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Govolsguy31
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2025
Posts: 19
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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 Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 2:32 pm Post subject: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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Did a little searching and couldn’t find an exact answer.
I have a 1968 bug that is a Manx style dune buggy with a faulty alternator. Is it possible to change the alternator without removing the fiberglass body shell? I’ve watched numerous videos and I’m worried I’m not going to be able to get to the top components adequately.
Anyone have any experience doing this or input? |
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slayer61
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2021
Posts: 1170
Location: TX
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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I did mine recently. It was easy enough, but I have a rather wide cut out on the back of wide cutout on the back of my buggy.
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Paul
'68 Manx clone... Sears??
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33056
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| Govolsguy31 wrote: |
Did a little searching and couldn’t find an exact answer.
I have a 1968 bug that is a Manx style dune buggy with a faulty alternator. Is it possible to change the alternator without removing the fiberglass body shell? I’ve watched numerous videos and I’m worried I’m not going to be able to get to the top components adequately.
Anyone have any experience doing this or input? |
Post photos. Taking the engine out may be a lot easier....
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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 |
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Govolsguy31
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2025
Posts: 19
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| Govolsguy31 wrote: |
Did a little searching and couldn’t find an exact answer.
I have a 1968 bug that is a Manx style dune buggy with a faulty alternator. Is it possible to change the alternator without removing the fiberglass body shell? I’ve watched numerous videos and I’m worried I’m not going to be able to get to the top components adequately.
Anyone have any experience doing this or input? |
Post photos. Taking the engine out may be a lot easier.... |
Here’s a few photos:
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79442
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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Take the engine out.... 4 bolts.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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bsairhead
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2008
Posts: 4476
Location: viroqua wi.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| Take the engine out.... 4 bolts. |
And it looks like it would be real easy to clear the body on the way out. I would still put it as high in the air as my jack stands would allow. Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort. |
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Govolsguy31
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2025
Posts: 19
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| bsairhead wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| Take the engine out.... 4 bolts. |
And it looks like it would be real easy to clear the body on the way out. I would still put it as high in the air as my jack stands would allow. Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort. |
Watched a couple more videos and I think I’ll go this route. Seems like the far lessor of 2 evils.
I have one other question that I’m sure is simple, but I’m a novice mechanic. Currency, the positive is running directly to the battery and nothing is attached to the other terminal on the alternator that is labeled to go to the warning light. That’s just an indicator, right? It wouldn’t impact the functioning of the alternator, I just won’t have a fault light if it’s not working properly? (Basically, there’s no neutral/ negative to hook up on these, correct?) |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79442
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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[quote="bsairhead"]
| Glenn wrote: |
| Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort. |
It's not the years, it's the miles 
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
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bsairhead
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2008
Posts: 4476
Location: viroqua wi.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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[quote="Glenn"]
| bsairhead wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort. |
It's not the years, it's the miles |
My odometer hasn't spun over yet but I know the block well. |
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Bobs67vwagen
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2005
Posts: 289
Location: Eastern north carolina
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob |
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bsairhead
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2008
Posts: 4476
Location: viroqua wi.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:33 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| Bobs67vwagen wrote: |
| I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob |
Yes it needs to see voltage at both ends of the lamp, |
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Govolsguy31
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2025
Posts: 19
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| bsairhead wrote: |
| Bobs67vwagen wrote: |
| I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob |
Yes it needs to see voltage at both ends of the lamp, |
Wow. Ok, so that in itself might be the problem. I don’t even have a wire for that tho. How could I hook that up correctly? I don’t think this thing even has a “lamp” (sorry, another dumb question, but is that an actual bulb? Where would that be, on the dash/ gauge cluster?) |
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chrisflstf
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2004
Posts: 4029
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| The lamp is in your speedo, well the bulb should be there. Alt or gen is on left, red and oil pressure is on right, green. |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33056
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| Govolsguy31 wrote: |
| bsairhead wrote: |
| Bobs67vwagen wrote: |
| I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob |
Yes it needs to see voltage at both ends of the lamp, |
Wow. Ok, so that in itself might be the problem. I don’t even have a wire for that tho. How could I hook that up correctly? I don’t think this thing even has a “lamp” (sorry, another dumb question, but is that an actual bulb? Where would that be, on the dash/ gauge cluster?) |
Yes, the light bulb for charging light in the speedometer housing MUST be operable for an ALTERNATOR to work. For an internally-regulated alternator, D+ must be connected to the charging light bulb.
_________________
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 |
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Govolsguy31
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2025
Posts: 19
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 7:55 am Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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Yep, so I don’t have a warning light at all! Haha. I’ll have to get one ordered.
For wiring, can I just use an unused strand from the wiring harness? It’s a direct connection from the alternator to that bulb, right?
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Govolsguy31
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2025
Posts: 19
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 10:38 am Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.
Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure. |
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bsairhead
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2008
Posts: 4476
Location: viroqua wi.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| Govolsguy31 wrote: |
So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.
Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure. |
You need key on power to the tab for the lights, (oil pressure and generator) Neutral indicator light? No such thing. |
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Govolsguy31
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2025
Posts: 19
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| bsairhead wrote: |
| Govolsguy31 wrote: |
So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.
Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure. |
You need key on power to the tab for the lights, (oil pressure and generator) Neutral indicator light? No such thing. |
Correct. It had power to it. May not be neutral. Possibly shift indicator? Top middle indicator on the speedo. |
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bsairhead
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2008
Posts: 4476
Location: viroqua wi.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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| Govolsguy31 wrote: |
| bsairhead wrote: |
| Govolsguy31 wrote: |
So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.
Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure. |
You need key on power to the tab for the lights, (oil pressure and generator) Neutral indicator light? No such thing. |
Correct. It had power to it. May not be neutral. Possibly shift indicator? Top middle indicator on the speedo. |
Top middle? |
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 35871
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit |
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Top middle (blue) is for high beam headlights.
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