TheSamba.com :: View topic - Mr. & Mrs. Henry Oppenheim and their '71 Squareback.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:47 pm

Are you saying that the brown/ blue is an extra, or that it just doesn't match any other wire?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:55 pm

Its extra. Doesn't appear to go anywhere into this plug. Exactly how the old plug was. Blue/brown wire comes from the switch, goes into those plugs, and doesnt correspond with anything on the other plug anywhere. No other wire of that color anywhere back in the dash.

I'm posting my questions here in this thread for neatness / continunity, but if its easier I can make new threads for each question.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:07 pm

Kirk wrote: Its extra. Doesn't appear to go anywhere into this plug. Exactly how the old plug was. Blue/brown wire comes from the switch, goes into those plugs, and doesnt correspond with anything on the other plug anywhere. No other wire of that color anywhere back in the dash.

I'm posting my questions here in this thread for neatness / continunity, but if its easier I can make new threads for each question.

I think you're fine with all in one thread. If it's an extra, my best educated guess tells me it's for Euro side markers.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:11 pm

Makes sense. I'll cap it off and move on. Thanks!

Oh yeah - no pics, but the blinker switch has like 13 wires or something. The plug it goes to has like five. They dont match. Thoughts? (Off to the wiring diagram again...)

Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:00 pm

Kirk wrote: Makes sense. I'll cap it off and move on. Thanks!

Oh yeah - no pics, but the blinker switch has like 13 wires or something. The plug it goes to has like five. They dont match. Thoughts? (Off to the wiring diagram again...)

My thought is that it's the wrong switch.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:39 pm

I swear I thought that. It looks remarkably like the one in my super beetle. Is it a one year part too? This could explain my lack of blinkers.

Edit: Shit - one year only, $125 bucks and out of stock. :?

http://www.vwispwest.com/311953513D.html

Not taking any short cuts here. Where else might have this?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:51 pm

Kirk wrote: I swear I thought that. It looks remarkably like the one in my super beetle. Is it a one year part too? This could explain my lack of blinkers.

Edit: Shit - one year only, $125 bucks and out of stock. :?

http://www.vwispwest.com/311953513D.html

Not taking any short cuts here. Where else might have this?

lack of signals might actually be a fault in the hazard switch.

Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:11 am

Tram wrote: Kirk wrote: I swear I thought that. It looks remarkably like the one in my super beetle. Is it a one year part too? This could explain my lack of blinkers.

Edit: Shit - one year only, $125 bucks and out of stock. :?

http://www.vwispwest.com/311953513D.html

Not taking any short cuts here. Where else might have this?

lack of signals might actually be a fault in the hazard switch.

Yup, and or the flasher relay. Cycle the hazard switch a few times (excercise it), and even try some electrical cleaner in it first. It might just be dirty inside, and not making good connections.

Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:03 pm

Finished the ignition switch install. Removed nearly 25 foot of superflous wiring from the hot start switch to the starter. ALSO removed 9 fist sized mud dobber nests from the under carriage. Did some reading, got the fuel pump idea sorted out in my head. Went to the local FLAPS. The Airtex E2000 was discontinued, but referenced this pump instead as the direct replacement but "better".

Dunno, but I liked the cost. $82.12. I did find the E2000 on rock auto just now for a hair under $70, but I bought this locally, my buddy runs the parts desk and it has a 1 year "no questions asked" warranty, which I plan to take full advantage of. That alone made it worth a local purchase for me. Also bought 20 odd foot of 5/16th fuel line and new clamps. Fun begins either tonight or tomorrow night.

As I read it, with this pump, I just need to run the return back to the return on the tank itself and do away with the T correct? Sorry for the large cell pics. More pics to come.

Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:31 am

Kirk wrote:
As I read it, with this pump, I just need to run the return back to the return on the tank itself and do away with the T correct?

Yes.

Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:53 am

great find :) so excited to get one of my own!

Fri Oct 19, 2012 8:13 am

You just have to be willing to travel to buy a Good one.

Wed Oct 24, 2012 12:28 pm

two great threads found via signatures today. this one and notchback's.
awesome story on this one. the find. and the woman who knew of it from her elementary days. and all that paperwork. a story like this is priceless...

Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:26 am

No progress, other than I have made contact with Mr. Oppenhiems surviving family, and they have responded about as well as you would think to a stranger calling out of the blue asking for family photos. Mr. Oppenhiems son Jeremy is super nice, and open to "at least meeting and seeing the paperwork on my moms car". He indicated that he had moved away by the time his dad sold the car, but remembered clearly how much his mom loved the car, how his dad kept it impeccably maintained for her, and their trip to Germany in it. He said his sisters are the "archivists" of the family and have all the old photos. He wasnt sure how open they would be to sharing them with me, but he would "work on them" for me. I plan to give him two weeks and call back. They are 3 hours from me give or take, but I'm going to drive over and show him everything (hes never seen it). He did get a big laugh out of the fact his dad kept the check his mom wrote as a down payment for her car. He liked that lots. :) Anyway, I was glad to hear that there is a chance I can get more info and pictures. My only fear is he thinks I said I wanted "a pic or two" when I really said "I want all the pictures you have in the world". :D

No worries. I plan to put in the time it takes to crack this nut. I will get this cars whole history if it takes me years.

Mon Jan 21, 2013 4:09 pm

Kirk wrote: No progress, other than I have made contact with Mr. Oppenhiems surviving family, and they have responded about as well as you would think to a stranger calling out of the blue asking for family photos. Mr. Oppenhiems son Jeremy is super nice, and open to "at least meeting and seeing the paperwork on my moms car". He indicated that he had moved away by the time his dad sold the car, but remembered clearly how much his mom loved the car, how his dad kept it impeccably maintained for her, and their trip to Germany in it. He said his sisters are the "archivists" of the family and have all the old photos. He wasnt sure how open they would be to sharing them with me, but he would "work on them" for me. I plan to give him two weeks and call back. They are 3 hours from me give or take, but I'm going to drive over and show him everything (hes never seen it). He did get a big laugh out of the fact his dad kept the check his mom wrote as a down payment for her car. He liked that lots. :) Anyway, I was glad to hear that there is a chance I can get more info and pictures. My only fear is he thinks I said I wanted "a pic or two" when I really said "I want all the pictures you have in the world". :D

No worries. I plan to put in the time it takes to crack this nut. I will get this cars whole history if it takes me years.

Thats awsome. You have the history :wink: for the most part. All this stuff is yummy frosting.

Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:14 am

Wow! Just read through this. I have had a couple nice finds in my day but this one. :shock:
Keep the updates coming for all of us in the cold-weather challenged areas.

Fri Apr 19, 2013 10:12 am

To anyone still watching, Oppenhiem makes her public debut this weekend at the Texas VW Classic. While she's not really a "show" car, her and her paper work will be on display this weekend. If you're a local, come say hi. If not i guess you'll have to wait for pics. ;)

Sat Apr 20, 2013 3:02 am

Kirk wrote: To anyone still watching, Oppenhiem makes her public debut this weekend at the Texas VW Classic. While she's not really a "show" car, her and her paper work will be on display this weekend. If you're a local, come say hi. If not i guess you'll have to wait for pics. ;)

Look forward to the pics! Have fun man 8)

Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:14 pm

Kirk wrote: To anyone still watching, Oppenhiem makes her public debut this weekend at the Texas VW Classic. While she's not really a "show" car, her and her paper work will be on display this weekend. If you're a local, come say hi. If not i guess you'll have to wait for pics. ;)

Dammit Doodle, I couldn't make it to the classic. I really want to see this thing! Did you drive it down?

Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:41 pm

I spent a month, every night worth of work trying to get Oppehiem ready to go to the Tx Classic, for no other reason than a self set goal. I got all the fuel lines cleared, the tank in an plumbed, all new fuel lines, oil change and valves set. First issue. Someone apparently JB Welded or something the #1 plug in place, and when I removed it for a tune up, it completely stripped the head out. I quickly learned how to install a helicoil, and was back in business. What I did find out tho, is that field mice or rats ate most of the fuel injection harness. The throttle position switch wiring was all gone, and each injectors wiring were nibbled to the point they were frail. And when I mean all, I mean ALL. Its going to need a new harness. So wearing my fire suit, I admit that in order to get Oppenhiem there, I replaced her whole fuel injection system with carbs. Yes, I know. I 100% want to convert her back to fuel injection and have the entire system in a box. All I need is a new harness (does it come separate from the brain?) and Im back in business.

Secondly, I sent the stock wheels off to be sandblasted and powdercoated, and the powdercoater had a baby, and guess where my wheels were?! Dats wight wabbit, locked away. I had a brand new set of Sprint Stars, lugs and tires in the garage already for a different project, so I test fitted them.

They look pretty good, so I went with it. Im suprised the 205 fit so well in the rear tho.

After a bit of tuning, Oppenhiem fired to life, and MAN she purrs so sweet. I did however shoot rapid fire rat turds and dirt dobber nests out the backside into my buddies truck as Oppenhiem roared to life after a long nap, but thats a different story. So, I took my first cruise. (I have a video, but you get the picture) It should be noted, that out of the three squarebacks and four type threes Ive owned, this is the first Ive ever driven.

I was immediately hooked. I swear its like she wanted to run again. So, with only a few hours to spare, (and sunlight leaving) I got back in the garage to clean a decade of filth off her.

Try as I might however, I cannot get the paint to shine again. The best I could manage, through a combination of compounds, cleaner wax and buffing was a dull satiny shine. Tired, exhausted, but super stoked, I shut the lights off and went to bed.

The next morning came entirely too early. I got up, got Oppenhiem loaded, and hit the road.

Six hours later, I was in fredericksburg, registered up and ready to go.

I didnt drive her further than around the park, but I had a blast doing that. BTW, if anyone can show me what a rear license plate mount should look like, I would appreciate it. Hers is missing.

Sunday morning, I got in my spot and set up the display. I had made for me a very nice scrapbook with most of Oppenhiems paperwork in it, a canvas made of the original owner (Elizabeth) and her son Jeff in Germany with the Squareback in front of the Neuschwanstein Castle. Oh, did I forget to mention that the original family did finally give me four pictures? Yup. The other pic is Henry and Elizabeth together at a function. Now you have faces to go with the story. :)

Overall, Oppenhiem was a big draw. I stood there and told the story over and over and over. Its okay, I love telling the story. Oddly, everyone just wanted to know how much I paid for her. Yeah right. :D

Well, at the end of the day, I didnt win anything, but I didnt really plan to. I just had a great time with good friends at a great show. Thanks for reading. :)