Battery Connections

[Kowalski]

What do you call the metal clamp that connects the main live wire to the battery and are they a universal fit as I have broken my one today. (first thing I have broken on my p&j!!)

Also why are there two main live wires connected to it? One will be direct from the generator I think not sure where the other one goes to but maybe the coil.

Also I am thinking of removing the engine just so I can tidy up the firewall, maybe put a stainless steal one in. Will somebody talk me out of it before I completely break a perfect car - lol. Only joking sure it will be OK.

[Blugg]

Not sure why you have 2 positives or what the bit is called on the battery :(

As for talking you out of taking the engine out and ruining a perfectly good Bug :) DO IT !! :laughing: You feel as one with your Bug once you start tinkering ;)

[Shamrockez]

The other red wire goes to the starter. The connections are pretty much univeral - we replaced the ones on Joey with ones from Halfords - also worth replacing the starter to battery wire if it's looking tatty.

Engine's pretty easy to remove and refit :) Best if you have someone with you who's done it before tho to make things easier (and to help!).

[Kowalski]

After reading a bit of the Muir book I now know one wire is to the starter and the other is to the ignition switch! -DOH!.

Sham - all the wires look OK and keeping it original is what I want to do but I will check and change if necessary when I get into it.

The firewall in there at the moment is some really thick and and not easy to manipulate thing, it looks a bit like cardboard but I am sure it has wires in it for strength. Putting a stainless steal one in would make it obviously look unoriginal but I have yet to decide. Also when it is out I will change the inlet pipe as it used to suffer a bit from carb icing.

Bluggg - Totally agree - a car is not your own until you have had it in bits.

I will buy a new battery connection and start with that.

[1958 Harry]

I imagine thats the original fire wall covering - my bug has similar - i'd leave it if its OK (just my personal opinion) I hate those stainless firewall coverings.

Taking the engine out is fairly easy - I had Lucy and Steve help me do mine - from that we fixed the flywheel problem and painted all the tinware up. Just when you remove/refit it take out the bits that stick out of the top of the exhaust for the clean air pipes as they make it really hard to get the engine out, and impossible to get in as they catch on the rear valance! :lol:

[Duggy]

that sounds like the original tar board. If you replace it with a chrome one a lot more engine noise will be transfered inside the car when your driving. Heritage do a standard firewall kit:

http://www.vwheritage.com/vwh/Beetle-Parts/Body/Engine-Lids-Bay/?srchPart=111%2D813%2D805%2F%20KIT

getting the engine out isn't difficult but it is heavy and a bit awkward, 2 nuts and a bolt underneath, a nut behind the fan, disconnect the fuel pipe, battery, accy cable, heat exchangers / 'zaust and a couple of wires and that's pretty much it!

best of luck :D

[Kowalski]

Yep Tar board is the best description for it. Its defo original I know this for a fact as I know the original owner.
Its not it too bad condition but I just want to tidy the engine bay up.

I will let you lot know if I do decide on doing this.

[Shamrockez]

Black will get you back, chrome won't get you home ;)


How true it is, I dunno.

[Duggy]

Black will get you back, chrome won't get you home ;)


How true it is, I dunno.

what you on about? :laughing:

i'm with Luke on this one, deffo the tar board and not the chrome firewall for me. I'd rather run without one in fact.

[Shamrockez]

It's a saying :)

[Duggy]

must be a Brizzle thing :p :laughing:

[Shamrockez]

nope not a Brizzle thing!

Chrome reflects heat and black absorbs it - therefore chrome means the heat is still on the 'cool' part of the engine = not as cool as it should be. Or at least... in theory.

[Kowalski]

ooohhh thats interesting.
I want to keep it original so either leave it or change for another tar board in the future.

I bought a battery connector from Halfords and it went on OK but not I think the battery is goosed.

[Black Sheep]

Chrome parts tend to be cheap Brazilian items that are crap compared to German parts.
My brother had a chrome alternator strap on his baja which broke with the vibrations, wrecking the fan and housing.
I had a chrome firewall on my 72 and never had any overheating problems.
Just be careful which chrome parts you use.:)

[Shamrockez]

I think general concensus is that the majority of chome tinwear is brazilian and doesn't fit very well - hence letting the hot air into the cool part of the engine... plus the reflective thing.