My German Import RHD 58 - Updated

[karmakoma]

No Need to apologize Beetlefanatic, Thanks for the wonderfull tip-off! I owe you BIG time.

[Dutch_Diver]

Big congratulations and with all that history! I'm jealous!!!!

[BUGGOFF]

Ill just say it again. Awesome find.

[Rudi02]

Congratulations Karma,

This is a great find and a great car. I know you will have hours of joy. Your enthusiasm is the key. We all dream of that special car, with all the paperwork and history. Enjoy the restoration.

[GavinHuart]

WOW! All that paperwork too! How fantastic. I LOVE knowing or researching the history on old things so to have all that verification is worth the car's weight in gold to me. Enjoy it man! So envious . BTW, could you possibly let me know if/when you get a 6volt battery for the dear car? I said I'd help Allison's hubby get one for their Oval *wink, wink* ...

All the best!

EDIT: I just saw your post to Chris about that one he had that's since gone. I had inquired at an odd battery shop up the road from me where the assistant promised he'd call me and was pretty sure he could get them. Needless to say, he never called. I'll rustle them up a bit and will let you know. They are rumored to be quite expensive though...

[karmakoma]

Thanks Gav, please let me know if they do come to light with some 6V batteries, I have the original 6V battery , but its dead as a doornail.
Can they be restored? Any ideas how to anyone ?

And thanks guys again for the encouragement. Will post some more pics soon as I get half a chance.
On my previous restores it's been a bit of a solo effort everytime, at least my Dad is also a beetle fan, but between the two of us we didn't know where to get everything and who to ask for advise. Now, with the forum's help, this one should go a lot smoother.

[Chris]

Why don't you have it converted to 12V?

You are going to save yourself a lot of grief.

[karmakoma]

I would like to keep it OG, if the 6V turns out to be too much of a pain,I might consider 12V, but no, for now, we still go for the 6V option. Wish me luck.

[calooker]

Been down the 6V road, and if you dont' drive it every other day you will be going thru battaries at the rate of 1 every 6 months and they are not cheap, there is a place that can rewire the stock 6V to 12V.
Bonnie is cinverting all his 6V to 12V rides for the same reasons.

[karmakoma]

OK, that puts thing into a different light. The 6V Batteries are obviously not that robust then?
Calooker, where is this place and what would they charge to rewire.

Just had another thought. Why not keep the car 6v, install a 12V battery with a regulator/resistor to bring the voltage down for the entire system to 6V ? This way the car is untouched but you get the advantage of a reliable 12V battery. Am I missing something?

[Chris]

Bonny spoke about this yesterday.He is converting to a 12V system but the guy doing it will be rewiring the gennie,and that is where your problem lies.You have to get the gennie to charge a 12V battery and if it has a resistor to bring the 12V down to 6V,the gennie won't be able to charge the battery.

[Tony Z]

Dont you get 6V motor bike batteries fairly easily? Wire 3 or 4 in parallel and you should have enough Ah for your car. Might be a little pricey, but should last a while.

[karmakoma]

Chris, yes, I knew there was a catch, and thats also why I dont want to change to 12V, means changing the genny.
The motorcycle batteries in parallel sounds like a plan, anyone try this before?

[Chris]

Rather have the genny rewired to 12V.

[BUGGOFF]

Autocycles in booysens jhb, sells 6v battery's, also all the globes needed.