1974 Super Beetle Sun Beetle Sedan Build

[creative native]

I finally relocated the fuel filter out of the engine compartment and by the transmission. I do feel better about that.

I also replaced the engine firewall. The original had did its duty and performed well for 47 years. I got my new mat from WCM and am happy with it.

I installed an alternator fan pulley.

If I didn't post about it before, I did replace the dash fan motor. The original blew well all day long, then one day it just stopped dead.

My Sun Bug sat in a garage for many years before I traded for it and it has taken a while to get the bugs worked out to make it genuinely road worthy again. I feel it is at that level now, especially after my mechanic replaced some engine internals.

I noticed that the engine was gradually making a noise that got louder by the week. I thought it might be the fan rubbing the fan shroud. My mechanic determined that it was the distributor drive gear, which he replaced and then it was fine for a day or so, but the noise began again. So he replaced the main bearing and now if it drove any better new, it would be hard to believe.

Now my biggest problem is cleaning up that dusty engine bay!

[Tim Donahoe]

Duane, your number four spark plug boot doesn’t appear to be seated. Those boots need to fit snugly against the tin opening.

And what carburetor are you running? Is that an H 30/31?

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[creative native]

Thanks for noticing, Tim. I'll go check it.

Yes, the carb is a 30/31. I intend to get a stock 34 PICT and distributor to match.

Also, I had a venturi ring installed when the engine was out.

UPDATE: I checked it and it seems to be fine, Tim. Thanks for asking me about it though. It wouldn't have been the first time I've benefitted from having another pair of eyes look at my car.

[bruehoyt]

Just now discovered your build thread after you posted about your radio,

Love what you have done. I'll borrow some of this knowledge and your ideas
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Current VW's:

71 Westfalia https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=633955

74 Super Beetle Convertible Sun Bug https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748008

Past VW's:
71 Karmann Ghia Autostick. 17-21. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727596
70 Karmann Ghia driven 00-03, 67 Karmann Ghia 91-97, 74 Karmann Ghia 92-94, 71 Karmann Ghia 87-92, 74 Super Beetle 86-87, 71 Karmann Ghia 85-86 (my avatar)

[creative native]

[creative native]

At long last, I found someone to rebuild my sunroof! It took nearly two years to find someone in NC to touch an ACVW sunroof.

Since I got the Sun Bug, the sunroof would not open all the way. The top photo shows the sunroof before being repaired; this was as far as it would open. The bottom photo was taken today, showing it fully open. The upholstery shop who took care of this informed me that the left guide was bent downward and was stopping the sunroof short of opening completely. I remember at least one other sunroof owner on the threads here had the same issue and I cannot remember who it was, but if you're reading this, perhaps either your left or right guide is bent.

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"The holy land is everywhere." ~ Black Elk
1979 Westfalia P27, California FI emissions spec. 100% VW fleet: '79 Westfalia, 2013 Touareg Lux (Toffee Brown/Cornsilk Beige), 2005 Passat GLX.

[Buggeee]

Excellent
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1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[creative native]

Here is a review of the plastic Super Beetle dash caps. A few weeks ago, the temperatures got pretty cold, but not at freezing for days on end. After a few days, I cranked up the Super Beetle and noticed that in the cold, the dash cap had cracked. I hope the fiberglass version is more durable.

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"The holy land is everywhere." ~ Black Elk
1979 Westfalia P27, California FI emissions spec. 100% VW fleet: '79 Westfalia, 2013 Touareg Lux (Toffee Brown/Cornsilk Beige), 2005 Passat GLX.

[creative native]

And just like that, the Sun Bug is gone and has a new owner.

The Sun Bug fulfilled my lifelong dream of restoring a Volkswagen. I loved that car well and will always miss it, but I did sell it to a man who had one decades ago and like so many of us, sought out what he let go of in his youth; which is what I've done. My first car was a 1973 Super Beetle, but my real love was a Bay Window Bus, which I now have again. The Sun Bug was bought by a man who owns a foreign car garage and knows much about ACVWs. I've refused to sell VWs to guys who had bad intentions for them (one guy wanted to buy my 1955 Oval and cut the roof to install a rag top and slam it, etc.). The man who now has the Sun Bug I have all faith in that he will properly care for it.

So this ends my space on the 1968-1979 Type 1 forum. I will be over on the Bay Window Bus forum. I wish you all well and remember that originality never goes out of style.
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"The holy land is everywhere." ~ Black Elk
1979 Westfalia P27, California FI emissions spec. 100% VW fleet: '79 Westfalia, 2013 Touareg Lux (Toffee Brown/Cornsilk Beige), 2005 Passat GLX.

[Rome]

Thanks for your efforts to share your improvement experiences in this thread.

How many miles did you end up driving it under your ownership? After completing the interior and the FatMat installation, did you notice a significant reduction in interior noise?

Is your newly-bought Bus in similar excellent condition, or will it need more work aside from it being that much larger than the Beetle?

[creative native]