Thanks!!! I got my new to me bug

[vinny72758]

I have wanted a 1973 Blue Super Beetle for over 5 years. It's been my dream car.

I've been lurking and reading this forum for several years in anticipation of the day I could pull the trigger - family and other issues kept draining the bank account of the funds I needed for the car I wanted.

That changed on October 5, when I saw an ad on Craigslist for a 1977 standard sedan(wrong year, color, and style, but the price was perfect) about 4 hours east of me.

All the lurking and reading of the technical forums had me prepared. For the price it was listed at, I expected a total disaster.

I went to view the car, cash in hand, in case I got lucky. Man, did I get lucky.

I went and checked the pans, the heater boxes, knew the old fuel injection had been replaced by a Pict34 carb.

What I wasn't expecting was how well kept the car was and the fact that it is a veritable time capsule - it is such a time capsule, it still has the original 41 year old Michelin spare tire which holds air and is completely unusable. I'm the third owner, and it has a well documented history, all kept in the original owner's manual.

I was like a little kid at Christmas. I trailered her home (she had 10 year old tires on it, so didn't want to chance it), and placed it in the garage. the next day, i had to go pace my girlfriend in a 100 mile running race, so didn't get to drive it or tinker with it. It was killing me during the run.

Finally got to start her up and drive it around the block a week after I brought her home.

Immediately changed all the fuel lines, hoses, tires, and replaced the drum brake shoes. Later added a knock-off roof rack and retrofitted it to carry my bikes.

Need to rebuild the carb to get her running as smoothly as possible, which thanks to the tech sections here should not be a problem. But she's running well enough that I have done several 500 mile days in her since I got her, and am using her as my daily driver. just want a little more fine tuning. She's getting ready t turn over 100K for the first time!

Next up, is repaint her back in the original color this spring. The second owner painted her a sand color to match the dust on the dirt road she lived on. She got tired of cleaning the original paint, which I could only call electric green.

I don't want to change any of the time capsule-like elements in her, such as the mid-80's pioneer cassette player and door speakers, or sunroof that got added in the same time period.

[*Darren]

Good for you! Enjoy.

[wcfvw69]

Nice.. It is a time capsole for sure! Very nice interior.

Where's the engine photo?
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[mikec4193]

Very nice find...love the looks of the newer bugs on the inside...

Time to run the wheels off of it.

Congrats on the purchase.

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

[gt1953]

Nice ride as the 77 standard was the last year to be imported in the USA. Like the wheels on it also. Engine photos?
_________________
Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[Dwayne1m]

Very nice car. I suggest looking at adjusting the hand brake. That looks high to me.

[vinny72758]

[KTPhil]

It'll run better with a stock air cleaner if you can find one.

[wcfvw69]

If your bug is a long term keeper and you're not reinstalling fuel injection, I'd put it back to a true dual port engine state with a carb manifold with the heat risers, correct tin, oil bath and certainly, a SVDA or DVDA distributor. That 009 mechanical only distributor matched to the 34-3 carb is known for horrible flat spots, off idle hesitations and lower fuel mileage.
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[vinny72758]

[Mos6502]

I'm not seeing an issue with the tin, but I'm not really familiar with the really late engines.

In any event, a proper oem VW air cleaner (oil bath or paper element) will have ducting for sending heated air to the carburetor, and the preheat air hose will need to be hooked to it. This will help the cold-weather driveability of the engine immensely when fitted.

[wcfvw69]

[vinny72758]

[pyrOman]

[slave1pilot]

Viper Green Metallic L96N
Is that the correct color?
I found this pic on the interwebs.
I kinda like it

_________________
My Photobucket for my Herbie Project - http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/TK-439/library/Herbie?sort=3&page=1

Currently:
1963 Ragtop Beetle
Previously:
1967 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1970 Beetle

[vinny72758]

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

For engine set up and tins references

1973 dual port stock engine

1969 stock engine

_________________
1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor

[oprn]

I have always been in love with that green - just never had one, I envy yours!

Take a good hard look that the thermostat and all related parts are there and in good working order including the sled tins. I will make a big difference on drivability and how long the engine lasts.