What did you do to your Bug Today?

[kpf]

After experiencing a random, intermittent cut out problem, I finally decided I needed to take a look inside my fuel tank.

I took pictures through the sender hole with my cell phone with the flash turned on. I actually bought an endoscope to do this, but the light on it is too dim and it can't see anything inside the tank until just before the camera hits the wall.

Luckily the cell phone camera did the trick. Zooming in on one picture I noticed some letters! it looked like it said "STP." I realized this could be a piece of plastic wrap from a fuel additive or something. I've never used any, but maybe this is another gift from the previous owner.

I removed the fuel tank and flushed it, watching to see what would come out. Sure enough, I collected the three pieces you see in the right side of the picture. They are all from a bottle of fuel treatment as I suspected.

During this exercise I also realized that there is no outlet filter/sock on the outlet pipe - removed by the previous owner. The end of the tube is cut at an angle. It seems that an unprotected outlet tube is particularly susceptible to being blocked by a flat piece of plastic debris. A sock should prevent the plastic from sealing off the tube completely.

I can think of two possible ways that this debris could have gotten into my fuel tank.

1) The previous owner did it.
2) I ran out of fuel on the freeway a few years ago and called AAA. The tow truck driver poured in a gallon of gas from a well-worn plastic gas can. I have no way of knowing what was in that gas.

I guess there are at least two lessons to be learned from this:

1) 50-year old cars can have surprises lurking everywhere!
2) Be careful what you allow into your fuel tank!
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1971 Super Beetle

[70’DerpyDerby]

I finished rebuilding the rear braking system. All I have left is the hard line from the brass T-fitting to the PS wheel cylinder, and that’ll make the entire brake system completely replaced.

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Phil “Deluxe”

1970 VW Bug "Derby"

[Thehate916]

Still plugging away! New clutch and pressure plate, resurfaced flywheel, new throwout Bearing, and a fresh crankshaft seal! New cradle mounts as well and I did the front nose mount about a month ago. Also not pictured I got the motor put back in the car. Hopefully going to have it buttoned up for a test drive tomorrow!

EDIT: My clutch problem is finally resolved! Looking forward to putting some miles on it!

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'68 Beetle project

[grouchyandugly]

last month i got my 73 S.B. just drove it around the block. yesterday i wanted to drive to town (16mi), with gas gauge reading 1/4.... so... LOL.. rand outta motion=lotion 7 miles from home. finally got home okay. so today i wanted to change my gas filter because i ran out of gas. mine was behind the LR wheel. with the wheel off, reached inside and held the gas filter, and YIKES the gas line (rubber?) came off. wasn't ready for that, but i did stop it. it had a screw clamp on both ends of the filter. 'i would rather be LUCKY than GOOD. i think (?) i now know why a new sending unit was in the "spares".... stay safe

[Cusser]

For the past 3 months or more Mrs. Cusser has been using my 1970 VW for dragging the horse arena, and let's just say that she is not the best driver of manual transmissions, even though she has done so for decades. For example, she had a brand-new 1982 Firebird, and was on her 3rd clutch in 3 years by 1985, and GM just couldn't understand it. She was also driving my 1988 Mazda truck when its clutch began slipping, and same on my 1998 Frontier (I really don't let her drive my 2004 Frontier).

Here's a picture from spring when there were a few tumbleweeds in the arena.

Anyway, Mrs. Cusser seems to neglect to tell me how any vehicle is running, seems to think I should hear about the dog of the daughter of a friend of hers who I have never heard of. Anyway, yesterday I drove the 1970 five miles into town to run some errands, and it was running horrible, stalling, bad idle, poor acceleration, etc., felt I was fortunate to get home.

Yesterday I adjusted the points and ignition timing, that helped a little. So I let it sit to cool off overnight and today I adjusted the valves (a couple were tight, maybe 6 were loose), and proceeded to clean the spark plugs. Well, I found that the spark plug wire had come off #3, how this happened I have no idea....

Guess what - it runs way better now !!!
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[mikeonthebike]

[vamram]

Took the visiting Milton refugees from FL on a cruise to Mt.Vernon and Old Town Alexandria.

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"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...languishing since 2022.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[alex857]

Don´t get discouraged. 14 years ago, I had to take my front window out and found rust. I removed and painted the section:
2010:

In the meantime, the car has seen a lot of rain but no salt in winter. After a stone chip damage this year I had to take out the windscreen again... and found a lot of even worse rust and even some holes. I removed it and will paint it again. History is repeating and I keep up working...

[vamram]

Installed new fuel lines in the engine compartment.
_________________
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...languishing since 2022.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[MountainBeetle]

I looked why the brakes didn’t work so good.

[plarson3]

Finally moved the fuel filter from the engine compartment to under the car.

Less of a fire hazard now of course but so much less fuel hose and more room around the motor.
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'73 Super Beetle
'04 Tacoma
'23 Martin GPC11E

[PiperFixer]

Repaired the air box fan a few weeks ago. Finally got it installed. Replaced one side paper defrost hose.

New plastic glovebox! My old one was pretty much gone. It's good to have a functioning frunk lever now.

Also replaced the 52 year old steering damper which surprisingly had a little bit of tension left in it.
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Orange 72 Super
A&P IA

[Cusser]

I drove my 1971 Convertible yesterday.

Today I charged up its battery, and got it ready for Arizona "winter"; that meant putting the top up (until March) as we don't simply store them here like many folks in snow areas.

Yes, I know some folks "warn" against leaving the top down for such periods, but my top was installed in 1980 and still lives.

Yes, I know my 1971 has engine lid from a 1970 sedan, and also bumper mounted reflectors from a 1970....

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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[Nicholas D]

I love your cars, Cusser. I love that you've had them so long and know them so well. I've had my bug for 31 years and still love it like day one. Got mine out for a bit yesterday, it had been too long. All smiles.
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71 Westfalia
73 Beetle

[Cusser]

[OTTO 1303]

Replaced original worn hood springs with CSP struts

So much smoother than fighting the bent spring guides.
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74 Super Sun Bug - OTTO
74 Super - DANZIG
74 Super - HERZOG

[BCE56]

Tracked down the source of fumes which have been increasing lately.
Filler neck connections intact. No leaks in engine compartment.
Found multiple failing connections at filter and fuel line to carb. under pan by P.O.
Replaced plastic filter w/ WIX #33031 metal inline filter using new fuel hose and proper clamps.

On to the next fiasco!
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=BCE56=

'86 Syncro tintop
EJ22, OBD II early SC adapter plate conversion

Side project: '69 Frankenbug "It's alive!"

[Cusser]

I found in my shed the Jan. 1996 and March 1996 issues of Hot VWs, which have articles on repairing convertible windows. Now I have to:
....clean out the shed
....find the Feb. 1996 issue which is Part 2!!!!

The replacement front regulator is on its way too.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[a8ked]

Re-adjusted the steering stops!

I installed new front disk brakes, wheels, spacers and tires a couple months ago. I had to install the wheel spacers to clear the calipers. When doing the installation, I adjusted the steering stops waaaay too far not realizing how much it would affect my turning radius... Today I finally got around to re-adjusting them, I can now do a u-turn in less than a half mile!

[Cusser]