[T3] Spring Dust Off

[John Jaranson]

I got both of our Type 3s out last weekend and got them fired up without issues.  Definitely helped to have them on the battery maintainers over the winter.  Took them down to the local tire shop to top off the tire pressures…18psi for the front and 28psi for the rear.  

I “upgraded” the alternator on Jill’s Ghia, going from the 150 Amp alternator I originally installed when I added the electric A/C to a 95 Amp one.  I know the 150 Amp was overkill, at the time, but figure bigger was better.  In the case, not so much.  The 150 Amp alternator worked but the load on the motor at idle was enough to kill the motor if the A/C kicked on.  It also would slip the belt once and while, especially with the v-belt.

With the 95 Amp alternator, the idle just barely drops when the A/C kicks on.  The pulley on this alternator is also 16% larger in diameter which provides more surface area for the belt and reduced torque from the alternator.  Will definitely help with the belt slippage.  It also is a 3-wire alternator which let me hook up the dashboard idiot light that didn’t work with the 1-wire 150 Amp alternator.  Nice little bit of insurance to not have to rely on the noises and smell that the belt made when it was slipping and ready to break. <G>

Jill drove her Ghia to work and for a few errands this week and we took it to get ice cream the other day.  The Ghia is running great and we are looking forward to putting some miles on it over the summer before driving it to Vegas in October for the One Crazy Weekend VW Show and the Type 34 Gathering planned for the weekend.  It should be a great trip.

Sophy is also running great.  It was a blast to get her out and on the road.  Looking forward to driving her a bunch this summer and creating a. punch list of things for her and the Ghia before the run to Eau Claire for the Invasion next year.

It is going to be a good Type 3 summer.

Oh, I also spent a few hours getting the garage cleaned up enough to start working on the Lead Sled project again….

John