What did you do to your volkswagen today?

runabout199 wrote:so i noticed that my thermostat linkage and stuff had been destroyed by previous owner/s  . should i try to fix this? i do not remember any of my friends bugs having this hooked up. can it run without them? they left everything on it just mangled up.

Most people run with out the T-stat because they are hard to find in good shape and because no one really knows about them, XD,   If the thermostat itself isn't damaged and is still compressed, I'd run it.  Otherwise, just leave it off.  If u still have the flaps in the shroud it's a good idea to keep them in since they direct air to the heads.  Simply  wire them open with some safety wire, or some strong springs


Without the thermostat the motor will never get to operating temp (runs too cool), especially  in winter.  Most people don't really care about that.  I don't especially when building a motor I know isn't going to last long, or will most likely blow up soon (like my latest thrash built turbo motor with cast AA pistons, lol).  But a motor I'm building right, or want to last a while, will get a refurbished german thermostat from Awesome Powdercoat.  I'd never recommend a Mexican thermostat (brass thing with a spring around it) because if they fail it stays closed so ur motor burns up.  The German ones (the ones that look like a bellow) are made so if they fail they expand and keep your flaps open (safe position)

If the linkage is bent or something, there's a chance the flaps may be kept closed.  If that's happening you will burn up your motor.  Even if u remove the linkage, the flaps may still be shut.  Check to make sure they move freely, and aren't rusted shut.

EDIT: I just re read your post. If all the linkage is mangled and unuseable, I'd just leave it all off if I were you. If u try to straighten out something and it were to bind up, u could burn up your motor. If the flaps are good, I'd still keep them in the shroud wired or welded open.

Bugman114 wrote:

runabout199 wrote:so i noticed that my thermostat linkage and stuff had been destroyed by previous owner/s  . should i try to fix this? i do not remember any of my friends bugs having this hooked up. can it run without them? they left everything on it just mangled up.

Most people run with out the T-stat because they are hard to find in good shape and because no one really knows about them, XD,   If the thermostat itself isn't damaged and is still compressed, I'd run it.  Otherwise, just leave it off.  If u still have the flaps in the shroud it's a good idea to keep them in since they direct air to the heads.  Simply  wire them open with some safety wire, or some strong springs


Without the thermostat the motor will never get to operating temp (runs too cool), especially  in winter.  Most people don't really care about that.  I don't especially when building a motor I know isn't going to last long, or will most likely blow up soon (like my latest thrash built turbo motor with cast AA pistons, lol).  But a motor I'm building right, or want to last a while, will get a refurbished german thermostat from Awesome Powdercoat.  I'd never recommend a Mexican thermostat (brass thing with a spring around it) because if they fail it stays closed so ur motor burns up.  The German ones (the ones that look like a bellow) are made so if they fail they expand and keep your flaps open (safe position)

If the linkage is bent or something, there's a chance the flaps may be kept closed.  If that's happening you will burn up your motor.  Even if u remove the linkage, the flaps may still be shut.  Check to make sure they move freely, and aren't rusted shut.

EDIT:  I just re read your post.  If all the linkage is mangled and unuseable, I'd just leave it all off if I were you.  If u try to straighten out something and it were to bind up, u could burn up your motor.  If the flaps are good, I'd still keep them in the shroud wired or welded open.  

thanks flaps move good but they ripped the part off from the thermo to the flap . i dont have a welder so this is usless for me. i plan on a new motor / rebuild in april or so so i will just leave everything off and get a new german one then. im not sure this motor will last till then is having some running issues im trying to track down. i belive its just a tune up needed real bad. i tried to change the plugs when i got it and i couldnt get them out, but since i have almost the whole top half of the motor off im going to give it another shot. thanks for your reply.

Scooters got a new pair of shoes, well running boards. I still need the rear driver side gravel guard.
 

pwmcguire wrote:Scooters got a new pair of shoes, well running boards. I still need the rear driver side gravel guard.
 

looks good
 

wow im doing way more stuff than i know how to do to a car, today will be my first oil change in a bug, valves getting adjusted and hopefully engine back together and running   

Drove to Dahlonega yesterday in the SP2 to get the new exhaust welded up. 5 hours there and back! Great day for a drive.
New exhaust sounds fantastic.

Think I broke a clutch cable on my way to work. Guess what I'll be doing after I clock out?

i took my intake,doghouse,fuel pump, alt. stand , and all my smog crap off , changing intakes out new one will be here tomorrow along with tie rod ends. changing them tomorrow. 

Finished the 7.5 hour stainless ghia bumper install. A slow decent into hell. Looks great, but what a pain. I had nothing to go by, just a pile
of parts and a desire. KC

put my deck lid back on and changed my tie rod assembly and steering dampner. it was easy just hope i dont kill my tires before i can get it in to be set. still trying to find a reputable engine building company to buy a new motor from,if yall know of any please tell. im looking at scat and gex but only found negitive about gex and hear scat is good but there cams are crap. i dont know

ASBug wrote:Finished the 7.5 hour stainless ghia bumper install.  A slow decent into hell. Looks great, but what a pain. I had nothing to go by, just a pile
of parts and a desire. KC

awsome i feel that way about everything i do to my bug cause im a bug noob.but i told myself that i would do all the work to it my self mech. well except when i buy a new motor

just drove it.

try fisherbuggies in fl they have engine sitting on the shelf I don't no how or who builds there motor and they run a drag car

Steve sands at prof low

Pro flow

Slim4life wrote:just drove it.

Same.

bumblebuggy wrote:Think I broke a clutch cable on my way to work. Guess what I'll be doing after I clock out?

Did the same in the 57 yesterday, drove it and broke the clutch cable.  Grrr.  The new one is not cooperating.

Jon65 wrote:

Slim4life wrote:just drove it.

Same.

Same here. Put about 400 miles on it the last couple of days!
Looks like Panama City, but were actually in Pigeon Forge for CYW.

fluxcap wrote:Looks like Panama City, but were actually in Pigeon Forge for CYW.

Yeah, I never understood that "beach setting" gift shop being in the middle if the Smokies.

Jon65 wrote:

fluxcap wrote:Looks like Panama City, but were actually in Pigeon Forge for CYW.

Yeah, I never understood that "beach setting" gift shop being in the middle if the Smokies.

and now there are three pictures of that retail facility on this site alone.....


It's all marketing!

They need all the marketing they can get. Parking lot has been empty every time we drove by!

Drove all over Fayette County with my boys... saw some cool sites and got some cool pictures.

put the cleaned up motor back in the 68. fired it up for second time and oil cooler leaks like niagra falls. Has new seals, can't figure it out.

shaky wrote:put the cleaned up motor back in the 68. fired it up for second time and oil cooler leaks like niagra falls. Has new seals, can't figure it out.

Perhaps the cooler itself has a leak? U replaced all 4 seals? I forgot to replace the ones between the cooler and block once, XD. Maybe the cooler block itself has a hole/ crack. Maybe one of the threads on either the block or case have a bad spot making it seem like the nuts are tightened down, but actually aren't. Just a few idears

Did a little buffing on the bus.

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