I broke some stuff!  The bug has a small engine problem…  for those that don’t know or cannot tell, I have a dropped valve.  This means the valve is in two parts… one part still inside.  Do not yet know the full damage as I have not pulled the engine yet.  You can also see the broken valve spring.  Bleh!

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A little before and after shot here.  Scrambling to try and have this done by Aug 16 for a large event.  Running out of cash!  Actually, didnt have a lot of cash to start with. :)

This is just a preview pic… the detailing isnt done and the wheel lip polish hasnt been started.

About an hour after this pic was taken the car headed to the upholstry shop

Not sure about what bumper to use yet.

It’s important to have a fire extinguisher of some sort in your car – especially an old VW.

I didnt like the idea of drilling holes for a bracket BUT its important to have good access.  My idea was to use magnets but after trying to find suitable magnets was unsuccessful I gave up for a while.  Then I remembered that I had an old computer HD magnet on the fridge!  Final placement isnt settled, the pics are trial fit.

The filter setup on the bug was rusty and quite unsightly.  I priced a replacement after FINALLY tracking one down.  Very VERY expensive with an asking price of over RM300!  I opted instead to clean my old filter (and re-oil) and paint the top cover.  Got it kinda close to body color with some experiementing.

While at it, I painted the dist cap to match.  Why?  Cuz I could.

044  101375H  12    <-- number stamped in head.  That makes these "044" heads.  Which ones exactly, setup "how", will not be known til it has to come apart.  Only then will it be known if its a "stock" set.

More info #1

More info #2

More info #3

Pretty easy to do.  Took my time as it was a first time thing for me.  This probably should have been done sooner as the valves were tight with little clearance but I dont think it has caused any problems.

If you look close, you can see the connector hanging just above the radio.  Since the wipers STARTED to work after the radio install (then didnt work at all), Im guessing the connector popped off when the wiper arms bumped the harness.  Prolly knocked loose while installing radio.

No matter: they work!

After doing my stereo install Sunday I decided to drive the beetle to work on the following Monday... not too unexpected as I try to do this about once a week.  Then I had trouble!

Firstly, the car was hard to start Monday morning.  As though the batt was dead or perhaps engine seized.  I was fairly sure batt was ok though and after several tries would actually crank ok - but no start!  I was set to give up when it lit and seemed ok.  Could have used wipers on the way to work due to rain but they didnt work!  Tried for a second then nothing.

Anyway, drove to work just fine.  Enjoyed some tunes for a change and parked without incident.  At lunch time I went to make a run for chicken rice for myself and others in the office and no start - again!  This time though it cranked normally.

Most, myself included, would figure an error in my install had bungled some wiring.  However, I really didnt think this to be the case as the install was VERY straight forward... 

I and others did take a short look into the no-start and even filed the points and swapped coils but had to give up for time constraints so I ended up hitching a ride home.  The wipers issue might be due to interference with the wiring harness... not sure yet.

Due to work schedule I wasnt able to get any parts from the shop til Wednesday.  Picked up points/cond, cap/rotor, plugs, and almost a set of wires but ran out of money.

Today, Thursday, I took a short break in the afternoon to put in the parts and ran into a snag.  The small screw holding the old condenser to the 009 was waaay too tight and in a bad spot.  I spoke with the all purpose worker John about a small screwdriver but after a while it was apparent he didnt understand me... "tools" he knows so I was taken to the cart:

I show the cart not to pick on it or its owner, but rather to graphically illustrate that NO I was not finding what I needed.  It only took a moment to realize that what I needed involved a big hammer.  A small sledge actually... now THAT was on the cart!  Smacking the crap out of the stubby screwdriver from my cheap tool set resulted in:

You can see in the pic that what I needed to do was get the driver to line up more square - otherwise I was in danger of stripping the screw head!  Once done, I could use the pliers for additional leverage.  I was not in the mood to pull the dist for this as Murphy's Law would surely strike.

Car runs now.  Prolly a points/condenser problem.  Wipers inop.  Will check wiring soon.

"Installed" a console today.  Found this little thing for a reasonable price at the Bug-O-Rama on Saturday.  Why?  Well it shouldnt need explaining but I like to have a drink when driving... cold soda or water.  This is even moreso when in the VW as it doesnt have A/C.

Most cars have handy cup holders - Beetle?  Not so much.  They make a cool cup holder that goes in the ashtray and while not ruled out completely, I looked at one during the 'rama and there appears to be clearance issues with turn signal.  So its an easy choice given only one option was there: console!

Here it is installed.  Nothing holding it down however as I may want to tweak things first or even paint it.

In the below you can see fitment to shift boot, tunnel, and clutch pedal clearance.  Not perfect but more than good enough.  I might do some clever things in the shifter boot area.

Downside shown below.  On drivers side there is a gap between console and tunnel, about two fingers worth.  You can see why I placed the conole like I did in the second pic... reversing it might work better for  others but with my seats there isnt space to even test.  What about LHD cars?  Fit better?  Seems there might be a RHD version but I havent seen any here.

Not real sure how this happens but seems Im never the one IN the picture...

The left pic was taken during a stop o the way to work.  JB is sitting there wondering what Im doing.  The right pic is Rudy at the club offices just prior to him doing some things for me.  Danke!

I posted on several message boards my "sketches" for painting flames on the beetle.  I have copied below several ideas posted in those forums but getting ideas down visually is a challenge.  It should be clear I am photoshop challenged.

Anyway, if curious you can read what I posted in these links:

GWTRA.ORG - My old site given to Brian T.  Buick based but still "home"

VWClubMalaysia - you have to sign in to view (sorry)

All Makes Classics - AMC is a Malaysian based club.  My primary "group" here

Too scared to post to TheSamba.com!  Of course if I did, its likely the forum to give the most feedback!

Source: bugselecta (click it!)

To the left you can see my "garage" and "toolbox".  I cant say enough how I would love to have my tools here.  As crappy as they were/are much of the basic stuff would work fine.  Tools here are either crap or really expensive.  Double ditto on a toolbox.

On the plus side, my "garage" has good natural lighting, is NEVER cold, and has a fan mounted to the ceiling.   Only half the car is sheltered though if it rains.  Bleh.  Another plus is that I have a workspace with plants!  Dont count the dead flowers!

Anywho I had several things to get done. 

- Adj belt - never did that before on a vw.  Its easy.
- Fix tail-lights as some didnt work or were dim.
- Mount 3rd brake light
- Fix decklid alignment (not done)
- Fix wing window tension (not done)
- Adj throttle return so idle is not erratic/inconsistent (in testing)

The lights took the most time.  The schematics are of SOME help but still had to deal with improper hack wiring.  Not sure who or why but they left one wire unused.  Dont recall now, but I think it was a ground for the license light.

 Hey! lookie what I found!  Some nasty corrosion and DRY sockets.  I tried to get bulbs at the Carrefour, but thanks to the typical lack of knowledge by staff (not just a Carrefour prob) I was told they dont carry "car bulbs".  They do.  Anyway, within the building is an "accessories shop" that sells, what else, Type R stuff!  They had bulbs so I paid the ransom and started to leave but wanted to know if they had dielectric grease.  Again, the typical response when you dont know: "no".  I'll bet they do but call it by another name.

To the left you can see all the corroded bits.  Most of the clips fit poorly and the ground lead @ body connection was wrapped around a stud!  Used steel wool for cleanup.

I corrected most of this but didnt have the grease, connectors, elec tape, or much to work with.  10x better - for now but the main light (middle) is dimmer than other side.

If you look close, you can see the unused wire.  I couldnt find any combo that would apply power to this wire but someone must have taped it for a reason.

Another problem I found was a broken socket.  It's no wonder that the turn signal worked just some of the time... Naturally, I packed zip-ties so I used that for the "repair".  Body/Paint time would be a good choice for when to fix this correctly.  Im thinking of using late model beetle lights in the rear.

In the below pic, I have numbered a few locations with corresponding questions below.  Feel free to answer :)

1. What is it?  Serves what purpose?
2. There is a fuse at the coil - for what?
3. Stock style throttle cable?  If not, is the length likely the same?
4. Fuel lines and filter...
     - Location ok?  I find that the weight seems ok by "feel"
     - Routing ok?  If using longer and/or larger diameter fuel line is there a downside?  Others have remote filters
5. This is a 009 distributor... or so label says.  Havent pulled cap but condensor indicates points to me.
     - Wire routing... suggestions that do not involve money?
6. Dellorto 45 carb... what filters from other carbs fit?  I didnt see part number on filter.
7. Fuel pump...
     - Do the German style hoses come with fuel pumps?
     - FP PSI on THIS pump might be?
8. Dipstick tube... not stock Im guessing!   Curious if this is a known part and if accurate
9. Crankcase breather... the red hose just hangs and drips on the ground.
     - Im thinking vacuum pump with oil tank!  Otherwise how much breathing should there be?

Still havent done any cleaning (ok as is) but took out the leftovers from prev owner.  One thing, a small thing, that I really liked was not having the rear seat 'touching' the battery.  There is a wood shelf (factory?) that the bottom seat cushion attaches to... who needs passengers and all that extra weight tho?  Maybe take seat out, don't know yet.

Edit: needed the rear seat already so it stays.

The shelf covers the battery and the brake booster

   
No crappy A/C install or hanging wires

 
Wooden shelf over battery/brake booster

  
Recaro seats and similar styled headliner

 
Been keeping an eye out for SOMETHING here to get my automotive "fix" from.  Had pretty much settled on a Bug and the nagging nawing must have it attraction wouldnt go away.

Those that know me might think like I did, "huh? really?"

See, I always liked the classy Buick styling, the underdog stigma, low rpm, high torque, powerful cars Buick built.  There are lots of enthusiast and a large online community.  I made an effort to import one of my Buicks but it was SO impractical that I had to sell them.  That hurt.  Bad.  <pause> <breathe>

Thinking about it some, the switch isnt so strange.  LARGE engines are just not that common here... V8's are just quite rare AND expensive.  The VW, other than body size has a number of things that fit me:

* Classic style.  Yeah, I said "classy" before, but close enough.
* Underdog
* Low RPM
* High(er) torque 'coughcough'
* Powerful
* Lots of enthusiast
* Large online forum

The one Im buying is a 1.6xx (larger bore), which by local standards is pretty large! <grin>.  Have a peek:

It isnt "done" but I cannot afford one that doesnt need anything (cars are more $ here) but that works to my advantage as I can finish things the way I like.  Anywhoo... if all goes to plan, I'll pick this up Thursday night Malaysian time.  The pics are from my first look at the car @ my office and I should have taken more.  Owner was nice enough to bring it by.