VWAR Old forum !

Technical => Technical => Topic started by: 1 limbless on October 03, 2006, 10:36:20 AM

Title: general advice
Post by: 1 limbless on October 03, 2006, 10:36:20 AM
This is my first post on here , i have just become the proud owner of a 1970 auto beetle . I intend to pick it up on monday next  but a little nervous never having driven any type of bug before, is there anything i should know before hand. And is there someone out their that can point me in the direction of a good garage in the north staffordshire (England) region regards to all
Glyn.
Title: general advice
Post by: 68AutoBug on October 03, 2006, 01:46:05 PM
Hi Glyn,
Your 1970 Beetle would be similar to My 1968 Autostick Beetle, with torsion bar front end the IRS rear suspension that was used in the Super Beetles.
Your Beetle should have the spare wheel sitting upright...
If the spare wheel is laying flat then its a Super beetle.
Supers were made from 1st August 1970 which makes them a Volkswagen 1971 model. Supers were not sold as 1970 models.
You can use the 3 forward gears to drive Your beetle or just Drive 1 & drive 2, or leave it in drive 2, but they are a bit slow in traffic starting off in drive 2.
The auto beetle is fairly rare here in Australia and the UK, but there are still many of them in the USA.
Many parts are now obsolete, but there are many used parts still around.
Its best to start collecting spares ASAP...
Many owners in Australia have spares for most things, from cars that are changed over to manual gearboxes..
These cars were very well made, and most are relatively problem free.
Air coooled Beetles need to have the engine oil changed every 3000 miles as they don't have an oil filter, just a strainer, which must be cleaned at each oil change. You can buy engine oil change gasket kits very cheaply.
these have the sump gaskets and small copper rings to go under the small nuts, plus a large copper ring for the sump plug.
The tappets need to be adjusted every 6000 miles.
this is very important for air cooled engines with steel cylinders and other parts in a magnesium alloy engine block and heads.

cheers

Lee -- 68AutoBug -- Australia --

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

Title: general advice
Post by: 1 limbless on October 03, 2006, 11:14:24 PM
Thanks lee for the information i will heed it well,but can you tell me which parts i should be on the lookout for as i hoped many parts would be interchanged with the manual bug exept the transmision. Any help would be appreciated

   Glyn
Title: general advice
Post by: 68AutoBug on October 04, 2006, 01:10:27 AM
Hi Glyn,
All of the cars are the same as a manual basically..
but these Autosticks are a fairly complicated machine..
Porsche called their version the Sportomatic transmission...

You have a Vaccum tank under the LH side rear fender/guard/wing.
there is a Automatic transmission Fluid tank under the RH side rear fender/guard/wing.
There is a clutch servo [with a rubber bladder] sitting over the LH side of the gearbox.. most of these are still going, but servo bladders are available new from the USA.
there are 3 x 12mm id vacuum hoses which need replacing when they crack.. You can use oil hose to replace these inexpensively..
there is one small vacuum line [3.5mm id rubber vacuum hose] which will need replacing when cracks appear.. this is also a very inexpensive common hose..
the starter motor is different to manual transmission starter motors.
most other things are the same as the regular beetle.
the rear IRS suspension is the same as fitted to all the Super beetles, so its regarded as the best... rear wheels will not tuck under... guaranteed..
You will have an ATF light in your speedo, which if it ever comes on, means You have to change down a gear as the ATF is too hot...
This could happen towing a trailer up hills, or with a full load and going up hills...  in other words it won't happen.... normally...
Send Me Your email address and I'll send You some more scanned information on Your Beetle...

Lee -- 68AutoBug -- Australia

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug




Title: general advice
Post by: 1 limbless on October 04, 2006, 08:44:33 AM
Hi lee thank you for your help my e-mail is glyn.elliott1@ntlworld.com i hope it is ok putting it on this site as i am new to computers and cant find another way to send it ,if it is wrong to be on here will you let me know


                  Glyn
Title: general advice
Post by: Crasher on October 06, 2006, 10:15:41 PM
Glynn

If you get stuck and need help, I am just down the road in Nottingham.

Steve