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vamram 
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 8242
Location: NOVA
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 Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2025 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: Yikes! I bought a '74 Super!! |
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155 mile round trip today to the VWs in the Vineyards show in Culpepper. Scored this beaut from a '79 parts car for $40!!! (The internal metal frame on mine was broken clean through above the top right spoke, not salvageable.)
Car drove really well, but oil temps at the end of the trip were 225-230*. But it didn't stutter or stumble at idle and the oil light never flickered or turned on. I also removed the Thunderbird header and I think that has really helped. Have about 500 miles on the motor. Tomorrow I park it to replace the dual heat riser with a single and a matching muffler
The header and dual riser parts are headed to the classifieds.
A few show pics.
_________________
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...we hardly knew ye. Sold 2025 for peanuts.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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vamram
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 8242
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2025 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: Yikes! I bought a '74 Super!! |
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Picked this up for peanuts off a parted out '79. Thinking of installing it in my '74, replacing the complete dash plate w/this one. What the heck!
I'm puzzled by the wiring on it though. The red wire, power I think, is jumpered directly to #30 terminal on the headlight switch. The light wire is daisy chained w/the top left light of the speedo as you're facing it in the driver's seat.
_________________
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...we hardly knew ye. Sold 2025 for peanuts.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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Buggeee
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 5016
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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chinny22
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2024
Posts: 17
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Yikes! I bought a '74 Super!! |
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| vamram wrote: |
I'm puzzled by the wiring on it though. The red wire, power I think, is jumpered directly to #30 terminal on the headlight switch. The light wire is daisy chained w/the top left light of the speedo as you're facing it in the driver's seat.
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I used Joel's post towards the bottom of here.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=263309
"Theres a spare terminal 30 on the headlight switch which is the main power, the bulb goes to 58b on the light switch and use an earth tab behind the radio"
Although your method of daisy chaining the light of the speedo to either the "illumination terminals at #2 or #6 in this diagram is probably more factory.
To cut the blanking plate I used a Stanly knife. The clock will hide any small imperfections.
I'm 50/50 about the woodgrain.
50% of me likes the idea of having a fully optioned up car.
50% of me thinks the black plastic in the switches etc match the standard dash better.
Swapping the dash wont cause any permeant changes though so no harm in swapping over for a bit to try it out!
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74 Superbeetle (Mums since new) |
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vamram
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 8242
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: Yikes! I bought a '74 Super!! |
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Thanks for that info and drawing, Chinny, excellent info. I'm not convinced about the woodgrain look.. I'm not in a hurry to decide though! I thought about putting it in my '73 Super but the glove compartment latch is different and I'm not sure it's interchangeable.
_________________
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...we hardly knew ye. Sold 2025 for peanuts.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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vamram
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 8242
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: Yikes! I bought a '74 Super!! |
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On a different note, I think I've got the engine temps resolved. Between reverting to a stock muffler instead of the Thunderbird header, AND retarding the timing at idle to 6*, oil temps after a full on highway run are excellent, right around 200*.
I'm dropping the motor in the next couple of weeks to check the clutch. Based on the engine vibration I'm getting at high RPMs (sitting parked in neutral or rolling along at 55+ MPH - basically anytime RPMs reach over 2500), I think I may have installed it on the flywheel w/out keeping the balancing/lightening drillings 180* opposite each other. I've also got what I think is either a CV growl at highway speeds or the $100 IRS transmission is growling.
And not sure if I'm hearing an alternator bearing starting to go, too. I'll post a video in the next day or so.
_________________
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...we hardly knew ye. Sold 2025 for peanuts.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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