Does the carb have an electric ilde cut-off valve on the side of it? What carb is it?…30 PICT-3, 34 PICT-3 or 4?
This solenoid operated “valve” opens and closes the air orifice next to the throttle plate. Maybe it’s failed and that’s why it won’t idle.
Test by checking for an audible “click” when the key is turned on/off (courtesy of…[Read more]

OK…instead of “My ride kicks butt”…it’s “My ride wipes butt”?
 
I couldn’t resist

check out http://www.thesamba.com classifieds.
There were some locally (Central NJ) on Craig’s List too a few weeks back.
Good Luck!
BTW: What is…”justify this other car kicking around”?

During any January in Wisconsin you are only allowed to play hockey, ice skate, ice fish or put another log on the fire!
it is a good question though…why did they pick January old man?

I learned it all from Paul
If you go the cut-to-fit pushrod route, get aluminum, not chrome-moly. Chrome-moly has almost no heat expansion and would require a much different valve lash adjustment…usually zero. I used the aluminum pushrods and use .004″ for valve lash (higher lift cam) versus .006″ for stock.
The last VW longblock I bought to i…[Read more]

Bill,
I am currently working on two Beetles, a ’74 and a ’69. One will become a front straight axled Volksrod.
I had a valve train problem with the MOFOCO Streetwise 1776cc motor in the ’69. And had to correct the problem. It is a 90+ hp modified motor that MOFOCO used a stock valve train in. NO GOOD!  with heavier valve springs and a higher li…[Read more]

In 1953, I rode laying in the “package deck” under the rear window of my parent’s ’52 Chevy DeLuxe, no freaking seat belts, car seats, bicycle helmets, padded playgrounds and my sister sent me to the store on my bike with 24 cents to buy her Lucky Strikes 
I ran with scissors, my father used lead paint and wrapped the steam pipes in our house wit…[Read more]

Amsoil also makes a 20w-50 air cooled motorcycle oil that works great. Mobil 1 used to make a similar “V-twin” oil of the same weight that is now marketed via Harley dealers for a million $ a qt.
The zinc packaged are still in Valvoline racing oils as well as a few others. ELF and Brad Penn (used to be Kendall GT).
I personally use 20w-50 Royal…[Read more]

The “wavy” washer failure is what causes the “hairpin” rocker retainer to snap. That’s the problem I encountered with my 1776 MOFOCO motor.
The wavy washers fail because they are old and can’t take the stress of stiffer valve springs or higher lift cams. The “high” spots on the washer wear, the washer comes apart and the rocker arm play slams the…[Read more]

What’s that in Ed’s right hand ?

If the valve stem bent and wedged itself in the valve guide it would hang the valve open with the head of the valve missing.
The most common failure with valves aren’t the valves, but the seats coming out.
A loose rocker causing the pushrod to come out of it’s cup would not bend a valve…it would just stay shut and make a racket with pushrod get…[Read more]

Wow Paul…first class bummer . At least the engine is easier to remove from a TD replica than a real Beetle. I don’t think you can pull the head far enough off the studs with only 3″ – 4″ of clearance.
That’s a good thought about a bent valve, but what made it get that way? Did the seat come loose and hang it open for the piston to smack? Did a…[Read more]

Ed, there’s nothing like great advice from your friends!!!!
Rob is right…AAA and a cell phone is better than a Snap-On tool box filled with their expensive shiny new tools!
 
 
 

and that VW MUST…an extra fan belt!

As long as your horn works…who needs brakes!
Hope all of you have a great time at the Carlisle shindig this year.
Since my last trip in 2005, the weather seems to have been great!

Rollie, Paul is correct.
Most aftermarket street exhaust use the stock heater boxes. If you see only two header flange to head connections and two flanged pipes, it uses the stock heater boxes.
My exhaust was very quiet without sacrificing any performance. I rather liked the Porsche like exhaust note myself, but Bill Collins thought is was ugly…[Read more]

I installed a Bugpack #2031-13 ceramic coated header and their #2542-13 quiet pack header on the first Pink MG that Bill Collins bought and called Angelica.
It seems that “by mistake” I chose “the best all around header for stock and slightly modified VW engines up to 1776cc” according to the guys on http://www.samba.com/vw forum.
It fit the…[Read more]

Nice to meet you Scarlett! Now Larry’s not the only one with leather seats!

http://members.boardhost.com/Vette_Man/
If Rick Drake can’t help, there are plenty of people on the above link that can.

Glad you decided to lengthen the driveshaft. If it didn’t let go right away, it would have vibrated like crazy and eventually cracked the transmission tail stock after wearing out the seal.
 
The rest of the work you are doing is amazing! You’ll be rewarded with a great ride.
NOW GO SWEEP THE FLOOR