- This topic has 16 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I just bought a 52 daytona migi with a 79 beetle engine and my husband is having a fit about the vw. He has been reading about them and thinks I will spend more time on the side of the road broke down than driving. He also thinks it will pour and burn oil constantly. I have read these are issues but if it is well maintained by a mechanic should these still be a major problem? He also can not wrap his mind around an air cooled car. I would really love some input or advice. Thanks Donna
I will post pictures laterTell your husband not to worry. Millions and millions of VW motors went hundreds of thousands of miles!
Two things…adjust the valves and change the oil every 3,000 miles. Both are easy to do…and you don’t need a mechanic to do them.
OK, three things. Buy a copy of John Muirs “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive 19 Ed: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot”
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=john+muir+vw&a mp;tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3402245217&r ef=pd_sl_8pyfuurt0z_e
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)
Donna, Congratulations on getting a MG replica!!,Looking forward to seeing pictures . About the VW question, The VW air cooled beetle was one of the most dependable and toughest vehicles ever built.For years they dominated the small economy market.There is still a vibrant following of diehard fans using the VW base for cars like the MG replica and many others not to mention dune buggys and sandrails. These engines have even been used in airplanes. With proper care you should have little reason to worry.Enjoy your new ride.
Donna, Congratulations on acquiring a MGTD Replica. Don’t worry about VW based kits. The VW motors that are leaking oil usually is because someone overtorques things. For example the nuts for securing the oil filter plate on the bottom of the engine are torqued to 8 inch poundswhich is not to much more than snug. I’ve seen “supposedly” mechanics torque the nuts to way over what they should be.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackDonna: mine leaks just a spit. I consider it an authentic feature, as MG TDs leaked too.
Kidding aside, I fully expect to de-leakify it when I adjust the valves this spring. New gaskets, torqued to spec, won’t leak.
As for engine breakdowns–with rare exception they appear to happen in two circumstances: extreme neglect/abuse of stock motors and poor builds/rebuilds of “hot” motors. There seems to be a lot of aftermarket parts that aren’t quite as quality as the original German stuff, and a fair pile of VW engine servicers who cut corners and compete on price.
So, for example, if I bought a buggy from a 26-year-old man who’d punched it out to 2275cc and bolted two giant Webers to it, Engle cam and 70-feet of header pipes spaghettied underneath it, I’d probably take that motor apart myself and rebuild it over the course of a year, micrometers in hand. And then baby it.
Assuming you’ve got a decent, low mileage (under 50k?) mill that’s not been badly molested, if you leave that motor stock & don’t bolt on a bunch of go-fast stuff, keep an eye on the belt, change the oil, adjust the valves, it will run forever or another 100k, whichever is longer.
Get hubby onto this forum & we’ll set his straight.
Donna, follow Paul’s advice and get the book by John Muir for sure. It will make you feel much better about the mysteries of what is really a fantastic engine.
I’ve had 4 VWs over many years and they didn’t leave me stranded any more than other cars. In this day of cell phones, being on the side of the road is sometimes part of the adventure when you have a 30 year old car. Get AAA or Hagerty’s (or some others) insurance with the included flat bed towing as part of the package. Even new cars break.
And speaking of breaks, tell your husband to take one and not worry so much. I bet he’s done things that left you scratching your head many times. Now its your turn!
One more comment Donna….
Your VW powered MG TD Replica will be on the road with fewer problems than our friends with “original” MG TDs.
PMOSSBERG40485.4672916667
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)
You may also want to invest in the Robert Bentley publishers VW “Red Book” http://www.bentleypublishers.com/volkswagen/repair-informati on/vw-type-1-1970-1979-repair-manual.html
I have two, both like new, if you would like to purchase one of them for $25.
http://www.thesamba.com is also a GREAT website for ANYTHING air-cooled VW.
Although, after having both front and rear engine TD Replica’s, I prefer the front engine kits, there is nothing wrong with VW based kits that are built right.
BTW, the ’79 Beetle’s were fuel injected and had smog equipment. If I were you, I’d get the serial number off the engine block to identify what you really have.
Amen to Paul’s comment about the original TD’s too!
Thank you so much for the advice I read on here about the book keeping vw alive and bought it on line this morning. I feel better about the engine thank you and I will have hubby read this!! Now onto paint?? I called a vet place today and they were talking about gel coating or paint and a lot of money to strip it to fiberglass? Any thing I should know guys?? This website is a god send!!
Thanks Donna
Donna,
I assume your car is gel coated already? How bad is the finish?
Gel coat is many times thicker than paint and can often be polished and buffed our to a deep shine.
Meguiars makes a line of products specifically for gel coat.
Also, before this thread goes too far….we strongly recommend that when anyone has a new topic to address, they start a new thread with the appropriate topic. This helps us build the archive of old posts and helps others searching for information to find what they need easily. Thanks.
Search “meguiars” and you will find a large number of threads discussing refinishing gel coat
PMOSSBERG40485.6368055556
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)
Most fiberglass boats are gel-coat too. So, a good marine supply (West Marine, etc.) will have gel-coat refinishing products. Dupont also makes some.
I watched an episode of Ship Shape TV once that highlighted refinishing gel-coat that was really gnarly. Google Ship Shape TV and see if there is info you can use.
Just FYI: paint will stick to gel coat as well as anything. Prep requires dewaxing , a 400-600 grit wetsand, and primer–same as any other car.
So if it’s way gone (not likely) or you want to change color (as my car’s PO did), you can get it shot an any competent auto paint shop. No need to use a specialized ‘Vette place.
Thanks that really helped. The vet guy was saying up to $2,000. just to strip it! I just wanted the car painted black I am not trying to show it . So I will try a regular paint shop.
Thanks again, DonnaDonna, Some of our members have used the Maaco franchise for their paint work.I’m not for sure but I think Jeniken used them . See his photo gallery ,it shows to what extent his car was disassembled for the paint job. I recently saw a 39 Chev sedan that they did. The car was a quality street rod $40,000 The paint looked really good.It will not cost anything for an estimate.. I would very cautious about stripping the gelcoat, go to far and you would be removing the fiberglass which is none too thick to begin with.
The boat repair/repainter I bought my MiGi from sugested painting with a high quality and durable paint called Imron (by DuPont, I believe). He even offered to paint it for me if I did the prep work. I would probably not paint a fiberglass car black because it shows all the little imperfections that are inherant to fiberglass. Did you ever notice that most or all the ’53 corvettes were white?
I have found auto motive paints that match my original Tan/brown car and work well for an everyday car, but not a show car.
Chuck
The fenders are already black maybe I should have the red body painted white. That was an idea but I thought it would be hard to keep clean. Maybe I should rethink this. Glad to hear regular paint will work. I am not trying to make a show car just a fun little weekend toy.Just got my car home from the shop today they did a tune up a rewired the car. Came home and turned on the head lights and they blew!! Back to the shop on Monday glad its cold out!!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.