Beck 550 Spyder Replica VLOG #1 Meet the 550! (1900cc VW)

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Automotive and Car Channel - How To (DIY):
Porsche, Ferrari, MINI, General Car Maintenance
Hi Everyone, look what is in the garage today! Our friend Mike brought over his Beck 550 Replica to get a little work done on it.
In this episode, after a proper introduction, we work on the throttle cable and see where we are with the carbs.
That cool cable lub-er: amzn.to/2O3doln
Social Media and Websites:
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Twitter: / heidifranny
Website: www.heidiandfra...
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The Cameras and Equipment we use:
Main Shooter:
Panasonic Lumix G85 (goo.gl/geSFpN)
Main Shooter Lens: (goo.gl/RsHkkF)
Car Cameras:
Sony FDR-X3000 (goo.gl/P6XdYZ)
GoPro Hero 5 black (goo.gl/kjjr31)
Car Mounts:
Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount (goo.gl/zqCHvT)
Fat Gecko Camera Mount (goo.gl/AXQAr6)
Fat Gecko Mount (goo.gl/RhyXYT)
Drone:
DJI Mavic Pro and Kit (goo.gl/jQbk9V)
Stabilizer for mobile phones and action cams:
DJI Phone Camera Gimbal OSMO MOBILE, Black (goo.gl/Acr1jg)
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of “Heidi and Franny’s Garage”, We cannot guarantee against the improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. “Heidi and Franny’s Garage” assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. “Heidi and Franny’s Garage” recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of “Heidi and Franny’s Garage”, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not “Heidi and Franny’s Garage”.
Music in bumper provided by:
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For Correspondence:
Heidi and Franny's Garage
P.O. Box 740487
Arvada, CO 80006

[@HeidiandFranny]

Hi Everyone, look what is in the garage today! Our friend Mike brought over his Beck 550 Replica to get a little work done on it. In this episode, after a proper introduction, we work on the throttle cable and see where we are with the carbs. That cool cable lub-er: amzn.to/2O3doln

[@gordongoodwin5241]

What types of car lifts are you using? Do you plan to do a video on how to equip an effective workspace in a garage?

[@arricammarques1955]

1998 Beck Spyder with 9000 miles, mint bodywork, higher end engine. Value in todays economy, cost of ownership to maintain this motor.

[@michaelwelschmidt9338]

I've gone through several of your videos. You have a rare mechanical inclination. Few people have an ability to dissect and analyze machinery in their minds and come up with innovative and improvised solutions. Most people memorize an existing solution. If the solution and parts don't exist they are stuck. Very interesting and helpful content. I wish you increasing success with your channel.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks!

[@sw651]

One of the prettiest designs Porsche came up with, and so simple and elegant looking.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Great stuff. I love the diagnostic processes you go through to get it sorted.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks Jeff! This is turning out to be quite the challenge!

[@redbarchetta9445]

You ladies rock! I watched the driving video that you made of this beauty and you mentioned visibility and being frustrated with the inability to adjust the fender mounted mirror. You"ll be happy to know that you actually can adjust it! In less than 30 seconds. Loosen the screw at the forward end, adjust, tighten. Done. I've done this solo, and it's very tedious getting in and out of the driver's seat with many minor adjustments until I got it right, but with both of you working together, it will literally take moments. Hint...do it in a parking lot full of cars and park so the other ones are in your blind spots and the areas that you rely on your mirror for. It amazes me how many people adjust their mirrors so they can see their fender, as if they need to frequently check to see if it's still there. Open the angle so you can actually see the blind spots and the cars you want to avoid hitting. Good luck, and thanks for your fantastic videos!

[@totalt6600]

Great to see you. You both really know how to make videos. Spyder, be it Beck or not, is one of my dream cars.

[@964tractorboy]

Very glad I came back to watch this series. I'm hooked already. Love the attention to the camera positioning and lighting.

[@johnnichols9056]

Carb sync tools are a must when owning a dual carb car, have had mine for decades. With all that silicone, valve adjustment, ignition issues, possible timing.

[@BCspeed34]

I just bought a Beck 550 Spyder with a Porsche 356 engine and your videos are a ton of help. Thanks for doing such a great job, keep it up!

[@jaydenoloughlin6694]

Hey Franny and Heidi. I love your videos. Cheers from Australia.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Nice. Land of Home Built by Jeff. Someday we hope to visit.

[@arricammarques1955]

Fab collection of motors! 550 Spyder replica classic addition!

[@Thrakall]

Boy am I looking forward to this series. I have considered building one of these cars just because I love how the 550 looks. I can't wait to see what all you get in to on this one. Thank you, and the owner for documenting the details of this one.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks Tim, It is a very interesting car. I know it has P-car badging all over, but it wouldn't be much of a replica if it didn't ;) It seems to be a nicely built car with just a few mechanical quirks. I didn't expect to have to do any real work on the car and, besides the fractured schedule, it has been really interesting and fun. It is small! Super low too. the 356 towers over it. I think it is lower than the 308.

[@aeiouxs]

Stunning car, and awesome watching Franny work through the cars' issues.

[@stevejones1318]

Very envious of your triple garage with not one, but two lifts. I love cars, but live in an apartment. That's what you get from being a teacher I guess.

[@HeidiandFranny]

You can always rent a storage unit. We moved our four cars and kept the lifts.

[@sportscarnut]

Another great start! Looking forward to the sequence.

[@panteradriver]

Great video as always! At 8:57 when you are showing the throttle linkage going to the stop, there is fluid weeping out of the bleed screw slightly above and to the right of the linkage.

[@MustangBoss1973]

I love that Spyder!

[@ricardoaurion]

That car is really amazing! It has been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful replica of a 550S

[@HeidiandFranny]

I think the Beck is one of the best.

[@MaikEletrica]

Very nice!

[@rogerluli]

Awesome...A mechanic in pearls...:)

[@freerkderuiter8822]

The 550 is one of my favourite Porsches. The 718 too. Well, basically anything with the 547 engine. But these are out of reach, so good to have replicas around. Hope you get this one fixed soon!

[@HeidiandFranny]

We hope to.

[@joetacchino4470]

Those are so pretty.

[@GregsGarage]

This will be fun to watch... I'm guessing those carbs need a ton of work. The car looks pretty amazing for a replica. I'm not crazy about the accelerator cover, but hey... Every car has its hidden secrets! I'm sure you'll have it whipped into shape in no time.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks!

[@secoff1]

Franny,The Dellorto carbs were run on Alfa Romeos-the AlfaSud specifically.You are correct they have no chokes at least they don''t when altered to run on VWs because the cold enrichment circuit is most likely disabled.The good new is you don't need it to run correctly and well on VW engine. When properly tuned the procedure is as follows-2 pumps and then start the car feathering the idle until they will idle on their own. This should take approx 30 seconds or so this time of year.Now the idle will be slow but will cont. to tick over.I set my idle speed on a warm engine to about 1000 rpm and they will run on there own at start up at about 700 or so.You can listen to the engine warming up and idle will get gradually smoother until you get a nice steady idle. Also it is not uncommon to have some lean pops at idle as well as I'm sure you are aware because of no chokes.Not to worry,if your air adjustments are set correctly this stops as well when engine warms. Jet suggestion for your engine should be about 55idle and 140 main jet give or take. A suggestion to you would be to start it up and feather gas until it runs on its own and then adjust idle speed increase on both carbs for a few minutes to get it good and warm,then back down the idle speeds to about 800 and then set idle air adjustment for each barrel-that part you already know as I've seen you do it on the Zeniths. You can use a 'snail' to calibrate that each carb is pulling the same amount of flow or as some do listen closely that each carb is synched.I prefer the snail.Once you get it all sorted -assuming no other engine issues it should run very well.suprisingly so actually. If the distributor is an 009 there may be a flat spot off idle which some people mask by increasing idle jet size.Personally I think the 009 is a poor choice but is quite popular with the performance VW world because they are so cheap.Bosch SVDA or Bosch mechanical 019 is much better choice because of the better timing curve. Jet access is from the top-real nice in a Beetle and the tall ones are the mains and the shorter are the idle. There are also pump squirter jet accessed from the side that squirt down the barrel.Make sure you are getting good squirt on all 4 barrels. Those jets can sometimes occlude and engine will run poorly.Just take out and run through with compressed air. If you need more help just ask and I could probably answer some of your questions.Scott

[@HeidiandFranny]

Hi. I will have Franny read all this. Quite the novel! So nice if you! Heidi

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks so much Scott! That all sounds exactly what I read in the manual. I am cutting into the second video and I go through the carbs completely. I'm still not super happy though. I get back to it tomorrow (episode#3). I don't want to spoil it for you, but I have some more things to check... I have a sneaky suspicion... Thanks so much for all that info. I completely agree :) Oh, and I'm not a fan of the 009 either :(

[@cristiangroti8327]

this replica of Chamonix made in Brazil was the reproduction of the Porsche Spyder 550, a model of competition of great success, manufactured in small quantity by the German mark between 1954 and 1956. Designed by Chuck Beck, the replica had plastic body reinforced with fiber of glass, tubular chassis and mechanical Volkswagen (suspensions, steering, four-gear box and 1600 air-cooled engine with 54 hp). As in the original Porsche, the engine was mounted between axles, behind the seats and in an inverted position; the front brakes were disc. Like standard items, leather seats and removable top. The Spyder 550 with the VW boxer engine (always 0 km) remained in production for over 20 years, but with electronic injection and 65 hp. From the outset, Chamonix has been exporting its main focus - initially to the USA and Japan - which has forced it to focus on the quality of the project and, in particular, on the details and finishes of its vehicles. The excellent quality of the body was favored by the company's (hand laid up) glass laminating process, which ensures greater regularity in the molding, without surface undulations and variations of thickness, providing lower weight and better dimensional control of the parts. The international recognition of the brand would arrive in the 90's, when the Spyder 550 was named by the German magazine auto motor und sport and the North American Road & Track as the best replica of the category in the world.

[@simplemanduke7128]

Freddy you're awesome you're the only person I know they can work on an engine and under the dash not get a spot of dirt on yourself and look like you're about to go play tennis love your vids keep it up

[@HeidiandFranny]

Franny has you fooled. It is all in the camera angles... jk. Seriously, part of it has to do with keeping work space clean. This car is a friends, so that made it more difficult. Heidi

[@conceptalfa]

👍 👍 👍!!!

[@lollypop9580]

What a great Video, really !!!

[@rikeverglade6429]

Love your videos. Thanks for teaching me.

[@Laguna2013]

I don't remember seeing that view of your garage as in the opening shot. Sweet!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Yeah. We need to do more if those.

[@howardkahn717]

i really enjoy your videos, thanks...

[@mousetrap134]

Cool super cool , it s like Operation the game board let find where the booboo is ? All the best guy s SoulDave

[@edwinthompson159]

I have to say it again... "Damn, I wish you were my neighbors." I'll be following this, want to see this car run and compared to 356

[@HeidiandFranny]

Us too!

[@Number27]

I love it!!! What a cool little car, really reminds me of my Frog Eye although this is more bling!! If you're ver in the Uk make sure you come and visit so you can drive Fred my Sprite!! Great channel also, have put you guys in my featured channels list on my homepage. Keep it up..

[@HeidiandFranny]

Wow. Featured channel. We are honoured. Thanks.

[@JohnAnderson4242]

Just discovered the channel - cool !

[@christurbo951]

That’s absolutely beautiful!!! I would really like to build or buy one of those.

[@herlinwoolery4388]

Very nice replica, it will be a challenge on those double Dell Carbs and be guessing possible plugged jets? Great video

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks. I am cutting a second video on the carbs. No super obvious plugs...

[@izzatramli8110]

Nice 550!

[@karlInSanDiego]

I think these Dellorto DRLA carbs are copies of the Weber IDF which is also an Italian carb.

[@sandywants2meet]

I wish I should have this spyder

[@eddymagomago4502]

Put some IDF webber 48 with mid-admission trumpets😉✌

[@HeidiandFranny]

The car was already returned to the owner about a month ago.

[@arricammarques1955]

Dream garage! 550 Spyder Beck amazing! How do you know so much about cars?

[@agustingarcia2089]

New subscriber and I'm loving the videos!

[@The_910]

Nice video. Curious to see how this one sorts out.

[@HeidiandFranny]

I have a neighbor named Joe Black.

[@larryheitman4209]

Hello Franny - Your series on the Beck Spyder is amazing. I own a 64 356 coupe. I drive it quite a bit, but I would really like to buy a beck Speedster or the Spyder. I'm 82 and in great health. I still have a bit of "kid"in me and I am leaning toward the Spyder. The Speedster, I know, is a much more practical car and more of an all weather car. I haven't driven either of the Beck cars. I live in northern Michigan. We get a lot of winter weather here so I would put the Spyder away till spring. What is your thinking on the difference in the two cars? Thanks, Franny

[@HeidiandFranny]

Franny and I both think you should get the Beck Spyder. The Beck speedster is too similar to your 356. If you did not have a 356 at all, it would be a tough call. Heidi

[@frankiebella7808]

Beautiful collection !!! Sofia lorain an Ava braun....are 2 lucky girls 😁 atleast Sofia is """😬

[@HeidiandFranny]

Eva Gabor. Lol.

[@jnicksnewstart]

That cable linkage and bracket at the pedal is terrible. I'm not sure if you can still find the old fashioned cast aluminum or stainless steel brackets. But there were some very well engineered ones out there years ago. Personally, I would never use a single cable set up like that to begin with. It's just not safe. You have such beautiful cars, and normally I would keep them original. However, the Beck Is a reproduction, so I would change this over to a hydraulic system. There's never any cable binding. It's very straightforward and extremely reliable. Best wishes...

[@HeidiandFranny]

Hi Jack, I have seen that many owners have made that and the hydraulic clutch conversion as well. I agree... Pretty cheezy. Maybe that is part of the fun with these to fix all those bits. The owner of the car just wasn't into much modification outside of getting it running again.

[@Zincaloom]

Great video. Love watching the diagnostic process. Could old sludgy gas plug up the jets?

[@HeidiandFranny]

Yup, always a good possibility - especially in a car like this that gets driven only occasionally. I have a second episode to cut where I go through the carbs... The gas seems fine actually...

[@ScheideckerAntunes]

Ladies another excellent video! The Becky Porsche is actually made in Brazil by a company called Chamonix. Here is more about them pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamonix_NG_Cars

[@HeidiandFranny]

Yup, the bodies are cast down there, but the company is in Bremen IN. I guess they had to go all the way to Brazil to get what they wanted. The bodywork is quite nice.

[@johnpenner1015]

What type and model of lifts do you have in your garage? what are the width and lengths also? Love the videos!

[@HeidiandFranny]

John, Have you seen this video? I think it will answer a lot of questions. They are Direct Lift Propark 8. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5-zqmxsqM6br9E

[@idrivearttabletennis]

I know you'll figure it out. My neighbor is a great "old bug" pro and I'd be running next door and asking his wife if he can "come out and play." I know just enough to know I'd totally be guessing at this point - I presume it could be the carbs (and probably is) and/or a timing issue. Almost sounds like it's trying to flood but you'd probably be smelling gas by now. Sweet looking car though.

[@HeidiandFranny]

It is still a bit of a mystery, but I'll get to the bottom of it ;)

[@djambrosia]

My dellorto's ran like that until I properly synchronized them. If you don't have one buy the 'Dellorto Tech Book' as it's invaluable for these fab carbs. Seems a shame to engineer such a beautiful car and then cheap out on the throttle mechanism. Luckily the owner has found the perfect person to properly fix it!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Good to know.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks! I do have the Del manual and it has a lot of great info. Episode 2 is about the carbs. I'm shooting three tomorrow. I'm still confused on that throttle linkage... Seems like there was no way it would work.

[@djambrosia]

I would personally replace that linkage with a fully cable operated one. They are available for beetle engine setups and solves the mid mount layout problem. I use a bell crank style linkage which would also work perfectly with some minor mods.

[@yueibm]

Spongebob fan!

[@nicolocolaleo6095]

why do not you make the video where you accelerate doing revving showing the accelerating foot? please :) :) I'm a new subscriber :) :)

[@jadmann]

Any suggestions as to how to best replace the AOS and what tools to use on a 986.2 Boxster?

[@HeidiandFranny]

Email us.

[@frankiebella7808]

Hi there franny are those your personal car's or customer ? 😀

[@HeidiandFranny]

Hi Frankie, They are all ours except for the Spyder. The Ferrari 308 has been ai the "spa" but is returning next week. Very happy to see Miss Sophie coming home again :)

[@eddymagomago4502]

i liked more webber and dellorto carburetors for this engines

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

Where can i buy a 550 kit to build thks

[@BirdogEd]

Pearls and car grease 😎👍 UPDATE: new name for show...”Pearls & Porsche’s”

[@HeidiandFranny]

I like that!!

[@frankiebella7808]

We'll the 356 is a German car "👍😂

[@HeidiandFranny]

You should watch the Miss Eva stories (four part series). I think I explain why we named her Eva. Heidi

[@dr.peltonfilms9661]

Lol, did you notice the car leaking when you went to full throtle

[@HeidiandFranny]

Do you mean oil? No actually, but I haven't had a chance to drive it... I'll be replacing the seals on the pushrod tubes so hopefully, that will do it :)

[@dr.peltonfilms9661]

The carburetor looks like it was leaking just a little bit when you went full throttle when the car was off.

[@dr.peltonfilms9661]

Right at the 8:56 time, it ok, you are going to rebuild the carbs anyway

[@HeidiandFranny]

Yup. It is... It is the accelerator pump diaphragm. There are new ones on the way. I do not like gas leaks! Good eye!

[@aquaticthumb5193]

Wow a 60 k VW.

[@kidcarrasco]

is It a envemo replica?

[@HeidiandFranny]

No. It is a beck.

[@frankplascencia905]

Carbs are out of sinch.

[@conceptalfa]

Wasn't it a reproduction of 718??? Next after 550....

[@HeidiandFranny]

This is a 550. I have only seen photos of a few 718 reproductions. That would be my choice :)

[@OkFixer]

This has me scratching my head and wondering. Giant pistons means less cylinder, enormous dual dells, and gee...where’s the tin? The engine is backwards? No ram effect into the fan. All equal lots of heat. Hmmmm I guessing this nightmare car’s , poor volksie engine will last about 5000 miles. This car needs a Subaru engine and a radiator. Run away Franny!!! As fast as you can ha,ha ha This car has either no compression from warped,cracked head or burn valves due to heat my guess No lower tin! Wow!

[@HeidiandFranny]

I know, I know... But, keep watching ;)

[@jamestucker3721]

Hi I am just curious, as I am a car fanatic but a brand new real estate business owner what do you all do to afford your cars? I am dreaming of a your garage someday. When any of you viewers are ready to Buy, Sell, or Invest in Real Estate call James Tucker in DFW.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Jeff, it is all about timing just like real estate. Think of it the same way. Joining car clubs helps, because you get familiar with ‘good’ cars vs those cars that are just for flipping. We have not always been lucky. We have had issues, just like anyone else. My suggestion is focus on one car and getting it and go from there. Heidi

[@mikiryann5882]

All you need to do is paint "little bastard" on the back

[@jeffreysalzman1497]

That does sound like crap :)

[@HeidiandFranny]

Yep!