http://i.ebayimg.com/images/m/mlUycTjmInKqff1xJU5UAzg/s-l200.jpg
You might want to add a stinger muffler to make it unique.
Older cars with electrical issues, everything is suspect. Start anywhere, but grounds are particularly good place to start. Start with the battery ground cable, replace the cable, and make sure it makes a good connection at both ends.
The ignition switch is another good part to just replace, it is cheap, and likely to much power goes thru the switch.
The wire that goes from the switch to the starter, should set that up with a relay, as someone else mentioned above.
Same deal the lights, replace the light switch, again I bet it is really cheap, then want to also set this up with a relay, if it doesn't have a relay. Then the switch just turns on the relay coil and the relay then turns on the lights, You can mount the relay at the front, but need a wire from the battery to the relay contact.
Check the original wiring diagram, and draw out what is needed for relays. Anything with a large current draw should have a relay. The switch should just activate the relay coil.
Also anything that isn't working all the time or poorly, check the grounds and any other connections. I sometimes use some anti-sieze to improve electrical connections, but you have to be careful, since it is a liquid conductor, and you can create a different problem with that.
DO you have volt/ohm meter for trouble shooting?
Need a digital one, they are now fairly cheap.
Digital is better, since there is a small voltage change you will often be looking for. For example should check voltage with it not running and then with it running, should have about 2 volts more with it running. If not getting a good charge with it running the lights will be dim and eventually the battery will die.
In reply to NoPermitNeeded:
Canoe is slang around here for an unwanted advertisement that often gets posted to forums based on random word association. See Also SPAM.
Sorry about that just meant to link the picture of the stinger exhaust, that I think is cute.
I am sure you can find those from several sources, not recommending anyone in particular.
Anyhow, you have a fun old car, which is also a good one for learning how to fix things. Older cars are simpler, making them much better to start out with. But like most older cars the electrical stuff will need some attention, it might not have been very reliable way back then, and the years since didn't help any. I have similar issues with my old Maserati.
In reply to TED_fiestaHP:
Yeah, an aftermarket exhaust is on the list as soon as I fix all the stuff that makes the car not really "dailyable"
In reply to TED_fiestaHP:
No worries, we just have to be on constant vigil for the terror inducing bots that spam the site with "Cheap Viagra" and "Earn $10k a week from home!"
I am curious as to why the third and further lines in your posts are small text that runs off the right of the page?
NoPermitNeeded:
Sweet ride man! You are doing better than I was at your age. I had a crap 240sx (pre drift tax) that was rusty and had very little interior. That Bug is sweet
In reply to singleslammer:
a 240sx is still pretty cool in my book, it sucks that they all have been marked up by wannabe tuercks and forsbergs
Starting to get real about piecing together an interior. I had the idea yesterday to change from red to black. I like the thought of a black on black super. I can easily scrounge a black stock rear seat from a local VW place, but I want very much to upgrade the front seats. I live where there isn't a straight road, and everytime I take a corner I fall out of the seat. Even a mild upgrade would be welcome. Do "universal" seat rails work well enough, or is there a Frankenstein of stock rails I can use? Preferably would be 944 or GTI seats, but open to suggestions.
Sorry for no update in a while... life, ya know? I've just about decided that due to how clean (rust free) this car is I'm going to keep it mostly stock and make it something that is as livable a beetle can be. I started the primer sealer tonight, about to start the blending, will have pics later. The next thing on the "need" list is an alignment; the car pulls to the right and the steering wheel isn't centered at all. This will be coupled with some new tires.
My VW guru says that I should be fine to just replace the upholstery and cushions on the seats. This would be a temporary fix, as I would still slip and slide out of them at every turn. A wooden roof rack and a new steering wheel are next up.
In reply to smokindav :
Currently daily driving it, actually doing an auto-cross this Saturday; to quote someone who auto crossed a bug a while back: "It's like bringing a butter knife to a gun fight". I'm super excited, even if I will be the slowest there by a mile.
These cars can actually be made to handle decently. Supers have easy to tweak/swap/fandangle front suspension components and the rears are ok with a bit of tweaking. My last one was a hair under 1900lbs on the road and I could have gone lighter with trimming or fiberglass. Tires and weight count more than anything in autox. I still miss my VW.
Somehow I missed this thread when it was first started.
Have any current pictures?
