Sophy - My 1966 Squareback

[jaransonT3]

Hard to believe that I don't have a build thread for Sophy on here after all these years. Lots of posts about her, but no thread of her own. I will not go back through her whole history, but I brought her home 22 years ago this month!

Some of her history can be found here:
https://www.carartbyjohn.com/Type3Website/66Squareback.html

I wanted to start this thread because I recently had her original carbs professionally rebuilt by Tim at VolkzBitz.com. He did a great job. Micro-mediablasting the carb bodies, replating all of the linkage bits, installing thread-in barbed fuel inlets, rebushing all of the shafts, complete rebuild kit, the works...

This is what I sent Tim...

This is what I got back about 6 weeks later...

I got them installed last weekend. Dial-in was really easy with all of the slop gone. Sophy is running better than ever and ready for the next 150k miles.

I even restored her year of manufacture license plate as a treat...

Took her out for a Sunday cruise for ice cream. Felt great to be back driving her after the long winter.
_________________
Later,
John Jaranson
'66 Square
'69 Square
'70-1 Fasty
https://www.carartbyjohn.com
https://www.carartbyjohn.com/2024Invasion/

[old_man]

How much did Volkblitz set you back if you don't mind my asking?

[jaransonT3]

[notchboy]

Tim does great work.

_________________

[gestatin]

jaransonT3: Great color on your Square!

I can vouch for Tim at Volksbitz as well. Four carbs through his service so far and each has come back a gem. Excellent support as well.

[jaransonT3]

[KTPhil]

[jaransonT3]

[Bobnotch]

[jaransonT3]

Nothing like driving across the country for an Invasion to stress test your Type 3. Sophy has had her fair share of roadside and parking lot repairs in all 10 of her Invasion trips. Yes, she has been to every Invasion!

2002 - Parma, ID. 4 New Tires in Parma, ID (the recaps were just not up to the task of the return trip). New 6V starter bushing installed in Russ Wolfe's shop in Iowa on the way out. I think we welded up one of my j-tubes also at Russ's place also.

2004 - Hershey, PA. New clutch and main seal in Hershey, PA Dropped the engine in the hotel parking lot.

2006 - Myrtle Creek, OR. Brass plug in the bottom of the left-hand float bowl fell out at highway speed in the middle of nowhere, WY dumping fuel all over the left side of the engine and exhaust. Miraculously, it landed on the engine tin and stayed there. Just had to re-install it after changing my shorts. <G>
Electro-magnetic shut-off valve failed on the way home. Russ Wolfe took it off the carb, snipped off the cut-off plunger effectively making it a static jet. Worked perfectly and is still on the carb.

2008 - Ypsilanti, MI. Only 30 miles from the house. No major repairs needed!

2010 - -Carthage, MO. Condensor to Coil wire fell at speed on the interstate effectively killing the engine. Easy fix after coasting to a stop.

2012 - Colorado Springs, CO. One of the short carb linkage rods popped off about 2 miles from home. Easy parking lot fix.

2014 - Fairport, NY. No issues with Sophy, but we did have to replace the two bolts for the fan housing (the ones behind the fan) on Jill's Type 34 Ghia on the way out. Not a fun job a parking lot...

2016 - Prescott Valley, AZ. Had one of the fuel inlet brass pipes come loose from the carb. Not a fun fix in the 100F+ heat in AZ, but got it done. Also had the muffler fall off at highway speed just outside St. Louis, MO on the way back. We were able to retrieve the muffler and make it to a muffler shop the next more to get it welded back on. Jill's Ghia ran flawlessley for the whole 4051 mile round trip.

2018 - Scottsboro, AL. No issues with either car.

2020 - COVID! No Invasion. No repairs.

2022 - Crescent City, CA. New cylinder heads in Crescent City, CA. Dropped the engine in the hotel parking lot...again. Also got a new rotor (delivered by train in the middle of the night) in Winnemucca, NV. Jill's Ghia stayed home due to the electric A/C install not being completed....and the length of the trip.
_________________
Later,
John Jaranson
'66 Square
'69 Square
'70-1 Fasty
https://www.carartbyjohn.com
https://www.carartbyjohn.com/2024Invasion/

[jaransonT3]

Just for grins...since I was reliving all of the trips to the Invasions...I went back and looked at the number of miles I have driven Sophy to and from the 10 different Invasions.

25,468!

This is according to Google maps with Dearborn, MI as the starting point for each of them. This does not include the cruises to the Grand Canyon or the Redwoods or Watkins Glen or the VW Factory or local cruising during the Invasions. Those probably add another 1000-1500 miles. It does include the 1300 or so miles that she was towed on the trip out to CA for the 2022 Invasion. <G>

3984 miles 2002 - Parma, ID
976 miles 2004 - Hershey, PA
4902 miles 2006 - Myrtle Creek, OR
60 miles 2008 - Ypsilanti, MI
1590 miles 2010 - Carthage, MO
2666 miles 2012 - Colorado Springs, CO
864 miles 2014 - Fairport, NY (plus Jill's Ghia)
4050 miles 2016 - Prescott Valley, AZ (plus Jill's Ghia)
1330 miles 2018 - Scottsboro, AL (plus Jill's Ghia)
4986 miles 2022 - Crescent City, CA
_________________
Later,
John Jaranson
'66 Square
'69 Square
'70-1 Fasty
https://www.carartbyjohn.com
https://www.carartbyjohn.com/2024Invasion/

[KTPhil]

An inspiration to give us all the courage to "go for it"; thanks, John!

[jaransonT3]

[Bobnotch]