What did you do to your Beetle this week?

[MNSnowdaGuy]

I replaced all the fuel lines from the tunnel exit point back, moved the fuel filter from the engine compartment, put in a missing fuel line grommet in the fire wall, and installed a newly rebuilt square top fuel pump that I got from Bill at Sparxwerks.

I'm new to the hobby and just got my car in June. I'm trying to get it a bit more "sorted" before it gets stored for the Minnesota winter.

[63beetle66]

Your wheels look great, I have done a few sets of smoothies (two- tone), and there is a trick to getting a nice sharp separation of the colors. In my opinion stock two-tone smoothies with original VW baby moons is the best look for a vintage VW. I have a set of EMPI style mags I thought I would like but I never put them on because I like the two-tone stock look so much. From what I have seen VW wheels in the 50's were two-toned with the lighter color on the inside and the darker on the outside, and I think. maybe about 1960 they reversed that with lighter on the outside.

[CameronVW]

My '62 currently has later slotted rims with rotted tires, and I really want to ride with the baby moons. I had three period correct smoothies, just need to acquire one more. I scored one, and this week I de-rustified, cleaned them up and painted.

I knew I wanted two-tone, with red to match the interior. I just used Rustoleum rattlecans from Lowes. The red (Regal Red) was a little brighter than I wanted. They had Brick Red which would have been perfect, but only in satin. I wanted glossy. I researched as to whether the ivory should be on the outer rim or inner, but I've seen it both ways. Ultimately, after looking at numerous photos here and elsewhere, the ivory on the outside looks better with blackwall tires, acting as a substitute for whitewalls. Running with whitewalls, the darker color would look better outside.

The fifth wheel in the photo is the spare that is already mounted with a very nice looking old bias-ply. It's not holding air, but it looks damn good in the trunk. I'll address that in the future, but for now, four new 165/80R15s are on order at the tireshop.
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-Cam

"A duplicate of the Volkswagen, but somewhat larger, probably would sell well in the U.S."
-Popular Mechanics, March 1952

[indianpeaksjoe]

I did a ton of little things since my last post.

I installed a A1 Class 11 exhaust https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/10/18/a-1-performance-class-11-exhaust-on-a-baja-bug/

Changed my oil after 300 miles from rebuild https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/10/16/300-mile-oil-change/

Replaced my spark plug wires https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/10/14/replacing-the-spark-plug-wires/

Fixed a broken sun visor https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/10/10/sewfine-sun-visor-fix/

Cleaned and oiled my air filter https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/09/11/cleaning-and-oiling-an-uni-filter/

Installed rock lights https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/09/04/installing-rock-lights-on-the-baja-and-an-spod/

And hooked up my heated PRP lowback seats https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/09/16/prp-low-back-roadster-suspension-seats-heat/

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[CameronVW]

Installed a new muffler on my '62 with fresh air heat. Stripped and repainted with VHT primer and aluminum paint.

I could NOT get one bolt started in the threaded hole of one of the Heat exchanger connections. I could get the holes lined up, but I think the gasket was to snug to easily adjust, so it may have been getting in the way. I finally dug up a slightly thinner bolt to pass through and attach with a nut. That seem to do the trick.

The heat exchanger heads lined up with the heater boxes close enough to get the clamps around, but barely. But she sounds nice with the classic "fweem".
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-Cam

"A duplicate of the Volkswagen, but somewhat larger, probably would sell well in the U.S."
-Popular Mechanics, March 1952

[scottyrocks]

Replaced the fuel filter and soft lines next to the transmission.
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“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'

[qweedqwag]

Fixed my fuel tanks sending unit so my gauge now works, and added the oil pressure sending unit, so the oil pressure gauge now works. Little things make me happy, now if I would fix the wondering suspension.

[Scotty D]

Prepping for a front brake upgrade on the ‘58 with an EMPI disc brake kit.

[indianpeaksjoe]

I have LED blinkers, a 12v upgrade and wiring from... who knows. My in speedometer indicator bulb was not working. I solved this with a much too complicated Arduino. But I decided to fix it using regular car parts. I used a Grote solid state relay and a plastic bulb holder from a later beetle and now have it working. Plus I added emergency lights.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[shano63]

I FINALLY got my hood to close on the first try, everytime! It used to take me 4 or 5 times to close it. I've been dealing with this for years but was always afraid I'd make it worse.
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63 T1 Ragtop Gulf Blue
20 Toyota Corolla 6spd
22 Wrangler 6spd
78 F250 4x4 4spd

Chris

Take it as it comes-- Morrison

[indianpeaksjoe]

I printed a copy of Uniwerks vent window Cool Stik. I did not see a beetle version on his site, so I feel it is ok.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[indianpeaksjoe]

@grandemadaca that is cool!

I finally replaced my speedometer, I am not sure why I put up with the bouncy speedo needle for the past 2 years.

Full pics and instructions here: https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2025/08/26/replacing-the-speedometer-cable-in-a-vw-beetle/

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[CameronVW]

In the process of getting my '62 started, I built this remote start box.

Link


I used a small plastic ammo box. The cables unplug from the box and are stored inside.

Added red and green LEDs to replicate the dash lights.
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-Cam

"A duplicate of the Volkswagen, but somewhat larger, probably would sell well in the U.S."
-Popular Mechanics, March 1952

[CameronVW]

I've had this project car for nearly 18 years. It was supposed to be a cosmetic restore, but before I even got it on the road, the engine overheated and destroyed itself, turning it into a motor rebuild project. I was excited at first, but it was slow and I didn't know what I was doing. Thanks to the Bug Me videos and John Muir, I got it rebuilt. There were hiccups along the way, and I would walk away for awhile. Finally it was done but something was wrong, and the engine wouldn't even turn. I took a LONG walk away.

This summer some friends on their own decided they were going to make sure I get this done so I can get back to the original place of making the car look good.

Anyway, that's a long way to get to what I did this week...


Link


Link

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-Cam

"A duplicate of the Volkswagen, but somewhat larger, probably would sell well in the U.S."
-Popular Mechanics, March 1952

[Apostle_]

I just installed the rear and side glass. Finishing up the interior this week!

[indianpeaksjoe]

Got my baja back from the shop and I wanted to fix something that always bugged me, the cancel ring did not sit quite right on the Moon eyes wheel. So I printed a spaced, which I like a lot more.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[alex857]

[a smith]

[67rustavenger]

[EverettB]

Cradle robber!

This is USA slang for an older person dating an much younger person, in case you haven't heard the term before.

Is there a German equivalent?
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