Things my VW taught me

[jmartin7]

1. Speed is overrated, just enjoy the view and always leave early.

2. Always bring extra oil, belts, and tools anytime the car is driven.

3. Almost all previous owners are idiots.

4. High quality parts are cheaper in the end because they don`t break as much as cheap ones.

5. Parts should come from the same country as the car was made.
(Volkswagen should have German made parts and Mazda should have Japanese made parts.)

6. Never trust what a previous owner says, do research and investigate for yourself before you buy.

7. A "restored" car isn`t always a good deal.

[my quite]

No matter how much i fix her, there will always be something else that needs tended to.

[1964volksman]

hammers are NOT the answer

[Mike Fisher]

VW lugbolts can require a 1/2" breaker bar with a 24" pipe extension to break them loose!
_________________
https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
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

[bugger101]

Not to wear a tie, then lean into the engine compartment
_________________
75 west deluxe http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5270450#5270450

2010 ford focus

[pointhwerp]

people assume Things are either jeeps or hummers

leaving a wrench on the generator nut is not a good thing to overlook...

leaking oil is a character trait

all POs are morons

[gabbs]

1. Hearing the "vrrooom" sound of your engine is the most rewarding part, screw the radio.

2. Guys dig girls who work on their cars

3. Keeping a list of names for emergencies/breakdowns in your glove box is a good thing.

4. In cold winters make sure you get lots of white lithuim spray so you don't have to break into your own car.

5. Most people at school don't get why you know more about cars than 90% of the rest of the school and you're a girl. (true story )

6. Always be prepared for a breakdown, have an extra gas can, and each bus needs its own set of tools and extra parts (fuel lines, points, ect).

7. You don't have to be fast to be cool. Take your time, enjoy being in a peice of history, and be thankful that all the blood, sweat and tears has come to an amazing car that's all yours.
_________________
Bay Pride!
Openly bay, cuz it's ok to like what ya like
Babes in buses rule!
Omaha VW Club Secretary
Love, Peace, VW grease

[Phil Dowling]

Having a 1776 with massive carbs and a lumpy cam and just taking it for a quick blast with no working fuel gauge, a heavy foot and a lack of any money on me....can lead to a long walk home.
_________________
1965 Hi Roof Panel Van.

[cm67btl]

-EVERYONE has a VW story, even if your are already late for work and the very nice old couple wants to tell you all about it.
-Working on VWs brings friends together
-its amazing how much free labor you can get for the price of a six pack
-VW's need constant attention, they are not a Ronco Rotisserie, "set it and forget it"
-breaking down has restored my hope in society, you meet some really nice people

[Pigpenn]

Humility.....

[TheresaF]

My first car was a Super Beetle .... Loved that car.... So many good times and memories with friends and family. Seems a VW was always in my life whether it be mine or my Dad's..... That car got me all the way thru college to my first "real" job and then some.......many...many years.

My VW taught me how to enjoy the little things and how much happiness just a little car can cause with many people....especially kids. They love them.

It's also a great memory with my Father.....and has brought us closer working on them and teaching me the importance of doing things right the first time and not take short cuts.

T.

[Cusser]

Old VWs are great golddigger filters...
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[Kevin Howlett]

1) Never ignore the fact that the coil bracket is a little loose, when it falls off the hot wire will ground out on the engine tin and burn the wireing up.

2) Never go for a drive around the block without any shoes on. (especially with a loose coil bracket)

3) Always check the lug nuts after working on your car on a hot day before going on a test drive down the highway.

4) Don't forget and leave the cell phone in the garage when going for a test drive, incase you forget to tighten the lug nuts.

5) Keep an eye on engine temps especially on a hot day, install and oil temp gauge whenever possible.

6) Buy Dual Carbs only from a Reputable Shop who offers jetting service / advice/ assistance and save yourself the frustration of trying to get it to run right yourself.

7) It will always cost 3x more to do something than you really think it should, and it will usually take twice as long.

Install a lift in your garage if you are going to be working on your own vw's often.

9) If you ask your wife to help you bleed the brakes, show her which pedal is the brake and which is the clutch. Make sure she understands to pump the brake, not the clutch. Because after 30 minutes and you haven't got any brake fluid out the rear bleeders you will be frustrated to find out she has been pumping the clutch pedal.

10) Do not always expect to get the best quality parts, or you may be let down. Do research on the samba before spending hard earned money on expensive items.

11) When tearing a car down for a restoration, do not throw anything away thinking you can just order a new part that will look better. Sometimes it will not be available, or rubber and plastic parts are not as good quality as the original pieces were.

12) Anything mechanical is subject to failure at any time. Even if you have already fixed it once before.

13) Always hang on to as many spare parts and you can, some of them will be needed eventually.


[/u]
_________________
www.germanwagenwerks.com

[Bigfoot of Borg]

Engines run better when the valves can actually close.

Just because you're into electrical engineering doesn't mean mechanical work has to be a mystery to you.
_________________
75 Super Bug

[Kevin Howlett]

Always keep a vw tow bar handy
_________________
www.germanwagenwerks.com

[MaxiTaxi]

Don't turn the engine over with the tire iron. I've been working on my bug for about a month and I learned that the hard way.

[MaxiTaxi]

Also, if your trying to run the engine, please make sure that your inlet coming off the fuel pump is plugged in to the carb. I sprayed gas all over my garage.

[ebenasky]

1. Fun really does come in small packages.
2. The garage is my home away from home.
3. When buying accelerator cables, always buy two.
4. Always carry a fire extinguisher.
5. and oil
6. and a fan belt
7. and spare parts
_________________
"I don't fix 'em to look at 'em, I fix them to drive."

- '60 Beetle "Ruby"
- '70 Beetle "Peace"

[Jon65]

Things My Vw taught me:

If you have a plastic in-line fuel filter, make sure it is a bosch brand filter and NOT a filter for a lawnmower. They may both look the same ,but one will actually get you where you are going, and the other will collapse from the georgia heat, plug the fuel line, and leave you stranded on the side of the highway. How I was able to limp the car home i'll never know.

[sleepywiesel]

Cars are faithful

If you are looking for a sandblaster, do not choose the one that says "I have blasted 10000 car bodies. I know what I'm doin'!"

Your car has always a surprise for you. Especially in moments you don't need them at all.

Thighten the centernuts of the rear brake drums carefully.

Windows can break on their own without any help.
_________________
________________________
'59 beetle
'60 beetle