Hey there Brian. Thanks for replying. Life has been busy and wraught with ups and downs for me but I'm still around. I remember the glory days of the list and I'm surprised that as dead as it is, that it's still up!
I look back and can't believe that it's been 12 years since the New Beetle came out. I remember the Concept 1 as it was named was the 'in' collectible. It's neat to see too that you got ahold of a new beetle and put that kind of mileage on it. I kind of like the idea of getting a good used diesel one and doing the bio-diesel conversion. Seems to me like it would be a lot of fun to travel all over and do it for cents on the dollar while everyone else is lamenting fuel prices. :) Concerning the jets for the 34-pict-3. I know for a fact that jets wear over time. I don't know if this is something that can be adjusted out with the mixture screws or not but I thought when I get Li'l Red into the shop I'm so desperately trying to finish up, I want to rebuild the carb and do it right. I'm sure that will take care of some of my runability issues. Glad to hear that you're going to be getting the 73 out and about after 8 years. I'm still driving and using Li'l Red and it shows somewhat. The engine is still the same one I had in when I was more active on the list and the engine has only been out twice during that time. I'm even on the same clutch disc and when I inspected it back in May of 2004, it still looked great. The engine is a little tired too and it struggles to maintain 65 sometimes but I think a tune-up will help that. I'm also going to install a good used intake manifold as my heat riser is completely plugged and I get carb icing on cooler days. I figure while I'm doing that, I'll put on a fresh set of dual port heads and get these old ones rebuilt and keep them for a spare. I remember someone saying the service life on these heads was about 30,000 miles and I'm sure I'm waaaaaay over that. I'm going to try and get this all done before Enid gets here (my Bribane girl) and what I don't get done, she'll help me with because right now, the bug is all I got running. I haven't run my bus in a long time. I parked it primarily because the Weber carbs I had on it had a barrel that wouldn't tune up properly and made #3 run lean which it runs hot anyway. I've since gotten dual kads with chokes and need to get them on so I'll be pulling the engine and redoing a ton of stuff on it one of these days. First things first. :) But yeah, while the bus was running, I had it up to 82mph downhill and with the wind at my back. Normally I'd cruise 65 but hit 70 quite a bit. I'm a ripe old 36 now and I'm finding that the stock package is sounding better all the time. I actually have a set of stock rims and tires and I still have the original 67 trans and redux boxes so if I wanted to put it together as a stocker, I'd be able to maintain my 65mph all day long. :) The engine package I'd really love to run would be a large displacement Type 1 with a single carburetor and enlarged dual port center section. I know I'd loose some power but I'd gain that low-end torque. I'd like a choke too. I remember trying to start my bus on a 50 degree day - it wouldn't happen and winters were a joke. Dual webers are NOT the carb to use on a midwest vehicle that is driven in the winter and cooler days. I love the sound of those webers but they're coming off and I'll never run them again as long as I live here. > > I'd be interested in the Disc Brake conversion for my '73 SB. I hope you > keep the list informed of your progress. I sure will Brian.....'m trying to think where I got them. I have the box here but I never opened it. I think I got everything from John Connolly at aircooled.net - yep indeed I did. I'm putting front discs on and since John said rear discs on a beetle are a joke on a stock setup, I'm putting the super stopper pads and WCs on the back. I noticed after 9/11, things went downhill pretty quick. Internet was new and the newfound forums and communication medium was all the rage. It was new and exciting, there were still quite a few VWs out there and people willing to get online and read up all about them. There weren't any webforums to speak of and you still had to be technically savvy to get signed up on the list. (you still do!) The web forums just don't do it for me - it's slow, clunky, and is made too easy for the masses to get on. A listserv kind of weeds out the insincere people and so that is why I always like the format - you could be that someone who went to the trouble to get on here really wanted to join in and learn all they could. I don't hate the web forums - they have their place but they just don't do it for me. Alas, it seems when 9/11 hit, it shattered the essence of my very being. I signed off all the lists I was on and my life went to hell. I've noticed a lot of the listservs are dead. I don't know if people are dying off, they got tired of it, or what. I miss it and hope that a few of the old timers would like to come back and at least say a little bit occasionally. Of course, that goes both ways and I need to do my share as well. In retrospect of 9/11, I think I had a major case of PTSD and am still reeling from it. Slowly I'm healing and getting back to my old self and Enid has been a wonderful help. I'm thrilled she likes the VWs and so I look forward to the best May I've ever had. If anyone would like to see pictures of my trip as well as some RHD VWs (not the best pictures), just check out www.nqvw.com/australia and enjoy! Thanks for your message Brian. Hope to see some more listees poke their head out. Keep them old air-cooleds running too. That's all I own cuz that's all I care to drive. I even ride a Whizzer motorbike in the summertime and yep, it's air-cooled too! :) TTYL Erin _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
