2000saleen
9/18/2007 9:38:33 PM
Hey guys, I'm new to this site and I have a question. I am about to purchase a 73 fastback with fuel injection w/automatic. My wife tells me they are junk because she had one years before I met her and she was constantly taking it to the shop for repair. Is there some advice that I can borrow from any of you vw experts. I would like to know what i'm getting myself into before I take the plunge. I have only owned a 63 bug and it ran good for me. Thanks. Dennis
stilbo
9/29/2007 8:36:17 PM
Really cool car if there are no rust issues. I owned a '66 and a '70. Any rust? Walk away. The injection system was lousy and very crude by today's standards but a dual carb swap and a blue distributor can be done by a caveman and doesn't cost much. If you live where it gets cold, you have to deal with heater box BS but they are reliable if they are in one piece. The automatic got a bad rap because it was not built as bullet proof as a Chrysler 727, Ford C4/C6 or GM Turbo 350 transmissons and people would not "go by the book" and change fluid and filter regularly. I don't know whether a manual trans swap is easy or a nightmare but I've pulled a zillion type I, II and III engine/trans and you can literally dig a hole in the back yard, push the car over the hole, drag some jacks and 2x10 boards under it and drop the engine/trans in less than two hours. Not the safest way but....
If the trans is working now, I'd buy it and baby it. Buy a GOOD manual and do all the required service on it. These are a lot more fun and practical than a Bug. I camped outta my Type III's til I bought my '74 Bus. Good luck!
