Parts not fitting properly?

[TheRustySuper]

OK, so I got my '72 Super back from the paint shop, that $600 paintjob on top of my so-so bodywork actually turned out pretty nicely! Anyway, I spent all yesterday putting the car back together, and ran into a few snags.

1. The trunk seal. I bought it probably 5 years ago, but never installed it--it just sat in a box until yesterday, when I started putting the car together. I noticed that it was too short, and that it didn't fit properly around the corners. Is this seal for a Standard or perhaps a curved window Super? (And if so, anyone wanna trade for the correct part?)

2. The gas cap. I looked up the model number on the old one, and it is correct for my car. The seal that keeps gas from sloshing out is intact and in place, and it seals up against the filler neck fine as well. But it feels a bit loose screwing it in, and gas sloshes out of the car with it in.

So I ordered a new one, from CIP1 I think. Anyway, it feels nice and tight when you screw it in (lol), but the seal doesn't seat properly. And it too, leaks out gas. Something I don't want on my new paint. I'm at a loss here--both gas caps are supposed to be correct, but neither one work properly.

The old one screwed in: (I had a picture of the new one screwed in as well, but it vanished. Basically that rubber seal doesn't even touch the fuel filler neck.)

Old on the left, new on the right.

3. The headlight relay. My old one would sometimes only let me have high beams, and sometimes the low beams would work for a bit before randomly going off. I checked all the grounds and fuses and everything--they're all good. So I narrowed it down to the relay. I ordered a new one (from CIP 1 I think) and installed it and...nothing. It doesn't work. Any chance of getting them to send a new one?

4. My weird blinkers. You would turn them on, and they would just stick, and not flash. Unless you pulled out the emergency flasher switch a bit, then they would work fine. I figured this was just the relay going bad...but I was wrong. Same issue with the new relay. I have temporarily wedged some paper behind the emergency flasher switch so that it is pushed out a bit, and my blinkers work fine now. But I want to know what is actually wrong. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Clark
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My '72 Super

[Semper_Dad]

[5150BOT]

My 73 curvey trunk seal is approx 154 inches laid out flat.

Had the same problem with the relay also lol, didnt seem to draw the contacts idk but I ended up opening the stock one cleaning and lube'd it good and seems to work ever since.. knock on wood.

Cheers
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Mike K

[vw_hank]

the 71-72 super has the biggest hood of all the bugs.. and 73-79 have the smallest.. looks like you got the 73-79 one
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1302s sunroof..
1600cc motor. Glenn ring 010. full toplineparts.com suspension. factory front disk brakes. Tram type-3 rear brakes. Hurst shifter. empi-8's. low-back's. tons of mods!

[DrDarby]

You need the plastic push in retainers to capture the seal at the upper corners. If otherwise the seal is all installed just install your rear engine seal and see how much is left over. You may have enough to bridge the gap. Otherwise I'd just order another rear engine lid seal aa they are so cheap and bridge the gap. Remember to cut a, upside down "V" right at the center of both the front and rear seals as a moisture drain.
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Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Crystal Lake, IL

[Antonio Trejo]

You should get the genuine gas cap made by VW in Austria part No. 321 201 551 G
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Parts VW
"From Volkswagen of Mexico factory..."
Genuine VW Sedan parts
Genuine VW Ultima Edition parts
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[Cusser]

I run a Stant fuel cap on my 1971 Super Convertible, was available in stock at my local parts store. My original cap had the seal go bad, this fixed it. That was over a decade ago.

Return parts that do not fit correctly, and COMPLAIN !!! That's the only way to get parts to be improved, returns are costly to process, and dealers don't want to mess with such suppliers !!!
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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

[lupin..the..3rd]

[TheRustySuper]

Thanks everyone! DrDarby, that's exactly what I did. There is about an inch or so gap on either side, but it'll do for now.

And as for the gas cap...anything I can do for now to keep gas from spilling out while I try to get a cap that actually fits? I'm gonna see where I got the parts and email them today, see if I can get a new headlight relay and return the gas cap or something. Cusser, forgive me, but what do you mean by "Stant"? As far as my fuel filler neck being aftermarket...I have no clue. Pretty much every part on this car is original, if I took pictures would anyone be able to tell if it is or not?

Clark
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My '72 Super

[Gary]

I have an OE German hood seal if you want. PM me for details.
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West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

[Paul Windisch]

[Cusser]

[TheRustySuper]

Would this be it? There's not a pepboys or NAPA nearby, however we do have an Advance.

Oh, and here's my fuel filler neck, dunno if you can tell anything from this picture.

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My '72 Super

[Cusser]

[69 Jim]

[damicotile]

My kid was complaining about the gas sloshing out too. He was cross threading it. It's not hard to do. It also makes the door not close properly. I just wiggle it as I screw it in and if the door doesn't close right, then I have it cross threaded.
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'73 SB
82x94
W-120 w/ CB light weight lifters
Silicon bronze sleeves
Scat 1.25:1
CB H-Beams
Straight cuts
42x37 Steve Tims
44 IDF's
9.2:1
A-1 Sidewinder coated

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[TheRustySuper]

[emu88]

As far as the trunk seal goes, I'd deinately recommend going for the puch on type for the actual hood, not the seal around the rim.

I just got one for the hood and engine back and they are 1. much thicker, 2. look better and more uniform, especially if you have the prise up the lip to put the standard one on, 3. aren't so invisit for sitting water and thus rust.

I actualy kept my original one on as well because it has the lining that runs under the windscreen, plus it fits very snug now to avoid ANY wind blowing in.

[Joel]

My original cap had a really thin cork gasket around it as well as the rubber O-ring.

I think the caps are universal fit these days, probably so that replacements are easy to get hold of from anywhere.
I know the fuel cap off my 2000 Mazda fits my 74 super perfectly
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Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle

[TheRustySuper]

Dammit. The gas leaking out has caused the paint around the fender welting to start to bubble up, like you used paint stripper. So now I don't really want to drive the car till I get that gas cap, and on top of that, I now have to pull the fender off and touch up the paint. I'll see if Advance Auto parts can order the new cap--they carry the part, it's just not in stock at the local store.

And cip1 (where I got both of those defective parts) has not yet emailed me back about the defective parts.
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My '72 Super