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Sat May 06, 2023 1:47 pm

Checking the status after about 400 miles.

- Had a little too much oil in the air cleaner; took some out and fixed the light leak from around the flap area.

- Checked the oil temp with a candy thermometer in the dipstick hole. After a 10 mile run into and around town on a 75 degree day: 181F.

-Got the dwell up to about 49 by setting the points with the .014 feeler gauge instead of the .016. Reset the timing.

- No leaky.

- Mpg, mixed town and country driving: 25.

Not really a show car but taking it to an open show next week. Will try to park between an AC Cobra and a Lamborgini.

Sun May 07, 2023 7:41 am

mg50 wrote:

Not really a show car but taking it to an open show next week. Will try to park between an AC Cobra and a Lamborgini.

If you do this, those two dudes will be pissed-off because everyone will walk right past those viagra cars to tell you about their uncle's beetle. Happens every time.

Enjoy! :D

Sun May 07, 2023 10:15 am

Buggeee wrote: mg50 wrote:

Not really a show car but taking it to an open show next week. Will try to park between an AC Cobra and a Lamborgini.

If you do this, those two dudes will be pissed-off because everyone will walk right past those viagra cars to tell you about their uncle's beetle. Happens every time.

Enjoy! :D

haha, I know.

Sat May 13, 2023 5:10 pm

Cranks immediately when cold, but when hot an extra 7 - 10 seconds to crank up and a big puff of smoke when it starts up. Any ideas of what's up with that?

Sun May 14, 2023 6:34 am

Choke set to tight? Is the smoke black? Summertime I usually back the choke almost all the way off. You just pump the gas a couple times when cold and it will fire right up, let it idle for a couple minutes and ready to go. This way you never wash the cylinders. I don't reset it for cold weather unless I start really having trouble getting it running and then I will tighten it up just a little.

Sun May 14, 2023 6:57 am

Rickf1985 wrote: Choke set to tight? Is the smoke black? Summertime I usually back the choke almost all the way off. You just pump the gas a couple times when cold and it will fire right up, let it idle for a couple minutes and ready to go. This way you never wash the cylinders. I don't reset it for cold weather unless I start really having trouble getting it running and then I will tighten it up just a little.

I've got the choke set about at the middle mark but I guess I could back it off some more. The smoke puff is not black but not as white as condensation smoke would be. No problem cranking cold, just when hot, like after I drive 5 miles to the grocery store and cranking it up to leave. Engine not overheating, oil temp about 195º. I turn the key and then throttling up slowly on the gas pedal till it catches. Would gas be flooding combustion chambers on a hot motor and not a cold one? Maybe I will play with the carb volume screw adjustment some more.

Sun May 14, 2023 7:56 am

From another thread -

heimlich wrote: Hot engine - Press on the gas pedal, hold it, turn the key until it starts.

Also, the manual for your year Bug likely has hot-start instructions.

Sun May 14, 2023 8:04 am

mg50 wrote: Cranks immediately when cold, but when hot an extra 7 - 10 seconds to crank up and a big puff of smoke when it starts up. Any ideas of what's up with that?

You live in a southeast state. As I posted in another thread started by a guy in Florida who has the same problem, if you live in a southern humid state, this IS going to happen in the hot summer months. It has happened to mine incessantly in the 50 + years of my family owning it in the hot humid Arkansas summer. Car starts right up when cold, you drive it until it warms up completely, you park it go in the store and come back out, you WILL experience a longer than normal crank.
It took me 10 years on here of people living in other areas of the country that may get hotter but it's a dry heat (like posters in the Arizona or NM desert) saying they never had this problem, for me to finally figure it out.
I actually wonder from time to time if the humidity outside causes condensation in the braided rubber fuel lines. No idea
The puff of smoke is carbon build up in the combustion chamber as you are cranking and pressure builds up then blows it out the exhaust. If it runs normal after finally starting, it's no big deal it just is what it is. Might run some Berrymans through it see if it helps.

Sun May 14, 2023 8:12 am

sb001 wrote: mg50 wrote: Cranks immediately when cold, but when hot an extra 7 - 10 seconds to crank up and a big puff of smoke when it starts up. Any ideas of what's up with that?

I actually wonder from time to time if the humidity outside causes condensation in the braided rubber fuel lines. No idea
Is that even possible, with the braided fuel lines full of fuel? IDK either.
One would think the braided fuel lines would be, kinda like an insulation. Plus the fuel would be at ambient temp, as the weather outside.
Cold fuel? Might, condensate on the outside of the metal tubing.

The hot start procedure does not just happen in the hot humid Southern Tier states.
I have to do the procedure here in the PNW. When I have a stock engine in my car. :wink:

Sun May 14, 2023 8:16 am

sb001 wrote: mg50 wrote: Cranks immediately when cold, but when hot an extra 7 - 10 seconds to crank up and a big puff of smoke when it starts up. Any ideas of what's up with that?

You live in a southeast state. As I posted in another thread started by a guy in Florida who has the same problem, if you live in a southern humid state, this IS going to happen in the hot summer months. It has happened to mine incessantly in the 50 + years of my family owning it in the hot humid Arkansas summer. Car starts right up when cold, you drive it until it warms up completely, you park it go in the store and come back out, you WILL experience a longer than normal crank.
It took me 10 years on here of people living in other areas of the country that may get hotter but it's a dry heat (like posters in the Arizona or NM desert) saying they never had this problem, for me to finally figure it out.
I actually wonder from time to time if the humidity outside causes condensation in the braided rubber fuel lines. No idea
The puff of smoke is carbon build up in the combustion chamber as you are cranking and pressure builds up then blows it out the exhaust. If it runs normal after finally starting, it's no big deal it just is what it is. Might run some Berrymans through it see if it helps.

You may be right SB001. It's pretty humid here and highs into the 80s. And the pedal to the floor starting hasn't resulting in better starting.

Sun May 14, 2023 8:32 am

67rustavenger wrote: sb001 wrote: mg50 wrote: Cranks immediately when cold, but when hot an extra 7 - 10 seconds to crank up and a big puff of smoke when it starts up. Any ideas of what's up with that?

I actually wonder from time to time if the humidity outside causes condensation in the braided rubber fuel lines. No idea
Is that even possible, with the braided fuel lines full of fuel? IDK either.
One would think the braided fuel lines would be, kinda like an insulation. Plus the fuel would be at ambient temp, as the weather outside.
Cold fuel? Might, condensate on the outside of the metal tubing.

The hot start procedure does not just happen in the hot humid Southern Tier states.
I have to do the procedure here in the PNW. When I have a stock engine in my car. :wink:

It's pretty humid up there too :D
The "hot start" procedure has never made any difference for me. There was once about 4-5 years ago where I must have had everything tuned perfectly to where I could get in the car after leaving it parked and turn the key without pressing the gas pedal at all and it fired up much better. But those days are gone
It's possible the condensation happens on the tubing causing a cold fuel issue. I wonder if wrapping the exposed metal lines would fix it. Hmmm

Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:16 am

sb001 wrote: mg50 wrote: I hope this thread stays available somewhere because I'll probably forget all I learned if I decide to build another engine.

I do too as I would reference it the first time I ever decide to try to rebuild my own VW engine!

Just a late thank you and shout out to sb001 for all your helpful advice on my rebuild project. Stay engaged because I'm sure to need you again in the future. Your friend mg50.