My 1971 Super Beetle Convertible Thread

[Cusser]

OK, bought this in 1976 from original owner, was Clementine Orange, had a cheap replacement black top already. In 1978 I had the convertible painted white by Maaco for $140 to match my 1970 sedan. In 1980 I lent the convertible to a girlfriend, and she Armor-All'd the top before returning it to me, and the top cracked soon after. So I asked the VW who did their tops and got a replacement top fitted and new boot made by that shop.

Have had so few issues with it that I haven't detailed any on The Samba. About 25 years ago I replaced the idler bushing, 4 tie rod ends, and front bushings to fix the dreaded "Super Beetle steering wheel shimmy" issue.

In 2005 I installed the 1835cc DP engine that had been in my 1970 sedan since 1986. It has a single Weber 40DCNF and a German 009, stock cam, and Quiet exhaust. The engine runs a lot better than it looks.

Two weeks ago I noticed that my 20+ year-old lifetime warrantied Autozone brake master cylinder was leaking, saw fluid on VW pan underside and under the MC boot.

The two electrical connectors were also a little loose on the brake switch terminals and are decades old; I've got new German ones on order from Samba member Heimlich, see classifieds https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2372844

The driver side front wheel was removed, VW on jack stands. The master cylinder reservoir was emptied, then those switches were removed using a 24mm deep socket. Then the two line fittings could be removed, breaking them loose with an 11mm flare wrench (Supers only have two fittings/lines). The two blue flexible lines to the MC plastic "elbows" were removed (and later replaced with new special blue hose). Then the two bolts retaining the MC could be loosened - KEEP IN PLACE in the firewall - and the MC pulled out forward.

I took that in to Autozone and got a free replacement BRAND NEW MC they had ordered for me (Super MCs are different than in standard Beetles); fortunately, my receipt from 1994 from my rebuilt MC was still legible as before they went computerized.

This came with a bench bleed kit but unfortunately that did not have the correct type of fittings to bench bleed, so I used fittings from past MCs to bench bleed it.

I installed the new MC myself, used rag to hold the MC in place good enough to get the boot aligned and the two bolts threaded in. I advise getting a helper for this.

I wanted to try making a pseudo power bleeder to try. I found a cap in my garage that fit the VW MC reservoir. I drilled a 29/64" hole in the cap, because I had a tire valve stem that required a 0.432" hole. Then I pulled the valve stem through.

I filled the reservoir with new brake fluid, screwed on my cap with valve stem, set my air compressor to about 20 psi and attached it to the valve stem. Then I opened up the bleeders in sequence, filling up the reservoir as necessary to flush out all old brake fluid.

Success !
_________________
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

[MACJELLY58]

NICE!

Cusser,
I'm sorry to hear that you had to replace that M.C. after only 26 years! I always enjoy reading about your quick, easy and inexpensive fixes. I especially liked this power assist bleeding system you made. Sounds so much easier than having my wife pump the brakes while I crawl around the floor to all four tires.

I also love reading how you drive your cars everyday for work and play...as It should BE!! Thanks for all the knowledge and help.

[Cusser]

[AutoMechanic]

Great story. I could never keep a receipt that long lol. I am working on my Beetle getting it ready for the road. I haven’t done any suspension or brake work yet so that’s going to be fun to do. Luckily I know what all has been done as I know the 3 previous owners of it.

[Cusser]

I installed two new German brake light switches from Heimlich into my 1971 Super and bled the brakes afterwards. Now my brake lights come on without having to power stomp on them. I did not need to remove the wheel, and 24mm deep socket was my friend.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2372844

VWNOS.com

Yep -so far satisfied with the Autozone brand new master cylinder; at FREE the price was right !!!
_________________
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

[67rustavenger]

Hey Cusser, It looks like you used an oil bottle cap for your pressure bleeder adapter.
I have used a Coke bottle cap before with success. But it only worked once. Coke bottle caps aren't very deep.
I'll have to try the oil bottle cap next time and see if that works better in my situation.

Thank you for sharing your MC replacement and bleeding solution.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[Cusser]

[Lost69Convertible]

Cusser - ok I have to ask, what lasted longer, the Armor-All'd top or the girlfriend?
_________________
1956 Beetle Ragtop: My Father's car
1969 Beetle Convertible: My first car. I loved it, I lost it, and I never got over it.
1979 Super Beetle Convertible

[Cusser]

[Cusser]

I completed the addition of an LED 3rd brake light/turn signal light to my 1971 Convertible. I didn't want to fabricate bracket or drill new holes in the engine lid so bought an LED license plate bracket and about $5 in wire (thought vibration might break the thin-stranded wire on the LED license plate bracket, so soldered new 4-conductor wire on.

All connections were soldered, not crimped. I'll paint the black wire white, did not want to drill a new hole at this time to hide that. Yes, I know that the engine lid is from a 1970 sedan (I use lid stand-offs, 1835cc engine), and so are the cool reflectors.

Of course lights will appear brighter at night

_________________
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

[Cusser]

gt1953 here had recommended to me a few years ago about putting Fritos or Cheetos reflective bags into the tail light housings so the tail lights, brake lights, turn signals would be brighter. Since I don't like Fritos or Cheetos, I used aluminum foil to do such on my 1970 sedan tail lights a couple of years ago.

Today I got around to doing this on my 1971 tail light housings, and took photos. This is is mine looked after removing the lens.

My left housing had a piece of sheet metal here; I cut it to fit decades ago, as its factory one must've fallen out when first owner changed a bulb or when I had it repainted by Maaco in 1978

Instead of aluminum foil or snacks bags, I used reflective aluminum tape I had at the house (have seen similar at Home Depot near the water heaters).

Here's what the housing looked like after taping.

I also put the reflective tape on the bottom of that piece of sheet metal.

I did same on the other side, which did have its little plate still in place. The housings do not look any different during the day, but brighter when the lights are on, so a success.
_________________
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

[EA812]

[Cusser]

[Lost69Convertible]

Cusser - You had me at “Frito bag.”
_________________
1956 Beetle Ragtop: My Father's car
1969 Beetle Convertible: My first car. I loved it, I lost it, and I never got over it.
1979 Super Beetle Convertible

[Cusser]

[Cusser]

I confirmed that the two inner tie rod ends on my 1971 Super were left-hand thread, and ordered new ones. These two had a small amount of play and I want to replace them as I feel a little vibration in the steering wheel at certain speeds.

About 25 years ago I replaced four tie rod ends, the idler bushing, and the two front bushings to fix the dreaded common Super Beetle shimmy. So I think it will be worthwhile to replace those two tie rod ends again and then adjust the toe-in. The other tie rod end are all tighter with no play.
_________________
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

[MACJELLY58]

Seems that all your parts last about 20-25 years.
That is awesome!! I think that just goes to show, the more you drive it the longer it lasts.

Keep on Buggin, my good Sir!

[Cusser]

[Cusser]

[Cusser]

I forgot to post a photo of my 1971 Convertible's 50th birthday. I've only owned it since 1976.

_________________
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