blameth3playr

[blameth3playr]

Carburetor Rebuild and a Distributor Cap Upgrade

I just got some new parts in I can’t wait to build!

There’s something deeply satisfying about working on cars, especially when it’s a my VW Beetle. My latest project involved giving some much-needed attention and love to the carburetor for my 1971 Beetle. I also decided on swapping out the old orange distributor cap for a new clear one. Both jobs were small but make a huge difference in performance and aesthetic.

Rebuilding the Carburetor:

The carburetor had seen better days. Years of grime and buildup were making cold starts difficult and making it have performance issues. I opted for a full rebuild rather than replacing it, mostly to retain authenticity and because I want to learn how to repair my vehicle and be able to say that I built my own car. After removing the carburetor from the manifold I carefully disassembled it. I took note of the position of every spring and screw. I made sure to take few pictures and videos before opening it up making sure to properly mark where every screw and spring went. I also had to make sure I had all my cleaning and removing tools such as a can of carburetor cleaner, a can of compressed air, and a rebuild kit with new gaskets. The biggest challenge was making sure every passage was completely clear, especially the idle jet circuit. The carburetor in my car has also been swapped out before. At the moment I have a Solex H30/31Pict, the car from the factory had a Solex 34PICT3. My carburetor is smaller and it may have been done before in order to save on fuel. At the moment I have been able to rebuild the carburetor but it has not been placed back inside as I have found another issue or challenge I will need to work and so I will be keeping the carb off as I will be doing some work on the engine and having the carb removed will make the next steps easier.

Distributor Cap Swap

The distributor cap on the Beetle was the classic Bosch orange style, absolutely nothing wrong with it, it just looks boring. I replaced it with a new modern clear cap. Some purists might be mad at the idea, but I love being able to see the spark arc through the cap. It adds a bit of modern look and makes being able to see if the spark is going off a lot easier. Installing the new cap was a simple swap, but in the time of replacing the cap I took the opportunity to inspect all of the contact points as well. Everything was in decent shape, but a quick polish of the contacts ensured strong spark delivery. I will have to most likely get some new wires as well as the car is very old and rusting.

Rebuilding the carburetor reminded me why these cars are so beloved it was simple, mechanical, and endlessly rewarding. The clear distributor cap is a small touch that adds a spark of personality under the decklid. I hope to make the entire car custom. I am even thinking about going as far as creating my own wiring harness for the beetle replacing and creating the wires inside, but that is for the years to come.

If you’re restoring a Beetle, don’t underestimate how much these little updates can transform your every day ride.

If you guys like the cap or think I should keep it stock let me know! I hope you keep getting curious everyday and learn something about your car today!

[blameth3playr]

Repair or Replace?

The most iconic sound of an old Volkswagen Beetle is the chug of its air-cooled engine. Sadly I have not been able to hear mine, my car has not been wanting to start up recently. After a few NOT SO NICE words were said out loud and some further investigation I came to the conclusion that the issue is my carburetor.

The carburetor is the heart of the fuel system for older vehicles. It helps to have the right mixture of fuel and air before it enters the engine. This is important for the vehicle as it will lead to failure and possibly not being able to turn on due to it being blocked or leaking. There are a few options and ways to go about to fix the problem. I could buy a new carburetor and just put it on and hope that it fixes the issues, I could also have the car be taken to a mechanic shop which I do not want to do because I won't learn and lastly another viable solution would be to rebuild my carburetor. I am definitely going to be rebuilding my carburetor. I have been able to look at some videos and images on how to rebuild one and it seems like a puzzle which I am happy to try to complete. The rebuild kits are affordable and it will be a great way for me to experiment while also not breaking the bank. At this moment this is only a hypothesis as to what the problem is. There are some things that are great about older cars: there are no sensors or a crazy amount of wires but that may also be a downfall. There is no way to find a direct issue; it is all about trial and error. Given this I believe that older cars are more forgiving to mistakes. 

Giving the carburetor a rebuild will hopefully fix my issues but I am most definitely open to buying a replacement. I will try to rebuild the carburetor but if that is not something I am able to do I will buy a replacement in order to avoid further hassle and time wasted. 

This is something that will be new to me. I have done maintenance on vehicles but that was on a task I will say is more basic. I feel comfortable with changing brakes, refilling fluids, oil changes, tire changes, and replacing filters or issues with the intake but I have not dealt with a carburetor before. I will be taking a look and assessing the damages. If it does not look like I am able to fix it I will have to buy a replacement.

Making mistakes, breaking parts and tools will all be part of the journey and I will not let anything hold me back. Every new issue will bring an opportunity to learn something new. If you have tips or advice on how to rebuild one or you recommend a certain product let me know!

[blameth3playr]

Lets have some fun and learn something new today!

I can't wait to have this car running and on the road by the coast!

I hope to encourage everyone to be curious and learn something new everyday. We never stop learning. 

Lets learn how to work on your own car!

The feeling of pride when you walk up to a car you can say you built with your own hands and get it running is something I hope to have every single day. For my first project I will be working on it will be my 1971 Volkswagen Beetle. I bought the car back in October 2024. I chose to get a Beetle because in my mind it is an iconic car, it is universal. It has become such a big part of American culture as well as in the car culture and history. I hope that my journey and my adventure with this car will inspire you to maybe work on your car or learn something about what you drive every single day. Cars are a big part of the human life it allows us to travel and be in so many places with no restrictions. While most people see the car as a big machine and just metal parts I see them as something closer to a pet. I can help take care of it by doing maintenance and cleaning it, I spend money on it routinely almost as if it eats everyday, I take it out for a little spin around the block for some fresh air and to stretch out his legs. This is also the reason why restoring cards is such an interesting activity for me. I feel like I am taking in a car that needs help and I can fix it and make it come back to life and better than before. 

With the coming months I will be posting my progress with my 1971 Beetle I will be sharing photos, videos, clear honest reviews on products and tools as well as tips I wish I knew beforehand.I hope to create a fun and interactive environment so that we may all share information with one another and ask questions. I will try to make things as simple as possible so that everyone and anyone can follow along. Now I am no expert but I do feel comfortable with getting into the engine bay of a car and fixing the parts myself as it was a necessity. Not having funds really makes you be as adaptable as possible and be open to learning. If you have any suggestions, tips or advice I will truly appreciate the comments and messages. I hope you follow along my journey and let's get our hands dirty!