Marbles in a 78 Spider

[MrBlimp]

I've recently noticed a sound like marbles in the front (or maybe top) of the engine on my '78 Spider.

If it was an American car I would think it is the start of a water pump failure.

[RRoller123]

I once had this and it turned out to be acorns and such that nature's little critters had stored in the air tube. Pull the air tube and top of the air filter box, and filter, and give it a good inspection. Easy to do, and will eliminate this as a source, with very little effort. With a flashlight you can see pretty well into the air plenum without taking off the air plenum top.

[MrBlimp]

Sounds like you are talking about the carburetor filter and air tube - my car has a weber with a flat topped filter (there is no air tube).

[RRoller123]

ooops, thinking FI. Pull the air cleaner and take a look inside. The critters like to stash acorns in there.