Very newbie Here

Just picked up my first speedster yesterday. I know nothing about these cars but alway loved the look. Needs lots of work just to get it inspected and titled here in PA. Initial findings:
1. Break lights don't work
2. Horn don't work
3. Breaks a mushy
4. Very difficult to find 2nd gear (lots of grinding until I find it)
5. Carpet is almost shag-like (ugly)
6. Emblems are STICKERS!
7. I can't get to top to snap on. It's in the 40's here on the east and I'm thinking it's not fitting due to the cold.
8. Motor appears stock (1971)and not much get up and go.
9. Gas gauge don't work

Definately not a high-end build but at least a starting point. Looking forward to "making it mine."

Hi Bob---welcome to the madness!! I looked at the photo of your Speedie and it is a beauty--drive it with pride!

The smartest thing you did, besides buying the car is getting on this great site.You will get all the advice and knowledge you will need to get your Speedster in top shape.

Do NOT get at all discouraged with the items you mentioned----none are that bad and you will take a lot of pride in yourself as you sort the car out.

--A couple of thoughts. You can get a complete carpet set --even including the front trunk, if you want it at www.vintagespeedsters.com. Prices are on the site under "parts", I think. New carpets along with coco mats will make your car sparkle!

The other advice is to get the recommended VW books, especially Muhr's "How to keep your Volkswagen alive". At the same time locate a good VW mechanic in your area---I had to go 45 miles to have one help me but it was well worth it.

I will tell you this to make you feel better and give you confidence that your car can be made to be like you want it---and as nice as that beautiful red finish. My car is about perfect now but when I got it 4 months ago with just 725 miles,it needed this list of things fixed:

1. Wheels out of balance-couldn't go over 50 mph. No tire dealer could balance the "wide 5s" so I found an adaptor for $50 and solved this.
2. Front end out of alignment--easy fix at a tire store--their machine had the specs for the Bug and alignment made a world of difference. $18.00 only.
3. Tire pressure was 34# (!!!!) Now they are a proper 22 front and 24 rear. All fixes should be so easy.
4. Hot Engine--a thermometer dip stich showed 240+ degrees! An additional sump holding another 1 1/2 qts of oil fixed this totally.

Bob, that car you have is beautiful enough to spend the time and some $$ to sort it out. Do NOT get discouraged. I get so much pleasure from my VS that I am happy everything is now fixed. You will too.

---Jack

Some stuff...

Brakes, look at the brake light switch on the master cylinder, wire off, or switch is toast. New switch is cheap.

Horn, this is a LIVE wire that goes up the steering column and when you honk, grounds out and TOOTS the horn.

2nd gear, could be many things, look at the shift coupler in the back under that half moon cover over the transaxle behind the seats on the tunnel. Also check the shifter to make sure it's aligned.

Carpet, yeah Vintage has the carpet kit, good value.

Emblems are available at some vendors no problem, Sppedster, 1600 super, Porsche all are about $35.00 each.

Top, yeah the cold does this. You can release the snaps a bit to get more distance....just be careful it's not too loose or it will lift in the wind.

Motor depends what it is, dual carb, dual manifold, single???

Gas guage, common problem. Usually a wire is not on properly. Check your VW manual.

Your car looks also not to have been painted, that is the gelcoat color. Mine was exactly the same until we had it painted...

Enjoy....

Thanks for the tips. Found an Classic Motor Carriages emblem. Don't know if this company is/was a kit only company or build turnkey. But the looks of this car, it looks like a home build. It's a single carb. At least ithas disc breaks in the front.I already picked up the "Keep Your VW Alive Book" and also want a good VW repair manual. I gotta wait about 2 weeks for my garage to be build before I can do much to it. Then the fun begins. I will have to break out the "secret credit card" by wife doesn't know about. :)

those are disc BRAKES unless they're broken then in that case they are Disc BREAKS

You're lucky, Bob, that you have some very good resources in your area. Alan Merklin and Bill Drayer both live in PA, and both know these cars insied and out. Alan has builts several CMC/Streetbeasts cars into really nice machines. Looking forward to meeting you at next year's Carlisle show in May.

Bob
Welcome and congratulations on your new purchase.
When I bought my car,it looked identical to yours (white top,VW 4 lug chrome wheels,etc). After a lot of effort,time and money my car looked like this (see pictures below). Take your time and enjoy every minute of it. I sold my car 5-6 months ago and still think about it every day.
Good luck.

Not to steal Bob's thread, but how's the new business going, Lambros? Well enough yet to support another Speedie?

[You're lucky, Bob, that you have some very good resources in your area. Alan Merklin and Bill Drayer both live in PA, and both know these cars insied and out]

Lane, what cities are these guys from? It would be nice to have a professional evaluate this car.

Bill Drayer
Harrisburg,PA

Alan Merkin
Chambersburg,PA

Welcome Bob! Your car looks pretty nice in your pic! The great thing about these cars is the simple to find parts, inexpensive systems, like brakes,engine,transmission. At least simple and inexpensive compared to "real" 356 stuff. Good luck with your new toy!

Welcome Bob - it would be funny if you and I turned out to be related... (maiden name Rose). Great guys for help in your area and this site is, regardless of your locale, populated with some of the nicests people I've ever met.

Including Vince (you'll meet him before long).

angela

OK! Another PA Speedster on the books..Like they say here,"Welcome to the madness". It looks like ya got a bit of fixin' to do and with the season ending there's no better time for tinkerin'!

~WB

Bill D, myself and there are others that can guide you through your speedster faults ...you have a long winter to tinker and upgrade (and cover the cc bill too:)this is the best way to learn and be able to do your own maintenance and repairs.

~Alan

Bob,

Welcome. Good luck on your fixes, alot of advice on this site so don't hesitate to ask.

Here's a goal for you - shoot to have everything fixed and operational and join us at Carlisle in May.

ECB

Bob,
Great to see another PA Speedster in the group. Welcome!
I'm not too far from you. Phoenixville! Holler if I can be of any help or share info.

Greg

hey Bob,
warm welcome from Ca

Welcome aboard, Bob. No place better on the Web for help with these things.

Hey, Bob....How Y'all doin?

I pass through PA four times each year; twice on the migration between homes and twice to and from the Carlisle meet.

You'll find this site, and a few others on the web, to be invaluable in helping you to get your toy finished and on the road. Alan, Bill, Greg and others on here often just look for an excuse to visit and help you out, so don't be afraid to ask. You'll find that it will probably be easier than you thought to get things done on it, and there's a wealth of information on here as to where to go for parts that you'll undoubtedly need.

Have fun!

gn

Gordon: No advert for speestershop.com?? Why not? Good info there too -- maybe because it's mostly the same folks?

And Bob, let me offer my welcome also. As I guess you have been able to tell, the Carlisle meet is The Event for this business, so put that on your calendar, for sure, and then GET BUSY!!

From what I can tell here, most of your issues are nickle-dime, wrt getting a nice running machine. [Spongy brakes could just be a matter of bleeding, and when you do that be sure that the bleeder is at the highest point. I have heard that some installations will rotate the cylinder such that an air bubble can be trapped in the circuit, and can't be bled out unless you take the caliper off and hold it upright. FWIW.] Getting your car just like you want it will be a bit more than $0.05 to $0.10. Nice paint and maybe an engine w/ some spunk. I'm guessing you won't mind paying the freight, because you must have gotten into the game for no mucho dinero. Anyway, do not be shy about coming to the SOC w/ the questions, and when you do, be specific, and include pictures. I am convinced that there is nothing w/ these cars that hasn't been seen by someone here at least once.