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On 20 Mar 2005 at 12:52, Jon Ruud wrote: > I've got a 1 owner 1971 Type III wagon that I would like to rebuild. = 71 is one of the best years. > These are my goals: > 1. Build a reliable platform for Interstate driving. I require a = > cruising speed of 75 mph with no stress to engine or trans (std) in = > summer desert driving conditions. 75-85 is no problem at all with the stock engine/trans. > 2. Accelleration with a total load of 500 lbs that is fun on the = > freeways. This becomes a matter of opinion. > 3. Braking and Suspension improvements that focus on stability more than = > comfort. > 4. Front seating that is comfortable for 10 hour driving stretches. Sounds like contradictory requirements, but the stock ride is quite a bit stiffer than most american cars. Type 3 seats have always been very comfortable, unless you are extra tall or extra hefty. > 5. My boss is from an equitorial country and insists on on = > airconditioning. What is possible that respects the forgoing = > requirements? Forget about it. > 6. Improved driving lighting. Get some good standard 7" halogen headlights. > 7. Best tire choice for the given driving conditions. 165SR15 radials. > This car has not been on the road for 15 years, has 130 k on the = > odometer. I would desire a full guage package, but don't know which = > guages I really need,or their best configuration and location. Most gauges are for show more than real info. Go with the standard items at first and get a feel for what you actually feel you need. > I would like the exterior to look close to stock, but am not opposed > to modifications that actually improve performance and reliability. > All the rubber door, boot and rear hatch seals need replacement. Be careful where you spend money on performance enhancers. Most of them are just cosmetic. If that's what you want, then go in with your eyes open. Rubber seal replacements are getting hard to find. You'll have to look around. You can try ebay and ISP West, as well as West Coast Metric and others. Almost nothing is the same as beetle parts. > Since I must remove the engine and transmission anyway, is there a > better engine/trans package than the existing 1.6 liter and 3 speed > setup? It's a 4 speed, unless you have the automatic, which is a 3 speed. Higher performance options are available, but can be pricey and require a lot of work. Don't assume that you can just buy something, throw it in, and drive away happily. The happiest customers drive away stock engines. > I know nothing about the Type III wagon other than that I love it's > look! Any suggestions about the above questions and revelations > about what I've neglected to ask about are welcomed! Drive the car and learn to know and understand it BEFORE you start to think about what you'd like to change. While there are lots of changes that are possible, there are many fewer that you'll be happy with in the long run. Don't get sucked into replacing good quality OE parts with expensive junk. -- ******************************* Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, Wisconsin, USA ******************************* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list | mailto:gregm@vwtype3.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~