Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2023 i dune buggies and hotVWs

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

The Pleasure of Driving My Volkswagen Again

Almost one year… This might have been the longest period I have not been able to drive a Volkswagen. But, finally, I got my car back last month. I realized again that driving my own VW is such a pleasure and truly makes me smile. As I mentioned in a past Semaphore column, I broke the original split case transmission of my beloved 1958 Bug again a few days before Thanksgiving in 2021. By that time, many things were going on, especially trying to be ready for “A Gathering of Hot VWs" at the Grand National Roadster Show, held on January 2022. So, I couldn’t start working on my '58 Bug right away - it consequently sat in the garage for two months. Finally, we pulled the engine and transaxle…

5 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

Resto, Window, Ratio!

ASAP Restoration Part of my family lives in Sacramento, California and we own a ’59 convertible Bug. It’s my father’s first car. He is 92 now, and I know I am running out of time in his life. I’d like to get it restored ASAP. Where can I take it to get restored properly? I need help and need it fast. Gilberto Maurtua New York, NY Gilberto, the words “fast”, “ASAP”, and “restoration” are not very compatible! A good restoration shop will typically have your car for at least a year, and it really depends on what is necessary in your particular case. Convertibles are also more time consuming and expensive. Prepare to wait. You just missed a big car show in your area (the Sacramento Bugorama) and shows are…

5 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

THE TIME MACHINE

As many of you probably know through following my articles and videos online (www.youtube.com/mroldbug), I spend a lot of time chasing the history of cars that come my way. They were designed as simple tools to get from one location to another, but as we go those places and live our lives, the connection to these cars grows into something completely different. It's this nostalgic bend that, to me, really adds a special soul and feeling to their ownership, and definitely adds something special to the experience. It doesn’t have to be a particularly special or rare model, the value of the car has nothing to do with it as well, it is the “people” in the “people’s car” that add in all the real value. Several years ago, I…

5 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

FYI

Vintage VW Beetle Accessories New Book, Great Topic! Now available via hotvws. com! Tons of books have been written about Volkswagen’s history. This new book published by CarTech somewhat veers from the topic, being solely devoted to original, vintage VW accessories ranging from 1945 to circa 1980. It not only revolves around Beetles, but also the rest of the air-cooled models, from Buses and Karmann Ghias to Type 3s and more. Vintage Volkswagen Beetle Accessories is the work of Stephan Szantai, a name some of you will recognize, being associated with hotVWs Magazine since 2005. Stephan’s career as a Freelance Automotive Journalist started in ’87 and his work has been published in close to 100 magazines worldwide, based in 17 countries. The 144-page, beautifully printed book will fill an important…

1 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

1967 VW BEETLE

OWNER/ Darrin Dugan, Orange, CA COLOR/ custom Deep Black BODYWORK / Mark Ramirez PAINT/ Wendell Pittman EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS/ dechromed body, one-piece window kit, T-bars CHASSIS & SUSPENSION PAN/1967 Beetle, restored and powder coated FRONT SUSPENSION/ narrowed beam Sway-A-Way adjusters, Empi spindles SHOCKS/ KYB (front & rear) BRAKES/ Empi discs (front & rear) WHEELS/ 15×4.5 BRM-style CIP1 (front), 15×5.5 BRM-style CIP1 (rear) TIRES/ 135-15 Nankang (front), 215/65-15 M&H (rear) ENGINE BUILDER/ Roger Crawford DISPLACEMENT/ 2387cc CASE/ VW magnesium CRANK/ 86mm Scat, wedgemated RODS/ Carrillo CYLINDERS/ Century PISTONS/ CP 94mm, Total Seal rings CAM/ Engle FK-89, 328°; straight-cut gears HEADS/ CB Performance Comp Eliminator, mildly ported VALVE SIZES/ 50mm × 46mm COMPRESSION RATIO/ 9.7:1 ROCKER ARMS/ Scat 1.4:1 IGNITION/ MSD 7AL box, MSD distributor CARBURATION/ dual 48IDA-style Empi carbs, 51.5mm; CB Comp…

1 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

1963 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

Owner/ Olivier Boggio, Martigues, France CHASSIS FRONT SUSPENSION/ CB Performance adjustable beam narrowed 2.5"; Competition Engineering Moroso drag race shocks, 3-way adjustable REAR SUSPENSION/ Sway-A-Way torsion bars, Koni shock absorbers WHEELS/ chromed Porsche Fuchs Flat4 detailed by Sly Motors, 15×4.5 and 15×5.5 TIRES/ Nankang 145/80R15, Avon CR6-ZZ 215/70R15 BRAKES/ CSP discs front and rear OTHERS MODIFICATIONS/ hidden wiring harness modified by Sly Motors ENGINE BUILDER/ Sylvain Brocarel, Sly Motors (Chateaurenard, France) CASE/ Type 1 CB Performance aluminum High Roof DISPLACEMENT/ 2387CC CRANK/ CB Performance 86mm counterweight, wedgemated RODS/ CB Performance 5.5” CYLINDER/ AA Performance 94mm PISTONS/ JE CAM/ CB Performance 2288 Eagle CAM GEAR/ CB Performance straight cut LIFTERS/ CB Performance HEADS/ by Steve Tim, polished, gasket matched VALVE SIZES/ 42mm × 38 mm, WS650 springs, titanium cups CHAMBER/ 43CC…

1 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

OLD VOLKS & GOOD VIBES

Part of the fun of working with hotVWs Magazine lies in the opportunity of traveling the U.S. and, to a lesser extent of course, the world. Sure, Southern California where our offices have been based since 1967 has a lot to offer when it comes to the Volkswagen scene… But our team has also visited hundreds of meets in the other 49 states through the decades - though we aren’t certain about Alaska! Every region seems to have its specifics and many welcome a wide range of air-cooled vehicles, some rarely seen at West Coast shows, from trikes to kit cars. Believe us, we truly appreciate it, as it gives us a more complete outlook on our hobby. If truth be told, VW enthusiasts don’t tend to veer that much…

6 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

CONVERTING FROM A SPLIT CASE TO A TUNNEL CASE GEARBOX

There are three main scenarios that will dictate why you might consider replacing a stock split case transmission. Case No. 1: Say you are doubling, tripling, or adding even more horsepower to your pre-1961 Beetle; then converting the stock split case transmission to the much stronger tunnel case gearbox is a must. Case No. 2: If you are driving an original/ vintage VW but run a period-correct, souped-up 25/36hp like Okrasa engine (or Judson, even Porsche 356), the stock first non-synchromesh transmission will soon show some weaknesses due to the increase in horsepower. Case No. 3: You are driving a stock 1960 or earlier Beetle with a stock gearbox and you are simply tired of dealing with the non-synchromesh first gear. Well, Case No. 2 applied in my situation. Many…

9 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

TYPE 3 INVASION! 2022

In the late 1990s, members of the Type 3 Mailing List started talking about a get-together. Brian Fye, from Oregon, started planning…something. He booked a drive-in theater for a weekend in Parma, Idaho. He planned for some tech sessions, an activity he enjoyed while attending a national Austin Healey meet a few years prior. Finally, he looped in John Jaranson from Michigan to help with the shirt design. Every VW event needs a shirt to be official. In August of 2002, Type 3 people from all over the country invaded the small city of Parma. A total of thirty-three Type 3s attended throughout the weekend. Along with three tech sessions, there was a silent auction with various Type 3 goodies up for grabs. The auction raised money for the Boise…

6 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

BUILD A LONG STROKE 2276CC MOTOR PART3

Since we’ve already determined the cylinder spacers to achieve our desired compression ratio, putting on the heads should be pretty quick and easy. A test cylinder has already been placed into the head to make sure the fit is OK. The cylinder has been washed and oiled ahead of time to avoid delay. At this time I’m going to give you the best engine building tip ever. Have you ever forgotten to install the air deflectors? It happens to the best of us from time to time, and there is simply no way to get them in there once the pushrod tubes are installed. Here’s the trick. Set each air deflector on top of each cylinder head when you are just thinking of doing the final install. Now it’s impossible…

7 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

MODERN TOYS VW CONSTRUCTION KIT

THE VINTAGE TOY BOX The German metal manufacturing company by the name of Markes & Co. (DUX), located in the town of Ludenscheid, was busy manufacturing ball bearings and other metal parts for the WWII effort. In the post WWII era, the company continued producing metal parts and also tooled up to launch their “Series of Modern Auto-DUX Model Cars" with a stylized swallow insignia. The AutoDUX metal toy cars had the concept of a kit consisting of several parts and could be put together and taken apart again. The metal kit cars in the product line included, for example, a 1950s-era Mercedes Benz or BMW and, to the delight of the VW enthusiasts, a Volkswagen sedan and also VW Buses were produced as well. The money available in your…

7 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

Fall Color Tour

Autumn in the Midwest is one of our favorite times of the year. Scenic drives and trips to a local cider mill are the last-blast to drive our vintage Volkswagens before settling them down for a long winter’s nap. Our Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Club always has a wonderful fall color tour each October and, this year, we decided to step up to the plate and plan the tour. Planning a fall color tour is quite a process. There are a few givens. The date should be as close to peak colors as possible, taking in every weatherman’s prediction. We also find Sundays work better than Saturdays, to accommodate those who work on Saturday, as well as less traffic on the roads. The route should be entirely paved if possible. Most…

4 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

Design Flaws

Although we might think of Buses as being perfect in every way, there were some things that Volkswagenwerk didn't get quite right at first. Some of them are fixable, some not. This month we will discuss some design flaws in Split Buses. On most Westfalia campers, and many other makes of campers, there is a cabinet located in the cargo area right next to the forward cargo door. This means that when you open the forward cargo door, you can't just get into the camping area; instead, you have to open both cargo doors to get into the Bus. On right-hand drive models, the cargo doors are on the left side, so the rearward cargo door is the first to open, so they don't have that problem. Sliding door models…

4 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

All About Ball Joints

Remove the upper arm to get it out of my way. To do this, you will find the19mm headed grub nut on the arm next to where it goes into the beam. Remove the nut. If the screw comes out, no big deal, right now. If it does not, take a small pocket screw driver and pick out all the dirt in the Allen part of the screw. Use an 8mm Allen wrench. I put the wrench or socket in the screw then tap it with a hammer to get it all the way in, then remove it. Wiggle the whole arm up and down, while pulling out towards you. If it doesn’t come out, you might need a rubber mallet to help it come out. Now, for the lower…

6 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

The Genesis of VW Performance - 1937 to 1968

When you choose to build an Old Speed VW project, it is key to know the car’s historical genesis in order to define what needs to be done to it. When selecting the Old Speed style, nothing is due to chance; everything is thought out, documented and considered in order to fit within a chosen era - an era defined by your VW’s year of manufacture. The final result will reflect the level of understanding you have of the style. What guided the author in writing this book, in French, is the desire to share his 25 years of research, based on the realization that the Old Speed style is a lot more than racing numbers plastered on doors or a white stripe on a hood. The range of alterations…

2 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

PICTURE THE PAST '75-'89

It's been a tradition since 1975: hotVWs has been regularly releasing issues devoted to the California Look. This gave us the idea of rummaging through our archives, searching for early pictures that made these magazines so desirable. First came a surprise. We thought hotVWs had published “Cal Look Specials" almost every year during the 1970s and ’80s. It wasn’t the case, as these thematic issues were rather sporadic at first and became a lot more common during the ’90s. But as there is still plenty of California Look material found in our boxes of pictures covering 1975 to ’89, we went to work! While we didn’t find all the photos we hoped for, the experience proved terrific, as we managed to discover a bunch of pics that either never made…

9 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

2022 SEMA SHOW

Although the Las Vegas nickname is “lost wages”, much of the automotive community were focused on this event from a business perspective while mixing their time with fun exhibits, outstanding customized vehicles and enjoying all that Las Vegas has to offer. As most in the industry would understand, the entire automotive community shuts down each year to attend this event and this is the kickoff for the following year’s products and activities. I have been attending this event for over 30 years for multiple business reasons, and it’s amazing to see the evolution and changes that happen from year to year. The show is primarily for business attendees that use the products; however, new to the program is a pass available for purchase for the general public for Friday, the…

4 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

KICKOFF GET-TOGETHER AT BOOM-A-RANG!

While most of the action took place on Saturday, participants could also enjoy a get-together on Friday thanks to a cruise night hosted at BoomA-Rang Diner in Mustang. This good-looking ’50s-style restaurant is well-known locally for being friendly to the automotive hobby, welcoming regular events on site. For a night, Volkswagens played center stage, though participants started their journey earlier in the afternoon by meeting in a parking lot, getting ready for a cruise to Boom-A-Rang. Dozens of Vee Dubs joined the caravan, before being directed next to the diner on a large grassy area. Great food, great cars, great company and even a Boom-A-Rang Choice Trophy presented by the VW Club of Oklahoma to the owner of their favorite vehicle – congrats to Holly Woodfork from Arkansas for winning…

1 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

Coming Events Who, What, When & Where

January 14, 2023 Eurofest Location: Car Museum of St. Augustine Address: 4730 Dixie Hwy, St. Augustine, FL 32086 Description: Eurofest is coming up on its 4th year. What started out as an Indoor Event at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds, we now reside in the Beautiful St. Augustine at the Classic Car Museum. We welcome all European Automobiles, plus a Swap Meet/Vendor area to sell or purchase items. Come enjoy your day and see some beautiful VWs, maybe find some parts you need and check out some Classic Cars of all kinds in the air-conditioned museum. Make a weekend out of it and enjoy the beautiful and historic town of St. Augustine. Hours 10-3. Free admission to car show/ swap meet. Show car entry $10, Vendors $20 (must arrive between 7:30-8:30 only),…

7 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN-THE YARDBIRDS - 1966

I know it sounds strange but the lyrics of that Yardbirds song from the 1960s describe my racecar crash perfectly. Especially the chorus, “when will it end”. We set out for Sacramento, all excited as we had won Phoenix’s round and were ready to race! It’s sad to say but the Super Street class has declined to three cars: Joe Maestas, Doug Gonzales, and myself. We arrived in Sacramento to find that only Joe and I were racing. We set up our pit and waited for qualifying, as is our norm. When they announced, we went to the lanes and were the first in line. There was a crosswind, but we had run under similar conditions without any problems. We ran against Joe, the only other car in our class,…

2 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

Of Foreign Origin

When I started tinkering with air-cooled VWs many moons ago, this hobby was a whole new universe to me. An unexplored universe. Back in the late 1980s, we had a few books about Volkswagen’s history but no magazines or anything else covering aftermarket parts. That’s why I first learned about EMPI’s Sprint Star wheels while reading a British VW magazine - which we had to buy at the airport or railway station for ridiculous money. They called these wide-five steel wheels “Sprint Stars". I had never seen them before or heard of them. And then, one day in my hometown Karlsruhe, my friend Gregor and I spotted an Indigo Blue ’59 Beetle on you guessed it - 5×205 Sprint Stars. We stopped and checked out the car, which seemed to…

3 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

The Parts Bin

MALPASSI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR Genuine Malpassi ‘Filter King’ Fuel Pressure Regulators are designed to improve a carburetor’s fuel feeding system. They were used as OEM equipment by Europe’s leading automobile manufacturers such as Rolls Royce, Lancia and Maserati. For more information, visit www.cbperformance.com. TYPE 3 REAR ENGINE MOUNT KIT New Type 3 rear engine mount kit fitting all Type 3 models from 1961 to 1968. Kit includes the mount, shims, and hardware required for installation. Extra shims are sold separately. For more info, visit www.vwispwest.com. 69.5 & 74MM CRANKS FOR 36-HORSE ENGINES A perfect complement to Okrasa or WW’s dual-port 36hp engine kit. Forged, offered in 74mm and 69.5mm, 4340 steel alloy. Connecting rod and main bearing journals have been nitride hardened to HV 500, counterweighted and balanced. Eight-dowel flywheel…

1 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

THE MAGNIFICENT '67

A number of California Look-oriented clubs blossomed during the second half of the 1970s, fueled in great part by the introduction of the style by hotVWs Magazine in February ’75. One of the most prominent groups, Der Kleiner Kampfwagens (DKK), emerged in ’77. Based in Orange County, California, it became a major player in the local Volkswagen scene, proudly representing the Cal Look trend at Bug-Ins in particular – until Orange County International Raceway shut its doors in ’83. The closure took the wind out of the sail for the club and, by ’85, DKK was gone. No less than 38 years later, Der Kleiner Kampfwagens is once again at the forefront of the VW hobby, after a few former members decided to bring the club back to life in…

6 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

THE RED ALERT '63

Olivier's Volkswagen love affair began in a rather peculiar way in 1981 when he was 10 years old. That year, his uncle imported a VW from St. Louis, Missouri. The vehicle in question was a 1970 Beetle equipped with a Baja Bug kit, typical of the models his uncle admired in the pages of hotVWs Magazine. To store his freshly imported Baja, he ended up using space in the garage belonging to Olivier’s parents for five years, hence Olivier saw the car daily. No wonder he became enamored with air-cooled Volkswagens! MY FIRST VW Fast forward to 1991, when he bought a 1971 VW 1200 (a non-Super Beetle model never sold in the U.S.) for his 20th birthday. The sedan had already been “Cal Looked”, featuring a dechromed shell, a…

5 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

EL SAPO!

After getting his Driver License, Fred Espinoza became involved with the V8 truck and hot rod scenes. In fact, he has built a magazine-featured custom truck in the past and has enjoyed wrenching on many others. It seemed that his car life was bound to be filled with domestic cars. However, one day, a much smaller car blew Fred’s mind. He was driving his supercharged Chevy Nova on the street, when a VW stopped at a traffic light next to him. It was a Bug with a 2.1-liter turbo motor. The Bug smoked Fred’s Nova. He reminded himself never to underestimate the car next to him. And that’s when he got hooked on Volkswagens. After seeing that turbo Beetle, he decided to get one - the year was 1989. He…

5 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

SHOW RESULTS

Best of Show Air & $250/ Hayden Chasteen, 1957 Bug Best of Show Water & $250/ Bruce Marsili, 2019 Audi TTRS Best Paint & $100/ Joe Smith, 67 Bug Best Engine & $100/ Tinna Smith, 69 Bug Best Interior/ James Kinsey, 65 Bug Best Patina/ Gary Hatcher, 60 Single Cab Club Officers’ Choice Award/ Jake Iven,73 Super Beetle Long Distance/ Josh Southwick, 64 Single Cab People’s Choice/ Miguel Diaz,90 Golf Most Junk on the Rack/ Nick Jones, 64 Bug Best Campsite Setup/ Marcus Horney, 67 Tin-top camper Flower Power/ Tracey Lay,70 Transporter MST Choice Award/ Chad Wilkening, 67 Bug BEETLE/ Oval/Split Window/ Hayden Chasteen, 1957 1958-67, Stock/Mod Ernesto Perez, 66 1958-67, Mod/Custom/Joe Smith,67 1968-79, Stock/Mod/ Melanie Roth, 73 Sports Bug 1968-79, Mod/Custom/ Barbara Powell, 71 1958-67, Vert/ Steven Nelson, 67…

1 min

dune buggies and hotVWs|February 2023

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

"I first got involved with VWs when I was 14, and my brother and I would drive by a VW shop every day after school. I thought I wanted to buy a Bug as my first car. Later, I went to the grocery store with my mom and I bought my first two VW magazines. I read those and admired those cars for a solid month, waiting for the new issues to come out.” It was shortly after when Stephen Hartlauer made a friend at school who had a ’72 Baja daily driver; the pair started hanging out together and his VW addiction grew, a sign of things to come. They went to a local meet at Taco Bell and Stephen was exposed to even more of the scene. “Shortly…

7 min