1972 Squareback Project

[ih8teal]

I just picked up a '72 Squareback that had an engine fire. Our plan is to repalce the engine, paint, interior and drop the suspension. I'm just getting back to VWs after a 25 year break. I've had a '68, '69, and '79 beetle, and a 914 in the past.
Pieces and parts seem to be a bit cheaper than the Landcruiser we just finished, and with the boy turning 12 we thought it would be a good project to get him involved in. My wife drove a Squareback in the '80's in San Diego so we have the whole nostaglia factor working too. Should be interesting.





The engine had about an inch of water in it when I drained the oil, and the fuel injection, generator, oil cooler, fan........ all are either missing or torched. Lot's of damage.

As you can tell we have a wiring harness to replace and I'll most likely go with a 'turn key' engine with carbs so I can lose the fuel injection wiring. I've seen wiring harnesses for '68 type 3's and was wondering if that would work.

The body is in decent shape although I have a baseball size hole in the pan under the battery and some rust in the pan along the door sills. I was thinking of removing the body so I can work on the pan but have no idea what's involved. We'll be needing lot's of advice along the way.






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[KTPhil]

EFI wiring is almost all in the engine bay, so a good used or repro harness will set you up. I've seen EFI wiring and components in the classifieds lately.

Much of what you saw may have been the "VW Diagnosis" wiring that you need not replace.

It's not all that bad, really. It didn't burn hot or long enough to melt rubber parts or take paint off much of it, so mechanically you may be in good shape. Lots of cleaning and checking, really.

[ih8teal]

Here's the FJ40 we've been working on for the past 5 years

[supaninja]

back in the day my buddy with a split window bus bought a type 4 bus motor from pick and pull that was a car-b-que. he just cleaned the exterior of the engine up, slapped some carbs on it, and stuffed it in his bus. ran great till he sold it. chances are that motor is just fine. There are a few little things different in the wiring harnesses. if you want to keep the efi(which is the correct thing to do), JSMskater makes are really nice repop harness, and there a few peeps on here they got fuel injection goodies stockpiled up, or you could get some solex's and the air filter assemblies.
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Nick
Megasquirted Type 4 powered Notch http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=427890&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Blog of Doom http://supaninjanick.wordpress.com/

[ih8teal]

The farther I get into the engine the more fun I find. There's alot of heat or corrison damage to the fan and housing (very brittle with lots of white powder), the 30mm bolt holding on the fan was very difficult to remove and when it did come out so did some of the threads. The cylinders fins are packed with dirt / grease / grunge from years of oil leaks.
I do have a wiring harness that came with the car and used FI components. My biggest problem is that a load of stuff is missing or burned beyond recognition. I guess I just need to get some manuals and edumacate myself.

[KTPhil]

The cast metal fan/pulley may have distorted in the heat, so you might want to source a replacement. Did the bolt or the crank threads get stripped?

For manuals, get a brown Bentley and have Kinkos print out the wiring diagrams enlarged and laminated. Then you can mark off your work and checks with a whiteboard marker.

[Bobnotch]

Download the wiring diagram from the technical section of this fine site. I only say that, because not all Bentley's have the color wiring diagram.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[DaBlackSamba]

looks like a solid start, are thoes the OG riviera wheels? do ya have a closer pic of them?
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1968 VW variant

[ih8teal]

The crank threads came out. I'm thinking of finding a serviceable engine or just biting the bullet and buying a turn key 1641 set up with carbs, gen, electronics etc. In the long run it may be easier than trying to piece it together. I'm in for only $300 so far but I can see that going up quickly.
Not sure what the wheels are yet. I'll look when I get home.

[Mike Fisher]

You might as well go for a 1776 cc engine to give it a little Power.
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69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[ih8teal]

[DaBlackSamba]

i like teh 1776, or even 1835
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1968 VW variant

[Firecrusader]

Pat, Good to see you came over to the Dark Side !!!

I will start getting parts out for you, looks like you will be coming up the hill more often !!

[volksaddict]

[ih8teal]

They were definately metal threads on the bolt. It looked to be from overtorqueing rather than heat. It had a thin brass? spacer under it but rather than shimming correctly I think someone just kept applying the torque. If I had to guess I'd say there was in excess of 150 ft pds of torque applied. Not sure what the limit is.

Here's a couple more pics:

I'll end up switching back to stock steelies with caps and whitewalls.
I only have one for now.

[ih8teal]

[Firecrusader]

Yep,... Also, I have some wheels for you.. PLUS Disc brakes if your's isn't already set up for it.

Better bring some beer and trading material !!!

[Firecrusader]

..... And I have a Type III motor with FI. it needs work, but you can go through and snag what you need if you go that direction.

[ih8teal]