SJVWC Forums

VW Lounge => General Forum => Topic started by: kvbug (karen) on September 04, 2011, 06:31:53 pm

Title: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 04, 2011, 06:31:53 pm
Generally, if a bug has a shimmy ( 40-45mph)  can it be fixed?  Was told it's not the tires.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 04, 2011, 06:38:47 pm
Depending on the year most of the time its an easy fix for early models and a SB may take more money but nothing to get upset about.

Most of the time a shimmy that happens at a certain speed is balancing, but not on a SB.  
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 04, 2011, 06:47:52 pm
It's this car.  It's a 71,  and I don't know if it's a Super ...how do I tell?  Had the vents below the front bumper. Spare tire could lay in the trunk ( wasn't one in there).


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619&item=180718741352&viewitem=&category=6019
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Bob(Herbie) on September 04, 2011, 08:10:17 pm
It's a Super Beetle if the spare tire lays down in the trunk!
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 04, 2011, 09:21:21 pm
Spare is under the mat. Looks nice, go check it out.

Main thing to look for in a SB is make sure the Frame head is not rusted out. and the front strut mounts.

A shimmy could also be the front struts on a SB.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 04, 2011, 09:48:30 pm
OOPS   ..didnt lift the mat down at that end of the trunk,  just up toward the top. Strut mounts.. hmmm,  didn't check them. censor++.gif  Battery tray had been replaced  but looked to be a good job.  I didn't crawl under the car to look at the floor pans or heater channels. I'll have George do that for me! lol     Small oil leak, seems to be near the pan area.  Engine started right up without smoking, ran strong while idling.  Even I ~ the stick-shift challenged one~ was able to drive it (yes, even put it in reverse a few times  **^bana0).  Forgot what it's like to be without power steering though.. whew.... lol

 Paint isn't nearly as nice as it is in pics or in the "very clean" description, so another buyer is going to be pretty upset if they don't look at it first...  some chips , scratches, etc..  Some can be buffed, but some can't. Presume that the pic was taken when they got it 4 years ago, since there's a temp tag on the back.  IMHO it would need paint.  Some pitting around the window chromes, but windows line up right. Bumpers seemed good.  One door doesn't lock, and the trunk opener in the glove box may have had an issue but we got trunk open.  Wipers worked but washer not hooked up, lights all worked. Buzzer worked with key in ignition.

So if George gives me the ok, and it doesn't have any major serious mechanical or body issues , then I think I'm gonna go for it.  I'll have him assess the shimmy too.  I don't need to shake, rattle, and roll my way down the road..  #@rofl3
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Baha (Shawn) on September 04, 2011, 09:51:37 pm
Didnt we just see another car from Cream Ridge NJ? Coincidence?


My Questions.

Why does it have a PA temporary transit tag on it?

Did he just buy it? Why is he selling it if he just bought it?
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Baha (Shawn) on September 04, 2011, 09:54:04 pm
Doh replied at the same time you did... Asked and answered



Go for it!!!!!! Yay! Good luck!!!! Dubs on the Boards is Next Saturday...You could Win Stock vert!!!!!  **^bana0 **^bana0
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 04, 2011, 09:54:57 pm
Front seats and steering wheel not stock...  Would have to do that. 
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Baha (Shawn) on September 04, 2011, 09:58:27 pm
Front seats and steering wheel not stock...  Would have to do that. 

It's a peoples choice...The "people" wouldn't know that  #@rofl3
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Baha (Shawn) on September 04, 2011, 10:00:20 pm
BTW I have both the stock seats and steering wheel if you want to go stock...I'll swap ya
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 04, 2011, 10:07:10 pm
hmm... peoples choice,  good point!   Paint really "needs" though, and I don't know if I'd have it  buffed or insured in time. IF I get it.  ( Im trying not to put the cart before the horse.. *she says as she's shopping for parts online*   but I'm getting excited.)


Ohhhhh you have stock stuff???  2@@cool   I would do that.  It's not that the steering wheel and the seats aren't nice,  they are,  but I just want the stock stuff.   Guess I'm weird that way..  }dunn--

Just did some research..steering wheel that's in car was an option. Hmm...  may end up keeping, again IF I get the car.. lol
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 04, 2011, 10:15:38 pm
most common thing with the hood opener is it pulls away from the glove box, may need a new glove box and re rivet the opener to the new box.

shimmy can always be fixed if its not the two main things I mentioned above.

When is Geo. looking at it?
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 04, 2011, 10:21:17 pm
Wednesday. I have a class Tuesday nights ,and George already had an appointment set up for Tuesday because of the long weekend.

And if the shimmy is from one (or both) of the two things you mentioned?  No fixing?
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: 50split(paul) on September 04, 2011, 11:16:42 pm
could be steering damper?
i'd go for the 68 in pa.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 05, 2011, 07:21:36 am
Oh ya, anything can be fixed on them.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on September 05, 2011, 08:49:28 am
My bus won 2nd place in a people's choice show. 1st place was a lambo? 3rd place was a Jaguar. Oh, and don't worry to much about the shimmy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=5Ke5wcne20Q
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 05, 2011, 10:04:30 am
Wow Greg, you were in good company!  Congrats on that win   clap2-*

Video was great...although of course I was expecting it to be about the Beetle shimmy... lol  (what was I thinking?!  }dunn-- )
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Mrs Baha (Tracy) on September 07, 2011, 08:02:19 pm
well... did you get it? }dunn--
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 07, 2011, 08:25:07 pm
Did ya, did ya?????????????
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 07, 2011, 08:53:38 pm
Just got home from the appt with Dr George... and  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. Structurally and body-wise it's great... BUT it has a whole list of mechanical issues. ( oh where to begin..)

Ok here goes: (remember, Im not mechanically inclined..)
  Vacuum advance not hooked up
  No pre heat system
  #2 &4 cylinders have a "light response"
   Has a small carb which is out of adjustment

   Shimmy is REALLY bad per George:
  Track arm bushings bad
  Steering dampers bad
  Maybe balance front tires to fix? (or new tires & wheels)

  Needs serious brake work
  Master cylinder leaking all over the place
  Right sides have heavy drag

Those are the big things..there are some smaller ones like horn doesn't work, Convertible rail has small rust spot covered over, small top seals missing, head liner has very small tear, front seats not original,  hood release screws missing/ bracket loose,  and the caps for the holes for the top are missing. The other thing is the paint.

Cosmetic things I can live with... mechanical and brakes,not so much.  They would need to be addressed immediately.

  Sooooooooo... what do I do?  I don't really feel like spending thousands in mechanical repairs when the guy has such a high reserve.

KV not a happy camper    bawlin)0    Any words of wisdom?
  
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Dasfusca on September 07, 2011, 09:16:16 pm
Is this the yellow car on ebay?  I don't understand :confused04:;  is KV bidding on that car or is it another?
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 07, 2011, 09:20:12 pm
Hi  Das..  it's this car that I put a bid on and went to see in person since it's a couple of miles from me.Auction ends tomorrow.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180718741352
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Dasfusca on September 07, 2011, 09:22:57 pm
Okay.  What was the buy it now.....or did you have to wait for it to end?
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 07, 2011, 09:24:50 pm
There's no buy it now, he has a reserve of 7K, and the auction is still running.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Dasfusca on September 07, 2011, 09:31:53 pm
My advice is to let it run out see where it goes.  There is some interest in the car, it may hit the reserve.  if not you can deal with the seller.  What did George think it was worth?  most of that stuff sounds like bolt on repairs.  Rust is the true monster as you know.  if you don't love it keep looking. with a 7k budget there are plenty of cars out there.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: matt on September 07, 2011, 10:10:05 pm

Just got home from the appt with Dr George... and  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. Structurally and body-wise it's great... BUT it has a whole list of mechanical issues. ( oh where to begin..)

Ok here goes: (remember, Im not mechanically inclined..)
  Vacuum advance not hooked up -

no biggie



  No pre heat system
not sure what that means, no preheater tube for manifold or is this part of the heating system?

  #2 &4 cylinders have a "light response"
  Not sure what that means, but engine does have 100k on it, does it have sufficient power? Does it blow blue smoke?

   Has a small carb which is out of adjustment
No biggie

   Shimmy is REALLY bad per George:
  Track arm bushings bad
  Steering dampers bad
  Maybe balance front tires to fix? (or new tires & wheels)

 I dont know what people charge for that, can be done by home mechanics, least I did mine.



  Needs serious brake work
  Master cylinder leaking all over the place
Same as above
  Right sides have heavy drag

Those are the big things..there are some smaller ones like horn doesn't work, Convertible rail has small rust spot covered over, small top seals missing, head liner has very small tear, front seats not original,  hood release screws missing/ bracket loose,  and the caps for the holes for the top are missing. The other thing is the paint.

Cosmetic things I can live with... mechanical and brakes,not so much.  They would need to be addressed immediately.

  Sooooooooo... what do I do?  I don't really feel like spending thousands in mechanical repairs when the guy has such a high reserve.

KV not a happy camper    bawlin)0    Any words of wisdom?


Was the seller made aware of the above?  He should def list these things in his ad, buyer would be pretty darn angry about these not being mentioned.


Hard to tell you what to do....


   
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Evil-Tunes (Glen) on September 07, 2011, 10:24:40 pm
 whistleegi For 7k........ I think you can do better....... }dunn-- The autostick makes it hard.  You still have to shift some what.  I would think about learning how to drive Stick Shift  :confused04:; It will open alot more choices.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Celly on September 07, 2011, 10:29:29 pm
pass
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 07, 2011, 10:34:36 pm
What Martin said..... And

Quote
Structurally and body-wise it's great..
Thats a Big plus.

Every thing else isn't a big deal except the indication of
Quote
#2 &4 cylinders have a "light response"
May or may not will need a valve job at most 2 new heads.

manifolds are a dime a dozen.

No one wants to say buy it and then it turns out to be a real money pit like a lot of VW's are. I know I would feel really bad if I told you to buy it and it turned out to be a piece of chit.

I know I could fix everything you mentioned for 2 grand BUT in all honesty

You should bite the bullet and learn how to drive a stick, it would open a whole world of more cars for you at much better prices.  2@cent

Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Baha (Shawn) on September 07, 2011, 10:47:12 pm
When the auction ends offer him $5500 and and use thd savings to repair it. Nothing you listed is even remotely scary. Most of it is fixable with coffee and donuts  =+grouphu9
I understand stickshiftphobia, Tracy has the worst case ever, so the auto stick will limit your selection. This sounds like a good one if you dont overpay. So we wait
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: 50split(paul) on September 07, 2011, 11:23:03 pm
i still say get the 68 matt looked at.................
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 08, 2011, 06:24:43 am
  Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input.  Right now I'm just watching the auction , which ends around 3/3:30.  There are other reasons for me not wanting a clutch car, so it's not a fear issue just to let you know.

   Paul, I left a voice mail and sent an email several days ago to the 68 seller,  but he never responded to me so I presume he's not going to.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 08, 2011, 08:20:28 am
We understand, just hang in there and don't get to frustrated. Sometime the more advice you get the more your head will spin.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: matt on September 08, 2011, 08:27:42 am




 What Shawn said.......





When the auction ends offer him $5500 and and use thd savings to repair it. Nothing you listed is even remotely scary. Most of it is fixable with coffee and donuts  =+grouphu9



What Jack said....


. Sometime the more advice you get the more your head will spin.








Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Bob(Herbie) on September 08, 2011, 09:48:07 am
I don't know if anyone suggested this before but, you could try placing a wanted add (WTB) on the Samba. Just a thought!
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 08, 2011, 11:30:40 am
Ooooooh that's a good idea too. Thanks again everyone. 

Right now with 4 hours to go the car is still where it was last night.   What's going to happen? }dunn--
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: matt on September 08, 2011, 12:23:17 pm
 



                   my bet it will not make the reserve....... maybe it will go to 5.5K



Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 08, 2011, 02:52:40 pm
35 mins left..  $4350....   <tick tock, tick tock>
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 08, 2011, 03:29:45 pm
Closed at $5600.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Evil-Tunes (Glen) on September 08, 2011, 04:03:29 pm
Closed at $5600.

And still didn't hit the reserve.... [gunfiring\
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: lovebus (jack) on September 08, 2011, 04:17:10 pm

35 mins left..  $4350....   <tick tock, tick tock>

 #@rofl3
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 08, 2011, 04:40:20 pm
Well now,  that was interesting.  I called the seller,  and he got really insulted when I told him some of the specifics of the work needed (primarily engine, shimmy, and brakes). No response to it running on two cylinders, so perhaps he was withholding information.   He became a little hostile and said that I was, "obviously looking for a show car."  I laughed and said, "no, we didn't even discuss it needing paint."  What really irked me is that I KNOW show cars, and this obviously wasn't one.  

Didn't even ask me what I wanted to offer for the car, only that he thought his car was worth his reserve and that he wouldn't take less.  His next response was he'd call the next person in line because some guy has been "bugging him about it all day" , and then call ME if that falls through.  

 &hahano

KV's movin' on..  
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: matt on September 08, 2011, 04:49:01 pm


 Sorry Karen,

  Sometime sellers have certain ideas in their head as to what things are worth... without wanting to see the market value...

  If the other guy gets a good look at the engine, brakes, shimmy etc, bet he would be dropping the price - or should be.  Wonder if NJ has lemon laws.... some states have done away with the "buyer beware" attitude.

  If motivated to sell, and the other buyer drops, maybe you would be getting a call............

  Nevertheless there are other bugs on the horizon... 7&7sun

M



Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 08, 2011, 05:07:45 pm
Matt ,you're right.  I'm going to look elsewhere.  Unfortunately his attitude spoiled the car for me,  so I'm on the prowl again. Think  I may attempt a 4 speed, since convertible autosticks are so limited.

I'll have to enlist the help of my favorite bug hunter   whistleegi   #@rofl3

So crew,  Im still not a bug owner.  Think I'll keep my next contender a secret and then just show up at an event with it, which I'm sure you'd all appreciate...
 
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Bob(Herbie) on September 08, 2011, 08:16:41 pm
Matt and everyone,
Yes, I think New Jersey has lemon laws for used as well as new cars. I say this because of my status as a ASE Master Technician I have been asked by several lawyers to check used vehicles for their clients! If a person or dealer misrepresents the vehicle, you have recourse!
Good luck,
Bob
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 08, 2011, 08:41:20 pm
Well this guy was the King of Misrepresentation...
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Baha (Shawn) on September 08, 2011, 11:22:19 pm
Maybe you should take a look at Martin's (dasfusca) Ragtop. Its nearly perfect.
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 09, 2011, 06:15:04 am
Thanks Shawn, from what I understand it's beyond my price range.  *bills)
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: Dasfusca on September 09, 2011, 11:43:18 pm
shucks
Quote
Maybe you should take a look at Martin's (dasfusca) Ragtop. Its nearly perfect.
Thanks for the compliment.  It only took me 11 years to build it.  it was my lifes work 3#blab# 
I'll be sad when it sells  bawlin)0
Title: Re: Can shimmy be fixed?
Post by: kvbug (karen) on September 10, 2011, 08:15:09 am
Like losing a member of the family