New to me 72 Super

[PiperFixer]

Hello everyone, this weekend I picked up a 72 Super as the title says. I'm pretty excited! My family had an orange autostick way back in the day that dissolved from NY rust and I've always wanted an orange one since, particularly a 1972 'cause that's my manufacture date as well. I'm an aircraft mechanic so I'm not afraid of any mechanical work aside from welding. I've restored a few vintage Vespas and it was time to move to four wheels.

Supposedly 29K original miles and years of neglect. 1st owner bought it in 74. He passed in 1990 and his widow wouldn't part with it until a couple years ago. It sat covered for around 30 years. I got it from the second owner. Every piece of rubber is done for. 2nd owner did all brakes/lines/MC and put a new carb on it. Good floor pans. Has a small hole in the bottom of the Napolean Hat that I might have patched eventually.

I drove it 90 miles home and it feels like all the bushings in the front are gone. About halfway home the generator light came on so I have questions.
Battery is very old, can that cause the gen light to appear?
I'm going to pull the generator and check brushes/clean it etc.
Batt ground and positive cables look pretty worn so will be replaced.
I have the Muir book ordered.

Plan is to get it somewhat reliable to drive around town with the Mrs. on sunny days.

[Schatzievw]

Congratulations on a great find! Looks like a very easy project and a very sound car. Good look,keep us updated.

[bsairhead]

Put a meter on the battery while running. That will tell you if you need to dig into the gen/alt.

[vamram]

Wow, looks like a real gem to start with! Welcome. Be sure to get a copy of the orange Bentley service manual for '71+ Beetles and Ghias. You'll need to familiarize yourself w/the components, it will make your restoration work and diagnostics much easier, including familiarizing yourself w/the basics of the Bug!
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
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Save the Supers!!

[PiperFixer]

[baldessariclan]

Congratulations, and welcome to the Samba!! Yeah, looks like a great find indeed. But as with any car that has been sitting for that many years, you'll likely have to go through just about everything to bring it back up to full running condition.

Recommend you focus and work through one or two systems at a time, at most. Typical advice is to start with the brake system, and then onto mechanicals and electrical system (aka "First make it stop, next make it go, last make it pretty").

As noted above, you'll definitely want to get a copy of the orange Bentley shop manual and start getting familiar with it. Also look up the wiring diagrams in there and on this site. The Samba's "Technical" section (above) has an absolute wealth of information, as do searches in the "Forums" section for just about any subject or question you can think of.

Finally, start acquainting yourself with the various replacement part options and related considerations (vendors, classifieds, etc.). Sources, cost, and quality vary widely nowadays, so it definitely pays to do some significant research before you start buying these.

Here's wishing you good luck and fun w/ your new project!
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver

baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt...

[PiperFixer]

I'll definitely get the Bentley manual.

[mikec4193]

So who doesn't love an orange Super Beetle???...

Only the coolest color next to yellow...IMHO...

Welcome to the chaos...a great bunch of folks on here to help you thru your VW journey....

One bite at a time my friend...

MikeC
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Dad bought his first Beetle on Dec 17, 1953.

[Buggeee]

I've got the Energy Suspension poly bushings in my 72 super and it handles awesome. The kit is 50 bucks, available on their website, or Amazon or Ebay usually too.

https://www.energysuspensionparts.com/15.3106
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1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[vamram]

[PiperFixer]

[kpf]

[kpf]

[cletus_zuber]

The gen light will also activate the brake warning light, they share a ground or power path somehow, its been explained here elsewhere. if your brakes work fine then the gen not charging it what is turning on the brake light.
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1972 1302
HPMX 40's & 019

[PiperFixer]

[Blue Baron]

[Root_Werks]

Looks like a nice find!
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When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[PiperFixer]

Some good news, put a new battery in and I’m getting mid-13s at high idle and low 14s at speed for voltage readings. No gen or brake lights illuminated.
Threw in some new plugs. The old ones weren’t too bad, nothing fouled or anything like that.

Oil change happens tomorrow.

[PiperFixer]

Now brake lights are intermittent/not working. Wife followed me the other day and said they were working. Going to check the fuse and clean the switch contacts.

[67rustavenger]