Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Out of My Mind
| [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107645] |
Sun, 05 December 2010 23:23  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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I think maybe I'm out of my mind! Despite having plenty of "to do's" left
on the GMC, the sight of that 73 yellow VW sitting beside the road 35 miles
south of here kept niggling at me. So today I went down to take a closer
look at it.
No dents, only surface rust on the floor boards inside and under the hood
(didn't check the battery compartment), pretty recent cheap paint job, low
mileage 5 yr old tires (doesn't bother me much considering the tire size &
VW weight), chrome wheels, single chrome muffler across the back, decent
upholstery & carpets.
Engine rebuilt about 2000 miles ago; it cranked right up but ran rough as a
cob -- 1 yr old gasoline might have contributed to that. Brakes replaced 0
miles and 1 yr ago (now no one can get the air out). I filled the MC and
pumped up enough brakes to go for a short ride. Good clutch, transmission
shifted well & good synchromesh (Porsche design), and engine, while still
rough, pulled well and didn't stumble. Steered well and brakes, considering
the air, felt good.
He wouldn't come down from his $2200 to my $1500, but at $1700 he's going to
trailer it to me tomorrow. :-(
I really am out of my mind if I seriously think SHE's going to ride in it in
hot weather. But I'm gonna try 'cause I'd sure like towing something 1/2
the weight of her CRV.
Now the question is, "How do I build the base plate for the tow bar?" Dan
G, I stumbled across your question on Samba, but didn't find a decent
answer. What did you wind up doing? I'm determined to continue to use the
Blue Ox coach-mounted tow bar that fits the CRV and the S-10. But I don't
necessarily want to reinvent the wheel if someone's beaten me to it.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107649 is a reply to message #107645] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 06:17  |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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way to go Ken !!!
here is some info
http://gmcmotorhome.info/toad.html#vw
gene
On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 9:23 PM, Ken Henderson <hend4800@bellsouth.net>wrote:
> I think maybe I'm out of my mind! Despite having plenty of "to do's" left
> on the GMC, the sight of that 73 yellow VW sitting beside the road 35 miles
> south of here kept niggling at me. So today I went down to take a closer
> look at it.
>
> No dents, only surface rust on the floor boards inside and under the hood
> (didn't check the battery compartment), pretty recent cheap paint job, low
> mileage 5 yr old tires (doesn't bother me much considering the tire size &
> VW weight), chrome wheels, single chrome muffler across the back, decent
> upholstery & carpets.
>
> Engine rebuilt about 2000 miles ago; it cranked right up but ran rough as a
> cob -- 1 yr old gasoline might have contributed to that. Brakes replaced 0
> miles and 1 yr ago (now no one can get the air out). I filled the MC and
> pumped up enough brakes to go for a short ride. Good clutch, transmission
> shifted well & good synchromesh (Porsche design), and engine, while still
> rough, pulled well and didn't stumble. Steered well and brakes,
> considering
> the air, felt good.
>
> He wouldn't come down from his $2200 to my $1500, but at $1700 he's going
> to
> trailer it to me tomorrow. :-(
>
> I really am out of my mind if I seriously think SHE's going to ride in it
> in
> hot weather. But I'm gonna try 'cause I'd sure like towing something 1/2
> the weight of her CRV.
>
> Now the question is, "How do I build the base plate for the tow bar?" Dan
> G, I stumbled across your question on Samba, but didn't find a decent
> answer. What did you wind up doing? I'm determined to continue to use the
> Blue Ox coach-mounted tow bar that fits the CRV and the S-10. But I don't
> necessarily want to reinvent the wheel if someone's beaten me to it.
>
> Ken H.
> Americus, GA
> '76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
> www.gmcwipersetc.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107667 is a reply to message #107663] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 09:51 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Jon,
Thanks for those links. There are certainly plenty of VW tow bars available
and at prices I couldn't hope to beat by making my own (as I had to do in
'71 for the '57 Porsche 356A I was restoring).
But, I'm going to use a base plate only on the VW. After using the
on-coach-mounted tow bar, I won't go back to trying to direct HER to precise
alignment of a rigid tow bar -- it's hard enough to get HER into a 12"
diameter circle. :-)
Ken H.
On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 10:17 AM, Jon Roche <lqqkatjon@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> why not use a regular VW tow bar??
>
> can be found on craigs list cheap sometimes,
> or new:
>
> http://www.appletreeauto.com/universal-mount-plate-pr-2343.html
>
> or
>
> http://www.jbugs.com/category/vw-tow-bars.html
>
> otherwise go to:
> www.thesamba.com
>
> and look in the classifieds.
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107676 is a reply to message #107667] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 11:57 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Ken Henderson wrote on Mon, 06 December 2010 07:51 |
Thanks for those links. There are certainly plenty of VW tow bars available
and at prices I couldn't hope to beat by making my own (as I had to do in
'71 for the '57 Porsche 356A I was restoring). ....
|
Ken,
Super or standard Beetle?
I haven't messed with bugs for 30 years but I have read it makes a BIG difference when setting up as a towd. Standards are MUCH easier. (You just connect to the tubes of the front suspension.) The Super Beetle has struts... no good place to connect a towbar.
I case you didn't know, Super Beetles have curved windshields. I THINK the "standards" still had a flat windshield that year.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107682 is a reply to message #107676] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 12:25 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Mike,
It's a standard Beetle. I've seen those tow bars which basically put
U-bolts around the lower torsion bar tube as the attachment and pivot.
Since I'm going to use the on-coach tow bar, that won't do for me except
that attachment method may be OK with forward points to eliminate vertical
motion of the tow bar attachment ears.
The Blue Ox base plate attaches with clamps around both torsion bar tubes at
each side. That looks better to me, but complicates the routing to the
bumper. I'll think of something after the VW is delivered this afternoon.
And I get the brakes working. And... :-)
Ken H.
On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 12:57 PM, Mike Miller <m000035@gmail.com> wrote:
> Super or standard Beetle?
> ... Standards are MUCH easier. (You just connect to the tubes of the front
> suspension.) ...
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107684 is a reply to message #107682] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 12:36 |
stick miller
Messages: 1036
Registered: March 2010
Location: Americus, Georgia
Karma: 0
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Some guys just have all the fun.
Stick Miller
'78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
'76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie" Sold
'84 Bluebird Wanderlodge - "Past Tents"
Americus, GA
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107698 is a reply to message #107695] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 17:17 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| WD0AFQ wrote on Mon, 06 December 2010 14:25 |
[Standard beetle]... It is a perfect rig to tow if you can get by without air conditioning.
|
That isn't a problem up here in the "great north-wet." Only a few weeks each year when we want AC.
The only reason I do not already have a bug for a towd, is the clutch. Wife WILL NOT learn to drive one.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107704 is a reply to message #107698] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 18:04 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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The YELLOW VW was delivered today as scheduled. It's probably a little
better than I thought, though I didn't have time to go over it much before
dark. I may have to rename the GMC "Big Bird" so the VW can go by "Tweety
Bird".
The recently rebuilt engine has another feature I hadn't heard: 1800 cc
displacement. It's still idling terrible -- hopefully primarily because of
the old gas. I'll see if I cant' get it sounding better tomorrow, but
beneath the stumbling, I think I hear a sound engine.
Under the hood there were a few new parts such as front window trim, new
wind-wing latches, window visors, control cables, door gaskets, etc.
I'd misunderstood about the brakes: He had only had the drums turned and
new shoes installed; not new wheel cylinders. When they couldn't bleed the
brakes they did replace the MC. I'm not real comfortable with a brake job
done by someone who can't bleed them so I'll probably be tearing them all
down soon. Since I can get a complete kit of front knuckles, discs,
bearings, seals, and calipers for about $300, I may just go ahead with that
conversion.
Sorry, Dan, I won't be able to entice you to bring Teri east by accepting
your bid -- $2000 was my ceiling before I examined the VW. I'd have gone at
least that high if the PO hadn't accepted less (don't tell him -- I didn't
even pay him for trailering it 35 miles to me).
I'll try to get photos tomorrow.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107733 is a reply to message #107704] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 20:32 |
larry erd
Messages: 132
Registered: August 2010
Karma: 0
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Your new bug has new pistons and jugs (cylinders), a1600cc (stock) will take
1800cc jugs
with no machining on the case. IF you remove the bumpers and go to nerf bars
using the
bumper mounting holes, I did that back in the mid 60's and hooked a tow
bar the the nerf bars.
Plus it looked a lot better than the old bumpers. JUst mount your base plate
to the nerfs. Quik
on and off.
On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 7:04 PM, Ken Henderson <hend4800@bellsouth.net>wrote:
> The YELLOW VW was delivered today as scheduled. It's probably a little
> better than I thought, though I didn't have time to go over it much before
> dark. I may have to rename the GMC "Big Bird" so the VW can go by "Tweety
> Bird".
>
> The recently rebuilt engine has another feature I hadn't heard: 1800 cc
> displacement. It's still idling terrible -- hopefully primarily because of
> the old gas. I'll see if I cant' get it sounding better tomorrow, but
> beneath the stumbling, I think I hear a sound engine.
>
> Under the hood there were a few new parts such as front window trim, new
> wind-wing latches, window visors, control cables, door gaskets, etc.
>
> I'd misunderstood about the brakes: He had only had the drums turned and
> new shoes installed; not new wheel cylinders. When they couldn't bleed the
> brakes they did replace the MC. I'm not real comfortable with a brake job
> done by someone who can't bleed them so I'll probably be tearing them all
> down soon. Since I can get a complete kit of front knuckles, discs,
> bearings, seals, and calipers for about $300, I may just go ahead with that
> conversion.
>
> Sorry, Dan, I won't be able to entice you to bring Teri east by accepting
> your bid -- $2000 was my ceiling before I examined the VW. I'd have gone
> at
> least that high if the PO hadn't accepted less (don't tell him -- I didn't
> even pay him for trailering it 35 miles to me).
>
> I'll try to get photos tomorrow.
>
> Ken H.
> Americus, GA
> '76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
> www.gmcwipersetc.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107736 is a reply to message #107733] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 20:59 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Larry,
I'm not a careful enough driver to risk hooking the two bar to only the
bumper mountings -- I'll fasten my base plate to the front suspension or not
tow.
Ken H.
On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 9:32 PM, larry erd <1ljerd@gmail.com> wrote:
> Your new bug has new pistons and jugs (cylinders), a1600cc (stock) will
> take 1800cc jugs with no machining on the case. IF you remove the bumpers
> and go to nerf bars using the
> bumper mounting holes, I did that back in the mid 60's and hooked a
> tow bar the the nerf bars. lus it looked a lot better than the old
> bumpers. JUst mount your base plate to the nerfs. Quik
> on and off.
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107750 is a reply to message #107695] |
Mon, 06 December 2010 22:05 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
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| WD0AFQ wrote on Mon, 06 December 2010 14:25 |
As you know, the GMC will never know the bug is back there. It is a perfect rig to tow if you can get by without air conditioning.
Dan
|
I bought a brand new VW in 1965. In early 1966 I decided I wanted AC on it. I went to the local dealer to talk about it, and the parts guy said "I have one in the back if you want it". I did, and had a very rare 1965 bug with AC (and a 6 volt electrical system). It worked very well, other than at slow speeds when not enough air would flow through the condensers which hung under the rear swing axels. There was a fan on one of them, but it rusted shut in the first salty PA winter. Now, the 30 amp 6 volt electrical system had issues alone, without the AC, but I was able to work around that.
I was 24 then. Ah, the memories of life 44 years ago.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] Out of My Mind [message #107777 is a reply to message #107762] |
Tue, 07 December 2010 08:15 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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But it's not air conditioned!
Ken H.
On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 2:35 AM, Larry Davick <ljdavick@comcast.net> wrote:
> He puts a Cad 500 in his Birchaven just because he can, but questions his
> own sanity because he got a great deal on a fantastic toad???
>
> You are in a group of a Great Many Crazies (GMC) so the bug is just a
> symptom ;-)
>
> Way to go Ken! Sounds like you got a good one.
>
> Larry Davick
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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