LET THE GAMES BEGIN...
So I'll admit I've wanted one of these ever since picking up a copy of Volksworld in WHSmith when I was about 8, I knew what a beetle was and I thought they were cool but not as cool as what was in the pages, that day started an addiction that hasn't gone away and ended up with me settling on a 73' 1303s as my dream beetle, but coming into the world of classics from starting my modified car life with a saxo, mega low passat and a fabia is going to be a challenge, at present I have ZERO knowledge of old cars or beetles, so this thread will be my place to share what I learn
THE CAR:
What I bought on Saturday was a lovely relatively rust free 73 bug which was originally yellow, now very slap dash black and white with a well running 1600cc engine in the back, well it was well running...
beetle 2 by TheKoolBox, on Flickr
THE ADVENTURE:
Naturally not having ever owned a classic car before I knew they weren't always reliable... so what I decided to do was drive it home the 200 miles home because blind faith and enthusiasm is what powers the best things...
Shortly after Exeter we had some issues which I have no idea what sound it was but it went away after an oil top up in Plymouth, however being nearly midnight the thickest oil I could get my hands on was 10w40 so a complete oil change is needed asap... and BTW if anyone saw the smokescreen bellowing around the barbican its all good, the oil got way more viscous than I thought so the car started burning it at an alarming rate, it seemed to settle at 3/4 full though... carburettor now needs a clean but hopefully the engine seals are still intact
Next on the list of problems was the clutch going, the hills around Truro were fun with that problem, so that's been added to the list... oh and just because the car thought it was REALLY unfair of me to drive it all the way it also decided to become a 2 stroke flat 2 at the same time, after spending all day today troubleshooting I'm hoping fresh spark plugs and HT leads will sort that, if not then the worry turns to end float and many other horrible things, it does just sound like the misfire is shaking the engine about though!
Well at about 0145 this morning I pulled up, frozen half to death and with a misbehaving bug, but that's half of the dream complete, IVE GOT A BEETLE!!!
THE PLAN:
SO, what am I gonna do with it... firstly its going in a garage out of the wet and wind where I'll start stripping it down, then over the next few months I'm going to be garage painting it, then engine rebuild, then a complete re wiring!
Body: Imola yellow with black racing stripes, colour coded bumpers and new head/tail lights.
Interior: bucket seats, rear bench removal, Half Rollcage, brown leather trim and some modern goodies for the dash and a centre console build.
Engine: rebuild, new clutch, short shift gear stick, new exhast, and if I can afford a race cam and throttle bodies them too.
Suspension: either air ride on a narrowed beam and IRS conversion with wider wheels or new shocks and springs to lower some more.
So hopefully that gives you an idea of where I'm starting from, and what my plans are! A manual and spark plugs are on their way as I type so let the fun begin
So I'll admit I've wanted one of these ever since picking up a copy of Volksworld in WHSmith when I was about 8, I knew what a beetle was and I thought they were cool but not as cool as what was in the pages, that day started an addiction that hasn't gone away and ended up with me settling on a 73' 1303s as my dream beetle, but coming into the world of classics from starting my modified car life with a saxo, mega low passat and a fabia is going to be a challenge, at present I have ZERO knowledge of old cars or beetles, so this thread will be my place to share what I learn
THE CAR:
What I bought on Saturday was a lovely relatively rust free 73 bug which was originally yellow, now very slap dash black and white with a well running 1600cc engine in the back, well it was well running...
beetle 2 by TheKoolBox, on FlickrTHE ADVENTURE:
Naturally not having ever owned a classic car before I knew they weren't always reliable... so what I decided to do was drive it home the 200 miles home because blind faith and enthusiasm is what powers the best things...
Shortly after Exeter we had some issues which I have no idea what sound it was but it went away after an oil top up in Plymouth, however being nearly midnight the thickest oil I could get my hands on was 10w40 so a complete oil change is needed asap... and BTW if anyone saw the smokescreen bellowing around the barbican its all good, the oil got way more viscous than I thought so the car started burning it at an alarming rate, it seemed to settle at 3/4 full though... carburettor now needs a clean but hopefully the engine seals are still intact
Next on the list of problems was the clutch going, the hills around Truro were fun with that problem, so that's been added to the list... oh and just because the car thought it was REALLY unfair of me to drive it all the way it also decided to become a 2 stroke flat 2 at the same time, after spending all day today troubleshooting I'm hoping fresh spark plugs and HT leads will sort that, if not then the worry turns to end float and many other horrible things, it does just sound like the misfire is shaking the engine about though!
Well at about 0145 this morning I pulled up, frozen half to death and with a misbehaving bug, but that's half of the dream complete, IVE GOT A BEETLE!!!
THE PLAN:
SO, what am I gonna do with it... firstly its going in a garage out of the wet and wind where I'll start stripping it down, then over the next few months I'm going to be garage painting it, then engine rebuild, then a complete re wiring!
Body: Imola yellow with black racing stripes, colour coded bumpers and new head/tail lights.
Interior: bucket seats, rear bench removal, Half Rollcage, brown leather trim and some modern goodies for the dash and a centre console build.
Engine: rebuild, new clutch, short shift gear stick, new exhast, and if I can afford a race cam and throttle bodies them too.
Suspension: either air ride on a narrowed beam and IRS conversion with wider wheels or new shocks and springs to lower some more.
So hopefully that gives you an idea of where I'm starting from, and what my plans are! A manual and spark plugs are on their way as I type so let the fun begin
anyway thats probably why the ONLY thing that has happened on the bug has been the rear brakes seizing up and taking the bonnet/boot off to check for any rust. However I have a cunning plan... I've been doing some financial forecasting and working out what I will do with my car situation when I return to blighty in November (I wrote off my skoda fabia in june, damned modern thing) and it seems the most sensible idea is to make the Beetle reliable with a few choice upgrades and daily that until I get round to needing the space of the Passat again. No pictures just yet but when I get back from the gym I will do a more detailed update on the to do list that is coming along nicely! 
Now I've sorted myself out with some planning here is the current priority list for winter upgrades:
as thats what I fully intend this bug to be, a thoroughbred drivers car, one that moves, tuns, stops and feels like it wants you to push it harder.
