My car died once, in the early going, for exactly that reason. I swapped out the fuel filter and have not had an issue since. If it persists that POR stuff to coat the tank may be in order.The idiot book has your timing specs and pictures of the several types of Type 1 pulleys, with the notches. Mine is different–two notches only. But the first…[Read more]

Hi,
This is one really beautiful car!! I tried to research to see if it ever sold. No info. Anyone know the story? Just curious to see what a top of the line replica could get. These Allisons in some ways look better than the originals!
Rich

Classic Motor Carriages (CMC) FIBERFAB
Windshield: does not fold, no covers for ends of frame.
Grille: Chrome plated Aluminum similar to original MG.
Top/Side curtains: 2-hoop with zip in side curtains, top mounts to inner front side of area behind seats rather than on top of the body tub, windows over doors zip on 3 sides and snap on outside of…[Read more]

I think Dennis may be on to the answer – Richard had the same issue last
year at Carlisle – it would run for a while then lose power and die. His issue
was a plugged up tank at the bottom. I think I would clean out the tank and
make sure your fuel line is clean – blow it out backward w/ compressed air.
Make sure the tank lid is vented or make sure…[Read more]

And where was the timing set, with all advance in?

You might check to see if you have a vented gas cap.  If you don’t, after a short period of running you will build a vacuum in the tank and fuel won’t feed.  After a period of time air will seep into the tank and it will restart.

We used a timing light to set the timing this time, and it seems to run better, after readjusting the carburetor.  We changed out a rubber valve cover gasket that was leaking with a cork one, made in Germany, but it still leaks a bit.  We tried the three different notches in the flywheel and found one that seems best.So I took it on another t…[Read more]

London RoadsterWindshield: does not fold, no covers for ends of frame
Grille: Custom made of what looks like chrome plated fiberglass,about 3” shorter than original MG
Roof/ curtains: 2 hoop with zip in side curtains,windows over doors zip on 3 sides and fold inside leaving the curtain in place.
Dash: Formica woodgrain with gas gauge to the…[Read more]

Just a guess, but I suspect the fueling overflowing is partially because the filler pipe ends parallel to the ground (or at least looks like it does in the picture). And looks like it’s only about six inches above the tank.On my Duchess, the filler pipe ends at the radiator cap. It’s straight down about a foot, then takes a right angle into the…[Read more]

Can you believe a COPPER fuel line?  That’s what we found today.  Plus, it either got worn or cracked in the process of installing an additional fuel filter just out of the gas tank.  I’m posting 2 photos. One is the gas tank and the filler tube.  Do you think that if I position a filler tube that runs a little higher that I might eliminate the…[Read more]

 
Valve adjustment is the holy grail of keeping a type 1 motor alive, right after changing the oil and cleaning the screen. John Muir has a neat valve adjustment procedure in VW for the Compleat Idiot. Just make sure to press the pushrod side of the rocker arm to seat the pushrod before you use the feeler gauge.  
Valves were tra…[Read more]

Yes I agree, that is great advice. I’m am learning a lot.  30 years ago I set my 009 distributor on my bug with the engine off and turned it until I heard the click.  My neighbor tried that and we didn’t hear any clicking.  Also, there are multiple notches in my flywheel, so I don’t know which one is TD.  I’m going to go read more in my boo…[Read more]

BDriver…that was a great explanation! Nicely done!

 
Mark,
Old adage. When something goes wrong, the culprit is usually whatever you just fixed. Your neighbor set your timing by ear.
Did your neighbor tighten the distributor hold down nut enough to keep it from creeping? I suspect not. You cannot time a VW by ear. You can trash a VW in a hurry if you run too much advance. It has to be done s…[Read more]

Thanks for the advice.  I don’t remember having to clean a screen during oil changes, but my last VW was over 30 years ago.  My very first car was a 1967 VW beetle that I picked up in 1977.  I did get the John Muir book then, How to Keep your Volkswagen Alive, The Step-By-Step Guide for the Complete Idiot, and loved it for what I learned.  I did…[Read more]

For the gauge issue, maybe pull the fuel sender and bend the float rod down a bit. Costs nothing and it might work.For the spillage: sorry. I was a gas pump jocky in the 1980s and recall it as the era of spilled gas. For some reason, cars made from the late ’70s to the late ’80s very often had this problem. No reason to think the kit cars would be…[Read more]

I’ll second that. And never forget that basic, key, advice, applicable to every car: always make sure your sparks are in order before turning even one screw on the fuel system. 

To your question, B, “has anyone whittled down the seat box?” Yes. Check out the thread called “Another Project Reported” under My Projects. Montie has replied there to another tall new owner about how he (Montie) reshaped the box under his seats to gain some head and leg room. Photos pending.As for the foot box, to gild Paul’s response a…[Read more]

I did 2 things to get more leg room.   Main thing was moving the seat back to the top of the tub. I had to narrow it about 1″ on each side but was well worth the time and money.  Then I re-did the seat bases—  I angled them toward the back.  It didn’t take much I think I used 4″ in front and 2 1/2 in back still left a little storage under th…[Read more]

 
Mark,
It sounds as if you are new to type 1 VWs (Beetle). They are high tinker factor vehicles. They were designed in the 1930’s. Nothing is terribly complex. There are just a bunch of little things that need looking after. Adjusting valves, cleaning the filter plate when you change the oil, timing staticly, checking the valves, again, finding…[Read more]