Background Volkswagen provides detailed documentation for their dealer network of authorized repair facilities, but these materials are not available to the general public. Fortunately, Bentley Publishers, an automotive reference specialist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, fills the information vacuum. New Beetle Service Manual The Volkswagen New Beetle Service Manual contains in-depth maintenance, service...
Continue reading...Ute candidates
Background Transformation of a passenger car into a Ute requires — obviously — cutting the entire body of the car somewhere behind the front door. For a short bed ute (less than 5.5 feet) a two-door configuration, other factors aside, provides more practical chassis cut points because the rear door and...
Continue reading...Turbo S vs. 2.5 I5 models
Comparative specifications Of all the 1998-2010 New Beetles, the two that are most appropriate for a Ute transformation are either the Turbo S with the 1.8 turbocharged I4 engine, or any 2006-10 model since they all share the 2.5 I5 engine. Refer also to this candidate review. The table below compares...
Continue reading...VIN decoding
Background While vehicle identification numbers (VIN) were introduced in the United States during the 1954 model year, they were not standardized as a 17-character sequence until 1981 under ISO 3779 and 3780. The modern VIN has three sections: WMI: first three characters identify the manufacturer VDS: the next five characters describe...
Continue reading...VW fasteners
Background While automotive manufacturing has become increasingly standardized, strong country flavors remain, and this often requires the need for special tools. American cars often use SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) measurements based on the English system of inches, while German cars are all metric. Beyond this basic difference, each manufacturer tends...
Continue reading...Smyth New Beetle Ute kit
Background The Smyth New Beetle Ute kit provides a cargo bed and rear body solution for New Beetle Ute transformations. Kit flexibility enables various customizations, such as rear lighting, interior treatment, and lift suspension modifications. The Smyth kit creates a truck bed that measures approximately 60 x 39″. Kit contents (Subject...
Continue reading...Modified functionality
Chopping off the back half of a New Beetle body has some implications for a few functions in the rear of the car. Dash indicators The New Beetle Turbo S dash displays an array of 20 different warning indicators.
Continue reading...Anatomy of 1.8 engine
Fully dressed engine The 1.8 turbocharged dual cam 20-valve engine has many variants — the example illustrated below is similar but not identical to the AWP code Turbo S version. In the Turbo S, the front of the block faces the right side of the engine bay placing the dipstick in...
Continue reading...Ground clearance
Background Ground clearance significantly impacts comfort, handling (center of gravity), appearance, load capacity, and safety of all vehicles. Optimal height is always a trade off: lower clearance improves handling, stability at high speeds, and increases the responsiveness of steering, but higher clearance improves comfort and navigation over uneven terrain (includes all...
Continue reading...Back end treatment
Background Removing the entire back half of the Beetle’s body opens up options for rear lighting — license plate illumination, reverse, running, brake, and turn signal lights — as well as tailgate and truck bed embellishments. See also Owner’s Manual modified reference guide. Vintage pickups, like the Ford F-100, handled the...
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