Pearl - The 63 Beetle

Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 6:45 am

My wife's pride and joy. A week before lockdown started I bought my wife this beautiful 1963 1200 Beetle...mostly original, from Gerhard's Volksie Museum. The engine was overhauled not too many kms before but developed an engine knock for some bizarre reason. I bought it as is and had the car delivered to IMPI for open heart surgery. More of the progress a bit later. This is the little car as it was on the museum's floor.

Haans · Post by **Haans** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:10 am

I like very much !........the car !

Haans

Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Wed Oct 28, 2020 9:20 pm

As promised...continuing with the story of Pearl...

Stripping the engine after taking delivery of little Pearl, the following became evident...remembering that this little engine is 57 years old and had been to a couple of different mechanics in its' time...
- The fuel pump failed allowing fuel to enter the block, thus diluting the oil up to the point where a bearing knock developed.
- One piston was a fraction smaller than the other three
- In the process of changing from 6V to 12V they changed some of the tinware with the incorrect year
- The carburetor was that of a later 1300 model
- The distributor was that of a later model
- The crank pulley was the incorrect size for that motor.
- There was a small clearance issue whereby one of the pistons would bottom out against the head...not touching at idle speed but when revving up a bit.

Interestingly enough, the engine was rebuilt by VW at some point in time as can be seen on the engine number. It had the top end of a 1200 with the block of a later 1600 model with the improved oil channels, oil cooler etc.

IMPI worked his magic, scratched in his parts bin and came up with gems that just needed a wire brush or a lick of paint. Soon Pearl was purring like a kitten. I must say that the little 1200 may not have a lot of oomph but it is surely one of the most drivable engines in town I have experienced in a very long time.

The only thing still missing is a new exhaust...the one we ordered was a tad off for some reason.

IMPI did a fantastic job...thanks in your absence Armand.

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Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:20 pm

The old sun visors lost their shape and were looking like two wet cloths hanging from the steel rail

Thanks to the guys at Helmut Spares in Vereeniging, I sourced a brand new set...boy was it expensive

but truly worth it.

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Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 9:33 pm

This weekend I tackled the nuisance irritation of the taillights working intermittently...now they work, now they don’t. Opening up the two taillights and number plate light all revealed the same problem...the little copper spring plate has lost tension and has oxidized. A little pressure to bend the plate the right way and a bit of sanding paper did the trick. All lights shining perfect now.

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Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:31 pm

Pearl came fitted with an aftermarket ignition switch. I purchased an NOS ignition switch from a dealer and now, weeks later I got to fit it. It did not fit. Turns out the unit is meant for a 64-66 bus. A small adaptor plate and it works like a charm. Pearl now has a proper ignition switch with a VW key

73type2 · Post by **73type2** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:55 pm

Hi Herbie,
How about a pic of the dash with the lock installed?

Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 6:59 am

This is the lock all wired up and then I realised it doesn’t fit

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Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:00 am

This is it eventually fitted and working great.

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73type2 · Post by **73type2** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:51 am

Thanks Herbie. That VW key just completes everything.

73type2 · Post by **73type2** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:53 am

Ok, I have to ask: What is that button beneath the radio for?

Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 8:58 am

73type2 wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:53 am Ok, I have to ask: What is that button beneath the radio for?

I have no idea...it is not connected. Sadly someone thought it appropriate to drill a hole in there. Since the ignition failed at some point in time and was eventually replaced with an aftermarket one, I suppose it was a start button. The guy I bought it from left me a period correct lighter assembly in the door pocket (or he forgot it there

) so i was contemplating adding it into that hole but it is an awkward position. Also noticeable from the pictures is the condition of the paint. I will have to respray the dash at some point in time I guess. Maybe then I will just close the hole.
N

73type2 · Post by **73type2** » Thu Jan 21, 2021 9:10 am

Ok, I vote for closing that hole.

Herbie · Post by **Herbie** » Tue Jan 26, 2021 6:54 am

The engine was rebuilt about 500km / 6 months ago and is purring like a kitten. We drove to a breakfast run over the weekend and for a 1200 she really pulled strong. When we put the engine in we saw the main seal have a very slight oil leak. It was suggested that we put a few kms on the engine and the take it out to replace the main seal as well as attend to whatever niggle that has presented itself. Now 500km down the line the main seal is leaking excessively and will have to be done. No other niggles (that I know of) was found fortunately.

What is it with Beetles and main seal leaks?

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73type2 · Post by **73type2** » Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:47 pm

Make sure that you're not mistaking a hairline crack in the case for a main seal leak.

Aircooled VW South Africa