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[T3] Broken Odometer and insurance gripes


I'm sure some of you have seen this on RAMVA, but I know not everyone reads
both so I wanted to post here too

In case any of you are considering a late model notchback, be warned
that they are a BITCH to get insured.  We've had the hardest time
finding a company that will recognize the fact that Notchbacks were made
in the "late model" version.  I didnt realize insurance agents were so
arroagant.  I've had some straight out tell me "VW didnt make Notchbacks
in 1971, they only made Squarebacks and Fastabcks" and one even said
"our underwriter thinks you've converted a Ghia into what you have now."

Well to make a long story short, we finally found a place that would
take us.  He (insurance guy) had no problems with the car, it's close to
stock and everything works and there isnt any thing he could find that
would disqualify us for insurance.  He did notice that the mileage on
the odometer hadnt changed in about 3 years....................duh, the
odometer's broken.

So he went through the typical "I really shouldnt do this for you
because it's technically illegal to drive without a working odometer,
but I like you kids so I'll over look it this time, but you have to get
it fixed immediately"  I kinda think the $500 check I wrote him as
downpayment had something to do with it, but I'm not going to argue.

So here's our problem.......it's a 71 Notchback with a broken odometer.
The speedometer works pretty good though.  Initially we thought there
might have been a problem with the cable leading to the front wheel and
that it just needed some adjustment.  Giving this further thought and
taking into consideration the fact that the speedo works fine, I think
there's something wrong with the speedo itself (work/broken gear maybe)

We're heading to the OCTO (Orange County Transporter Owners?) show this
weekend in Huntington Beach, CA with hopes of finding another speedo
(unless someone comes up with a quick fix to the one we have now).  Are
there things we should look for to make sure the new one works
properly?  Would it be easiesr to just find a new gear for the current
one?

I havent really taken into consideration correct calibration and that
sort of stuff.  The engine in the Notchback's stock (FI 1600), but it
may have once been an automatic (there's an automatic emblem on the
decklid) so I have no idea what tranny's in there nor do I have any idea
what the gearing of it is.

So......what would you do in this situation.  I eventually want to have
a correctly working speedo/odometer so I can track gas mileage and that
sort of stuff, but for now I need to show the insurance guy that the
odometer does change as I drive around the block.

Help please......

Matt
71 Notchback

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