Just computed my mileage in mixed driving at 24.25MPG. I'm of my target of "An honest 25MPG" by 3/4ths of a gallon. I think with a tweak or two I can make that happen and it may change over a larger sample. But 99 miles on four gallons I can live with.
I've seen more Type 1's driving around. Three today alone! Must be the weather bringing them out.
Zazu got a radio today, with a better install for it on Monday. It's nice being able to listen to my tunes while I'm driving. Life is good.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
More work done
Last night I turned the first donut of the season. It felt great. Not something I do all the time but I like knowing I can do it.
It has been a day of fine tuning, fixing and cleaning and sometimes it's the simple and cheap things that work the best. My car has been hesitating off the line, sometimes to a dead stall. This is no good for city driving. Jon, my VW mechanic had addressed it as a bad vacuum line and suggested I change it out. It seems the fiend that owned my engine had also worked on it with his own three hands as well. My vacuum controlled advance has a different nipple size then the one on the carb. So the stock line did not fit the advance. So, in my constant quest to make my car a true daily driver I decided that this was the day to fix it. Thanks to the nice folks at my local O'Reilly Auto Parts Store getting the new piece of hose was free. And no more hesitation.
The carpet in the drivers well has come unglued and the duct tape that was holding it there came off. So it was time for something a bit more permanent. At first I thought of using a sheet metal screw but ended up with a two part adhesive. With some electrical tape to hold it until it bonds. No more carpet flapping around the pedals is a good thing.
On the rear bumper was a sticker proclaiming "Green is good. Seedless." Well after I was told what it meant the sticker had to go. Not that I mind those that flaunt their ganja habit, and it certainly wasn't offensive to me per se, but it's not something I want to advertise. Here in the Garden City what your bumper sticker says relates directly to who you are and how you think. We Missoulians are not afraid to put it on our bumper for the whole world to read. And that one really doesn't fit me. At all. So I scraped it off with a razor blade and replaced with an Alder Gulch Shortline sticker. That's much better.
I've also started a mileage log for Zazu to find out how much gas he actually drinks per mile. Or vice versa. I hope I can still get "An Honest 25 MPG" out of this car 40 years after his making.
At this point all that remains is to vacuum the car and he'll be ready for the weekend. Next week we get the genny turned around so it's being cooled properly, hook up the CB and hopefully a radio.
It has been a day of fine tuning, fixing and cleaning and sometimes it's the simple and cheap things that work the best. My car has been hesitating off the line, sometimes to a dead stall. This is no good for city driving. Jon, my VW mechanic had addressed it as a bad vacuum line and suggested I change it out. It seems the fiend that owned my engine had also worked on it with his own three hands as well. My vacuum controlled advance has a different nipple size then the one on the carb. So the stock line did not fit the advance. So, in my constant quest to make my car a true daily driver I decided that this was the day to fix it. Thanks to the nice folks at my local O'Reilly Auto Parts Store getting the new piece of hose was free. And no more hesitation.
The carpet in the drivers well has come unglued and the duct tape that was holding it there came off. So it was time for something a bit more permanent. At first I thought of using a sheet metal screw but ended up with a two part adhesive. With some electrical tape to hold it until it bonds. No more carpet flapping around the pedals is a good thing.
On the rear bumper was a sticker proclaiming "Green is good. Seedless." Well after I was told what it meant the sticker had to go. Not that I mind those that flaunt their ganja habit, and it certainly wasn't offensive to me per se, but it's not something I want to advertise. Here in the Garden City what your bumper sticker says relates directly to who you are and how you think. We Missoulians are not afraid to put it on our bumper for the whole world to read. And that one really doesn't fit me. At all. So I scraped it off with a razor blade and replaced with an Alder Gulch Shortline sticker. That's much better.
I've also started a mileage log for Zazu to find out how much gas he actually drinks per mile. Or vice versa. I hope I can still get "An Honest 25 MPG" out of this car 40 years after his making.
At this point all that remains is to vacuum the car and he'll be ready for the weekend. Next week we get the genny turned around so it's being cooled properly, hook up the CB and hopefully a radio.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Snow is wonderful
Winter is making a small appearence here in Western Montana. Rob brought the Lotus to class. His excuse? "I checked the weather today!" No excuse in October. Heck used to be September. Driving home was fun. All the little things that you need to do driving an old car in the cold. Crack the vent windows for more defrost. Check the rear defrost, even if the little green light doesn't go on. Check your brakes. Make sure to get that right headlight looked at. Enjoy the view. With a car like mine it's the little things that make you happy. That the binacle light works. That you have brights. That you're tires have not given up on you. I'm welcoming this weather and look forward to more!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Progress!
I have a working speedometer. See the Woman does not like driving the car and one of the things that may help is having a speedometer. She is coming down for my birthday so I decided it was time to fix it. Thank you Samba! Yesterday I called a buddy over and we removed the speedometer. The I took it apart. I was afraid there was a cracked gear, but there wasn't. In fact there was a brass gear in there meaning someone had already had it apart to fix it. It was just dry as a bone. So I added some grease to it and put it back together and got it back in the car. Today the cable I ordered came in and after much cussing and beating on things, got that in. And low and behold it works. The question is for how long methinks though.
Zazu also has a new motor. The very nice motor seen in previous pictures leaked enough oil I never had to change it. I've taken a few long trips now and it was always fill the oil check the gas. I knew of a slightly more powerful motor up for grabs and I took it. So instead of a 1970 1600cc single port, I now have a 1974 1600 dual port in my car. And it holds oil. So the next major trip is to Idaho for Thanksgiving. In the winter. Oh boy. But I have faith. Lots of faith in my little green bug. And that's part of being in the club.
You just assume that all the hard work and good vibes you get off of your car will hold you through. Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not. But what fun is a car that's 100 percent reliable because you had nothing to do with it? No I'm sorry. Every trip in an old car is never the same as the last trip. Or to put it another way, "You're only as good as the last trip you took." So bring a sleeping bag and matches, a GPS and a cell phone. Make sure you have plenty of water, an ax and ten quarts of oil. Because you're going on a trip an old car and it doesn't get much better then that!
Zazu also has a new motor. The very nice motor seen in previous pictures leaked enough oil I never had to change it. I've taken a few long trips now and it was always fill the oil check the gas. I knew of a slightly more powerful motor up for grabs and I took it. So instead of a 1970 1600cc single port, I now have a 1974 1600 dual port in my car. And it holds oil. So the next major trip is to Idaho for Thanksgiving. In the winter. Oh boy. But I have faith. Lots of faith in my little green bug. And that's part of being in the club.
You just assume that all the hard work and good vibes you get off of your car will hold you through. Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not. But what fun is a car that's 100 percent reliable because you had nothing to do with it? No I'm sorry. Every trip in an old car is never the same as the last trip. Or to put it another way, "You're only as good as the last trip you took." So bring a sleeping bag and matches, a GPS and a cell phone. Make sure you have plenty of water, an ax and ten quarts of oil. Because you're going on a trip an old car and it doesn't get much better then that!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Now if I can just get it back in...
So I ended up pulling the engine and delivering it to my mechanic. Got it back today. Fully detailed and hopefully leaking less oil. I'll get some pictures on Sunday when we work on putting it back in.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Pretty Pictues
Some shots from being out and about today.
Zazu left a deposit at the parking garage.
And I'd take the one on the right ANY day.
Zazu left a deposit at the parking garage.
And I'd take the one on the right ANY day.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Road Trip!!!
Went about fifty miles up the Blackfoot and back. Managed to set set my speedometer cable on fire. It was fun. You can read the story for the trip HERE.
In all his BRG glory.
In all his BRG glory.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Radio Blues
Installed some speakers in the Beetle today. It was a rush job but the job is somewhat aesthetically pleasing. I've had a radio in the car since before last winter. The whole purpose was not just music but to plug the hole in the dash through which cold air flooded the vehicle. But with my tax refund I've decided to finally get music in the car. There may be a plan afoot to fix Zazu's biggest issue. I'm thinking an extended range fuel tank and a larger oil capacity. And a new motor. This would drastically increase the range I can travel. Time shall tell.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Summer Guessing Games
It was a nice day out so I took the Beetle out for a spin. Woman is coming for a visit so I made sure to brim my tank. One of the nicer things about this car is the tank sits right around 10 gallons. Figuring out how much money it will take to fill the tank is easy you simply move the decimal point on the price of a gallon. Or if you only want half a tank you move the decimal and halve the amount. Lovely!
During the winter the speedometer went on strike. On a whim today I screwed it back in. And it worked like it should. I didn't know I had a speedo that only works in good weather. The car DID come from California I guess. Of course eventually I got it stuck at 15mph but a rap on the glass brought it stuttering back to life. This is one of the cool things about old cars, you can give the most awesome instructions to a new driver.
My buddy Scott got the honor of driving Zazu into town and back yesterday. He's never been formally trained in a proper, or manual, gearbox. So it was a crash course. He did all right all things considered. "Dude your car scares the hell out of me" was repeated several times but he's simply not used to the, how do you say. eccentricities of a old car!
On my old car the list is long. The brakes WILL work. Just straighten your leg out and try and push the pedal through the floor. They'll work. If the speedometer futzs out on you you can drive by the tachometer. 65mph is 3000rpm in 4th, 35 is 2000rmp in 3rd, and when it sounds like the car will tear itself apart in 1st, call it 15mph. You need to move the CB mike to open the glove compartment and remember the gas fill is on the passenger side at the front of the car. And last but not least remember the engine is in the back.
We all made it safe and sound and even Scott was head to give accolades to my little car that can. That says a lot about a car built eleven years before I was. It's nice to have the summer back, it's motoring season!
During the winter the speedometer went on strike. On a whim today I screwed it back in. And it worked like it should. I didn't know I had a speedo that only works in good weather. The car DID come from California I guess. Of course eventually I got it stuck at 15mph but a rap on the glass brought it stuttering back to life. This is one of the cool things about old cars, you can give the most awesome instructions to a new driver.
My buddy Scott got the honor of driving Zazu into town and back yesterday. He's never been formally trained in a proper, or manual, gearbox. So it was a crash course. He did all right all things considered. "Dude your car scares the hell out of me" was repeated several times but he's simply not used to the, how do you say. eccentricities of a old car!
On my old car the list is long. The brakes WILL work. Just straighten your leg out and try and push the pedal through the floor. They'll work. If the speedometer futzs out on you you can drive by the tachometer. 65mph is 3000rpm in 4th, 35 is 2000rmp in 3rd, and when it sounds like the car will tear itself apart in 1st, call it 15mph. You need to move the CB mike to open the glove compartment and remember the gas fill is on the passenger side at the front of the car. And last but not least remember the engine is in the back.
We all made it safe and sound and even Scott was head to give accolades to my little car that can. That says a lot about a car built eleven years before I was. It's nice to have the summer back, it's motoring season!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Updates
It's been a trying couple of weeks. Zazu got me the through the winter in style. And then I stopped driving him for about a month. And he got jealous. In the last two weeks he's been towed twice and in the shop three times. I'm thinking I need to make a sign at Curt's saying "Reserved for the private auto collection of James D. Maxwell" But it was a simple short, it's always simple with my car, and he's been washed and cleaned. I added some oil so he'll be good to go for the next few weeks. I hope. I have to keep constantly remind myself to put down the urge to take him for a distance drive. I think that in all practicality, Frenchtown to the west, Stevensville to the south, Garrison to the east and the Wye to the north are the limits of Zazu's range. And that I'm afraid is his Achilles heel. I have mountain ranges in all directions and hundreds of miles of driving to get anywhere of use. But I love driving my bug. I really do. I was talking to Woman a few days ago and I she commented how if the bug was worth it. I replied sometimes it's not but then I get in and drive it and it's worth every penny and busted knuckle. I'm driving history here. Then I started waxing all romantic and she almost hung up on me. The joys of the Old Car Club. Now to pay some more money to the man who fixes it.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Gremlins
I thought I would take a moment to talk about gremlins. They live in every old piece of machinery, cars included. Today mine were feasting on my turn signals. Hand signals in freezing weather aren't very much fun at all.
Today, for the very first time and with my mechanics help and guidance I adjusted my valves to their proper .006 setting. It was fun, can't wait to do it again as a matter of fact. But when I left I found my turn signals were not indicating.
So I returned to Curt's Auto Care, and in the parking lot, figured out how the wiring works. I'm sick of just being a "I don't know what's going on!" type of person. Thank goodness for How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive by John Muir. It comes highly recommended. Nothing seemed amiss, I pulled a few wires, checked the connections, all looked fine. Walked in, told him I'd drop it off on Monday, and hand signaled my way home. When I arrived home, they worked fine. I have no idea why. It just happened. And we get to one of the many joys of old iron. There is something magical about the way it breaks down. One moment life is good. Then in a heartbeat it can change drastically and always for the worst. Fix a part, the one right next to it will fail for no reason at all, and the one next to that just to spite you.
You can tell a fellow member by how many nervous ticks they have. Always living in fear of the next major breakdown. Afraid to leave the house without duct tape, electrical tape, masking tape, wires, brushes, valve seals, oil, fuses, flares, GPS, rope, MRE's, a donkey, voodoo priestess and a cat. And it's not just cars, there is a certain CMO of a railroad I know that always seems looking over his shoulder should the locomotive just up and attack him for no reason other then it's a Friday.
But if you excuse me, the cat is currently sick and needs to go the vet. The donkey is fine.
Today, for the very first time and with my mechanics help and guidance I adjusted my valves to their proper .006 setting. It was fun, can't wait to do it again as a matter of fact. But when I left I found my turn signals were not indicating.
So I returned to Curt's Auto Care, and in the parking lot, figured out how the wiring works. I'm sick of just being a "I don't know what's going on!" type of person. Thank goodness for How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive by John Muir. It comes highly recommended. Nothing seemed amiss, I pulled a few wires, checked the connections, all looked fine. Walked in, told him I'd drop it off on Monday, and hand signaled my way home. When I arrived home, they worked fine. I have no idea why. It just happened. And we get to one of the many joys of old iron. There is something magical about the way it breaks down. One moment life is good. Then in a heartbeat it can change drastically and always for the worst. Fix a part, the one right next to it will fail for no reason at all, and the one next to that just to spite you.
You can tell a fellow member by how many nervous ticks they have. Always living in fear of the next major breakdown. Afraid to leave the house without duct tape, electrical tape, masking tape, wires, brushes, valve seals, oil, fuses, flares, GPS, rope, MRE's, a donkey, voodoo priestess and a cat. And it's not just cars, there is a certain CMO of a railroad I know that always seems looking over his shoulder should the locomotive just up and attack him for no reason other then it's a Friday.
But if you excuse me, the cat is currently sick and needs to go the vet. The donkey is fine.
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