Another Pickle Post - 1973 Squareback

[Scotty D]

It finally happened! 33 years after selling my first car, a '72 FI automatic Squareback, I've purchased another square to please my inner child.

I'm super stoked to have one again, brings back all kinds of memories. Purchased from the niece of the original owner, just 30 minutes away from home here in SoCal, though it began its life in Tennessee.

It's somewhat unmolested in that it still has the fuel injection intact, as well as things that typically get upgraded or swapped out, like the original AM radio, steering wheel, etc. It's got Empi 8-spokes, and at least a second re-skin of the seat upholstery, and has been resprayed once back in 1999 (found the receipt from Maaco in the stack of paperwork I grabbed from the seller).

The body is in pretty damn good shape, which makes me happy. But the rust underneath and inside, well, that's a different story. I'm planning on making it safe, replacing all the necessary tin, and leaving the exterior alone as much as possible. But we all know where these projects tend to go

There is evidence of a few crappy floor pan patch jobs, but they didn't hold up well. The rear window seal was installed with a gap at the top of the window, which expanded to nearly 3 inches wide, allowing all of the Tennessee rain inside the rear of the car. Ouch. Typical rust inside the frunk and pillar areas, but the doors are good, heater channels seem to be in decent shape, etc.

I'll post up a few pics and try to dig deeper into this in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully the wife lets me spend some time with it over the Holidays.

Cheers.

Scotty D

[Scotty D]

While I contemplate what I've just gotten myself into, I decided to tackle the stuck windows and hopefully get the regulators working better.

The driver side window was stuck at about 3/4 of the way shut, and the handle was on the drivers seat, still screwed to the internal gear shaft of the regulator.

I figured the only way to remedy this was drop the glass, remove the regulator, and find a donor to replace it. Of course I'll look into new rubber, scrapers, felt, etc. while I have the door apart.

[Scotty D]

I've spent several hours already reading previous posts about window regulators and them binding, but can't seem to figure out if it's possible to get the regulator lubed and moving again without removing it and the window glass.

I'm guessing that since the seals/scrapers are just garbage at this point, the only way to get the system properly lubed and working is through removal.

Show me the way if there is a better option, LOL.

The passenger door still had the door card on, and after removing it I found the original moisture barrier intact. Mostly surface rust on the door, but nothing major, the bottom of the door is still solid, phew.

[Ceckert64]

Looks like a great project! You can never beat a green Squareback
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Scotty D]

[Scotty D]

Getting ready for family to come in for Thanksgiving, so no real updates yet.
But someone is ready for a ride.

[Scotty D]

It’ll probably be January before I have any real free time to start tackling the major issues on the pickle. So small items will have to do for now.

Found a window regulator pretty much locally from another member here, and it was shipped and delivered within a few days. It’s the lower one in this pic.

Did a slight rust removal/cleanup, lubed and greased all the contact points, and had it ready to install.

It’s from a great year!

Didn’t photograph the install, but I also cleaned and lubed the chanel on the bottom of the window, and transferred the spring/clip from the old regulator.

After fitting the glass into the window channels, I slid it down and placed the regulator clip into the lower channel before mounting the regulator in its place.

Worked a charm, and the glass goes up and down smooth as butter.

[Bobnotch]

[Scotty D]

Thanks for that bit of wisdom. I’m thinking at some point in time I’ll likely remove the tar paper and install some sound deadening material.

[Scotty D]

Found a spare minute or two during the holiday madness to remove the tank for cleaning (No sealing - fuel injection no-no). Gave me a better look at the master cylinder. A new in the box cylinder was included with the pickle when I bought it.

Found the soft lines just above the master in terrible shape and leaking, almost as if something or someone cut into them. Thinking I MIGHT just reconnect the original master with fresh soft lines, as well as new soft lines at all four corners, and run some brake fluid through the system to see what’s up.

That’ll probably bite me in the ass, but you never know until you try.

[Bobnotch]

You might want to see about having Jim Adney rebuild either or both of your Master Cylinders. I know I have him do mine on every project I do, and others here have had him do theirs as well. He advertises in the Samba classifieds him at [email protected]. He has a list of services that he does, including some "work arounds" for the FI system, including an improved fuel tank vent hose system kit that you might want to get.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[Scotty D]

[KTPhil]

Masters stored for a long time may have stiff or deformed seals inside. Many suggest putting a new seal kit in even NOS MASTERS.

The smallest flex lines around the tank are typically for the vapor recovery system. But the metal lines leading back to the engine bay are probably internally corroded or clogged, so the system won't function even after you replace the hoses. You may end up reverting to an older style "atmospheric vent" form of evap system. When you contact Jim for a kit, explain this need and maybe send pics of what you have now so he can best advise you.

[Scotty D]

[Mike Fisher]

Your 73 should have the one year only 3.88 gears.
Most are 4.12 & 4.25.
Top end gears/speed similar to my 69 automatic transmission.
Bobnoth has a 3.88 in his notch I believe.
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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

[Bobnotch]

[Scotty D]

That’s awesome.

My ‘72 automatic did fairly well in the fwy, but that was back when the speed limit was 55😂

[Bobnotch]

[Scotty D]

That sounds perfect. Hoping to be able to cruise down to the coast, and drive from Huntington Beach to San Diego occasionally.

Magic Erasers are just that, magic. Quickly cleaned up my sun visors with ease.
I’ll be cleaning up the headliner with them as well since it seems to have survived so well.

[Scotty D]

Cleaned up the headliner. I’m amazed that there are no rips to speak of, just a weird narrow stain across the back a few inches wide that feels like glue.