1972 Volkswagen Beetle used to start and run poorly, now wo

1972 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
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MSTNGSAL67
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Engine Mechanical problem
1972 Volkswagen Beetle 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic ?? miles

my 72 superbeetle (autostick) hates me. originally, it ran fine, then, out of the blue, it started running like crap - just overly sluggish - wouldn't get up to speed very quickly (sometimes not at all) and would lose a LOT of power going up hills (even slight hills). i did some checking and saw it had the wrong carb. just put on a 34 pict 3. still ran awful. pulled it apart again - was going to check the heater riser tubes but didn't get that far - read something that said to check the fuel injector and just take it apart and clean it. i did that and put things back together. now, the engine turns over but won't start at all. i did the check my book suggested with the spark plugs - pulling it off the coil and holding it 1/8" away while turning the engine over - - no spark. am i correct to assume this means my coil is bad? i figure i should replace the coil, spark plugs and plug wires, as i have no idea how old any of them are anyway. but, will replacing the coil hopefully help the sluggish problems once it DOES start??? i'm at a loss!
Thanks so much!
May 18, 2009 at 7:14 AM
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RASMATAZ
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Kind of strange for it to have a fuel injection system for that year.

Okay No spark-if it has a conventional distributor meaning contact point ignition system double check the point gap make sure its properly gapped. Go ahead and replace the plugs and wires-Let me know
May 18, 2009 at 3:19 PM
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MSTNGSAL67
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ok - my bad - it is just the fuel pump - not injector.
we determined yesterday that the distributor wasn't seated properly and therefore were getting no spark. it now runs, but still not well....just has no guts, takes forever to get up tp speed, and if you press on the pedal too hard, it about dies. there is also a popping/craclkling coming from the exhaust (passenger side) when you rev the engine. ???
thanks!
May 19, 2009 at 8:25 AM
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RASMATAZ
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Recheck the point gap make sure its on the high cam lobe before you gap it/check ignition timing and fuel pressure.
May 19, 2009 at 3:55 PM