What did you do for your VW today?

[gokart]

Jul 30, 2014 17:46:20 GMT -5 81pumagtc said:

Worked today on lighting for the Pig of Plastic. The Brazilian lighting sockets are pretty terrible, and won't light on a whim.

....

I cleaned all of the terminals and sockets, and used special grease designed for light sockets on everything to insure that everything works......

Dave Riedle

A friend of mine found a good tool for cleaning bulb sockets. At Hobby Lobby they sell Sanding Sticks, which are kind of abrasive pipe cleaners.

[dansam]

synced the carbs, tightened some loose bolts. drove...

[81pumagtc]

It is light socket grease. It conducts electricity, but also prevents corrosion on the terminals.


Dave Riedle

[81pumagtc]

Today, I flushed out the remote brake cylinder reservoir. Unfortunately, this, like every job on the Pig of Plastic was way more difficult than it should be.

Maybe soon I will take the hoses off, but they used clear vinyl hose to connect the reservoir to the master cylinder and I think it may be harder than diamonds. I ended up getting a marinade injector, and modifying the needle to get rid of the extra holes. I then sucked everything out it (and it was REALLY nasty) and then put new Valvoline Dot-3/4 synthetic brake fluid in.

It looks much cleaner!


Dave Riedle

[thedirtydutchman]

Its a nice day so I drove it to work! All 5 miles and everything. Ran good but does NOT like to idle when coming to a stop till is nice and warmed up. I ordered some new jets for it hopefully be in next week. Still looking for air jets though.......

[Gerb]

Took care of several small items today on the Sport Bug. Replaced the torn shift boot, replaced the drivers door dome light switch and door catch seal, replaced the oil cap seal, replaced one of the rear deck lid bumpers, replaced the cigarette lighter knob, and replaced one of the clear door jamb plugs - all with used parts from my collection.

I also removed the dealer installed below-dash a/c unit. The P.O. already removed and discarded everything else, so no real reason to keep this. Passenger now has a bit more leg room. Had a spare fuse box cover to reinstall since the original was discarded. Also replaced the passenger foot panel as the upper corner was hacked off during the a/c install.

By the way, I know they didn't have much of a choice, but the dealers really hacked up these cars to install the a/c units. I have a nasty hole in my upper dash/wheel well area to plug. They also busted part of the fuse box to fit the unit behind it. I have a spare, but that's a project for another day.

Now to fix the dash spot light and radio that worked before I messed with the a/c....

[Gerb]

I think I fixed the radio today. It's currently running a Radio Shack FM converter located in the glove box tied to the factory AM radio. Kinda fitting with a '73 huh? Anyway, the power for the converter was connected to the A/C unit somewhere (didn't see where I disconnected it from.) I found a spare connection on the fuse box that's powered by the key. Don't recall exactly which spot I used, but something like #7, 8 or 9.

Also cleaned up a plastic console I pickup up somewhere. I pulled the wood grain off as the rest of my dash is black only. Not sure if I'll keep this in or not, but at least now I have somewhere to put my phone and a water bottle. Still need to check into the spot light in the dash.

[81pumagtc]

Ordered up a STE-SK carburetor syncrometer flow meter to synchronize the carburetors with today. The STE is a German-made tool, and comes set up for Webers, which is a good thing.

I had a very cool meter years ago, but hadn't used it in 10+ years, so I sold it. Now I wish I still had it. This one is supposedly very nice, and was just under $50.

Also, started cleaning the engine off and cleaning up the engine compartment. In case you did not know it, VW's sometimes leak oil...

I decided to play around with various bits and pieces to try and make it a little easier to work on. Just little things, like putting studs in to mount the coil with. Threading nuts will be easier than putting in bolts...

I should have the Pig of Plastic back together sometime this weekend.


Dave Riedle

[thedirtydutchman]

Started making a list of the parts the rail needs to be ready to rock for next spring(long time away I know). Not sure how Im gonna get all this past the wife! HAHAHAHA

[81pumagtc]

I rebuilt the tube type fuel gauge sender in the Pig of Plastic. That involved taking it apart, cleaning crap out of it, and removing gas tank varnish from the resistor cables.

I am hoping that the fuel gage no longer bounces around in a happy dance when the tank is almost empty.

Of course, the tank is almost full, so it may be a while before I know if this worked...


Dave Riedle

[Gerb]

Ran over a snake while out on a buggy run with John Hanson. Thought it was a stick until it started moving just before the thump.

[81pumagtc]

Took the Pig of Plastic to an auto upholstery shop to have the top reworked. The car has a very expensive ($5000) custom made canvas top to replace the damaged vinyl top the car was shipped with. It's nice to have a good canvas top...but the foam pads inside have deteriorated and the top is now loose. Also, it is coming loose on the frame, and while it is out, he is going to put in a new rear window.

No idea how long this will take, but I told him there is no hurry, take as long as he needs.

I am Puma-less for a while.

On another note, the gas tank finally emptied enough to test my repaired fuel sender, and it works perfectly! The fuel level went down to fully empty, and the needle did not bounce around like it was possessed.

That is a good thing!


Dave Riedle

[gokart]

I ordered a bunch of parts for the Vanagon to make it look better and more weather tight!

[Ruffuss]

Ruffuss is washed, waxed and ready for this weekend! May have to put the top up and windows in though??

[thedirtydutchman]

Looked at it sadly sitting under a cover in my backyard.