Honest feedback for a newbie?

Read this:

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com/pages/articles_ready

 

I also pulled the trigger recently on a Vintage Speedster built car last September.  My knowledge of mechanics was limited to oil changes, battery changes, changing headlights etc. Since buying my car I taught myself how to adjust the valves, added an anti-sway bar, rear camber compensator, rewired my headlights, and several other things.  I had no idea how to any of that before but found out it wasn't that difficult.  Google, YouTube, and this website are my advisers/friends.  I should say I didn't have to do any of those things, other than adjust the valves, I just wanted to make the car mine.

 

Don't sweat the small stuff.

I have owned a spyder with a 2109cc CB Performance aircooled, a suby spyder and my current VW/Audi watercooled IM 356 D.  My mechanical abilities are limited.  The only way I would even think about getting an aircooled car was if I actually lived where the engine was built, like LA.  I think getting the car from Vintage and buying a CB engine are a pretty safe bet if you live in LA.  But you should go to CB meet with Pat and let him know that you live right down the street.  Being on the east coast with limited mechanical abilities I'll stick with water cooling.  Turn the key and go.

Buy a used one first and see if you like it.   

More than your knowledge, I think the most important question regards your disposition.

 

Unless you are willing to pay for a top-end car or learn to do a lot of stuff yourself, or both, you need an attitude like Jim Ignacio to really get in the groove with one of these cars.

 

If you get frustrated when stuff isn't perfect, then you'll be frustrated a lot.

 

If you have a frame of mind that all you should ever have to pay for is gas and oil once a year, then you'll feel like the car is eating you alive.

 

If rattles, squeaks, and stuff falling off the car is going to make you afraid to drive it past the corner gas station, than you probably aren't ever going to trust it much.

 

If you are in a "time critical" mode a lot of the time, your car's cantankerous attitude is going to leave you angry.

 

The good news is that in LA there are people who can fix it. It's not like that many other places, so I don't think you need to be possessed with the ghost of Gene Berg to own one. But, on the flip side, a AAA card with free 100 mi. towing would probably be a good idea. An air-cooled car is not like a simpler version of your Honda. It's more like a fancier version of a lawn mower, built in somebody's back shed.

 

"Curb your expectations", and you'll learn to love it. 

That's good advice, right there. Darned good advice.

With regards to mechanical skills I'm maybe a 6 out of 10.  I've had my Vintage Speedster for 3 1/2 years and it has not seen a repair shop yet, and it is a 2007 build.  I have done the routine maintenance stuff myself including valves and carb balance (Kadron's).  Don't be too afraid as any big city should have several VW repair places.

Two words, Mr. Lurker:

1. Rust
2. Belt

We're not a big city, but we are a smaller metro area (500k people in the economic impact zone) with some money from 2 Fortune 500 company's HQs, and a regional health-care center. We have no such shops.

" Buy a used one " is good advise if.... you are mechanical and can wrench then and now so to speak as they are rolling hobbies that are never quite done ~

VS is in your back yard and does a nice build at a reasonable price,  there are other good choices with good service such as Beck and IM  

IMHO I recommend a 1915 motor as it runs strong w/o having cooling issues.

Stan that lawn mower deal absolutely CRACKED ME UP.  You know if it wasn't true it wouldn't be so funny.

 

If a fellow can put this into the right perspective he'll do OK. I hate lawn mowers and mowing grass so I/we should be grateful that the ownership experience is at least better then that. 

 

       

Don't knock those back yard sheds.  I know a guy who does a great job out of his.  Local guy.  Now admittedly it's a big double shed with heat and air but sheds are good.    I didn't see any lawn mowers in there either. I have a big one in my back yard too it's an almost must have.  No heat or electricity but it could happen...  

 

I've been told what one of the better known builders works out of and maybe we should get a collection together and send him some Pa quality sheds.  Quality shed for quality cars.  See my sense of humor is coming back.   

My 1st replica was a Vintage Speedster that I owned for 15 years, drove it pretty much on a daily basis (SoCal), logged 100,000 relatively trouble-free miles all over the Western states (CA, NV, WA, OR, AZ, UT, CO).

 

 

After an accident, replaced that car with another Vintage Speedster. Daily driver used as previous. In 8 months ownership, have logged 10,000 trouble-free miles.

 

 

I've enjoyed every mile driving these cars (even with their imperfections) without angst over which brand of oil to use, inaccuracy of tachometer, speed or travel of shifter pattern, etc.

 

Don't sweat the small stuff, drive & enjoy the car as if each time may be your last time to do so (there is no promise of tomorrow)!

 

I'm just saying...

That supirses me Stan.  How about the 914 guys in Perioa?  

Brad Mauyer is happy to work on your 914, and he's the 914 guru east of the Mississippi. Anything else... not so much. He's carved out a nice little niche for himself being very specific, and there's not much incentive to do anything else. Kauth and Mauyer (the shop he owned before selling out and starting 914 limited) is a fantastic German shop, but VW stuff is not their thing either. I've taken my car there for Delrin bushings, but even the air-cooled guys don't work much on hotted up VWs. We're really out here on the edge when you stop and think about it.

 

It's been 35 years since ACVWs were sold new, and 15 since A/C Porsche 6s were. That's a long time. The VW shops (the ones that used to be in every city) all catered to the single-port/1500 cc crowd.

 

It's pretty thin.

How close are you to Troy Sloan?  Perhaps he could find and sort out a used VS for you.  At least you would know it's right and be out less than a new one.

 

 

Brad, the main thing to remember is that a Speedster is not a car.

 

At least not as most of us understand what a 'car' is today.

 

Have you ever noticed how many low mileage Speedsters are up for sale? And I mean really low mileage - 1000 miles, 2000 miles. There are many reasons for this, but I think it's mainly because most of those folks thought they were buying a car and found out otherwise.

 

They thought they could jump in a brand new one, turn the key, and drive off happily into the sunset until the 15,000-mile checkup. They thought they could take it up to the lake for a week and have a perfect, uninterrupted vacation.  They thought if it rained, they'd put the top up. If it got cold, they'd turn on the heat. You know - a car.

 

And maybe some of them even thought, "Hey, it's a Porsche - I'll be leaving everyone in my dust - especially on the freeway."

 

You've got to be a little bit crazy to still want one of these after you understand what they are. 

 

But you're in luck - there are lots of us crazy people here to help. Of course, we're not always quite as candid in a public forum like this as we might be if we sat down with you over a beer.

 

But wait! You're in even better luck! In two weeks, and not far from you, there will be a gathering of fifty or so crazy people and an assortment of all kinds of Speedsters - from the basic models up to the fanciest. You'll be able to see these cars, sit in them, and maybe even drive a few. You'll be able to get the real stories from these crazy people on what to look out for when buying one. And Brad, best of all, there will be beer.

 

If you're halfway serious about getting a Speedster, or even if you're not, the big do in San Luis Obispo is the weekend of June 5-7. You'd be crazy to miss it.

 

Details here:

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com...2015-west-coast-meet

 

and here:

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com...coast-cruise-caravan

 

 

 

Wow, thank you Satco, and to all the other very generous people that have replied. One thing I love about speedster nation is that is seems like a real family, there's bad and good, but everyone seems to dwell on the good. The San Luis Obispo meet sounds like a great weekend. I will try my best to make it. My last name is Beerbohm, so if you see a short, wide eyed 45 year old up there that weekend, I'd love to talk to all of you, and even more so to see all your gorgeous rides. I'm writing it down in my calander. Thanks again, guys...

Brad,

 

Please try to get to the SLO run. walk up and introduce your self. There are always some open right seats.

 

Look forward to seeing you.

 

Larry

 

My 2nd bucket build had a better positioned column with a reversed Corvair steering box and decent leg room w/ 350/350 hp........... Super quick .

       
       

Brad,
I agree with Larry. Try to swing by the SLO gathering. Make it for happy hour on Friday or the dinner on Saturday.

If you make it, there will be a guy with a red speedster with a black and white checkered hood. You'll notice him by the swagger in his step and his yapping about some new shocks. Ignore that guy. He's crazy. The madness has consumed him.

Ted

Brad, one word of caution about buying a used speedster....you will want to modify it.  The urge to buy new things for your baby will be VERY strong.

Resist the urge with all your might, if you plan on buying a new speedster in the future.

Drive it, enjoy it, and figure out what changes you'd make on a new build.

 

On the other hand, if you buy a used speedster and decide to keep it a long time you can join the Big Spenders Club and shower your baby with lavish gifts.

I'm a proud member (proof is the empty bank account).

Bigger engines and more power (and maybe even dry sump), a 5 speed gearbox, limited slip or Quaiffe differential, better brakes all around, a Mendeola suspension, lighter wheels, wider tires, oh, it's time to rework the engine for more power again....

 

Most guys' cars are never finished.

 

 

It's all part of the  MADNESS!

 

Ron and Stan are particularly long time sufferers and have it bad! Bob's going through a heavy bout at the moment and Ted's a newer addition, but equally afflicted. No one's immune...

 

As true as Ron's statement is, it's a lot like mantra of The Borg (That alien life-form from Star Trek). Resistance is futile, we will assimilate you.

 

I bought a perfectly well sorted used Speedster that needed nothing done to it.  That lasted less than a week. I've since put in a custom stereo, anti-sway bar, rear camber compensator, new horns, new headlights with a complete wiring upgrade, thin-line sump, and a third brake light.

 

Yeah, resistance is futile.

What engine is in it, Robert?

As long as you realize the madness you're ok .   It's when you think every one has it and it's there fore normal you may be in too deep.   For me my age is tending to limit my willingness to put up with the hassles .  Now had I the skills to solve my own problems different story.  I do believe that Carey could build a car that I would happy with and so could Henry at IM.  Should I spend the money?   Will I ?   Time will tell.   I do believe that a car set up correctly could be used as I would desire and it would be a car that I could trust.   This JPS probably can be made right if the 3rd owner does his part and has Steeles help and blessings.  We'll see I guess

       
       

I think he's running the Vintage 1915 same as Musbjim.

Alas, TRP is correct; I am consumed by the madness. as you've read above little bits and pieces along the way. buy a used speedster, new carpet, big boy bucket seats, outboard multi-pass oil cooler, front discs, wrap the hood, AJ Simms carb rework and vacuum advance distributor. Oh, somewhere a stereo got in there.

 

Then one day I'm talking to this nice kid from imperial Beach, on a run to Warner Springs, he says "hey I got this new suspension it'll probably work on a car like yours..."

 

So here I am with the Tawdry speedster with new shocks and a front/Rear suspension transplant, four wheel Discs, wide fives and torkmaster wheels. Next a torque induced plasma transcanabulator.

 

This has been a great hobby, many enjoyable miles and great people to enjoy them with.

 

Embrace the madness.

 

all the best

 

Larry

 

 

 

 

I traced the VIN number back to the original owner who had VS build it for him and he said he had it built with a 1915 cc motor. Of course it has had five owners before me including Troy, twice, but I couldn't imagine someone would put a smaller motor in it. Unless of course they wanted the larger motor for a different project.

 

No prior experience with air-cooled motors so until I take it in someday for serious work and have it confirmed I'll go with what the original owner told me.

 

Larry, you won't be happy with the stock transcanabulator for very long.

 

The Gene Berg version, while pricey, is worth every penny.

 

 

Hey guys, I'm having trouble finding the actual location of the meet up in SLO, any help???

Here is the whole thread:

https://www.speedsterowners.com...2015-west-coast-meet


The hotel is the same one as last year... When you call, tell them you need a room from the block under the "SOC Group".

Quality Suites
1631 Monterey St, SLO 93401
(805)541-5001



Like Like (1 like)

What luck! Larry, I have an NOS Berg modified transcanabulator that you can have for 3/4 of the catalog price (I bought a lot of Berg stuff back in the day). Anything for a fellow SOC member. As ol' Gene said, "Buy the best and cry once!".

       
       


Did you get the left hand or right hand threaded one?

Guys, y'all should stay up with technology.  The transcanabulator has been a mainstay for years, particularly the Jenner model, but as the "trans" part of the name indicates, it is a compromise.  The latest invention is the quantumcanabulator, which is no longer limited to being one place at a particular point in time.

 

Apparently, Al is already experimenting with his pocket quantumcanabulator .

 

He had the same post in two different locations but they have now joined up....

 

Lane, if I wanted a quantumcanabulator, I would have gotten a Miata.

 

To me, the whole point of these cars is staying in touch with the raw, mechanical side of driving.

 

Transcanabulators are quirky. They can drive you nuts sometimes. The Chinese repops are crap. Some say even the Spanish ones are nowhere as good as the originals. But this is why I drive a Speedster in the first place.

 

Most drivers today have no idea what a canabulator is. They don't even know their cars have them. Every once in a while, a dervil clogs, they throw an error code, and the dealer plugs  in a whole new one.

 

I like to think I'm driving the damned car and not some microprocessor - one eye on the gauge, one ear on the engine, and feeling what the transcanabulators are doing through the seat of my pants.

 

They remind me that all cars once had them, and of an even earlier time, when sharpmeyers were made of wood and men were made of steel.

 

 

I hear you, Mitch.  I feel the same way about muffler bearings, but with canabulators I enjoy modern technology.  Never did care for the "trans" aspect of the old ones.

This sounds like a bunch of confabulators confabulating about quantum transcanabulators on a website specifically for confabulating.