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Got together with a couple of the Speedster Freaks the other night. Blogged it here, if anyone is interested.
Noticed as I was starting home that my headlights were out. Turned out to be the switch–the original ’69 VW headlight switch–is getting dodgy. Does anyone happen to have a spare? I know the Chinese repops can be had for $25 or so, but word on the street is that they’re not reliable. The old skool German ones seem to be out of stock at the usual sources.
I offer the going rate if someone has one they are willing to part with.
Ed, I’m sure that I can get you one at my local (Simmons VW Restoration) shop. I will have to pull it myself and the weather is not good. Could be next Monday before I could get to it. Give me an idea of price you are willing to pay (I want nothing). You are talking about the switch to turn on/off, right? Not the Hi/Low beam switch? Send me a pic of the switch and I’m pretty sure that I can help you.
Wow. Thanks, Roy. Let’s hold off though because Allen stepped up. He says he might have one on the shelf in his garage.
Meanwhile, I’ll have a closer look at my switch. I think I might have the later one out of a ’71. It’s got a few more pins on it, though I’m not using nearly all of them.
More later.
And thanks again.
🙂
I didn’t do any research other than a web search for ’69 VW headlight switch. You might try this shop: http://www.autohausaz.com/vw-auto-parts/vw-headlight_switch-replacement.html
Ed, I’m probably going to go over to my VW graveyard and pluck an emergency (parking) brake handle and try to move mine to a location such that I can actually reach it. Now that I have a MIG welder, I’m gonna see what I can fabricate. So, if you want me to pull a used switch, just let me know what you think a fair price is for one – I’ll run it by the owner and pull it if ok.
RoyWow, thanks Roy. I’ve sourced one though. Should arrive tomorrow or Tuesday.
As for your ebrake move, You don’t need a new handle. And if you can weld, the only thing you even want is a 4 x 6-inch piece of 1/8 mild steel to stitch weld over the hole you’re going to make by cutting the bracket out. Just for piece of mind.
I actually moved mine last year and it was so easy and straightforward even I could do it without undue drama and tears. There is a thread on it.
Just about the only thing I would do different if i were doing it again is skip the nifty little aftermarket cable ends. They work fine, and cheap enough too, but I think it’d be a cleaner installation just cutting the cables 6 inches too long on each side, looping them over the handle and clamping them together with cable clamps–two per side, say. (like these)
Then saw or grind off most of that welded-on pointy thing on top of the stick. Leave just enough of a nub to snug the cables up against, so they won’t slide down the stick.
That’ll leave you with a nearly smooth, very narrow e-brake stick, and you’ll still have cable adjustment.
Ed, MiGi has the early Daytona bench seat. Gotta rig up some remote handle on the existing location. I’ve read all the threads and this is the only way I can see to do it.
Roy, If you can find Calafer’s M P Lafer in the old photo gallery , I think he had some really clear pics of an e-brake handle that is near vertical in the original location.
Thanks Larry. That is what I am looking for. Vertical (or nearly so) is about the only fix that I can think of with a bench seat.
Ah, got it. Yeah, get another handle, cut a V in, bend and weld. Easy & fun.
Great to be able to reach it in an emergency.
BTW, driving home from a bull roast today I got the “Is that a Rolls Royce?” routine from a guy in a Maxima.
I guess that some people have a faint recollection that RR’s had a big chrome front grill and that is all they can remember about them. When the guy first asked me about my “Rolls” I laughed. Now I have been asked twice. If my memory ever becomes so bad that I can’t distinguish a Rolls from an MG, – well you wouldn’t want to know.
Funny you mentioned that Ed. I pulled up to stop light yesterday and a woman who was to the right of me and further up, actuall backed up and asked me what year the car was. I told her 1952. She then asked if it was a Rolls Royce. This is the 3rd time people have asked me that since I had it.
This is something that never happens to the Speedster guys. Or, for that matter, to the Cobra guys.
And I thought it was just a fluke . I was at the Food Lion with my MG TD and a distinguished lady came up and asked me if my BRG MG TD was a Rolls ..? I had never heard of that happpening before.. jebarry2012-04-16 16:50:13
To think that when I first mentioned the “is that a Rolls Royce” question I feared that you all would think that I was just “telling stories”. I guess that I have been validated.
I to have been asked,,, Rolls. Stutz, Ford T, Morgan and those are the people that know the names of neet cars but do not know what they looked like I think it is great that people ask. Dan R
I never had anyone ask if my Duchess was a RR…but early on in her life, a man in a Rolls pulled along side at a stop light, smiled and said, “nice car”.
Made MY day!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
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