Help!!! I’ve just bought a ’73 Kombie and what a bucket of bolts it is! I need to get it up and running ASAP and also some mods later but do not want to double work in key areas, ie: Engine, suspension, brakes and body. According to prev. owner it ran well until it stood for about 5 yearsProblems I have:
- Engine starts easily enough but settles into fairly high idle
- At low revs there is adequate pull but as revs rise it becomes breathless (on a hill I have to change down all the way to first and then idle up)
- Exhaust is extremely noisy (some backyard job)
- Suspension is all at sea
- Whole undercarriage is covered by tar-like gunk (makes seeing rust and other problems very difficult)
- Electricals need to be redone (lights, horn, wiring, all ancient)
- Ventilation – pipes from back have all been cut and now stop in midair with nowhere to go
- Body seems Ok on the surface from about 5 metres away but there rust everywhere!!!!
- Lots of backyard (ie: slap-dash) wiring all around engine and loose terminals that don’t fit in anywhere
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I need help / advise on the following
Engine
- 1700 motor with Solex 32-34 PDSIT carbs still in good nick
- Done major clean up of all oil and gunk (with engine still in bay)
- Has been fitted with electronic fuel pump (another backyard job/ possibly not supplying enough fuel higher up the rev range)
- Fuel lines seem OK, except filter is pitch black, might need to replace lines and clean out tank
- Smokes after a run (gunk falling onto exhaust)
Need to sort out current performance (or lack of it) get it running reliably with an increase in power at a later stage.
Suspension and brakes
- Shocks probably as old as the Kombie itself so in need of replacement
- Brake pads are new / discs still OK - pulls heavily to left even at low speed / left front binding cannot turn wheel when jacked up off the ground (contributing to slow progress)
- Calipers, drums and bleeding nipples have extensive surface rust
Need to sort out braking issue, advice on brake balance, refurbishing items (short of replacing it all) etc. would be welcome.
Would later like to lower suspension about 6’ all round so would need to find someone in KZN to do it for me (had my Beetles’ front end done a few years back in JHB, worked like a charm) or a supplier of lowering kits for busses.
Body
- Rust, rust everywhere
- Needs new front doors. Serious rust on the bottom (inside) of doors
- Almost all panel join edges have mild surface rust
- Floor has small holes rusted through
- Mould / fungus on most window rubbers and rust along base of 3 out the 8 windows
- Windscreen scratched by wiper arm
- Bad rust on front valence (behind grill between indicator lights)
- Some fiberglass work has been done on some lower edges
- Doors handles, sliding door, both tail gates and catches in good nick
Bodywork not a major issue right now
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