filthy rich solved! & other adventures

[Greg Merritt <gregm@umich.edu>]

Hi all,

	the '71 is back to its normal self again (apparently).  Here's the
wrap-up.

	Replacing the voltage regulator seemed to do the trick, basically.
I now get pushin' 14V or so at high revs, measured at the fuse box.  The
manifold pressure sensor that was on there was an early model (VW 051B /
Bosch 001), *and* it had a leak.  I took this apart, and the o-ring
*looked* just fine.  When I sucked on the vacuum port I could get the shaft
to deflect, so the thing was probably generating some response, but not
enough (my guess).  Rummaging through my spare sensors yielded a bunch of
051B/001 units, and one Bosch #116--the '72-'73 unit.  Looks like I don't
have an 051C/007 unit as is supposed to be on my '71 (to match the
black-sticker "D" brain).  The car does seem to run w/ the early or late
pressure sensor; I decided to go with the late one (116), just for kicks.
If anybody has an educated guess as to which wrong sensor is "best" to use
in place of the '70-'71 sensor, lemme know...

	(Jim--the regulator, 0 190 350 068, was about $37 at my FLAPS.
RMMW lists for $35, but it's a different part number.  One on the car was a
068; perfect match.  14V, 30A.)


	If all of that part-number alphabet soup is confusing for anybody,
here's some explanation... For T3, there are early ('68-'69), middle
('70-'71) & late ('72-'73) manifold pressure sensors, and there are both VW
& Bosch part numbers for each unit.  Looks as though the units don't always
have the VW number on them.  Also, the numbers can appear in different
locations around the unit.  The last three digits for the Bosch numbers are
001 for early, 007 for middle and 116 for late.  The VW number ends in 051B
for early & 051C for middle; anybody care to take a guess for the late
unit?  I think, for the U.S., it's "051E", from Elfrink.  In a section
called "1972 Modifications (European Models) it says:

	"Pressure sensors have been modified for 1972.  The following units
are fitted as of August 1971:  Part No. 311 906 051D for type 3 vehicles,
color code green...  Sensor 311 906 051D should not be fitted to older type
3 vehicles...  The type3 pressure sensor no longer has provision for full
load mixture enrichment.  This duty has been taken over by the throttle
valve switch.  A further modification is that the latest sensor is provided
with an altitude mixture corrector, making the required mixture adjustments
according to altitude."

In a section called "Modifications to the F.I. system on certain export
models (including cars for the US)" he says:

	"Pressure sensors have been modified and are almost identical to
those used on European versions.  Identification is as follows:  Part No.
311 906 051E for type 3 models, color code black... Sensor 311 906 051E
should not be fitted to older models."  [bummer]


	I also got some quality time with the '69 this weekend.  Ordered a
pair of Michelin XZX 165-15's via Discount tire; they came in last week,
had 'em mounted yesterday.  Will be getting Michelins all around, but I
hate having the tire places jack up my VWs; prefer to drop off the wheels
alone.  The tires were $63 a pop, and after mouting & balance & disposal
fee & valves & warranty the bill came to $175 for two.  Got some of that
tire-black stuff for vanity's sake, to make the sidewalls look shiny & wet.
:)  I've heard that it does wonders for the squareback rear mat, so I
treated a test spot.

	Checked the dwell & timing (was retarded a bit--the shop that
rebuilt the engine actually warned me about this, as they wanted it to run
cool tooling around AZ).  Closed down the idle air bypass a bit to bring
the idle back into check & reconfirmed the timing setting.  If I *floor* it
*really* fast, not in gear, when cold, it will backfire through the
intake... Other than that, it fired up very nicely this morning (maybe 40F
outside) and has better transition from idle in gear (it's an automatic).
Cold starts were becoming a problem, and the off-idle transition had been
annoying.

	Changed the oil--I chose Valvoline Durablend semi-synthetic 10W30.
("Twice the price of conventional, half the benefits of synthetic."  Or
something like that.)  The oil filter situation turned out to be a bit of a
fiasco.  The shop in AZ that did the work (overall, I'm *very* pleased)
mounted it on the rear wall of the engine compartment, kind of in the
neighborhood of the coil.  The filter they put on was most definitely *not*
the Fram HP1 that Berg sells.  Over the past couple of weeks I picked up an
HP1, a PH8A (regular FRAM, similar to HP1) and a little Bosch filter that
my FLAPS suggested.  Turns out that none of these ended up being quite
right for me.  Both the HP1 & the PH8A have large diameters that won't
clear the right angle hose fittings on the mount, and the HP1 extends
*very* close to the rear heater box on that side--it's quite a long filter.
The Bosch 72133 looks like its seal is a bit on the small side
diameter-wise, but will *just* do the job.  I've got that one on there now.
The shop that did the work never owned up to subbing filters (maybe the
mech. did it & the manager didn't know...), but suggested Bosch 72137.
I'll try to pick up one of these.

	Undercoated the wheel wells, rockers & above the tranny with 3M
undercoating.  It *looks* to be good stuff, compared to cheaper brands.
This car shouldn't see too much winter (especially since the '71 seems to
be happy again!), but I want to keep myself covered, especially if the '71
goes down again & we have to drive the '69 for a spell (hey--we gotta
eat!).  The rusty '71 served as a good example when looking to identify
rust-prone spots that would particularly warrant udercoating. :(

	Picked up a couple of rubber floor mats for the '69 as well--we
seem to be tracking leaves & such in there.  Hmmm, time to hit it w/ the
hand vac again.

	Whew!  Kisten's just off to work in the '71; my fingers are crossed...

-Greg
'69 & '71 Squarebacks
'63 Beetle