getting first beetle, should i worry about this?

[Noob-E]

Hi, Guys.

Looking for some advice.

I've been looking for a beetle for a while and found one that i really like. I dont know too much about bugs to make an informed decision. I took it for test drive recently, and my only and biggest issues is the gear lever. finding gears was a mission and a hazard. the lever is extremely loose. I did manage to engage all the gears and they feel smooth. its just the shifting that worries me. is this a typical issue? easy fix? or symptoms of major issues?

I'm looking to use the bug on a semi daily basis. maybe a few days a week or so. I am definitely interested in mods, specifically around the engine. I want to keep it air cooled, but would love to get some more oomph and go. currently this bug has a 1600 twinport engine. any immediate mods one can do to it?

appreciate any info and assistance.

kind regards,

[73type2]

Any easy first check for your shifting problem is to look under the rear seat, remove the inspection plate and inspect the shift coupler. Wear in the bush could lead to shifting issues. Fix this and see if any further investigation is necessary.

Regarding mods for more oomph, yet keeping it aircooled - the 1600 twinport is quite nippy when tuned properly. Sometimes just having the cylinder heads and carburettor rebuilt and properly tuned can lead to an increase in performance.

[Noob-E]

Thanks, 73type2.

I'm likely only going to collect sometime next week. very excited to get going with it. Ill look into the bushings and see whats going on.

Ill start looking around for rebuilders in the cape town area.

[Tony Z]

Hi Noob-E

As 73type2 said, check your linkage and work from there. Its probably just old age and perfectly repairable.

Here is a recent video for you to water you taste buds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I23EQ1uZ9u0

[73type2]

Thanks Tony. I enjoyed that video. Scary fast, but it looks like fun.

[Tony Z]

and that poor clutch was slipping pretty badly

[Riaan.N]

Hi Tony, your not only making his mouth water...your also making my itch worse

How is the bugs stability at those speeds? What have you done to the suspension apart from lowering, low profiles and a brake upgrade?

At what speeds do you shift gears?


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[Tony Z]

Hi Tony, your not only making his mouth water...your also making my itch worse

How is the bugs stability at those speeds? What have you done to the suspension apart from lowering, low profiles and a brake upgrade?

At what speeds do you shift gears?


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Riaan
Click on the link under ANGRRR in my signature and you'll find my build thread which I've been updating for the last 10++ years.
Any questions on the car, place it in that thread.

In short, disc brakes, lowered and stiffened suspension.
Without wind, 200km/h is stable. In wind she starts walking around at 180. The higher the wind, the earlier the rear starts moving.
Gear shifting. 1-2 at ??? maybe 60, 2-3 at around 100, 3-4 at 145 to 155.... custom gear ratios

[Riaan.N]

Thanks for the correction and info Tony


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[Noob-E]

wow, Tony

I had a look at the video you linked as well as read some parts of your posts. man oh man. where to begin. I must admit, you've managed to both wet the appetite and damper my spirits at the same time. lol.

I thought i could just rebuild the engine with solid internals, bigger carbs etc and i will be able to put all the guys in their GTI's to shame.lol. but looking at your posts i realise there is a crap load of work that will have to go into such an enterprise.

i looked at some replacement engines from SCAT.....mouthwatering zero turnkey engines as they call them. the 2332 volksracer. boy oh boy. but i imagine i would end up paying twice the list price after shipping+customs. and that just wouldnt make such an replacement feasible.

nonetheless, its nice to see whats being done these days with the bugs.

[Tony Z]

it doesnt take too much to surprise the GTi crowd. I'm not talking about beating them, but surprising them and getting the run on them in 1st and 2nd. Keeping them at bay in 3rd needs a bit more power nowadays.

you dont need a massive budget to keep up with modern speeds. But you still need to spend a bit of money, more than most people want to anyway.
Keeping up with modern sports cars needs a properly big budget.

[Wentzel]

A Beetle that can surprise late model sports cars is a lot of fun but as mentioned will take some $$ to do.

You can do it over time, bit by bit. I have been busy for years and seems like the end is not in sight there is always something more I want to do.