My dead Beetle

[whitedog]

Well, I bought the Beetle knowing it had engine damage and had some ideas on which direction to go depending on how bad things are.

Two nights ago I got the head off and found out how bad it is.

THe head is trashed which I excpected. One piston is thrashed from the valve bouncing around. The other pistons show where valve contact was made as well as where transfered metal bounced around on the other pistons. When I rolled the #1 piston down, I found grooves in the bore.

Therefore, I'm not going to rebuild. I have some feelers out for a replacement engine but any additional options you know about would be appreciated.

It looks like I'll keep the car though. I probably won't be able to recoup my costs, so my thought is to lift it, protect it and sell my truck, using the Beetle for off-road adventures.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[GINA]

You could always sell it for parts also if most of it is in good shape

[kcfoxie]

Keep that engine for parts; that's my suggestion. I LOVE YOU, btw. I want to lift one of my two bugs, probably my new black one.

[Growler]

Hey WD, glad to see you on here.

Good luck with the heart transplant.

[scooperhsd]

I wouldn't take a NB offroad, even if it WAS lifted.

[Whitacre]

Why not?

Get some good off road tires on there, and some under-armor and a lift for those hard to clear areas...and i think it would be fun! Its a tough car so it could handle most things for some time killing and fun. I wouldnt go mountain climbing with it, nor would i wade through a flooded stream or a mud slide, but i'd take it out on a rally track or through a big field with some mud available...especially a TDI how FUN! that would be.

I wonder, if you used it for mostly off road if you'd be able to buy the off road diesel (if you can find it) and you wouldnt be breaking any laws?

[mgwerks]

Originally Posted by scooperhsd

I wouldn't take a NB offroad, even if it WAS lifted.

They do quite nicely, thank you, if properly protected.

Originally Posted by Whitacre

I wouldnt go mountain climbing with it, nor would i wade through a flooded stream or a mud slide, but i'd take it out on a rally track or through a big field with some mud available...especially a TDI how FUN! that would be.

It is!

Originally Posted by Whitacre

I wonder, if you used it for mostly off road if you'd be able to buy the off road diesel (if you can find it) and you wouldnt be breaking any laws?

You could use that skanky high-sulphur off-road diesel legally only if the car was never driven on a public right-of-way.

[whitedog]

Man... I need to schoolin' on this forum. All of these replies and I didn't know about any of them...

Anyway, thanks for your input, one and all.

mgwerks, do you have first hand experience with the lifting thing? If so will I find lots of info here?

[mgwerks]

Yep. Oso is lifted 2".

Nope, little info on here. I'd go to www.tdiclub.com and contact user metalnerd. He is part of the current group producing these kits, in various lift heights, as I recall.

[whitedog]

I saw the Kits that MN has and that is the way I would go, but he also cautions that the 2' will put the alignment (Camber, I assume) at or beyond the limits of adjustment. Did you have this problem?

Is there another place where a dog may find folks that have installed these?

[whitedog]

Also, which hitch do you have?

The Drawtite:



Or the Hidden hitch:

[IMG]
http://www.autotrucktoys.com/beetle/images/hiddenhitch_roundtube_md.jpg[/IMG]

Or something else?

[mgwerks]

Although the kits they have are slightly different in construction, they achieve the lift through the same geometry changes as the kit I have, which was the forerunner of theirs. My alignment has always fallen well within spec, and is not at or near an adjustment limit. I don't know why they are experienceing this on their vehicles.
I haave a lifetime alignment on my vehicles, and I take the bug in every 6 months. it is rarely off, but is always easily adjusted if it is.

Oh by the way, it is the Draw-Tite hitch (U-Haul branded) that you have illustrated first.

[whitedog]

LOL! I thought I messed up that post so I didn't fix the second link.

If I had remembered you said Uhaul, I could have looked through their site.

Anyway... I'll do more research on this. On my Jetta there is the euro version that bolts into the frame somehow rather than the spare tire area. I certainly like that better, but I understand there are bumper issues to deal with. I wonder what I would find if I dropped my rear bumper. Would I find a way to fab a hitch that way?

Hmmmm

Anyway, I certainly don't know specifics on the MN lift and the alignment stuff. Maybe he is just being extra cautious and doing the CYA stuff, don'tcha know.

[mgwerks]

Originally Posted by whitedog

LOL! I thought I messed up that post so I didn't fix the second link.

If I had remembered you said Uhaul, I could have looked through their site.

Anyway... I'll do more research on this. On my Jetta there is the euro version that bolts into the frame somehow rather than the spare tire area. I certainly like that better, but I understand there are bumper issues to deal with. I wonder what I would find if I dropped my rear bumper. Would I find a way to fab a hitch that way?

Hmmmm

Anyway, I certainly don't know specifics on the MN lift and the alignment stuff. Maybe he is just being extra cautious and doing the CYA stuff, don'tcha know.

A searching expedition over at www.tdiclub.com will produce a thread whereby a man did just this - created a euro-type hitch for his Jetta that bolts directly to teh frame heads. I believe the username was dieselprogrammer. He disassembled the rear of the car and fabbed it from scratch - it was a beautiful professional job. Completely hidden when the ball mount was removed.

Edit:
I searched the above site, and although dieselprogrammmer did indeed fab a custom hitch, it isn't the one I am thinking of. I will continue to look.

[whitedog]

I wonder how much of that would apply to the Beetle? I have been assuming the "frames" are different.

[mgwerks]

The basic car is the same. I know that the front and rear bumpers (under the bumper covers) mount in the same fahion on each car.

[whitedog]

I searched the above site, and although dieselprogrammmer did indeed fab a custom hitch, it isn't the one I am thinking of. I will continue to look.

Was that the one where he measureed everything, then made a mock-up in wood, then checked for fit before making it out of metal?

I may be a glutton for punishment, but I like the idea of not drililng a hole in the spare tire well. It could be reinforced, but that just makes a bigger hole when it gets ripped out.

When I rip off the hitch, I want it to destroy the car, see. I don't like to do things half way.

EDIT: I did find that thread (Thanks) and that is the one I was thinking of, but it's different than I remember. I like this one.

[mgwerks]

Originally Posted by whitedog

EDIT: I did find that thread (Thanks) and that is the one I was thinking of, but it's different than I remember. I like this one.

The thread I was thinking of was done (IIRC) on a red Jetta. If that is the one you found, please post the link.

[whitedog]

That's not the one I was thingking of. It was the Dp one.

ANYWAY>>>>>

[whitedog]

I got word that my long block is at PDX. If there is anyone in the portland area that would like to give me a hand loading the long block into my Jetta and would like me to buy them lunch, contact me before 8 AM Saturday.