Dave's 1971 1302 Not-So-Secret, Secret Project Build

[owdlvr]

Sorry for the lack of updates here. I had to work on the Red German Look beetle to get it ready...and I was a little distracted in November and early December...







So yeah, in addition to Classic Car Adventures, Hagerty, the car projects...now we gotta plan a wedding! Thankfully we're going to do it in 2026, which gives me time to do the Family Heirloom in time for the wedding. Eeek.

Back to the Rally Bug, I've been working on all the little details that take forever but seem like you're doing nothing. Programming wise, I have all the lights, wipers and accessories working correctly. The tach signal was super static-y and jumpy, but installing Autometers 9116 Tachometer signal filter solved that problem. I've installed most of the blacked-out trim, but the paint didn't work on two front pieces...so they are getting redone for the third time. Windows were almost ready to go in, but it turns out this really is a '71 shell, and not the '72 I thought it was (must be the pan!) so the rear window rubber was wrong. Bob and I have worked a few nights getting all the other seals in, and I'm pleased to say that once we pop the windows in...it's ready for PPF and a test drive.








(the red things need to become black...)

I did have to spend a bunch of time reworking the mechanical setup of the Hydraulic clutch. I could't get it to disengage with my initial settings, but a bit of time monkeying around with the slave setup and it's all working well. The worn Hargett shifter and a beetle box are a TERRIBLE combination. I need to road test it to see how bad it is, but I've tuned it up as much as I can on the axle stands and it's passible...but not great. I will say it's about as good as the Porsche 901 box was with the worn Hargett shifter...but in that case, when you ground syncros it was easy to say "ah well, they were bad anyways". On a freshly rebuilt box, it's going to hurt! Mark Hargett and I have been talking, and I think with an NDA he is going to send me the files I need to CNC replacement bits for the worn parts. So that's great.



Unfortunately I can't get the CB fuel injection software to communicate with the box using my new PC laptop that I had to buy to communicate with the Aim PDM. It will, however, communicate with my old Mac laptop running parallels. It really shouldn't work this way, and should work the other! Oh well...guess I get to carry three laptops around with me now? FI, PDM, and work laptops. Good thing I used all that carbon for weight savings :P



If you spent anytime on social media in November 2025, you learned from RWB that tow hooks should be glued on with Urethane and held with green masking tape until it has set. I figured why not up the ante, and 3D print my tow hook before gluing it on?! Lightweight, and the glue won't fail if you try and use it!



Just kidding. It's a cupholder. No urethane was used for it's installation.

So...that's where we sit. Waiting for new window seals, a new windshield, and I need to quote the PPF install with a guy who will come to my house to do it. Pretty much ready for road testing, the weather is perfect for it (no snow, no salt, nice temperatures)...and I'm leaving for a work trip. Sigh. At least it's going to be ready for the 2025 driving season!

-Dave

[Scotts73SB]

Thats a good distraction! Congrats! Love all the updates and seeing the progress! New Year new Drives! Good luck!