Aircooled VW South Africa

A newbie to the ACVW scene (For now let's call him, The Captain) asked for some help to get his newly inherited bug started. It spluttered to a halt 5 or so years ago, no one can tell for sure exactly how long it's been standing.

I went through, got the battery charged up. The Captain's 'Father in law' washed out the tank and and refitted it. I Pulled out one of the plugs, it looked new! Checked the wiring, It all looked ok. Firing order looked ok. Fuel pump worked, Carb was clean....ish. Got spark....

.......Did not fire up. I called HR, and even with his help on the phone, just couldn't figure it out.

HR and his off spring offered their help on the following weekend. The bug was started and HR's Mini-me offered to rebuild the motor, service the brakes etc.

The Captain was delighted to hear the beast roar into life. And that there are capable people working on his car. Thanks Guys!



The plan with the bug is to go metallic black, old school flames, and a Skull and Cross bones on the bonnet.

A couple of years ago I was asked to rebuild a T1 1200cc motor for a buggy that had been standing at the coast for about 15 years untouched. The tin was toast, all the ally and magnisium showed pitting. All I replaced was the fuel lines & some wires, put it on my bench starter after doing all the checks, it had spark, compression, I threw some fuel down the carb, it immidiately splutterd into life, shooting all sorts of crap out the SS exhaust. We decided to replace all the rotten tin, a full service, the buggy is back at the coast doing duty. Did get a couple of calls regarding idling issues, but those were resolved when the tank was replaced & no more cloged jets due to crap in the tank.

All I know is that you cannot run a beetle on Brak Water, well thats what was coming out of the tank on Saturday. Unless Thumper can explain the brown petrol.

Never mind we will collect the car tonight and give her/him some TLC and Im sure she'll/he'll be write as rain in a week or 2.

I agree on the fuel...that had a bad odour. Maybe he poured the old petrol back in after re fitting the tank LOL!

Beetle is parked up, engine on floor with most of the tinware removed.

Thumper next time you see Adam or Clive ask them if they're missing a wire brush. It was jammed in the cooling fan. How the fan turned I have no idea.

By the way what can we use for spider bites?

Can anybody tell me when a 1600 twin port beetle had a sump that holds 10 litres of oil.

No wonder the thing smoked and leaked like crazy.

Don't worry Thumper we'll get there

did you fill the breather up in the same way you fill the gearbox? (until it overlfows)

It is to keep the engine safe when standing for a long time so no rust will
form on the crank and so on bad for the driveway though

Lol. The secrets these cars keep.

hitlers revenge wrote: By the way what can we use for spider bites?

Brush vigirously with rusted wire brush, stop the resultant bleeding, and treat for blood poisoning ..

Etienne B, I see you from Jeffreys Bay, are you sure your not smoking something out of the ordinary

Last night took the heads and barrels off and 5 litres of oil came out when barrel was moved.

BET u it WASN'T RUSTED it was preserved LOL

hitlers revenge wrote:Etienne B, I see you from Jeffreys Bay, are you sure your not smoking something out of the ordinary

Nah, but I know some peeps that do just that!

getting ready to tow home

arriving at home

preparing to take engine out

engine out half an hour later. (see the holes in the exhaust)

Its nice to see progress!!