Hello world..., Intro/question Options

[Dark Hobo]

Hello, my name is Ian. I am a 23 year old marine and am currently on a forced extended vacation to the beautiful ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) ) Yuma Arizona. I Just bought my first 914 back in march in my home state after years of loving them and a year of searching. I drove it down from Oregon, where I am from and where I bought it, to Yuma Arizona where I am stationed. I got a hold of a '74 2.0L originally white but repainted saturn yellow I think. She is pretty faded and has been a one family car since they bought her. The guy's family had saved every receipt on maintenance they ever had done on the car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) . Outside of some quirks and general wear and tear she seems to be in amazing condition. Just glad to say I finally own a 914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) .

Anyways I have been talking with my dad a lot about various things since he has a boatload of knowledge about VWs and pretty much any other classic car in existence. But he is less confident about some things and suggested I pose some of my questions here, this and some parts I want to buy have brought me out of lurking (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

First I guess was when I bought it the brakes didn't squeal at all. But within the past few weeks they started squealing. They go up and down on how bad it is. I bought some brake pads and went to replace them but they still have a lot of pad left. This kinda threw me for a loop since if it was improper installation of the brake pads the noise would have manifested much earlier it seems. The rotors look pretty bad and my dad says about an 1/8in ridge is the threshold it seems like it is getting there or is there.

Second gonna check in the daytime later today but the windows leak near the top. And I think I just discovered why on the classic thread forum. I may have an early top and from what I read on there '74 has late windows and won't seal on early tops. Anyone know of an easy way to tell early from late windows?

Third, The car was having some terrible bucking problems at around a 1/4 tank of gas left. I figured it was some crap in the tank and ran some cleaner through it a few times alternating with injector cleaner. after a couple weeks I ran it down to empty almost to see if it fixed it and it seemed to. You guys think I should pull the tank out anyways to check it?

Fourth, recommendations for oil for the Yuma summer. It gets up to 130 routinely here and I was researching oil to put in it. Some said 10w50 for high temps, some said 10w40 is fine, a few even said 30 is fine. I did some research and far from being and expert settled on 40 for now until I do an oil change. But I am looking at what to put in it for my upcoming oil change in the next few weeks probably. I was looking at synthetic but it has an oil leak, it doesn't seem TOO bad though. I read that synthetics will either make and existing leak worse due to the smaller molecules or find more possible leaks if you had none. How much does the problem amplify, is it something to be worried about or could I just bite the bullet with my wallet and say screw it for the good of the car in the long run.

Sorry for the length of the post and I don't expect anyone to read it all or answer it all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif). Just kind of tired and need to go to sleep now. This website was a great help to me when I was looking to buy a 914 and has already helped me learn a lot of things about my car in the short time I have owned it. Will definitely be sticking around here as much as possible. Welp 'nuff rambling I guess, sleep time before my next post. Night guys and tanks to anyone that answers anything, says welcome, hello, or even just reads the first sentence.