Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

[retrovan]

Hallelujah!!!

Thank goodness the electronic ignition failed..

As said, I fitted the original German VW dissy into the car, set the dwell angle, and timing.

Took her for her 1st ride with the dissy, and what a different car.

She is responsive, in all rev fields, keeps pulling, and does not overheat.

The Germans know what works in the aircooled motor.

Now I am so impressed with this little engine, I may ask for a divorce from the wife.

Herman

[Hloni]

Retrovan, this is an inspiring build. I haven't been on the forum much lately (got rid of my aircooled and twitching for another 3 years on), thus reading this inspires me to keep looking and find my daily drive.

One of my subconscious questions when I read fantastic builds of ol' toppies like you is "what happens when you kick the bucket, will these vehicles be valued as much or will this be metal for the offspring to smack on Gumtree?".

I think it is Splitfan who has a fear of what his wife one day will do

[retrovan]

Well they say that they will keep the cars as a memento to the "Old Toppy" insanity.......

But one never knows, would depend on the next generation Tech gadget's price,

then the cars would be "traded in" for sure.



Did however inform them of the right price and not the one I tell the wife......

Herman

[retrovan]

OK, so I said I will report back after the removal of the electronic ignition and the replacement of the original VW beetle distributor.

Well it is different like night and day, the Timing is smooth through out the rev range, the carbs, are responsive and have no flat spots and the cooler NGK plugs have no per-ignition, or pinging.

Now that could be purely to the distributor, but I would place it 50/50 on both.

The flat spots where due to bad ignition and fuel/air mix, but with no change to the twin 34 ICT's, it has power over the full rev range as well as quick response, no sluggish hold back.

My take on the whole issue is, if you can not program the full curve, do not fit it. The Germans have the original distributor spot on.

Herman

[retrovan]

So... Santa Clause has just delivered my gift,....

Well actually its a 5 in 1 gift.

Have just taken delivery of 16 inch rims for the beetle. this will bring the body and exterior up to original spec.

Need to sand blast, fix the clips and powder coat the base coat, but thats fine, at least I have them now.

Thanks for looking

And to Santa.....thank you, ..thank you VERY much.

Herman

[retrovan]

Long time no post...

Lady Phoenix is going well, and I drive her every now and then.

She did an amassing thing getting the Fleetline home halfway from George.

Nothing like looking after family

Well as per the Fleetline, which by the way is now running again, I fitted coil-overs to the Beetle as well.

Due to the back being too low for the Sani. now she looks better and has clearance to save her cute backside.

So till later

Herman

[retrovan]

Well I do not know what to say...

Still waiting on Bishu for my papers on this Beetle

Have sent a number of copys over and over again.

May have to think up another plan....

Herman

[Haans]

Hi uncle Retrovan!,......beeeeeutiful !,......you should be proud of this car!,.....

Question?,.....you mentioned a "cooler" plug ?,......have heard this before,.....and I intend to do the same with Haans's 1641 single port engine when putting it back.......I believe anuthing cooling the cylinderhead down is good.
Now,.. will a plug bring significant reduction ?
NGK number ?

Appreciated

Haans

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

HOWDY HAANS.

NORMALLY THE '7' INSTEAD OF THE '6'.......IE. BP7ES (INSTEAD OF BP6ES)

[Tony Z]

Question?,.....you mentioned a "cooler" plug ?,......have heard this before,.....and I intend to do the same with Haans's 1641 single port engine when putting it back.......I believe anuthing cooling the cylinderhead down is good.
Now,.. will a plug bring significant reduction ?
NGK number ?

It doesnt work that way.
A plug needs to run at a specific temperature to clean itself. Too hot and it will melt and cause detonation, too cold and it will soot up and stop working.
A cooler plug is one that runs at a cooler temperature. If for example, you have a plug that fouls up regularly because it doesnt get hot enough, then you go up a temperature range (NGK D8 instead of a D7 for example) in the hope that the plug is now at the correct temperature to burn off the deposits.

The plugs temperature does almost nothing for the temp of the engine (unless its causing detonation and destroying the engine).

[Haans]

Thanks gents,...but I think this issue would be best discused on a different topic,....I don't want Retrovan's split be hijacked,

Haans

[retrovan]

Just an update, for thous wondering why no postings for Lady Phoenix...

Well still waiting for Bisho..... no interest on their side to do ANY work.... what the.. #$@#$

Will have to collect originals and do the registration in a other province.

With the shop full of projects and she is hidden in the back, I can not even take her out to stretch her legs...

Will do my best to get her out, washed and for a good run...

Till then

Herman

[retrovan]

Hi uncle Retrovan!,......beeeeeutiful !,......you should be proud of this car!,.....

Question?,.....you mentioned a "cooler" plug ?,......have heard this before,.....and I intend to do the same with Haans's 1641 single port engine when putting it back.......I believe anuthing cooling the cylinderhead down is good.
Now,.. will a plug bring significant reduction ?
NGK number ?

Appreciated

Haans

Hi Haans,

Sorry for delay in reply, did not see this post till now.Tony has covered some of it, but here goes.

The temp. of a plug is only the ability to reduce its electrodes temp, and not the engine.

The engine temp. is determined by the clearances between parts, the fuel mix, the amount of cooling, the way it is driven.

VW Germany have set the aircooled specks for mainly Germany. so they set the plug temp at the best for all worlds, but with higher temp in South

Africa where we have high temps. and we have a lot of hills, I have found the plug gets hot and gives off per-ignition, the electrodes run hot,

and set the fuel mixture alight before the timing spark.

Now this adds more heat, and so it gets worse.

If you add anything to the motor to give more power, you add to the heat generation of the engine, so this will get to the plugs as well, therefore with other brands, the heat goes up when the number goes up,

BUT

with NGK, the plug gets colder the higher the number.

The difference between the BP7ES (one I use)instead of BP6ES (VW recommended) is very little.

A lot of guys make the mixture richer, to cool the engine down and intern, also cools the plug electrodes, but its easier to fix the problem with the correct plugs.

Hope this helps.

Herman

[Haans]

Thanks,......I tendto agree ,...and will be using the BP7's,.....even only to sooth my mind,......not that we are hooligan drivers,..but when I get "spirited",..............at least every bit to a "cooler" motor will assist.
Regards
Haans

[retrovan]

So I got her out of the back of the shop and dusted her off, followed by a nice shampoo.

We had a short trip to go meet the EPVCC guys for lunch at a popular spot here in J-bay called the Wild Fig.

Had a great afternoon and it was good to see Lady Phoenix stretch her legs again.

And boy, ... what great legs she has too ...



Herman