Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Story So Far
Bug is running. Bug is expensive. That is where we are. The engine compartment seal has been replaced. Engine and missing installation hardware has been replaced. Engine installed. Accelerator cable was replaced. Battery in place and cleaned. Engine wiring repaired and engine started. Generator and generator light are working. Car is in rough condition, more needs to be done. But I have a current total and am working on getting it paid. Most of the work is due to basic neglect of the car and engine due to the nine months it sat outside without care. But what I have now is a car being rehabbed, a list of what was done and what it took to do it over a period of four days. Thanks to the spiraling cost it might be a bit before I get Zazu back but I'm happy with the outcome. I may get some pictures of the car and the work.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Let There Be Life!!!
Zazu has run!!! That is the big news for today. Now it's battling poor wiring to try and get the electrical side of things working. So I'd say things are improving. Which is good. If I get another updated, I'll throw it up on this post.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A Project Car
So my VW mechanic wakes me up. No literally, the phone ringing wakes me up with a very distinctive ring. "Your car has no battery and no fuel" is the gist of our conversation. Now the car had a battery when I parked it and according to the gauge half a tank of fuel. I'm baffled by this but figure we'll get it taken care of. And as I'm doing this I'm stumbling about my room pulling on my pants. So I called the person who had the car previously where my battery was and he just ended up getting a new one. This is the second new battery I've gotten. First one was caused by an errant drill while installing a patch underneath the battery compartment.
The original plan was drop the engine in and see where we are. Because the engine was not whole when I received it it has gotten a bit more complicated. It's now a "project car".So far it's been one thing after another. First the aforementioned missing generator pulley and air cleaner. Then the fact the generator had been installed wrong causing issues with the fan and housing. Something happened to the accelerator cable necessitating a new one. The heads were loose and the oil pan gaskets needing replaced.The engine bay seal has to be put back, new ends on most of the wiring in the engine bay. And we don't even know if it runs yet.
The only good thing to come out is that it's being done at a rapid fire pace. My car is indoors for the first time in quite a while and he's in good hands. The plan is to get it running, figure why it stopped running, then do a head to taillight check of appliances and systems. And it's not going to come cheap.
But once we're at the end game this car can run for years if I keep taking care of it. That's what the Beetle does right? Check the oil and the valves ever 1500 miles, feed it good fuel, don't hotrod and it'll be a good reliable machine.
I asked about the New Beetle and was informed with maitence costs you'll re-buy the vehicle in seven years. YIKES!! That's what VW got when the took away everything that made the Type 1 popular in the first place!
Does a New Beetle even compare? Well it is safer then a Type 1 by a huge margin. But that's about the only thing it's got going for it! All of the modern conveniences really are not convenient, just another thing to break down. Let's do a list, shall we? AC? Vent windows and a fan. Cruise Control? Left foot. ABS? Brain and left foot. Automatic Windows? Window crank and right hand. Automatic locks? Key and right hand. The Kafir is easier to work on, can be worked on by an amateur, parts are found readily, handles in all conditions, doesn't freeze, heater always works, and is a classic. You don't get that in a rebadged Golf.
The original plan was drop the engine in and see where we are. Because the engine was not whole when I received it it has gotten a bit more complicated. It's now a "project car".So far it's been one thing after another. First the aforementioned missing generator pulley and air cleaner. Then the fact the generator had been installed wrong causing issues with the fan and housing. Something happened to the accelerator cable necessitating a new one. The heads were loose and the oil pan gaskets needing replaced.The engine bay seal has to be put back, new ends on most of the wiring in the engine bay. And we don't even know if it runs yet.
The only good thing to come out is that it's being done at a rapid fire pace. My car is indoors for the first time in quite a while and he's in good hands. The plan is to get it running, figure why it stopped running, then do a head to taillight check of appliances and systems. And it's not going to come cheap.
But once we're at the end game this car can run for years if I keep taking care of it. That's what the Beetle does right? Check the oil and the valves ever 1500 miles, feed it good fuel, don't hotrod and it'll be a good reliable machine.
I asked about the New Beetle and was informed with maitence costs you'll re-buy the vehicle in seven years. YIKES!! That's what VW got when the took away everything that made the Type 1 popular in the first place!
Does a New Beetle even compare? Well it is safer then a Type 1 by a huge margin. But that's about the only thing it's got going for it! All of the modern conveniences really are not convenient, just another thing to break down. Let's do a list, shall we? AC? Vent windows and a fan. Cruise Control? Left foot. ABS? Brain and left foot. Automatic Windows? Window crank and right hand. Automatic locks? Key and right hand. The Kafir is easier to work on, can be worked on by an amateur, parts are found readily, handles in all conditions, doesn't freeze, heater always works, and is a classic. You don't get that in a rebadged Golf.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Oh It Got Interesting!
It's been awhile! Let me bring you up to speed. About nine months ago Zazu faltered and died bringing me home. This happened for no discernible reason in a building snow storm in April. Managed to find a parking spot but unable to arrange a tow. So he stayed overnight. When I came back he had been hit by vandals, smashing the headlights and tail lights. Easy to replace, right? We'll get back to those. But I was able to arrange a tow to my mechanic who had informed VW's were a hobby of his and it would be no problem.
Let me back up a second. You see my 1970's original 1600 single port mill has been replaced by a 1973 dual port mill out of a Super Beetle. This was also installed by a three handed fiend with apparent good results. Until it stopped working.
So car's at the shop. For four months I call with little result. No worry She Who Appreciates Being Obeyed has a truck, I have my other car. I learn my mechanics shop is closing and the Beetle still isn't done. That's OK I figure, he said he'd get it done. In the meantime after trying about three different tail light styles, all for the year 1970 mind you I find a pair that fit. But I need gaskets. If it's not one thing it's another.
By now my first shop is closed, my car is parked behind the shop, on the street. I'm afraid of it being towed so I shell out to have it moved across town to where my mechanic works. But it's no longer "his" shop so he'll work it when he can. The generator is being worked on, regulators etc. I have no reason to doubt this. It's all good. But it's November now. Which turns into December.
Needless to say it all comes to a head when SWABO returns to school and my Nissan's lights and window stop working. Mechanic says he'll get them working but no definite option on the bug. So I move Zazu to my VW Mechanic where he is possibly getting more TLC then my bank account will stand. So far I'm into the car two hours of shop time, two tows, and a new generator. But it will be done right and quickly.
I've learned the the lesson. When it comes to vintage cars, pay for a specialist to get the job done. Many people work on cars but not everyone can work on VW's to the level an experienced VW Mechanic can. I wish I had learned this nine months ago. My mechanic DID knock out the Nissan in good time and true to his word which I greatly appreciate but I should be driving my beetle. But that is then this is now and I will soon be rejoining the OCC a poorer and wiser man who looks forward to updating you on my adventures!
Let me back up a second. You see my 1970's original 1600 single port mill has been replaced by a 1973 dual port mill out of a Super Beetle. This was also installed by a three handed fiend with apparent good results. Until it stopped working.
So car's at the shop. For four months I call with little result. No worry She Who Appreciates Being Obeyed has a truck, I have my other car. I learn my mechanics shop is closing and the Beetle still isn't done. That's OK I figure, he said he'd get it done. In the meantime after trying about three different tail light styles, all for the year 1970 mind you I find a pair that fit. But I need gaskets. If it's not one thing it's another.
By now my first shop is closed, my car is parked behind the shop, on the street. I'm afraid of it being towed so I shell out to have it moved across town to where my mechanic works. But it's no longer "his" shop so he'll work it when he can. The generator is being worked on, regulators etc. I have no reason to doubt this. It's all good. But it's November now. Which turns into December.
Needless to say it all comes to a head when SWABO returns to school and my Nissan's lights and window stop working. Mechanic says he'll get them working but no definite option on the bug. So I move Zazu to my VW Mechanic where he is possibly getting more TLC then my bank account will stand. So far I'm into the car two hours of shop time, two tows, and a new generator. But it will be done right and quickly.
I've learned the the lesson. When it comes to vintage cars, pay for a specialist to get the job done. Many people work on cars but not everyone can work on VW's to the level an experienced VW Mechanic can. I wish I had learned this nine months ago. My mechanic DID knock out the Nissan in good time and true to his word which I greatly appreciate but I should be driving my beetle. But that is then this is now and I will soon be rejoining the OCC a poorer and wiser man who looks forward to updating you on my adventures!
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