It's that time of the year again...

[wolfswest]

Probably you guys in so cal don't know what I'm talking about but I'm talking about the first sunshine and enjoyable weather we get in belgium this year.  It' isn't hot like the standards for so cal but for the time of the year here I really enjoying it today.
It kicks you right in the butt and you can't do anything else then take the old girl out and take it for the real first enjoyable trip!  I was pretty down on the vw side because the last few times I drove my car it wasn't idling well, didn't feel right, etc...  No heater, it was cold, I was about to push it of a cliff and start fishing or something like that. 

But I grabbed the bull by the horns and took the car yesterday to a local "old ferraris" specialist and a friend of a friend of mine.  I guess if he could dial in a ferrari with 6 double webers a simple twin carbed IDA beetle would be a piece of cake.  And I was right he located 2 problems solved one and the other one I solved myself.  This maybe sounds dumb to the real car specialist but it boosted my confidence and I'm pretty proud of myself that I learned something and solved a carb problem myself.  (The accelerator pump of one carb was pissing fuel at idling)

Okay, now the real purpose of this topic, the first drive in months that you REALLY enjoy and puts a huge fucking smile on your face!  I took the car right a cross the border here into the dutch "polders" and snapped some pictures, hope you enjoy them.

[wolfswest]

a few more of the same spot

[wolfswest]

Next I drove further into the dutch polders and passed a local farmer...

[javabug]

 

[wolfswest]

I moved along enjoying the abandoned roads, not a sucker in sight, that's what I enjoy.  Alone, enjoying your car and some good music.

[wolfswest]

Took right off after some relaxing to the next cool spot the road takes me...

Ahh, a nice creek where I used to go fishing wih my dad, good times!

[wolfswest]

and the trip continues.  I wished it never ended but that's not possible.  I'm really getting to feel back at home behind the steering wheel and the twisty roads makes me just put my right foot in it!  

[wolfswest]

but then again, reality struck me and I passed a tree where somebody had an accident and died.  Time to mellow out for a few minutes and I even went religious 
Then, passing trough a small village with the best diner on the right, yes, I'm not kidding, that old basket case chalet serves the best french fries in the neigbourhood!

[wolfswest]

The trip almost comes to an end,    time to visit a few more [ Attachment: You are not allowed to view attachments ] places that I loved as a kid, and I still enjoy them.  Another place I went fishing with my dad and friends.

[wolfswest]

Last stop, I headed for an old factory where we used to hang out but I came to a heartbraking conclusion, they teared it down a few months ago for some rich punks mansions near the lake... 
Last building that was still standing there was the old concierges' room, took a picture with my car, just for the legacy, I guess it will be gone soon... 

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And were heading back home...  This is what Cal look is in my books, or probably just enjoying your oldtimer in general.  I don't care about the my quarter mile time slip (I even haven't one) or that one very expensive period correct part, or wining about if you run real fuchs or flat 4 models.  for me it's just enjoying your car and the power it delivers, listening to some cool tunes, exploring cool places and eat and drink something along the way.
Next stop, a more painful stop, the gas station... 

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One thing is for sure, I found my love back for my Cal look beetle. 
I'm gonna go out now and wash off the road kills and wax the old girl, a fast glimp at my ipod, next tune in line: little wing of jimi hendrix, mmmm life can be beautiful!

And a classic line to end my post, Happiness is a hot vw! 

[Nico86]

Great posts Wolfwest 

[Jason Foster]

  Great shots of the beautiful countryside.  And spot on on your closing.

[Rennsurfer]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[Dave Rosique]

Thanks for letting us tag along!
 

[javabug]

Didn't mean to interrupt your posts, thanks for the report!

So happy the season is upon those of us who don't have it year-round...

[Kaferdog]

Great  Story...!!  Even for us here in So Cal......!!!...What a great scenic ride ...!!...Enjoy !

[Sarge]

 

[wolfswest]

Thx guys.  Glad you liked the scenery, get ready for some more.  I plan on bringing my camera along also for the next road trips that will follow soon, I promise. 

Dem

[lawrence]

That is what its all about, Dem! Get the car running perfectly and seek out places strange, or not, and far. Thanks for sharing.

So exactly what did you and the ferrari guy do to the car?

[Russell]

Excellent, so true   

[58vw]

that was really cool...thanks for sharing

[Wünderwolff]

Question is what did Dem and the Ferrari guy do to each other 

Great report Dem! But next time you won't be alone, we'll make it a Wunderwaffe team effort.

[wolfswest]

@ javabug, no problem for jumping right into it buddy, glad you like it.

@ Lawrence,  well since I don't know the exact therms for the parts in the carburetor in english I'm gonna keep it very simple.

There was a bushing missing on the "butterfly axle" so the axle didn't have a tight fit in the carburetor body.  He solved that.

Second problem was one carburetor that was leaking fuel trough the accelerator jets at idle, so the car started to idle at 2500-3000rpm, very very annoying.  I removed the top of the carburetor and greased up a part of the accelerator pump following a how to I found on aircooled.net and it worked!  Nice steady idle again.

Last thing to do is syncronise the carbs again, so I'm heading back soon.  So get ready for another report, he works in a very cool garage were time stood still, a real flashback to the seventies filled with italians finest material.  I guess most of you will enjoy this scenery! 

[jamiep_jamiep]

A great thread, thanks for sharing!

[OgCalLook]

Perfect!!
Thanks for sharing

[nicolas]

well i am in Belgium, i got the sun, i have the car, even a gearbox, but no engine... still a bummer. but a good thing to see your nice car out and driving. thanks for sharing

ps: you need to wash the headliner at 95°C so it shrinks a bit 

[speedwell]

well i am in Belgium, i got the sun, i have the car, even a gearbox, but no engine... still a bummer.

your 're not the only one  .........

cool post dem

[Rick Meredith]

Nice travelogue. Loved the pictures!

[Tobi/DFL]

Wow, your car looks better and better each time I see it, Dem! It´s really evolving in a positive way. I see you have finally mounted some dual quiets. How do you like it?

Tobi

[wolfswest]

Hi Tobi,

thx for the kind words.  Yep, I finally mounted a dual quiet pack, it's a simple bugpack model with another flange but it works great.  I haven't been to the dyno but my feeling tells me it's a bit stronger in the low to mid rpm range and in the high rpm range the turbo style muffler was stronger.  But, since I'm not a best ET timeslip hunter I don't really care.  For the street the minimum hp loss isn't worth mentioning.  The looks are great, and the sound is awesome!

Well, I feel I've found the look that I wanted for the car and I plan on keeping it like it is.  One last thing I'm gonna do is search an extra decklid, preferably a convertible decklid and paint it to match the car.  I can change when I feel to between the clean stealth look and the sign writing decklid.  It will give the old girl a less "hey look at me" look and that's what I'm after the last year.  Still love the sign writing too, that's why I keep this decklid so I could change the look in 5 minutes.  that's what's great about these cars, you can give them a complete other look in an hour! 

Hope to see you at EBI or DDD!

Dem