The bimonthly ride and a trip to the DMV

Well, it was time for Dixie's bimonthly ride in the bug. I was out and about again trying to win the picture contest on the Internet. The picture had to have an abandoned building and your VW in it. Dixie figured there is no better place to find an abandoned building then on Main street in Magna, So we loaded up the family in the bug and cruised over to Magna. We got some funny looks by the people across the street as I was taking pictures of the bug next to an old building. They probably thought neither was worthy of a picture. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Here they are (the buildings and the bug) in all their glory




For those who don't know the last 3 pictures are of an old building that was painted up for an episode of the TV show Touched by an Angel. At the time it was the best looking building on Main street. We won the contest and decided to have everyone look for an interesting or unique road sign with their VW next to it.

The bug is sporting some new (old) license plates. I went to the DMV today and had the plates transferred to the original 1969 plates I found at the Logan car show. They look good and seem to fit the bug better then the new ones did. Just a word to the wise. DO NOT GO TO THE DMV AT THE FIRST OF THE MONTH THE DAY AFTER A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. It was a zoo. Actually I would advise to avoid the DMV if at all possible. It seems like I am always there for some reason. I think I should get a frequent visitor pass.

Happy 4th of July

The fourth of July this year consisted of the family going up to Logan to visit Grandma and Grandpa and to see the fireworks show. In my honest opinion, they have the best show in the State. We have never gone away disappointed. Just look and see.
And that was just as we were leaving to go to the fireworks! Here is some pictures of us waiting for the fireworks to start.





It was a fun weekend. Dixie was bummed out because she wasn't able to see a parade on Saturday. The schedules of all the parades and the timing didn't work out. Saturday we decided to let the guys do guy things and the girls do girl things. All the Olson boys piled into the mini van and went to the Cache Valley Cruise In. It's the biggest car show in Utah. We had a good time looking at cool cars, eating corn dogs and cotton candy and listening to the oldies.




The girls went and watched the new twilight movie in the theater. Dixie says I would of hated it because of all the kissing. I am sure I would of. Everyone seemed to have a good time. I think in a couple of years we are going to take the bug up to Logan for the cruise in. Its a 3 day event that has a poker run, camping out and a car show with a car parade on Saturday night. I think the boys would love to participate in it. If it gets to hot there is a water park across the street. We have to get the bug in better shape to enter it though. We also have to trust it enough to drive it up to Logan and back. I did score some Utah license plates from 1969 at the swap meet for an awesome price. They will look good on the bug.

What happened?

I tried to trick Dixie into thinking something happened to the hood of her van. This is what she saw.


Its just a magnet that sticks. She said I didn't fool her but I bet I did. It looks pretty realistic until you touch it. I think I will put it on somebodys car next so watch out!

On jackstands again!

Well, the bug spent some of Saturday on jack stands again. Driving home Friday from work it started running rough. I pulled the top of the carburetor off and found the float bowl full of junk. I had a fuel filter on it, but when I pulled the gas tank out the last time I removed it with plans on installing it back closer to the engine so it would filter out anything in the fuel line. I got lazy and did not get around to installing it. That's usually how I work. I like to put things off until I have to accomplish them. Just ask my wife, she will tell you. Anyhow after cleaning the carb and idle jet out again I installed the fuel filter. Here it is.

It is running good once again and I learned that fuel filters are needed just in case anyone was wondering. While I was under the back of the car I decided to put the rubber snubbers on the bump stops. I had removed them because it was too low to use them at their stock height. I had to cut them down a bit.


I took it for a test spin and it was nice not to have the metal to metal contact. The whole family is going to pile into the bug tonight and head over to Kohl's so that will really be the test.


I also had the chance to change the exhaust. It makes it sound much better. I have never liked the high pitch noise stock bugs make. I went with some bigger tips but they are still quiet. I guess I am getting old. I like my exhaust a little quieter now. Here is the before pic
And here is the after pics
Well that's how Saturday went along with fixing some sprinkler valves and heads, and working on the neighbors Ford. I guess its time to hit Kohl's (Dixie has a coupon that's going to expire).

Work?

I have been trying to take my camera everywhere I go in the bug. The reason is I play a game on the Internet with some local VW enthusiasts where someone tells everyone where to take a picture with their VW. Some examples are your VW at a fire station, or at a cemetery, or by a train. You get the picture. Anyways the first one to post a picture gets to choose the next place for a picture. The last one was a picture of your VW going fast. Here was my pictures.


I know, I know taking a picture while driving doing almost 90 is dumb in the first place, but trying to do 90 in a bug at 5:30 in the morning while taking a picture is really dumb. Its all for the right to choose the next place for a picture to be taken. The crappy thing is someone beat me with a picture so it was all for nothing. Oh well, better luck next time!
Anyways I had my camera at work because of this game and couldn't resist taking a picture of my friend working on an engine. Yes he really is actually working on the back of the engine. This is not set up for a funny picture.

This is what he is working on and looking at.

We were chasing down an oil leak and ended up changing an O Ring back there.
He has threatened to sue me if I post this on my blog but I told him he didn't have a leg to stand on because his face wasn't shown. Besides it will most likely end up on all the computers at work anyways. :)

Having a Hail of a time!

So Thursday I get off work and start driving home. The next thing I know is I hear some horrible noises coming from over my head. It sounds like some mad man is on top of the bug and using an ice pick to bust through the roof. It isn't long after that I realize I can't see through the windshield. I was driving in a hail storm and it literally sounded like I was driving down the road in a metal shed. I guess in 1969 they didn't believe in putting anything between your head and the metal roof except a thin piece of vinyl that makes up the headliner. I made a mad dash to Auto Zone to get some new windshield wipers so at least I could see the road, but of course they don't stock that small of a windshield wiper. I bought some Rain-X and made my way home.

I did get a picture of the odometer on the bug reading 88888 miles. Pretty cool.


I decided that if I was going to drive this everyday I better be more prepared. I found and bought some new windshield wipers. I think the old ones were the original ones from 1969. They did a good job of streaking the water and making muddy streaks all over the windshield. I also bought some new headlights and I did Rain-X the windshield. If anyone out there has not used Rain-X, I highly recommend it. It is worth its weight in gold in my book. I use it on all our vehicles.

I also bought a new steering wheel. The new one is smaller in Diameter and makes it so much easier to get in the bug. I had to modify the turn signal because it was so close to the new wheel. My Dad would call it custom junk. I guess it is but it is a lot more comfortable. I also spent some time looking at the front seats and found out how to adjust them. I am in phat city now, I have enough room that it feels like I am in a Cadillac. Well until I hit a bump, or need to turn without power steering, or as I am looking for the AC button, or when I hit the gas to pass someone, etc.....

Drive in movie

I came across this old picture and had to post it to the blog. I think this is such a cool photo. It reminded me of my first bug. I was in a bug club and they had nights where they would meet somewhere and then everyone would cruise to another location. This night we met at hires in downtown Salt Lake. We ate dinner and from there we went to a drive in theater in West Valley. There were a lot of VW's and we all lined up and drove to the drive in. It was a blast, I took my brother with me and whenever anyone got stopped by a red light everyone would pull over and wait for them to catch up. I still remember all the VW's lined up at the drive inn. I wish I would of taken a picture. I don't remember what movie we saw, ( maybe my brother does?) but I remember having a good time. I wish there was a club in Salt Lake like the one back then. There is a club but most of the members are in the Ogden area so they do all their stuff up there. It makes for a tight schedule to go after work up to Ogden and make it home at a decent hour. Oh Well, maybe I ought to start one in Salt Lake.