1972 2002 | upgrade to daily driver status

[whiteout]

I recently purchased a '72. It's not the best car, by any means. But it will be getting some miles on it. The previous owner rarely drove the car and stored it inside, so there's no rust. But there is a lot that needs to be cleaned up/updated, and many things the previous owner didn't disclose that need to be tended to. So here is the thread of my 2002.

The car:

4speed

73,xxxk miles

California car

Zero rust on shell, a small spot on the front of the hood

The mods:

Rota RB wheels

New carpet set

New brake pads and shoes.

Electronic Ignition

Webber 36/32 Carb

Bilstein Shocks

E30 radiator

The bad, not disclosed to me by the previous owner:

No radio or antenna

Poor paint job by the previous owner. A lot orange peel and overspray

No center console

Exhaust rattle

Not a lot of heat coming from the heater blower

No blinkers

Missing some trim

No tail lights

No reverse lights

No interior lights

No dash lights

No horn

Fuel supply to carb leaks

Poor idle

So far:

Replaced all the fuses

Fixed the non-working interior dash lights, reverse lights, and tail lights.

Switched power source to lights so the reverse lights are not red and tail lights are not white.

Replaced all the lights on the back of the car.

Repaired reflectors inside tail light housing to allow for lights to be seen.

Upgraded the tail lights and brake lights with LED.

I'll be trying to ask some questions in this thread as I go if I cannot find anything through searching and try not to clog up the forum.

Onto pics!

day 1:

Tail Lights:

how I got the car

after repairs

Nick

[whiteout]

I think that I have a 80 degree thermostat, but not 100% sure. If it is, then I need to pull the heater core hoses and flush out the heater core.

Nick

[whiteout]

the two cars together, in the day:

Nick

[Colin]

Looks like they're getting ready for a suburban drag race. I wonder how that'd turn out?

[roadhog0]

You got a lambo? Damn!

[whiteout]

Looks like they're getting ready for a suburban drag race. I wonder how that'd turn out?

In snow... BMW would win. lol

You got a lambo? Damn!

Yeah, '03 Murcielago.

Nick

[Gurmail]

Hi Nick,

Just a quick comment about your tail lights. The picture showing the back of the bulb housing indicates that it's the housing for the left tail light and it's probably placed on the left tail side, which would be correct. However, the lens are reversed (between left and right).

If you switch each lens to the opposite sides without switching the bulb housing, the original wiring would be correct. It would also place the lights correctly (reverse on the top, tail lights on the outside and brake lights on the inside.)

[whiteout]

Thank you. I will correct the placement of the tail lights to their original lay out. It's always interesting finding the changes that people make to cars over a long period of time.

Nick

[whiteout]

I am getting into the wiring a little more on the car at this point. I am going to be adding resistors to the headlights and running a Hella lens and H4 hi/low bulb.

There is this series of what looks to be resistors and relays. Does anybody know what they go to?

Thanks,

Nick

[whiteout]

There is also this random wire wrapped around the hood latch. The car does not have an antenna, is this the antenna wire?

I definitely should have cleaned off the camera phone lens. Car is 20 miles away, I'll grab a more clear picture this week.

Nick

[whiteout]

Update from tonight. Nothing done is noticeable to someone who didn't see the car before and pay detailed attention.

oil change | rotella T6 5w40 synthetic

new OEM thermostat | old one was stuck open

coolant change

seafoam'd the intake

seafoam'd the fuel system

cleaned up under hood wires | zip tie wires in a more clean manner

removed under hood wires | random white wire, useless ground, and power wire to nothing

modified fuel delivery to carb | swapped fuel intake from L to R and cut new fuel delivery line 8" shorter

1.5 hours trying to fix brand new jack. grr...

thermostats

Nick

[bzuva]

Nice selection of cars man! Love 'em both!

[Chamonix72]

5W40? Recommended oil is 20W50.

Other than that, enjoy the car; looks good!

[whiteout]

5W40? Recommended oil is 20W50.

Other than that, enjoy the car; looks good!

It's about to get real cold here.

Nick

[whiteout]

with girlfriend's 1.8T 5 speed Beetle

pimpin:

. . . or not

taking up Lambo's spots

Nick