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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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 Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:13 am Post subject: Digitalbill's official 73 Super rebuild thread. |
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Since I am about to start my SLOW process of a driving rebuild this weekend, I figured it was time to start a thread.
I have not named her yet but, here she is the day I brought her home. She started and ran and I was able to get it into first and second gears however; the total lack of brakes stopped me from going any faster.
This was on December 22nd. $500.00 bucks and she was all mine.
Obviously she has some issues. a missing drivers side fender is one and, this rust is another. This is the result of the "Death Foam" so I am on the right track.
The interior is in shockingly good shape. The floors are solid with the exception of a few holes in the driver’s side. My heater channels appear to be solid.
I ordered a new Master Cylinder and I am waiting for it to get here so I can start my brake work repair. There are already brand new wheel cylinders on all four corners.
A friend of mine lives in Dade City and literally 2 miles away from Sunray Bugs. He was able to score a new fender and a new hood for me. I went there this weekend (Jan 12th) to pick them up.
The fender needs just a little work to be perfect but for $60.00, I could not pass it up. The hood is about as perfect as it gets. There is a cardboard thing on the inside of the handle which is apparently a hard to find item. Corky (Owner of Sunray) was very animated about me NOT getting rid of that. I might give it back to him as this is NOT going to be a 100% restoration at all and quite honestly, if he can use it or sell it to a true enthusiast, I would rather someone else use it who really appreciates it.
Corky also hooked me up with some odds and ends things like bolts. I was missing the hinge bolt for the front seat and he had one. He also hooked me up with some lug bolts and some deck lid bolts that I was missing. I showed him pictures of my car and he invited me to bring the car to him for an inspection and see what else I needed.
He also gave me a large sheet of metal. I am not sure what he cut it out of but; he said it was the said it could be used for the repair to my quarter panel and a good metal guy “will know what to do with it”
All in all, he was a pleasure to deal with.
So, I am going to a VW meet in Miami this weekend for more photos so I have something solid to compare mine to
Anyway, this is the start and I will be posting as this slow process continues.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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beetlenut
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2009
Posts: 3012
Location: RI
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:23 am Post subject: |
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Congrats on the 73! Where in Florida are you?
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scrapyards are for quitters
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| Wetstuff wrote: |
| ... I spend more time shaking it than directing it?! I get a pretty decent blast for 8sec. then have to shake it again. |
- Words to live by right there!
My 74 Super rebuild thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6507104#6507104 |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:37 am Post subject: |
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| beetlenut wrote: |
| Congrats on the 73! Where in Florida are you? |
I am in Lake Worth which is a Suburb of Palm Beach County.
About 1 hour North of Miami, four hours North of Key West, and about 2 hours South/East of Disney World.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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bahamianbug
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2012
Posts: 165
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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have you found anywhere to get parts locally?/?
im in the bahamas and always have people in south fla...
would make my life a whole lot easier... |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| bahamianbug wrote: |
have you found anywhere to get parts locally?/?
im in the bahamas and always have people in south fla...
would make my life a whole lot easier... |
Not super locally but, it is about a four hour drive for me to get to Dade City.
My Mother in law told me that there is a VW graveyard somewhere in West Palm Beach but, an internet search came up with nothing. She might be insane but, you never know. Maybe I will ask her to drive me there this weekend and if I get eyes on, I will give you the details.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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bahamianbug
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2012
Posts: 165
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| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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thanks... whats the name of the place in dade city??? ive got friends all over fla... just looking for an alternative way to get parts aside from the west coast... cant find much on the east coast on the internet and cant find anything in fla... our import duty (tax) is a % added on based on sales invoice + shipping... so if i fed ex or overnight something my tax goes up... a lot... not to mention the fact that i have to pay 2 shipping bills because most vendors wont ship to a p o box in the bahamas... so my stuff goes to fla then a courier brings it to the bahamas... the price you pay to live in paradise ...
oh and i dont need super parts... just std ... |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:34 am Post subject: |
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| bahamianbug wrote: |
thanks... whats the name of the place in dade city??? ive got friends all over fla... just looking for an alternative way to get parts aside from the west coast... cant find much on the east coast on the internet and cant find anything in fla... our import duty (tax) is a % added on based on sales invoice + shipping... so if i fed ex or overnight something my tax goes up... a lot... not to mention the fact that i have to pay 2 shipping bills because most vendors wont ship to a p o box in the bahamas... so my stuff goes to fla then a courier brings it to the bahamas... the price you pay to live in paradise ...
oh and i dont need super parts... just std ... |
PM sent.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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The first hiccup of this process.
On Friday, I ordered a new master and brake resavour from Rock Auto.
I got a package in today.....
A pulley for the altanator.
I called them and they insisted that is what I ordered.
I explained that I never left the brake section but they wouldn't budge.
Needless to say, they lost my business.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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75smith
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2011
Posts: 2275
Location: NH
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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best place I've found is http://vwparts.aircooled.net/ quality service, John is a member here and also updates Facebook occasionally
others will recommend CIP and others
as for local business-the samba has an "app" for that
heres a link for florida business, no clue whats close to you though
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/shops/search.php
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My 1975 Beetle Build Updated 8-21-12
My engine build |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:42 am Post subject: |
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So, a bit of good news today.
I got the car running this morning.
I have ben trying to start it and I just kept flooding it out so, after charging the battery overnight, I tried again this morning.
And then, I disconnected the choke wire and she fired up no problems.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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Hyperspace
Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013
Posts: 1166
Location: South Africa
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| Looks so cool. |
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runamoc 
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006
Posts: 6371
Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I disconnected the choke wire and she fired up no problems |
That means the choke will never open. 
_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 45 yrs - Plan B: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs- '80 Rabbit Diesel
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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Joel
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2006
Posts: 11099
Location: NSW Australia
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:03 am Post subject: |
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Agreed, without power the choke is permanently on.
The cut off solenoid is on the same wire, if that wasn't getting power that's the reason it was hard to start.
I wouldn't worry too much about the sound deadener inside that new hood, it's unusual to see them still there yes but its abit beat up and missing a huge piece.
They don;t do much, first thing I did was rip mine out too, makes no difference, just more weight.
They are easy to replicate though. |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 6:31 am Post subject: |
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OK.. .it is weird.
The coil has two places where a wire can be attached.
The green wire basically ran from one side of the coil to the other side.
I would imagine that, somewhere, there are two connections that need to be married. I will play with it this weekend when I have some daylight.
Thanks everyone for your help so far.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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docdanracy
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2012
Posts: 1119
Location: Auburn, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 9:24 am Post subject: |
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Green wires(original factory wires) go to the negative terminal of the coil. One goes to condenser
Black wires (factory color) go to the positive side of the coil.
Should be a black wire going to the idle solenoid and a piggy backed wire from there to the choke....also backup lights circuit (black)
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Doc
1970 Sunroof Bug Yukon Yellow (L19K)
Custom 6.5x15” 914 Sport Wheels wrapped in 185x65x15 Contis
Empi shifter, full compliment of gauges, 1679 with mild cam, stock induction
SOLD: 1974 Marina Blue Standard Beetle undergoing restoration/preservation
1679 with Kadrons and header/QP
914 sport wheels 5.5" ET40 wrapped in 195x65x15 Kumhos |
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Q-Dog
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8869
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| digitalbill wrote: |
OK.. .it is weird.
The coil has two places where a wire can be attached.
The green wire basically ran from one side of the coil to the other side.
I would imagine that, somewhere, there are two connections that need to be married. I will play with it this weekend when I have some daylight.
Thanks everyone for your help so far. |
There's nothing weird about it, the coil has + and - sides.
Please don't take this the wrong way, I'm just trying to help, but for goodness sakes man, don't guess! If you aren't gonna use a service manual, at least download the wiring diagram from this site. All the colors and terminal numbers are on the diagram. You can keep guessing if you want to, but one wrong guess and you could burn up the unfused ignition wire all the way back to the key. Melt that wire bad enough and you will melt other wires in the harness too. Then you'll have to rewire the entire car.
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Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Brian,
Thank you for the tip and, to be honest, I really do "know better" then to do what I have been doing.
I have not had a single weekend free since I brought this car home so most of my "work" on it is in between the time my kids are eating breakfast and the time I need to drive them to school.
I have the Haynes for it and I have not gotten very serious about messing with the car at all.
My concentration right this moment are the brakes, tires, and suspension (stuff that will get me killed)
I promise that I will start paying attention before messing with it anymore.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:06 am Post subject: |
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OK.. D Day is fast approching.
This car WILL be ready for the road by Sunday, Feb 03.
This means that I need to have the brakes sorted out and new tires put on.
Currently it is riding on 185/65 R15's all the way around.
Take a look at these pictures. Does it look like the front has been lowered? I suspect the springs might have been cut.
Once I get new tires, I will have it aligned and I am concerned that if someone did a hack job, an alignment might be impossible.
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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Retired_CPO
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Joined: December 30, 2012
Posts: 191
Location: Connecticut
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digitalbill
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2012
Posts: 323
Location: Lake Worth, FL
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:55 am Post subject: |
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Just a quick update. I was able to get a tow bar this weekend from my Brother but I will need to make some small modifications to it to pull my bug.
I also got a set of rust free hubcaps and a new jack for the Beetle.
Slow and steady....
_________________
Beer_
Because no good story started with eating a salad.
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My build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541120
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1973 Super Beetle (work in progress) |
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