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Just purchased a 69 MaxiTaxi with I believe a 71 VW engine, number AE210522. How can I find out information on that engine? Also any guidance to a group, maybe this group, that can help me as I "customize" this new purchase? Also, any idea how many gallons the gas tank may be?

You have something very special... I would love to have one myself.

If you do anything other than normal upkeep I sure would make it so it could easily be put back to stock if you decide to sell it. Cool looking tires and rims for example vs. adding a big HP V8 with FI, a couple turbos and a blower which would require about half a ton of wiring would be my no-no in my book!

Lee

Thanks for the encouragement. We picked it up because my wife fell in love with it. Is there a website that talks about these cars? I'm not sure what stock is as a baseline. Also I need help with understanding the engine and how to service it.

I can understand why she fell in love with it. There is at least one on sale on the web and the bid/asking price is $8900.

I am not sure if the stock VW pan that is used has been modified or not but I suspect that it is basically a stocker with the metal body removed and a glass body added; so I suspect that stock shocks should be OK but updating to gas shocks might be a good idea. I also would have the alignment check which I recommend when someone buys a new to them car. The same with the brakes as they don't get driven as much as a normal car. Also check the condition of the bushing in the tunnel for the shift rod and the coupler to the trans as they do get worn.

I am not sure if they reset the torsion bars in the front or rear or not. If the pan is truly an '89 then you should have a ball-joint front beam and an IRS rear setup. The preload stock is in the 19° to 20° range and will have dual spring plates arms (they went to single are spring plates sometime in '72). The later arms and trailing arms have a different bolt pattern... just-in-case this comes up.

Check the condition of the soft lines such as fuel and brake lines.

As far as the engine goes I can't help much on that other than to have it looked at, do a compression check and check the cap, rotor, plug and coil wire (capacitance check) and plugs. Also check the fuel tank, lines and carb for nasty stuff; sitting a lot can allow things to age faster even when inside.

Got pix?

Lee

Thanks for your thoughts, Lee. I'll try and figure out how to send a few pics.