First big task on Charlie
Charlie is not yet online, but I could see from my room that Timmy did the first big task to replace the heat control boxes, heat exchangers and the exhaust. Before the repairs he and Charlie went to Brussels to empty his apartment there, and Charlie was the suitable lady to support. A trip of almost 800km including some detour! Charlie enjoyed the trip very much I have heard, so was excited about it. She liked to be a special guest of the Brussels environmental zone with her VIP ticket of being a classic. Charlie likes to drink when she is cruising, sixteen liters per 100km!! But in return she gives seventy horsepower with a beautiful and recognizable sound of the four cilinder air-cooled boxer engine.
Back to the work that is been done. The parts were old, and the parts were heavily corroded. From the control box until the exhaust had to be replaced. One day to take out the old, corroded parts, and one day to install new parts. It was not all that easy as many fixings had to be grinded or drilled to take out.
The new control box, heat exchangers and connecting pipes were installed. The exhaust was replaced for an EMPI 2-Tip GT exhaust system. EMPI is a known brand for accessories and aftermarket parts for air-cooled VW’s since 1954. The exhaust still gives the unmistakable VW boxer sound with a deeper tone, a crispy sound in all and adds a few horsepower to it as well. The appearance fits Charlie better, instead of one small exhaust tip on one side it has two rearward straight tips, just like me. We go classic but not standard, we cruise in style, our style.
Next steps are already planned for Charlie. She will be hooked-up to the internet by some modern retro looking technology. Furthermore, brush up the interior in the front, some water leakage needs to be found and some electrical work needs to be done on the front side, like the connection of the rally lights. So, plenty of tasks ahead and in the meantime, Charlie is cruising in the Dutch soft winter.
So, Charlie is getting upgraded and I think she will soon write her own blog here on our website soon. I stay inside until the temperatures are more reasonable and the salt is from the road.
A last video for you to enjoy the sound of Charlie: