I do not remember if a 79' has a boden tube (tube the guides the cable to
the clutch arm) or not. But you might want to check it to see if is at the
proper angle and or not worn (coils in the tube might be stretched or
bent, when you have these problems.

I have owned beetles for many years and have replaced
a number of boden tubes as a result of many types of clutch/shifting 
problems.

Let me know the result.
Dan

On Wed, 6 Aug 1997, Erik Rhodes wrote:

> 	In my '79 Westphalia, I notice that on hot days (I swear this
> doesn't happen in cooler weather!) after driving and the engine getting
> hot, the clutch cable will grow too loose, making it grind when I try to
> go into reverse.  I'll crawl under and tighten it, everything seems
> fine, and then a few days later the same thing will happen.
> 
> 	The weird thing is this:  I've had the cable replaced recently,
> same problem. AND, it can be really bad on a hot day, grinding when I
> try to get it into gear, but if I leave it be and drive it the next day,
> it's fine, not too loose at all.
> 
> 	If it's just a stretching cable, why would it be out of
> adjustment one day and then not the next?  And what the heck could the
> hot day have to do with it?
>