14 pm

Scat Adams wrote: Steering wheel refresh;

Very nice! Where did you get the steering wheel cover? I haven't seen one like that in years.