These VW engines are air-cooled and have large clearances when cold. therefore VW’s used different viscosity depending on ambient tempertures. Warm weather I used 20w-50. Cold (below 35) I used 10x-40. Contrary to all wives tails, synthetic is best.
In addition, today’s oils have no ZDDP (Scuff Package). This eats up flat tappet cams. If the SAE…[Read more]

I think I’m going to move to North Carolina
Welcome to the group.

Go to: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/
Get a username and password and search the forum or ask the question.
If you have a VW based TD, you should have either or both of the Robert Bentley publishers “Red Book” or “Blue Book”. They are the Old and New Testament Bibles of the VW Type 1.Pink MG40029.4429861111

There are many aftermarket seat manufacturers that make “retro” look low back bucket seats. Corbeau, Sparco, Scat, etc.
Finding tiny, low back buckets that would fit relegates you to 60’s British cars and their seats are big $$…for that matter, so are the aftermarket seats  

Ringo, they still make those screw-in inserts!!!
I used to get mine free from the Tri-five Chevies in the local salvage yards…those were the days!
An MG-TD gasser…hmmmm?

Dan,
If you go to the Photo Gallery, look up Pink MG, you can see the seats and door panels I had re-done in leather. My seats were completley rotted, wood bases and all. I used marine grade plywood that I sealed with urethane (4 coats) and used stainless hardware to build new seat bases and a seat back.
Then I bought three leather hides from…[Read more]

I assumed you had the correct shocks on car when I mentioned that shocks will not cure “bottoming out”. I thought you were bottoming out on the suspension bump stops.
I used to have a link that listed all the Monroe shocks dimensions. It listed all the part numbers too. That way you could cross reference to another brand once you found the shock…[Read more]

Larry Murphy has brandy new rear coils that he may be interested in selling to you.
Chevette rear springs and shocks are still available (MOOG, AC Delco, Raybestos, Husky, etc.) http://www.rockauto.com
Also, shocks WILL NOT stop a bottoming out situation. Shocks only dampen spring oscillation and keep the tire in contact with the road.
KYB makes a…[Read more]

http://www.classicinstruments.com/
Real TD’s had large (5″ ?) diameter Speedo & Tach too. Not the 3.5″ diameter we usually see in our replica’s.
You really only need a Speedo & TACH both (large diameter), Fuel, Oil Pressure and Volts. The head temp senders are usually a spark plug washer style sensor.

I love math wizards!
My ’74 Beetle has a screwy gauge. If it’s totally full, the gauges reads fine. When it hits 3/4 tank the needle disappears below empty. So, last night I disconnected the sender wire and the needle stayed below empty. I touched the wire to ground and the needle went beyond full.
We tried the same thing on my buddy’s ’87…[Read more]

That EMPI system has the single outlet, like a real TD had. If you are worried about heat, the ceramic coating is the way to go.
I have a ’74 Beetle that I am going to put the EMPI # 55-3417 GT exahust on. Currently the car has a “gutted” Mexican exhaust that is WAY too LOUD! I don’t want the heat, so the ceramic coating is worth it too me.
The…[Read more]

Rollie, These car are not real TD’s and never will be (Thank GOD!). We all make them “ours” by the little modifications we do to them. So, they don’t have to sound “right”.
PUT THE LOUDEST FREAKING HORNS YOU CAN FIND ON THE CAR!
I got a set that sounded like a 60’s Cadillac at Pep Boys…FIIA? They were plastic and are now on Larry Murphy’s car.…[Read more]

The senders in these cars are usually the culprit. Today’s gasoline eats up everything. The older stuff was not made to withstand the additives, especially the ethanol, in today’s fuel. Letting our cars sit for long periods of time with today’s fuel in them doesn’t help either.
Measure your tank’s dimensions, get the cubic inches and convert that…[Read more]

I bought a fitting from Peek Performance in Seabrook, MD that allowed you to hook the oil pressure idiot light switch and the oil temp sender to the same port that the OEM oil pressure sender is in on the side of the block.
I read somewhere (Samba forum?) that the dipstick sender is the best location for accurate oil temp readings…I don’t…[Read more]

Please post a picture of the wiper blade. I used to buy mine at a Marine supply and they set screwed to the VW wiper arm.

If I recall correctly, most of the turbulence comes in from the rear of the car. Rich is correct that the basic design is such that turbulence is what you live with. Not much manufacturer concern about wind and noise comfort back in the pre-war and early post war sports cars.
Again, Rich is correct about today’s convertibles. I remember the…[Read more]

James, my condolences. I’ve been through this with both parents. I still miss them both too.
I was able to share the same experience you had with your Dad with my mother in January 2001. She too got to ride in Pink MG #1.
The Pink MG moniker came from her telling me in 1953 that she wanted me to buy her a Pink MG when I grew up.
You’ll be in my prayers.
 

I second Larry’s suggestion. The wipers from your ’70 VW should work.

Not to change the topic of this post, but there is absolutely no comparison between organic and synthetic oils.
If you are rebuilding your engine and starting fresh (new pistons/rings/bearings) Royal Purple has a break in oil available.
You can switch from organic to synthetic oil at any oil change. All of the old myths about synthetic oil are…[Read more]

Yup…they’re just VW Beetle lenses. I’ve used CIP1 too and they’re a fine air cooled VW parts vendor.