AoT's White Wonder

[AoT]

Well done!
Wanna work on a buggy next?

Thanks, with the right tools and some good intel it might just happen!

[AoT]

Mike, they're just laying there. She took the retaining rings inside to clean them up.

Well that's not going to happen. Two of the three tabs on the rings are gone and the screws holding the rest together are striped and rusted solid. Those cable ties they used, very creative. Since the plan is to get those front fenders primed and painted over the winter might as well get new headlight kits. My first online order!!

[Glenn]

I have my old ones and have been saving them since 1997 just for you. They're yours if you want them.

[AoT]

I have my old ones and have been saving them since 1997 just for you. They're yours if you want them.

Great offer, thanks!! Sure you want to part with them? Thought I might get new ones for the new fenders when I get them painted but these will get the wonder back on the road til then. I'll get them from you next week.

[Glenn]

They're yours...

If you do get new one, i'll take them back an save them for another 13 years.

[AoT]

They're yours...

If you do get new one, i'll take them back an save them for another 13 years.

Works for me.

[AoT]

Thanks for the loaners for my headlights GR but I went to town on the ones I had and got them apart. Used the grinder to cut away the screw heads and then drilled thru the stems and got them out. Gave everything a good run on the wire wheel and after some spray paint they look pretty good. Got some new hardware to get them installed. Did some experimenting on the chrome rings and still waiting for the final result. If it buys me some time it will be worth it.

FYI - there was a phillips head screwdriver in with the loaner pieces that has your name on it.

A mismatched set but that's what give the wonder its charm!!


Cleaned up and ready for install.

[Glenn]

Nice... you've been busy.

[Glenn A]

Looks great AoT.

[AoT]

Varnish stopped by to see what keeping the wonder from rolling. Got a little fuel leak on the diaphrgam and he recommends getting the carb rebuilt. Not opening and closing right. Learned alot about the fuel system. And there's issues with the starter. That slow cough turned into a click and it won't crank.

It's a great car when it runs so that is good incentive make it work.

thanks for all the help Joh!!

[Tom]

thanks for all the help Joh!!

Who is Joh ?

[AoT]

thanks for all the help Joh!!

Who is Joh ?

a/k/a Varnish

[AoT]

Got the rebuilt stater in today. Seems like it always the coldest day of the year when I do this. Last one was New Years eve day. Second time around is much quicker since I knew what to expect and it turned over on the first try. Took a pic of the one that was there to show what looks like the CV joint showing some wear and leaking. You can see the stater is streaked.



Also there is an oil leak. The engine compartment is dry but under the car forward of the tranny mount and dripping off the left side ridge next to the oil drain plug. That is not leaking but this is the lowest point and liquid always finds the path of least resistance. I took a pic of the splatter that is above this area to show both.

Lower ridge under cylinders

Black spots are fresh oil.


Just thought this was a different prospective of where the starter meets the fly wheel.

[Tom]

Thats where mine was leaking from , it gets on everything from there . Did you replace the FRONT engine seal before you put in the motor ?

[volksbugusa]

is the boot ripped? it looks like the final seal in the tranny is leaking...not sure on the engine leaking oil .knowing glenn i am sure that he would have replaced the main seal...hope the clutch is not getting a soaking...all fixable..even the tranny leaks but the engine and tranny must be pulled out if it is the final seal leaking...matt

[AoT]

Got the work done on rebuilding the carb. There was lots of dry rot on the diaphragm that was casuing the gas to leak and when it was pulled off it looked like a spider had made it inside. Thanks for all the help, John!!

[AoT]

In anticpation of the wonder making its first public appearance this weekend I thought I'd give it a little facelift for the cameras. The front fenders are going to be replaced so this is just temp to make it look SWEET and give me a litlle more practice on doing body work. If I thought of it sooner I would have done the area around the headlamp, but I had just spent about 1/2 hour getting the lights adjusted and didn't want to take the ring off since there's not much support holding the lamp in place. Got new ones for the new fenders.

The front driver side has a lot of rust on the lower edge so I went at it with wire wheel. No rust through just surface rust and lots of pitting.


Got the edges feathered and went over the good paint with a fine sandpaper to rough it up.


A little rattle can primer and today I'll go over it with the finished coat. Looks a lot better already.


Let the parade begin!!

[Raj]

Looking great!


I cant wait to see it!

[AoT]

While some of you were busy trying to figure out the solve the "countdown", I thought I would keep working on my car. After some discussion, took off the headlamp ring and cleaned up the rust on the bottom rim. The weep holes in the headlight buckets were clogged so there is lots of rust from the water pooling. Put some bondo over the pitted areas and resanded and reprimed. Tomorrow I will do the top coat and install the headlamps.
All the paint under the headlamps just flaked off and the bucket is rusty.



Took off the bumper seals to clean up and spray with black satin since there was lots of overspray


Looking forward to Saturday!!

[mannys66]

look at you!! that fender looks sweet!

[Glenn A]

Way to go AoT that fender looks great.

[Glenn]

It's "Swapped".

[AoT]

A big shout out to Glenn Ring for making today happen. Had to fight a cold morning, but we got the engine out, replaced the oil cooler seals and got to work on getting the old tranny out. With help from Richie we got the donor transaxle cleaned up and fitted with some news parts, although some of the new parts had some fit issues. Cleaned up lots of the grease that the loose axle joints were spewing. No need for new boots. GR had to switch the nose cone to match the fit for this bug.

Gpt the replacement tranny lined up and bolted in place and next was getting clearance to get the engine under the car. We had a balancing act going on and BusBBQ Bill got things leveled out for the engine to slide under. Reconnected the fuel line and the wires and it started up like I knew it would. Clutch needs a little adjusting but I was able to get it cruising around the block shifting easily, YEAH!!

It was a long day but it worked out. The wonder has been revived and looking forward to getting out.

























Thanks to Glenn, Richie and Bill for giving up time today to keep another VW on the road. I am greatly appreciative.

[Glenn]

That picture is too funny.


And I LOVE the transmission rack. It made draining and refilling the gear lube a snap.


Left to do is adjust the clutch cable (wingnut real tight on cable end), replace accelerator cable and the BIG one.....

Fix the rear suspension. The PO must of tried to lower it and it's sitting on the rear snubbers.

[AoT]

That picture is too funny.

A real "gruppe" effort makes for success!!