What did you do to your VW today?

[Richard]

I got the weather stripping for my 64 beetle sunroof, doors, hood and decklid from Wolfsburg West (wolfsburgwest.com) and it was perfect. The window moldings I wound up using were from German Metric (I think that's their name). Actually, I got most of my stuff from WW. Mostly superior quality but even from them there were a few clunkers. The stuff they manufacture themselves was pretty much right on. The stuff they source from China and other places is often no different than the crap you get generally from the other vendors.
My main complaint with WW was long shipping time -- often a week or more.

AFA painting, I got it sealed and two stage painted at the MAACO on Rt 73 in Berlin. It was a $1200 paint job, and it looks like a $1200 paint job when you get up close. From ten feet back it looks like a million bucks. It's what I wanted (could afford) at the time (maybe five years ago now). No regrets.
BTW, I took the car there completely stripped down and on a dolly with fenders, hood, decklid, sun roof and all the other small bits separate. Some things I had them repaint due to overspray. They didn't argue with me and did it right the second time.

Good luck with your build.

[matt]

Hi Rick,

Chuck's convertible will always give you exacting parts, although West Coast Metric may have what you are looking for. .they are of good quality - by weather stripping do you mean all window and top rubber parts?
Matt

[Gunterwagen (Nick C.)]

Rich,

I had good luck with WW on their rubber. I never knew rubber could be so expensive?! I 'm in the wrong business. Haha. But...it was a good fit. It's a little tight, but it's supposed to be that way. Loose seals will leak for certain. Most of the VW parts stores are on the west coast. I try to buy everything all at once so I don't have to pay multiple shipping charges.

[matt]

Been driving the convert Nick? 

[matt]

Also, I forgot to mention, FYI West Coast Metric -  All rubber and plastic parts manufactured by WCM are guaranteed for the life of the vehicle.

Not pushing this Co., just FYI

Shop and compare, and save all receipts

[Gunterwagen (Nick C.)]

Been driving the convert Nick? 

Nah, I've been having some medical issues and it's just been too hot. I plan on driving it when the weather is cooler and when I'm feeling better.

Congrats on making the VW magazine. Very cool!

[matt]

Sorry to hear about the medical issues Nick, hope you are doing better now.
Weather is finally turning.. really nice lately  - comparatively.
Thanks about the magazine.. wonder if this counts toward my "15 minutes of fame"  ..  lol

[Beetleboi -Greg-]

Pulled off the right side valve cover on Mildred (72 Bus) to see why it wasn?t running right. Turns out that the push rod wasn?t seated correctly. Put on the push rod tube retainer since I had it all apart. Seems to still be leaking, not as bad but still leaking. Still need to do the left side. At least it?s running on all four again. Yucel mention some time ago that the manual fuel pump was leaking oil. Not sure if it can be removed and covered with the engine in place.

[matt]

Hi Greg,


  This is a 1600cc engine usually found in bugs?

You are saying there is an oil leak below the fuel pump stand ( bakelite)?- there is a gasket there and a gasket below the fuel pump - on top of the bakelite.

If you are talking about the bottom of the Bakelite.. yes it can be done with the engine in the car.

The challenge is the stem of the Bakelite can break off down into its sleeve.



(Not shown on these videos is people suggest to sand down the stem a bit so next removal time it will not be such a tight fit and easy to retrieve as a whole



Here are videos to show how to retrieve the broken pieces, watch both of them; 2nd video shows the engine in the car.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3CVF6-lF6M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY7l7NuZLCs

[matt]

Sanding the stem does has 2 benefits...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-QDI74acLY



Understanding the relative position of the fuel pump stand stem inside the engine.. video will show the case split in half and it innards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm0X8DjE0HI

[VWPANZER1]

 Good stuff Matt!

  Thanks for that. 

[matt]

Always good to keep on learning.. no matter how old mature we are!

[Beetleboi -Greg-]

Whoops,

Sorry Matt. I?m no longer getting notifications about club posts so I missed it. My bus has the type 4 engine. Made it to Dover De and back. It?s leaking like it was prior to the bad push rod leak. I?ve been dying to pull this engine, at least drop it to get to the gas tank filler hose.

[matt]

No prob Greg,

I do not get notifications consistently from the web site either..

As for the gas tank filler hose, mine was split when i got the bus. I could not reach up thru the engine to access it,... and at the time I did not know if it was possible. Called a VW bus mechanic, he said he could do it, and did it for like $40 bucks.  Asked him how he could get to it, he said he is part contortionist.  Forty smackers was well worth it instead of me pulling that beast of an engine....

Guess if you are going to be pulling it for other stuff, should be able to do the hose then pretty easily...

Good luck!

[Rick]

My Volkswagen was re-painted a different color. I am steadily working toward getting it repainted.  I would like to find out the original color. My online search tells me to look in the trunk but I have been unable to locate the paint code tag. It is a 1972 super beetle convertible. Any assistance in locating this tag would be greatly appreciated.