Condition of the chassis goes hand-in-hand with the bodywork, since the floor is in fact the chassis. Lift the carpets to get a handle on the state of the floor sections, especially under the back seat below the battery. The air-cooled VW engine is one of those designs which is perfect in standard form and modifying one component invariably impacts on another. Bear in mind that all you see with the engine lid open is the inlet manifold and carburettor with the fan shroud behind it.
The bulk of the engine is underneath, with the black-painted pressed tin panels around the base of the engine compartment designed to separate the hot cylinders below from the cooler air above. The engine has long been regarded as bulletproof but crucially, only when in standard form and properly maintained.
An engine with incorrect ignition timing and valve clearances will start to run hot on long motorway trips and heat is the enemy of any air-cooled engine. A knowledgeable owner will know this and will have kept on top of the maintenance.
Speaking of which, there may be no water in the engine but the oil is vital to its cooling so regular changes and decent oil are crucial. Check who built the engine and do your research. A standard engine in fine fettle will sound like a sewing machine at idle, with a precise, smooth mechanical beat. Any clattering suggests loose valve clearances or other issues. The VW gearbox is similarly robust and major problems will be obvious via alarming noises. Jumping out of gear can often be cured by attention to the linkage adjustment at the base of the lever, while a rattly lever with woolly shift action can be transformed by changing the nylon knuckle joint under the access plate below the back seat.
One to leave to the experts. Leaky driveshaft gaiters are a straightforward fix or a split boot design makes for an easier DIY job, while at the front end the torsion beam should be greased regularly. Start asking around your area for recommendations of people who can do the work you can't or are unwilling to do. Then, ask yourself if the restoration is worth the resell value of the car. If not, then you will have to ask yourself if you want to do it for sentimental reasons. Living full time in an RV sounds like fun.
Let's see. When life spins out of control and you are overwhelmed with debt and bills, bailing out and reducing your living costs may be the only chance you have. I was forced to live full time in an RV to survive. I will break down the associated costs. See pics and videos. We had a wonderful time. See photos of this free event. If you're thinking about trying to come up with some cool car name ideas for your vehicle, then this is the article to give you a jump start on the process.
Which of these ten basic problems is keeping you from starting your engine? Looking for the best space heater for your RV this Winter? Follow along with me as I provide research and reviews of the most popular space heater types on the market. Don't spend another frigid night with your old, inefficient space heater. This is a step-by-step how-to with photo illustrations chronicling the DIY removal and replacement of a floor and repair of the roof of a Palomino Stampede Ultralight travel trailer RV.
Factual description and specifications of the top muscle cars from the 60's and 70's. What's fastest? A look at the history of electric vehicles and two of the main options today, the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3. Car flipping tips from an experienced successful flipper.
What cars to buy, where to buy them. How to check them out. Do you need a license? Diagnose a stuck caliper and avoid a potential road accident. We've all been in this situation: you're going home from the hospital after a serious injury caused by a fan throwing bricks at you as a joke, and you notice that the right lane is about to stop due to the construction of a new McBurger Wendy's, and you're stuck in traffic.
Learn about the EGR valve location in your vehicle with this practical guide, whether yours is vacuum or electronically operated. Here are some precautions drivers and passengers can take to avoid being injured by airbag deployment.
Auto Repair. DIY Auto Repair. RV Living. Safe Driving. Learning to Drive. All-Terrain Vehicles. Commercial Vehicles. Automotive Industry. Automotive History. Welcome to AxleAddict! Read More from AxleAddict. EGR Valve Location. Exhaust Leak Diagnosis. Diagnosing an Intake Manifold Leak. That's Not the Campground's Job. The Extraordinary Story of the Dale Car. Signs of a Bad Alternator. The EV Revolution. The Importance of Car Detailing.
Camshaft Position Sensor Test. Looking for a Great Campsite? Ask These Questions. Related Articles. By Charles Kikas.
By Peggy Woods. By Don. By Dan Ferrell. So, like many a car journalist, I drive a Volkswagen — the ultimate driving machine available for a reasonable monthly payment. My attainable dream car? So when I found out VW was loaning out vehicles from its heritage fleet to members of the media, I checked my borderline unnatural exuberance and fired off a polite email.
The result: I was able to spend about 24 hours each with two classic air-cooled s VWs — a Beetle and a Karmann Ghia convertible. Now that the euphoria has worn off, I've collected my thoughts below. The old chestnut with old Volkswagens is that someone of modest mechanical know-how could keep them running with a maintenance handbook, basic tools and a roll of duct tape.
These cars were stripped down to the essentials. It was the early s so an ashtray was among those essentials. The instrument panel includes a speedometer, an odometer and a fuel gauge a novelty not found on the earliest Beetles. Forget driver assistance features, airbags and crumple zones. In an old VW, you get a lap belt and whatever metal happens to be between you and the oncoming object.
If it's a frontal or side collision, that's pretty much nothing. Modern cars are also enormous compared to the old VWs. The IIHS knocks modern cars for safety if they are under 2, lbs ; the Beetle checks in at about 1,, about half the weight of the modern Golf. The Karmann Ghia was a couple hundred pounds more.
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