stu
10-21-2002, 09:48 PM
So, since I last posted about my Beetle; I have actually done some work to it. When I hooked up the stereo, the generator went out. I guess the factory generator can't power anything beyond what is necessary to run the car (i.e. maybe the 800watt Sony Xplode amp wasn't such a good idea.)
So I bought an alternator conversion kit from Cool Stuff ($130) and replaced the generator with an alternator that can run accessoried with no problem. At the same time I also bought a carb rebuild kit. I had my cousin rebuild my carb while I did the generator thing.
Ever since I got the Beetle, there has been a problem with the exhaust.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/images/imagecache/I10485.gif
The bottom right collector tube (on the top picture) was about an inch away from where it was supposed to be hooked up at. NOt only was the car very, very loud because of the stinger pipe with no muffler, but I had a fairly large exhaust leak as well. So as a result, I had unequal backpressure. This made the car run like ass. It would only really run well if I had been driving it all day. I could hardly get it to idle. I like heel-toe shifting as much as the next guy, but not at every stoplight just to keep the damn thing running.
Anyway, last Monday I was driving to school when I was like "WTF is that sound?" I thought that I blew the motor because it sonded like a really loud knock. It turns out that that same pipe that was bent back a little, totally broke off right at the bend where it mergese with the other tubes. Don't even ask me how. Now the car was even louder. Just so you know, I was already embaressed to drive the damn thing at night in my neighborhood because I thought that it couldn't get any louder. After the pipe fell off, it sounded like I ws clapping into about 10 megaphones at the same time. I felt like I drove right out of a Kid Rock video.
So, I got a new header and a muffler. So, now not only is the car much, much, much quieter; it also drives normal and is actually faster. I plan on fixing the steering and making it handle as well as I can. It already handles surprisingly well. Actually, it has a little understeer. Sorry for the long post.
So I bought an alternator conversion kit from Cool Stuff ($130) and replaced the generator with an alternator that can run accessoried with no problem. At the same time I also bought a carb rebuild kit. I had my cousin rebuild my carb while I did the generator thing.
Ever since I got the Beetle, there has been a problem with the exhaust.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/images/imagecache/I10485.gif
The bottom right collector tube (on the top picture) was about an inch away from where it was supposed to be hooked up at. NOt only was the car very, very loud because of the stinger pipe with no muffler, but I had a fairly large exhaust leak as well. So as a result, I had unequal backpressure. This made the car run like ass. It would only really run well if I had been driving it all day. I could hardly get it to idle. I like heel-toe shifting as much as the next guy, but not at every stoplight just to keep the damn thing running.
Anyway, last Monday I was driving to school when I was like "WTF is that sound?" I thought that I blew the motor because it sonded like a really loud knock. It turns out that that same pipe that was bent back a little, totally broke off right at the bend where it mergese with the other tubes. Don't even ask me how. Now the car was even louder. Just so you know, I was already embaressed to drive the damn thing at night in my neighborhood because I thought that it couldn't get any louder. After the pipe fell off, it sounded like I ws clapping into about 10 megaphones at the same time. I felt like I drove right out of a Kid Rock video.
So, I got a new header and a muffler. So, now not only is the car much, much, much quieter; it also drives normal and is actually faster. I plan on fixing the steering and making it handle as well as I can. It already handles surprisingly well. Actually, it has a little understeer. Sorry for the long post.