Aircooled VW South Africa

Just wanted to start a post on and about my Puma which will include past, current and future things done to the car.
I am going to break this up into parts
A little background
I bought this car about 6-7 years ago. It was in good condition restored by a guy called Immelmann who stayed by the Hartebeerport dam (did i spell that right?). I loved it and bought it. For all my full time student years it was my only car, for daily drives, going to parties, and picking up chicks (hence unfortunately it got a little abused). So now some years later I decided to redo everything and try make the car better than new (slowly but surly).
Details
The Puma is a 1975 first run built. It was built in New Germany KZN and is number (if I remember correctly) 187 of 350 something built in SA. On the paper it was first registerd 01/01/1975, making it a 1974 built. I am not sure which data is correct.
It seems it was originally red (I found an area with some red paint), but it is silver now, which I think looks much better.
I don’t know what number of owner as I don’t know how many people had the car before the previous owner.
Body and Interior
Some fibreglass in the back was cut by the previous owners. I guess this was done to fit an exhaust system. Plus there were cracks in many places, scratches and chips from years of abuse.
What needed doing is a complete sand down, fixing of fibreglass in many places and a respray. Since Puma Marketing started again I decided to go to Jack and let home sort out the car. They did a good job and the car looks new and nice again.
The interior is as it was before. A few minor fixes have been done. What I still need to is the upholstery of the seat as it is into as cushy any more.
I still would love to get front chrome bumper. I hope IMPI can help.

Suspension
Current

• Suspension was dropped in about 2002 by nick from beetleinn. (that’s where I know bugger from). ]

• Heavy duty Gabriel and Armstrong shocks are currently were fitted.

• Upgrade from drums to disks. Thanks to Calooker who organised many of the parts.

• Nice looking rims with a polished lip with 195/60/15 front and 205/60/15 in the back. I bought them from domingos, when the drum to disk conversion was done

Plans

• Fix the drop as the rear is higher than the front which causes oversteer, and does not look that lekker.

• Replace the shocks and but good gas shocks: Going to put these Bilstein B6 Sport Gas shocks

• Replace rubbers n stuff etc

• Replace steering damper

• Double check and bend a few things straight again (from driving into a pavement a while ago)

• Put a anti-roll or sway bar or whatever people call it

Engine and gearbox related
Current

• When I bought the car it had a Big Bore Conversion and was probably just under 1700cc. It had twin solex carbs and had fun power. However it ran hot and after a few years the case cracked and oil started pissing out.

• Luckily Ferdi could help and he completely rebuilt the engine. He did a great job. And it does have more power than your normal 1600. It is now features a single Weber carb.

Plans

• Without hacking anything and keeping everything as OG look as possible (one has to be careful there are some fuggly butchered pumas out there. Pumas should look as OG as possible with slight modern hint to it), want to put a 13bt Wankel (rotary) engine. Yes I know no more aircooled.

• Bugger is the guy to speak to about that he knows is stuff and is a cool guy. Cheers Pierre.

• So far I got:

• 13bt Wankel engine series 4 with counter weight adapter plate etc.

• big e36 Radiator

• electric fan for radiator

• oil cooler empi + fan

• fuel pump 2.5l kombi

• low pressure fuel pump

• dump valve

• gauge displays rpm, boost, water tmp, oil tmp, oil pressure, battery status. I am not yet sure where I am going to put it without making it look out of place in the interior

• clutch and pressure plate (kombi)

• I still need

• Ecu going going to go with GoTech

• Exhaust system

• Cables pipes hoses and shit like that for fuel, oil, water, and electronics

• Air filter

• Surge fuel tank

• Water level safe stop sensor

• Engine braces

• Starter from a kombi

• Make engine bling

• TONS OF HELP FROM BUGGER FITTING EVERYTHING

Currently my problem is time as I am under big pressure at work for a project which results me working everyday incl. weekends.

Comments, suggestions, advice are very welcome.

This is going to be a fast Puma.I'll be following with interrest.

This is going to be one wicked Puma when it's done

I love those wheels, they have a very BBS pattern to them. And the stance on the Puma is perfect.

*Blitz keeps an eye on this thread*

I also love Pumas. The silver on this one looks very nice indeed. Would not mind having it parked in my garage!

thanks for the comments

hey beetlefanatic when it is done i am planning to drive it to nelspruit to visit my dad. I will drop in to say hello if you are around.


little update

today i manage to put in 4 new shocks. the old ones were completely dead. they made a funny noise when you shake them and they they did not move at all. No wonder my handling was bad especially at high speeds. I had no shocks!

faulty broken old gabriel and armstrong shocks vs new Bilstein socks make quite a difference.

some pics:

Mhh Raising the puma and going rally racing ?



1 old one and the 4 new ones



one of the old shocks



new shock in . I was actually surprised putting in new shocks was easy and very quick. I thought it would take me longer.

in other news

bought a starter motor today from ACE scrapyards. looking good, soon I will have everything that is required.

I am still unsure on what ECU to use. I am going to leave this one till the end.

BACK TO STRIPPING.

Pierre and myself went to strip (no not at a club), we stript the motor.

13B before stripping:



13B after stripping featuring stripper 1



13B after stripping featuring stripper 2




It is amazing how small the engine is after all the shit that is not needed has been removed. Such as fans, belts, some air pump thing, powersteering etc.


Looking good, getting there!

MANY THANKS BUGGER!!!

Very interesting, keep up the good work!

What car would that engine have originated from?

hey pine

the engine probably came from a Mazda RX7 or a Mazda Luce I think RX7 as it is the more popular car.The engine is a series 4 as far as I know which means it is from probably from a 1986-1988 RX7 FC S4 model.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-7

Wankel engines are very interesting, pity that only mazda are successfully mass producing them.

Did you buy the Bilstein shocks locally?

nope got them from germany much cheaper. my mom lives down the road from bilstein head office.

Do you know of any success stories using GoTech on a rotary? Maybe you should speak to a couple of the engine tuners about the difference in management systems.

p.s. It's a good looking car. Bugger will sort you out with a 'box and suspension mods?

PhantomPhondler wrote:nope got them from germany much cheaper. my mom lives down the road from bilstein head office.

hi john

ja bugger is going to help with everything.

anyone have contact details of any tuners using roatries. i am going to search the net a little.

http://www.msefi.com

does look intresting

Bumpity. Any updates on this Puma?

Not much

There are a few things still in the way But do not disssipeer

It will be there
The most important was getting the motor and all the 150 bits on the shopping list