Engine Back In

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.
Braveheart

Tank's clean, not too much trouble. Just got a wipe-down on the outside. For the inside I threw in a length of chain and spent a long, muscle-tingling hour shaking it all about. I managed to loosen most of the rust, I reckon, and then finished it off with a good rinse with clean petrol. New bits of rubber hose for the connectors on the breather tubes and a lovely clean fuel hose and filter to finish it off. I cleaned the copious fine dust from the compartment and replaced the tank this afternoon.

It took a bit of grunting and farting but with the help of the faithful neighbour we managed to rattle the engine back into place and bolt it up tight. Thanks mate! We are half way through giving it a service and have replaced points, condensor and a few other goodies. The tappets have been adjusted and the remaining service parts have been sourced from the helpful Charl at Beetle Beauties. Will finish the engine servicing during the week and we can look at starting her up again soon.


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CooP

Fuel Tank Out

Men, for the sake of getting a living, forget to live.
Margaret Fuller

Whew, fuel tank's out. A bit more struggle than I expected, owing to a pair of hidden bolts beneath the bulkhead that I took a while to discover. It was covered in fine dust but now looks brand new after a bit of soap and water. Inside a few spots of surface rust can be seen in the upper half but it's in fabulous condition for it's 41 years.


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CooP

I'm Back - Engine Out

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
Andre Gide

Update
Seemingly endless torrential rain left me in a very fed-up state and I've neglected the project for far too long. I've been employed six days a week and have not had a lot of spare time. Excuses excuses!

One of my VW-crazy neighbours has motivated me to get cracking again and even offered to help out with tools, time and labour - thanks Marius! I'll come and help you with yours on alternate Wednesdays. Ah yes, the good old barter system.

He has persuaded me that I'd me a lot more motivated if I was actually driving the beast so my immediate focus will be on engine, running gear, brakes and linkages.

Marius has popped over with his toolbox and his "hard-labour" head screwed firmly on. He almost single handedly removed all the dirty bits and crawled around on the cold floor to loosen all of the right bolts.

After lots of hemming and hawing and re-checking the manual (a.k.a. book of lies) we managed to find the correct bolts. Then it was just a "heave"and a "ho" and she was out on the floor. Lots of little bits to buy for the engine, mostly rubbery ones, yee-haaaaw. Next the fuel tank is coming out...


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CooP

Straighten Up!

It's the most unhappy people who most fear change.
Mignon McLaughlin

Once again a samaritan has come to my aid. The front passenger door has been aligned correctly for me by neighbour, Marius, and it opens and closes beautifully now. The incorrect striker plate was the cause of most of my problems but the hinges needed spacing and aligning too. While he was here he aligned the driver's door accurately and correctly too, brilliant. Where would we be without mates, eh? Thanks Marius.


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CooP

Getting There

Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.
Anatole France

I've been doing random bits here and there but have spent a lot of time working on making a replica of the "rock n roll" bed hinges. Maybe I can make a few bucks selling it off to another VW lover. I have managed to finish filling and flatting the left-hand sliding door. It still has the odd ripple and wave but looks pretty acceptable to my skew eye. I'm hoping that it won't be obvious to the casual observer that it used to be a sliding door...

Front is still a bit wobbly looking with a few high and low spots but it's getting there - gotta keep on sanding!


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CooP

Dent Doctor

Everything we possess that is not necessary for life or happiness becomes a burden, and scarcely a day passes that we do not add to it.
Robert Brault

There are a few random dents around the body. I shall probably ignore the smaller ones and just paint over them (!) but these in the pic needed to be fixed. I have, as usual, just blathered some red oxide with a brush over the finished work - I'll flat it all down nicely later. The recent rain storms have brought up the old rust issue again, surprise. If I had a proper budget for this project then I might consider putting a roof up.


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CooP

Helping Hand

Happiness consists, not in possessing much, but in being content with what we possess. He who wants little always has enough.
Zimmermann

Young colleague Bradley came over for few hours to help out with some of the hard labour. Thanks mate! I have spent so much of the previous month with the same old thing - sanding and filling...it's great to have a helping hand. Wonder if he'll still be smiling at the end of the day?


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CooP