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chowmama

(949 posts)

182. An old Beetle, don't know the year.

Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:19 PM

Nov 2

No heat, and you could see the road through the floor in places. Cost me $200.

I had my hands in every part of that engine, aided by a Volkswagens For The Compleat Idiot book. Tuned it on the regular. Then My Baby developed a rattle, so I eventually took it to a rent-your-own garage space that let you use their tools and equipment, and advice from the owner. As it turned out, a pebble had gotten past all the shielding, punctured a push rod tube and was up inside, wearing out the push rod. I (and the owner) were surprised it hadn't snapped yet. While the engine was in pieces, I sent the valves out to be redone and did everything else myself.

The owner gave me the fisheye at first and admitted later he didn't think a teenage girl could do it. He only helped me in two parts. To get the engine out of the car, you had to undo almost all the bolts, push a transmission jack under the engine, undo the last bolts and then lift the back end of the chassis and 'wheelbarrow' the car out of the way. This takes two people to accomplish, and not that much effort. He probably could have done it by himself.

The second and last part was the carburetor. I took it apart and cleaned it, put it back together - and the damned car wouldn't run. I just sat there, completely unable to think what to do next. The owner and his visiting friend advised me to take it apart and put it back together again. I did and the sucker ran. The friend said "Congratulations, now you know how to fix a carburetor".

My favorite part was changing the oil. The original Bug had an oil filter...Well, imagine a tennis ball made out of window screening. Cut it in half and staple it down to a platform. Take your thumb and press in a divot about halfway to the bottom. This is your filter. The divot catches rocks, bolts and small children; everything else gets through. Change the oil monthly or woe be unto you. Every time I changed it, I found a half a nut. No clue where the other half went or what it held up.

I loved that car in a way I haven't loved a car since.

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debm55

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