A HUGE thank you to all who answered the myriad of newbie questions I've asked over the last six months. Also massive thanks to a local VW enthusiast here in Asia who had a great mechanic who was able to turn all of your advice in reality.
I had a put-put car that would:
- Barely take off on a green light
- Often stall in traffic
- A stick shift I'd have to wrestle into first or reverse
- Every day of driving ended up with 2 days in the shop
- Five tows in 7 weeks
To a car that I just can't believe is mine
Upgraded to a bigger engine, dual carbs, doghouse shroud, sidewinder exhaust and muffler, Vintage Speed shifter, Beckspeedster mirror, banjo wheel, cleaned up gauges, stainless engine compartment, completelty rebuilt engine, replaced old drum breaks with new drums on back and disc on front, new engine kit, trans kit, all new wiring harness, new soft top, fog lights etc.
Total cost for the rebuild was $8,000. It took two months. Breakdown was as follows:
- $1,000 mechanic (labor is inexpensive here)
- $300 electrician
- $250 interior / soft top guy
- $300 garage owner and consultant
- $1,500 shipping and customs duties
- $400 machine shop
- $4,000+ parts
The thing drives like butter now, when I get into fourth feels like I'm flying. I couldn't ask for a better daily driver.
A few misc things to fix:
- When i even breathe on the gas pedal it roars to life (maybe need a stiffer spring)
- Sits a little too high in the back, will lower it
- The babymoons I ordered don't fit - need to figure that out
- Gas smell, and sometimes black smoke - I think the jets are too big
- Some gravel / rumbling in first gear as I think the engine differential is a bit too big for trans (but I'm not redoing the trans)
- Will replace the windshield when get time (takes a month here)
Before:
After:
Anyway, thanks again - it's not a showcar by any means (it's a 20+ year old Brazil kit) but it's mine and I love it.
