Help with a 1973 VW Beetle?

Help with a 1973 VW Beetle?

Yeh its a heap, its done 24,000 miles ( 1 female owner ) - but its been outside for like, lets say, 20 years. So its rusty, got a flat, inside's ok but could be a lot better etc.

Is it best to rip out the interior and start from scratch inside - or rub the outside down and give it a bloody good spray.

Any advice to what YOU would do to a 1973 bug would be wicked, i got it for nothing, and i'll be giving it away when i'm done with it, to somebody who deserves it! Just gotta find the person :D

Asked by: Adam @ 2009-05-10 11:31:50

Answers ::
Check the underneath for rust particulaly near the rear suspension anchorage points because they suffered badly with rust there.Take it for an MOT and see what it fails on before you spend a fortune on it.

arlanymor

Weigh it in for scrap. Even when Beetles are well looked after they rot. You will be fighting a losing battle if you're thinking of restoring it.

mick_the_painter

Well what i'd do with it if I was you, is.........................give it to me!!!! lol,well if you dont wanna, fix it up bettles are cool heres a buying guide that will help you look for known problems rust ect just to give you a heads up before you get stuck in...........if you get bored of it ill still have it :) lol

hiijinx

please do not scrap this car people wont it. good or bad shape fix it or give it up to some one like me or the other guy

Jarod C

if the body is rusty and the floor pan has no holes in it could become a host for a beach buggy or any other fiberglass body that is made for them

davidlill

I have restored several beetles (DON'T SCRAP IT), don't worry about the inside to start with, you need to check how much the the rust is going to cost you, Does the engine work ? you can get some excellent upholstery spray for the roof lining bring it up like new they do several colors I like the black finish.


Good Luck, stick at it !

Percy Trumpet

OK.. the answer starts with what YOU want to do with it.
1) Just drive it from here to there; or

2) Fully restore the beast.

Lets start with #1..

a) Fix the flat.. if the tires have been sitting still for a while check them for cracking and delamination and replace them if needed.

2) Get it running.. just running.. then stop there and CHANGE THE OIL

3) Ok. its running with fresh oil..now adjust the valves (easy but messy)..get yourself a $10 to $20 book on 'How to Keep your VW alive forever" or something similiar.. they were printed back in the 70's and are still available as reprints (or copies on eBay). Best investment you will ever make and it will show you how to adjust those valves.

3.5) Ok.. now so now it can run.. can it stop? Check the brakes.

3.6) It starts and stops. lets go clean off the engine and undercarriage with a pressure washer (those drive in do it yourself car washes are great for this.. buy a can of engine degreaser, some plastic bags for the carb. and distributor, and some glasses or goggles for yourself. and go have fun. Now you can do a better inspection. (Oh.. BTW sometimes you get a little water in the dist. cap.. no problem.. just pop it off and wipe it with a dry cloth and the car will start right up.)

4) OK.. its clean...Now run it a while.. check for leaks... then drive it to a service center and get it lubed (ball joints and such are long overdue).

5) THere are other things to check.. steering, handling, alignment, and so on.. but those are done as you drive and generally fixed by others so lets move inside.

6) Decision time.. Drive it or Re$tore it. If you are just going to drive it,, clean it out.. sand and patch the rust and paint it with a anti-rust paint.. fix and cover the seats and thats it.

7) If you are going to restore it, then you need to evaluate the rust. At a certain point you are NOT going to be able to restore the car unless you start from a new pan up.. that is fairly expensive.

If it were me.. I would look at what the end potential could be given what I have I would work forward to just meet that and not improve on it unless I have a good reason to exceed the car's value.

BUT.. keep in mind that a good little beetle HAS value and that the value is typically increasing.. not decreasing.. with time as long as it is run and maintained.

ok. too much information.. I know.. but its a good start for you.

goood luck

ca_surveyor

Should VW remanufacture the beautiful split screen camper van?

The Fiat 500 is a success so I say bring back the beautiful campers.

Asked by: Li @ 2009-05-10 04:16:17

Answers ::
Yes maybe. I think with everything being so expensive, it would be a good idea to go and explore the country and not worry about high B&B costs and sleep in the camper van.

Ozzy D

Oh HELL YES!

I'd settle for a bay window Kombi though.

However, if they remanufacture it, it better bloody stay true to the original. Not too expensive, runs forever, looks funky and must be practical!

I'd prefer a rear mounted air cooled engine too like the original, but so long as it had the looks, reliability and practicality of the original I am SO there.

Fury

Maybe, my best friend collects them...bless her!

Patrick H

Oh, yes, I'd have one anytime. Only problem is they'd never get it crash approved now, if you think about it the "crumple zone" is your knees . . .

I'm convinced there's a good market for a small(ish), simple, pretty camper, rather than the mobile bungalows clogging up the roads now.

Bardic

They definitely should but it's never gonna happen, although you can still get the bay window camper brand new as they still manufacture them in Brazil. Another reason they should is because the rarer splitties get, the further they drift away from me ever being able to afford one!!

VW made a concept microbus a few years back but for whatever reason it didn't make it to production which is a shame as it looks so cool. Take a look http://www.seriouswheels.com/2000-2003/2001-VW-Microbus-Concept.htm

Christopher B

The split screen transporter is an ancient design. The immediate consideration would be whether or not to revamp it or try to remain faithful to the original. In the case of the former option, enthusiasts would object (as illustrated by other comments posted herewith) in the case of the latter certain aspects would be in conflict with current safety requirements.

Personally, the traits of the split screen make it undesirable for it to be relaunched in its original guise; poor steering and handling and ludicrously poor brakes - repackaged and launched as they originally were, VW would have legal action invoked when the crash fatalities mounted up. Don't get me wrong, I have worked on these, Type 2 and T25 but none of these sold new today would really be up to scratch against their contemporaries on the marketplace.

It is quite a conundrum for VW to consider but given the current global economic downturn, it is true to point out two unassailable facts; camping / touring in the UK is a growth industry and the purchase of any VW camper is a very good investment opportunity. The Financial Times recently stated the purchase of a VW camper was a better bet than buying property, so safer than, 'safe as houses...'

tankgirl

I think I sallow a bug what should I do?

I think I swallow a bug anything I need too do or just to worry about it.

Asked by: Marie T @ 2009-05-10 21:48:39

[Best Answer]Your tummy acid will take care of it for you. I've swallowed a fly bay accident before.

By : Tea & Gin girl @ 1242017884

Answers ::
Party

Austin

It'll pass in a few days.

Ralph T

If its stuck on your Throat, then drink some water, if its gone down the throat, then don't worry about it. It will come out the other way!

JANICE M

Be thankful for the proteins.

ame

Your tummy acid will take care of it for you. I've swallowed a fly bay accident before.

Tea & Gin girl

Humans are generally supposed to be meat eaters. As long as the bug isn't poisonous, it can't be bad for you.

Chuck Norris Wife

How much should VW polo car cost second hand?

A reliable one? What sort of price are they?
Oh Im 29 and the car must be 4 years old at the most, In the UK too

Asked by: Laura @ 2009-05-10 15:19:09

[Best Answer]You should be able to pick up an immaculate 2004 '53' reg Polo 1.2E for under £3,000, ranging up to £6,000 at a dealer for a 1.9TDi Sport model.

I wouldn't limit yourself to a four year old car - the same model Polo has been available since 2002, and you could pick up an earlier car, still in first class condition, for £2,000. That saving of £1,000 could go a long way towards insurance & servicing costs!

By : J G @ 1242028028

Answers ::
How old is the question could range from $1000 to $10,000

Mattfox14

What a silly question!! Thats like asking "how much should a man cost second hand".

georgiesdad94

http://www.motors.co.uk/VW-Polo
http://www.gildervolkswagen.co.uk/usedcars.php?make=VW&car=104
http://cars.trovit.co.uk/used-cars/used-vw-polo

Check out these site and refine your search. Hope it helps.

Michael M

Approx $8.0000 to 10.000

alicias7768

You should be able to pick up an immaculate 2004 '53' reg Polo 1.2E for under £3,000, ranging up to £6,000 at a dealer for a 1.9TDi Sport model.

I wouldn't limit yourself to a four year old car - the same model Polo has been available since 2002, and you could pick up an earlier car, still in first class condition, for £2,000. That saving of £1,000 could go a long way towards insurance & servicing costs!

J G

im getting a mk3 golf 1.8 driver, what can i do to it to make it go faster?

Asked by: scorpinuk @ 2009-05-11 08:21:27

Answers ::
buy something else

Joe

Buy the GTI, the driver will never be quick without an engine transplant.

Jason R

Theres not a great deal you can do without spending a fortune,but an induction type air filter and a decent exhaust system should be good for a few extra horsepower

Mick H

The fastest you will get it to go involves a tall building or a high mountain with steep sides. It will go like a son of a .. but its that sudden stop at the end that tends to put a hitch in the process.

Seriously.. the car was not built to go fast.. it was built to get you there .. enjoy it and use it for that. If you want fast you need to switch.

.

ca_surveyor

99 Jetta. One of the vacuum valve hoses is not connected to anything.?

Should both hoses be attached to something? If not, I think I found my reason for a P0411 emissions code. Thanks

Asked by: acrouse0016 @ 2009-05-10 05:27:37

Answers ::
most likely was pretty easy to have followed it from how it was laying and see where it was and push it back on

kelly_f_1999

read your vac schematic under the hood, its just a sticker with an illustration of routing.po411 trouble code is secondary air injection incorrect upstream flow detected. im guessing it goes to a diverter valve or something.

idontgivafork

Kind of hard when we can see which line your talk about.
If its in the back towards the firewall and its broken at a valve thats attatched to the exhaust manifold, then yes thats your porblem. That valve is called a Secondary Air Injection Valve, it has a small rubber vacuum hose to it and a large plastic tube to it. If the vacuum hose breaks off, it can open the valve and let air into the exhaust system to warm the catalyst.

Tell me what area tha hose is in, and tell me what body style your 99 Jetta is (old body style has a normal looking key, new body style has a sidewinder cut key with grooves down the sides). I can help you much better with this added info.

Maverick

Vw Golf 16v mk3 oil light problem?

I have checked the oil and all seems fine regarding the level, and drives fine but every time i come to a halt and let it idle the oil light flashes, but ok when driving! what could this be.. oil pump? and what should i look out for????

Thanks in advance.

Asked by: Dj' s @ 2009-05-11 05:38:33

Answers ::
oil sending unit bad most likely cost about 20 bucks easy to unscrew might take ten minutes for you to replace it coul dget a how to replace it by typing

how to replace oil sending unit
how to replace oil pressure switch

add video to end of either might get a video of it very easy to do at home thing

kelly_f_1999

it could be a bad oil sending unit or the engine has sludge build up and not all the oil is making it back to the oil pan so it sets the light off when you stop.i hope its just a bad sending unit if not the engine will need flushed to clean all the sludge out.

Scott W

Could be that the car engine or oil pump is worn and not providing enough pressure at low revs. As long as it is ok when you lift the engine speed it will be OK for now but could suffer a catastiphic failure one day.
Also could be just the pressure sender not working properly.

You aren't going to see anything going on with this outside the engine as it is all inside.

Timbo is here