I think CA law demands that all the OE smog junk be present and accounted for, bolted to the engine, hoses all hooked up, no matter what the sniffer at the tailpipe says. Because so much of ’70s smog equipment was nonsense (based mostly on the then-trendy principle of dilution–see, for example, the Air Injection Reactor Pump*), and because smog…[Read more]

I think it’s a Berkeley, probably an SE-328 “Deluxe.” The owner wasn’t near it when I passed so I just spent a half hour on the Google. Air-cooled, 18-horses, and a fiberglass body. Maybe I should’ve said “yes” when the guy at the gate asked me if I wanted to put Bridget on the show field. Here’s another shot of that engine, through the…[Read more]

I’ll be trying to see if it fits in a London Roadster.

DickH, Maybe I need to read your post again, but right now I’m confused.  If you ripped all smog equipment off and it passed emissions testing, how would could it be “without all the equipment, it would have failed.”?

Hi Montie,No, I think I’m done collecting for a while, but I still like to look.  The 1964 rebuilt Chevy 283 is more horsepower than I have in my modern Honda S2000.  It comes with a Chevy Turbo 400 automatic transmission (It’s a major no-no in my book) – roadsters should be manual but I’ll play with this one for a while as is, and supposedly a r…[Read more]

Way back at the beginning of this thread, Larry wrote that you “…do not have to use…” the reinforcement bar.I respectfully disagree, for a couple reasons.Without the reinforcement bar, the chrome face plate is worthless. The strength comes from the bar, not the face plateWithout the reinforcement bar, when you install the mounting brackets and…[Read more]

The bumper reinforcement bars are black and have a slight curve to them to match the curve of the bumper face plate. They are made of spring steel.The front and rear reinforcement bars are NOT the same.There are washers that fit between the face plate and the back bar. The washers are convex on one side to match the profile of the face bar and…[Read more]

OK, guys, take me to school. What in the heck is that slick little red beauty with the big No. 5 on the door and boot? And does it really have only two cylinders? 

Keep in mind that your ignition fires before TDC. Use the mechanical notch on the pulley. The latest edition of “VW for the Compleat Idiot” contains a 2 page section showing the reader which notches to use on which pulley by year.
You can reverse engineer the notch. Set the pulley where you think TDC for #1 is. Then wiggle the rocker arms. You sh…[Read more]

Thank you, yes I have the book.  I did not use it the first time when I messed up the adjustment – used directions off net.  Now using the book. Dont know if I should just get used to the sound.

Do you have the book How To Keep your VW Alive”? The Step by Step Guide for the Complete Idiot?  It’s not for Idiots, it written to explain simple procedures plainly.

Should conform as close as possible to the inside of the bumper, I think. Paul?

Several Nice MGA’s there but I did not notice any A coupes.

Just got around to working on the TD again. Question on the bumper back bars. Are they straight or curved the same as the bumper? I can bend them if necessary. Also, what color are they? I’m guessing black. Thanks for the help. I’ll post the before and after photos when I get them done.

Most excellent photos Ed. Thanks. Not sure if I like the cleanest dash or the best shifter photo the best. Now if the TD had THAT shifter, oh wow! 

Nice pics Ed.thanks!

 
Thanks for the memories.
Did you see an MGA coupe?

I appreciate all the notes of caution and will proceed accordingly.BDriver, those are the ebrake tubes you are looking at.  I already pulled the old brake lines and will be replacing them with something shiny and new.  I’ve checked the movement on the ebrake lines and there is still life and flexibility in them.  However the handle needs re…[Read more]

Thinking of you two NJ guy navigating some tuff times hang in there as if you have a choice 🙂
Things will settle done and hopefully soon.
 

I’m not in the market for another TD myself, but it seems like someone from down San Antonio way was looking to buy awhile ago.