RE: Volkswagen Beetle: PH Carpool

RE: Volkswagen Beetle: PH Carpool

Author
Discussion

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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Richard A said:
PistonBroker said:
Yes! In fact, judging by the hard shoulder of the M5 during the summer, isn't it actually more likely?!

I'm very hypocritical as I love a nice air-cooled Porker, but have always preferred my VWs with water flowing round their engines. Can't deny the coolness of these things though.
I've an idea that most of the overheating problems experienced by Beetles and Busses in the modern era are down to people leaving out the tinware which seals the upper engine compartment from the lower. The concept is that it should be fresh air only above the seal and hot air off the cooling fins below, which should then exit the car (ideally cooling the exhaust box a bit en route). If the tinware is left off, which I've seen, the hot air tends to get recirculated up to the fan intake.
Or poor oil maintenance, driving too hard, low oil levels, dirty cooling fins... Lots of reasons.

They're known as 'air cooled', but in reality they are 'oil cooled', and they do all burn oil. They need regular oil changes, topping up, and making sure all the cooling fins on the under side are clear so heat can dissipate efficiently.

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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AER said:
shoestring7 said:
If it really does have 8mm thick steel panels it's not just built like a tank, it is a tank.

SS7
I suspect she was meaning the glass pane thickness.
So many things not quite right about this article. The word "panels" is used. Perhaps door cards? Even floorpans are not 8mm thick (c.1 - 1.5mm), so cannot imagine what is being described here.

Bespoke tyres, 8mm panels, too much power for the chassis (?????)...maybe this is not really a Beetle after all. Perhaps this was Hitler's escape vehicle!!!

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
PhantomPH said:
AER said:
shoestring7 said:
If it really does have 8mm thick steel panels it's not just built like a tank, it is a tank.

SS7
I suspect she was meaning the glass pane thickness.
So many things not quite right about this article. The word "panels" is used. Perhaps door cards? Even floorpans are not 8mm thick (c.1 - 1.5mm), so cannot imagine what is being described here.

Bespoke tyres, 8mm panels, too much power for the chassis (?????)...maybe this is not really a Beetle after all. Perhaps this was Hitler's escape vehicle!!!
Nope - just checked: it's not April 1st.

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Incidentally, I exploited all 42bhp from mine again this morning, still couldn't make him break traction, even on a wet roundabout.


loggo

410 posts

111 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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Possibly the op means 0.8mm and 0.6mm panel thicknesses?

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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loggo said:
Possibly the op means 0.8mm and 0.6mm panel thicknesses?
Could be that.

Like I have mentioned in my earlier post regarding tyres, unless you are building a period correct concourse resto, aftermarket items are really very good these days and cost pennies by comparison at about £92 per wing (UK obvs - cannot speak for Aus). Just look at the number of magazine featured cars that use aftermarket panels - the scene is cool with it. wink

I can honestly state that aside from the odd item, we had no problem at all getting anything we could have needed for a 1958 bug...you could build an entire late 60's car from the parts on the shelves of places like VW Heritage here in the UK (and I believe they actually have done to prove it!).

Fast and Spurious

1,295 posts

87 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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shoestring7 said:
If it really does have 8mm thick steel panels it's not just built like a tank, it is a tank.

SS7
Try 80mm +!

And no, it's not built like a tank...
https://youtu.be/NT-zwzIRKJg?t=1m5s

PistonBroker

2,406 posts

225 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Richard A said:
I've an idea that most of the overheating problems experienced by Beetles and Busses in the modern era are down to people leaving out the tinware which seals the upper engine compartment from the lower. The concept is that it should be fresh air only above the seal and hot air off the cooling fins below, which should then exit the car (ideally cooling the exhaust box a bit en route). If the tinware is left off, which I've seen, the hot air tends to get recirculated up to the fan intake.
Interesting, thank you.

Roony

378 posts

228 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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I drove a 1971 1302ls cabrio from 1984-1994.... must have done 15000 miles a year.... Not sure I could do it now!

Nangagutza

5 posts

83 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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I bought a '62 beetle (my first brand new car) drove it for years. Took the family around, did great in 6 inches of snow, and I changed the valves in #3 overnight before a college final exam. Great car.

deron

10 posts

167 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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My first car...loved it.

Needed welding every year, but it was great. Mine was a '72 1.6.

Had a skateboard wheel accelerator, volvo seats and a jvc snatchplate stereo. For 18yr old me it was the coolest car around.



Edited by deron on Friday 22 September 11:32


Edited by deron on Friday 22 September 11:35

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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deron said:
My first car...loved it.

Needed welding every year, but it was great. Mine was a '72 1.6.

Had a skateboard wheel accelerator, volvo seats and a jvc snatchplate stereo. For 18yr old me it was the coolest car around.


]
Nice - and I am guessing that like me when I was that age, you couldn't afford to lower it either? biggrin MY 1303S had the same EPMI 8's in black with the silver outer and about 8ft between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the front arch. Ha ha. Being an 18yo student, there was no money for lowering the front like I would have wanted.

My black 1303S back then was a proper chick magnet as well. Or maybe that was my skater-dude hair and handsome looks....nope, definitely the car. frown