My first beetle ever: 1971 Super w/Autostick

[hitest]

An auto swap for a manual is akin to trading a donkey for a Clydesdale. Nobody will provide you a Clydesdale unless you produce a few more donkeys.

I'd just fix what you have. The detriments to the car's resale value have already occurred. If you swap it out for manual then you have shredded it of any intrinsic appeal too. Just read up on the objective technicals of an autostick in the engine area. Unfortunately over here in the bug forums all you'll get is one guy vs. the whole world on autostick tech. advice.

You'll find in the end you either love or hate autostick- either way, you have to get it running.


Here's some autostick-relevant comfort. "I know where to find the answers and I know just how to lie."
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[Dwayne1m]

Me personally, I would fix it as is and keep it autostick and use that as the selling point. I'm sure there are some out there that would like an old bug but can't drive stick and not know about the autostick, so I would use the autostick as the main selling point. I'd fix it up real nice because it will probably be a woman who will show interest in an autostick bug, and her hubby will want to buy it for her. If fact, not long ago my boss asked me if VW made automatic convertibles because his wife's friend doesn't know how to drive stick but would love an old convertible bug. I feel there is a market out there for autostick but you have to advertise it. It takes only 1 buyer.

[sb001]

[TimberwolfZ28]

oh mylanta....

Got it up on the lift today. Found lots of things. Good and bad.

Pan is solid other than where the gas is puddling. Must have been leaking for a while. I still can't find anything wet on top. I guess I'm going to have to pull the tank.

Is this the fuel line? if so, it looks dry, at least up to the tunnel.

I found where they have replaced a lot of steel over the years. Looking up into the engine compartment from the bottom you can see a lot of new metal. Looked like they did a decent job. There's one patch to the pan. You can see how they stitch welded it and then sealed the outside.

From the outside I can see there's new metal in the foot wells too. Problem with that statement? I can see the new metal from the outside

I noticed all the soft brake lines and many of the hard lines have been replaced at some point. There's also new brake light switch, etc.

Everything looks dry, so I was trying to figure out why the pedal was low. Got poking around the front drums and happened to look up inside the front fender. Can anyone guess my surprise discovery?

Anyway...

Pulled the deck lid off since it needed to be replaced anyway and poked around the engine a bit. Definitely has manifold vacuum going to the autostick pump thing. I'm wondering if I should just T off the ported line to the distributor and see if it changes anything.

I'm missing the glove box. The door is there, just no box. It's open to the trunk. There's a choke cable hooked to the latch for the trunk lid. Just lays inside the glove box door. guessing this thing (or the oem equivalent) should be mounted somewhere?

I have a what looks to be two missing knobs under the radio. Best I can tell, they go to plastic rack n pinion setup under the cowl, and there's a housed solid wire going to each. Only I can thing is maybe the adjust the defrost flappers?

I'm going to have to find some service manuals on this thing lol
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I came here to give love and quote Air Supply songs.





And I'm all out of love.

[TimberwolfZ28]

Forgot to mention any of what I considered "good" under there. Looks liek someone has replaced a good many bolts in the suspension and body. I see there's some new camber bolts in the lower control arms up front. Also looks like a new steering damper (seen in one of the pics above).

Car sat for two days outside in the 20-30° winter. There's no choke that I can see. I hit the pedal twice and turned the key. Fired right up and ran like a top. I'm very happy with the motor itself.

CV boots are all tight and dry. As are all the backing plates on the brakes. I already mentioned the new soft lines and many new hard lines.
_________________
I came here to give love and quote Air Supply songs.





And I'm all out of love.

[Bama Dave]

Is the frame head rusted badly....the area under the master cylinder? Looks like metal peeling up in the photo. If so, that will need attention.[/img]
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David Richerson

1970 Beetle
1971 Super
1972 Baja

[TimberwolfZ28]

[cletus_zuber]

I know just how to whisper,
and I know just how to cry;
I know just where to find the answers;
and I know just how to lie.
I know just how to fake it,
and I know just how to scheme;
I know just when to face the truth,
and then I know just when to dream.
And I know just where to touch you,
and I know just what to prove;
I know when to pull you closer,
and I know when to let you loose.
And I know the night is fading,
and I know that time's gonna fly;
and I'm never gonna tell you everything
I've got to tell you,
but I know I've got to give it a try.
And I know the roads to riches,
and I know the ways to fame;
I know all the rules
and then I know how to break 'em
and I always know the name of the game.
_________________
1972 1302
HPMX 40's & 019

[Bama Dave]

Right...the photo angle threw me...you really want to examine all of that. You may very well have some major structural issues.
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David Richerson

1970 Beetle
1971 Super
1972 Baja

[hitest]

Looks pretty okay underneath! I've had worse.

The glovebox may have been damaged or torn loose at one time. The only replacements I've seen are ABS plastic- so many of the originals are still awol. Since the opening cable release was attached there- it's no surprise you have the OP's rigged cable pull. There are threads that describe the reinstallation of the cable pull assembly.

The knobs are indeed part of your whole in-trunk defrost/heat plumbing lesson to teach yourself in warmer weather.

Good news on those brake lines and front end bolts being fresh- it's been cared for. I'm even more hopeful for speedy autostick recovery.

It's a shame sb001 thinks I was talking about him earlier. Your thread, as any autostick poster before has learned, is only part your topic- it's mostly the sb001 show. You're like Vanna- but he is very much Pat Sajak. You know that barking dog behind your place? Yeah, here it's sb001. Most of us enjoy threads about new folks but he really just enjoys the attention. I like your project and like all but one am comfortable you are the star of your thread.

"It started so easy, you want to carry on"
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[sjbartnik]

[johnnypan]

Looks nice and solid to me based on what you gave for it.I still vote for a flip BTW,done right you might hit 5k..

[TimberwolfZ28]

Any idea why the running boards I picked up would be about an inch too short to touch both front and rear fenders?
_________________
I came here to give love and quote Air Supply songs.





And I'm all out of love.

[johnnypan]

[Saylr]

[TimberwolfZ28]

[Saylr]

Lol,I'm either gonna have to get stronger readers or a bigger tablet.I thought the bowl had been patched over,which i am still pondering for mine.Got holes in the back big enough to stick my hand through.
Happy New Year!

[johnnypan]

Glass fenders is why the running boards dont fit..yet..

[TimberwolfZ28]

well, first priority is the gas leak, and a muffler or exhaust. I'm looking at a myriad of exhaust options, but realistically, something stock (or at least something that fits like stock) is probably what it's going to get. I'd like to keep the heater boxes hooked up and the preheater.

I'm finding stock mufflers with install kits around $170. For the price, are there better options that retain the OE stuff I mentioned?

Here's one I am looking at:
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-113-251-053-AKKT
_________________
I came here to give love and quote Air Supply songs.





And I'm all out of love.

[sjbartnik]