I shall be at Aqaba. That, IS written!

My dear old friend Paul whom I had known since my Jr. High School days, worked his ass off in school and earned himself a one way ticket to Stanford University. We were all proud of him and agreed that we would all embark on a pilgrimage to visit him in the rolling hills of Palo Alto located a stone throw’s away from my own little happiest place on earth; San Francisco.

The initial plan of attack was to pile Jay, Steve, and Tu-Uyen into my Super Beetle along with four mountain bikes and all of our gear. Due to the limited storage capacity of the car, the rules were one backpack per person, one jacket, plus any mountain bike gear (helmet, shoes, tools, etc.). In addition, I packed my toolbox and hydraulic jack in the event of any roadside repairs; after all, what could possibly go wrong? Famous last words, as they say. Anyone felt the need to bring additional gear; you had to carry it on your lap. Being as we were young college boys with a healthy appetite, one had to account for the numerous bags of cookies, chips, and cans of soda which also took up valuable space. All of these items fit perfectly tucked away in the rear luggage space, front trunk, underneath the rear seat opposite the battery tray, and on Tu-Uyen’s lap (he brought an extra bag). It is amazing what you can fit in a Super Beetle, the extra space allowed by the McPherson front end really does help.

Four bikes, two bike racks…..well, not exactly. One bike rack, one free ski rack with a myriad orchestra of bungee cords that even Santiago Calatrava would find amazing.

Like I said, what could possibly go wrong.......

Aqaba!

As if struck by lightning after listening to the silent wisdom of the desert, T.E. Lawrence proclaims with conviction and force, “Aqaba!” After a few beers and juvenile dares, I proclaimed, “San Francisco!”

Lawrence of Arabia didn’t quite understand the challenges that lay ahead on his journey through the Nefud Desert, a journey considered impassible by the Bedouins. Yet, Lawrence had faith, in his companions and his camels. I too had faith, in my companions and my 1974 Super Beetle. How could a simple journey compare to that of Lawrence and the Arabs you say? Seattle to San Francisco is but a mere 900 miles away via fresh asphalt surrounded by every modern convenience imaginable such as rest stops with indoor plumbing and scenic green space, cafes where single talls and double talls flow like the Nile, and fueling stations with endless wells of 91 Octane. So how does a simple excursion between four college friends to visit a fifth turn into our own impassible Nefud Desert?

1500S Engine Rebuild – Part 1 Overview

There are several schools of thought when rebuilding a motor. Two main categories are to keep it stock or to modify for higher performance. Within these two categories, an unlimited number of options present themselves. For example, you can have a stock motor that is period correct with NOS parts or OEM parts or replacement parts. This would all depend on availability and condition of parts. In addition, you can also build a factory correct and stock motor but, from a different production year. Performance wise, you have even more options, vintage performance, cal-custom performance, modern performance, a Type 4 transplant, or even a Porsche transplant. Your options are unlimited, especially if you have one of those gigantic wallets filled with wads of cash.

The key to remember though, is buy the best that you can and take your time. As Gene Berg once said, “pay once, cry once”. I cannot stress the magnitude of these words. The Volkswagen and Porsche world are flooded with parts manufacturers who make excellent products which are equal if not better than originals and those who make excellent paperweights. In addition, buy from reputable distributors and work with reputable shops. You can always check the forums in The Samba for recommendations on both. NOS parts when available are great, however realize that these items have been sitting around for decades, so depending on the part make sure you inspect and clean it prior to installation.

When I purchased Puddy, the motor was the original in stock condition, but looked and ran just a little tired which of course led to a rebuild. Now, my intent is to preserve this car to as original condition as possible, however I also plan for the car to be driven. Not only to the corner grocery store or local show, but to destinations across several states or even countries. Bearing that in mind, I chose to rebuild the motor with some minor upgrades that would increase reliability and performance however keep the stock appearance. Some would argue such upgrades, but given today’s speed limits (or lack their of) and availability of replacement parts, minor changes won’t hurt. The original specifications for this motor consist of an 83mm bore and 69mm stroke for a total of 1493cc (1500cc). Carburetion comes from twin Solex PDSIT carburetors atop single ported 1500cc heads, and ignition from a Bosch ZV/JCU4R3 vacuum advance distributor.

My changes to the motor were minor and were meant to improve power and reliability. The new specifications for this motor are 85.5mm bore and 69mm stroke with a counterweighted crankshaft for a total of 1584cc (1600cc). Ignition and carburetion remained the same; however the heads were replaced with single port 1600cc heads. Volkswagen redesigned the castings to improve air flow by increasing the cooling fin area around the top of the head. I also had the flywheel, crankshaft, fan, and pulley assembly fully balanced. The last item was the addition of a Gene Berg 1.5 qt thin sump. Oil pressure and temperature gauge senders were also added to monitor engine vitals. I had Jerry and the boys at Northwest Connecting Rod Service handle all the cleaning, inspection, and assembly of the long-block. As usual, their work was top notch. I’m happy to report that the motor runs quiet, smooth, and has plenty of power for those long highway trips and with the exception of the oil sump, looks relatively stock.

A few items still require attention including some of the hardware which need re-plating, the generator which is a temporary, the coil, and the exhaust system which is from a later model. All in due time of course.

2.5 Children

They say the average American household consists of two adults and 2.5 children. While having a half child to me seems a little odd, I certainly fit within the statistic when it comes to the mechanical children in our household.

I currently own 2.5 air-cooled Volkswagens. First is Dolores. My trusty 1964 beetle equipped with an original 40 hp 1200cc motor. This car is workhorse; always fun to drive, always reliable, never lets me down. She has been with me for over 12 years.



Next would be the latest acquisition, a 1964 1500S Variant (Squareback). It’s probably more Sydney’s car than mine, since the whole reason for purchasing Puddy, was so that Sydney would have something comfortable to ride in. This is a very beautiful car. Classic 1960s lines, a great color combination, and the ultimate in luxurious VW driving from an era long gone. Puddy has also been my crash course into the Type 3 world.



And last, would be the .5 child. Now, mind you this is in no way any reflection on the importance and admiration for this car. This has been the one that’s been with me through thick and thin. Through the driver’s test, first licensed solo trip, major high school outings, those long memorable college road trips, spur of the moment drives to concerts across the border, first real job interviews, and many other memorable and unforgettable events in my life. It’s also, the longest project car I’ve ever had, which as you can see, is why it’s currently in .5 status.

What's it All About?

What is it about a certain type of machine that creates an obsession which never ends? Something that drives you to give time, emotion, blood, sweat, tears, days, nights, money, and dedication to a level you could possible never imagine? The $20 solution which ends up costing $200 (since I’m doing this, I might as well do that too), the one part purchase that turns into one lot purchase (hey, never know when you’ll need a spare, and I might as well buy that part too) the thirty minute fixes that end up taking hours (sorry, no good explanation). Is it pure madness or some natural human condition only few of us are able to tap into?

Well, I often asked myself these questions and over many years, I’ve yet to find an absolute answer so on that note, welcome to Luftgekϋhlt; a window into my obsession.