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My dad and I restored a 73 Super beetle during high school. It was my first car, and i drove it until college. I have been out of college for a while not and can bring my bug out of storage. It has been kept indoors and not driven for around 6 years. There is gas in the tank. Besides pumping up the tires, and new battery, what should i do to get her safely back on the road?
Has it been started at all during that time, or the engine cranked over?
At the very least you should change all fluids, give it a good tuneup and mechanical inspection (such as brakes!).
You'll want to drain the old gas out of the tank and fuel line, and may need to give your carb a good cleaning or possibly a rebuild to clear out any varnish from dried gas.
Change the oil, adjust your valves, new plugs, distributor cap, rotor, etc. Timing.
Do you remember what all was wrong with it when you parked it? You can overlook a lot of things when you're a teenager and forget about them during the intervening years.
Pull the brakes apart and check the condition of the components at each wheel. Adjust them. Replace the brake fluid and bleed the system properly.
If you take the time to do all that now, you'll avoid potential unpleasant experiences that might make you wonder why you bothered keeping the car all this time.
Hope to see you back here telling us about the big smile on your face once you get the car back on the road!
Thanks or all the good advice!
there was nothing wrong with it when we put it in storage. i cranked it whenever i could, and even made the 3hr trip to school a few times. i would say it has not been turned over for 5 years 
Thanks or all the good advice! i know we need to go through the brakes. We put a disc break set on the Front, an dthey were a little soft there toward the end.
Last edited by ScootersNotBombs (2010-11-20 22:43:53)
One thing I should also mention - before you attempt to start the car for the first time, pull the rotor out so it won't run then crank it over to get the oil circulating. Probably going to be quite a few dry spots after sitting so long.
What / Where is the rotor?
What / Where is the rotor?
WHAT...you don't know where the "rotor" is???...I think that it's REALLY time to get a repair manual...such as this one:
http://www.bentleypublishers.com/volksw … anual.html
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp … C10%2D9652
If you're thinking of doing work on your VW (and don't know where the rotor is)...I strongly recommend getting some sort of repair manual. By the way...the rotor is under the distributer cap (I hope you know what & where the distributer is)! Ha ha...just teasing. 
But seriously...if you don't know where things are...the repair manuals are a BIG help when doing your own repair work. It's a 73 Super Beetle, it's going to need something replaced or repaired eventually...and there are fewer & fewer knowledgeable mechanics around to do the work for you.
We're here to help you...so just ask away with the questions. 
Hope this helps,
- Nick
Unless you have an electronic ignition like Pertronix, then you don't have a rotor and a justifiable excuse to not know where it is! Pull the center lead off the coil in that case ;-)
Unless you have an electronic ignition like Pertronix, then you don't have a rotor and a justifiable excuse to not know where it is! Pull the center lead off the coil in that case ;-)
Sweet, Good looking out for me Mr Meister!
haha, digging my super out of storage tomorrow!
She will leave the company of Studebakers and mustangs for the company of my vespas and motorbike!
Unless you have an electronic ignition like Pertronix, then you don't have a rotor and a justifiable excuse to not know where it is! Pull the center lead off the coil in that case ;-)
I always thought the rotor was the thing sandwiched in between the pads on disc brakes. Maybe I need some of the mentioned manuals,
What? no rotor for electronic ignition? How does that work?
Last edited by burrhead (2010-11-22 06:48:36)
Just wanted to mention...unless Pertronix has released a "rotor-less" electronic ignition kit...you still need to have a rotor. As you can see in the photo below:
...there is definitely a rotor. The electronic ignition replaces the points & condenser...nothing else. I have Pertronix electronic ignition on my Beetle...and I still have a rotor. You still need the rotor to "distribute" the spark to each individual ignition wire.
Now if we were talking "Compufire" electronic ignition. Compufire also sells an electronic ignition kit for air-cooled VW's similar to Petronix for around $69 bucks. Where the kit replaces the points & condenser. Now if someone is willing to pay upwards of $299 dollars...Compufire sells a "distributorless" ignition product (that would certainly not have a rotor). I'm guessing not too many folks have this.
http://www.compufire.com/vw-products-main.html
Hope this helps,
- Nick
Gaping diesel spark plugs again Burr?? hahaha
Have fun with yer bug Scooter--most people are putting their cars away for the winter--you may need to winterize if you are in a snowy part of the northern hemisphere.
Last edited by Patty B. (2010-11-22 07:09:08)
Gaping diesel spark plugs again Burr?? hahaha
Gaping? I do gap my diesel plugs when I change out my rotor that seems to be alluding me, maybe Der Mugmeister can help me locate it.
I find the best time to gap diesel spark plugs on my bug is when I change out the radiator hoses.
Patty B. wrote:Gaping diesel spark plugs again Burr?? hahaha
Gaping? I do gap my diesel plugs when I change out my rotor that seems to be alluding me, maybe Der Mugmeister can help me locate it.
Isn't it mounted on top of your hat?
Good info on the pertronix/compufire and such, Nick. I guess I need to step outta the stone age one of these days and try those newfangled electronics. ;-)
I've always just run the old school stock(ish) setup.
Good info on the pertronix/compufire and such, Nick. I guess I need to step outta the stone age one of these days and try those newfangled electronics. ;-)
I've always just run the old school stock(ish) setup.
I would still be running points & condenser...but I have/had an 009 distributer that had most of the problems that are associated with the "009". But when I installed the Petronix setup...everything was MUCH better (no hesitation or dead spots).
Although I do still fear that if the Petronix electronics went kaput...I would be outta luck. Even a worn-out set of points would still get you home. I got to do what a lot of folks do that have electronic ignition...and carry a spare a distributer with points & condenser already setup (plug & play the distributers) if something went wrong.
- Nick
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