TheSamba.com :: View topic - Back at it again

Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:34 pm

This may be a long post? I've been hitting this site for a couple months now since I got the bug itch again and finally joined up today. I've been into VWs since my first one in 1990. It was a 72 standard for $800 out in Washington state. I bought it primer grey and vitually stock. I loved that bug, but the Army sent me to Korea so I pulled the engine and a bunch of other parts and sent them home leaving the bug in the parking lot (young and dumb). I still have the engine and most of the parts. I got my second bug after getting back from Korea, a '68 for $1000. I also picked up a 63 parts car for $300 and stripped everything I could and put it on the '68. I had adjusters put in the '68 and set them as low as they would go and ignored the tire rub. Drove that till I got out of the Army and sold it. That was some where in '94. I got back in the army in '99 and needed a bug again. Cash was tight and the only thing I could aford was a '71 Super for $800. I had the Super driving for a few days and the shakes were so bad I parked it and started taking it apart to work on, that was in 2000. Ten years later I still have it. Due to life and any other excuse, I have never put it back together. The bug has been towed from Texas, where I first got it, to Louisville Kentucky, Clarksville Tn, and now it sits at Fort Knox Kentucky. Thats a lot of miles for a non-running bug. Here some pics of the current state of affairs.
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The PO did some unique modifications to it that I'm still trying to over come. The Only major body work I've done is replaced the rear apron. It had a piece of sheet metel riveted over it to hide the dents and exhaust cut outs. There was about and inch of bondo on the passenger rear quarter that is now ground out, but the dent still needs to be fixed. The body was about four different colors so that was sanded down and primered, just because I was tired of looking at it. The louvers were cut out of the deck lid and "scrap metel" welded in by the PO. The only major rust the PO had was the batery area and he fixed it again with three pieces of scrap metel. Now the battery sits to high. As far as rust goes, it's a pretty solid body. It at least has that going for it. The engine ran at one point. However the PO decided to customize it with John Deer green and other various colors of paint. When the PO painted the carb, he left all the linkage on. Fuel punp, distributor etc all got the same treatment. The engine still turns freely but hasn't ran in ten years. I ordered a seal kit last week and started stripping the paint. The tin is going back to black. Hope to have at least the engine back together next week.

I've done some minor cosmetic to it over the years, fixing previous work, or at least cleaning it up. New tires, cleaned the rims up. It figures now that I have the itch again the Army is sending me off for two months. So I have three weeks left to play around with it befor I have to take a break on it again.

Here is the issue. I can't stand Supers. Sorry all you die hards out there. I just can't get over the front end. I want a '61 or '62. However, since I started back with my current bug, I have to keep telling myself not to get carried away. Fix it up to be driveable and sell it and put the money towards what I really want.

Anyway, there is still alot to be done befor it is drivable. I just have to keep it simple. I'll post updates as I go. What ever direction that may be.

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Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:48 pm

enjoy what you have i got my 71 super for 800 but it was running but im going to have to replace all the heater channels, wheel wells, fenders, aprons, hood, and decklid all because of shotty body work and rust you seem lucky to me i couldnt see any rust from the pics you included if i were you i would fix that front end and make it a solid dd

Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:01 am

Stauff, your right about the limited rust. The worst of whats there now is a few surface spots in the rear luggage area. Pretty solid all around. The battery area was patched at one point with scrap metel.
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The battery sits to high so that will need to be fixed.

I guess when they had the welder out they took care of all the chrome holes, hood handle and mirror/antenna mount holes and the rear quarter vents...go figure.
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Here's a shot of whats left of the John Deer green parts, need to strip it.
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I think I'll have to replace the deck lid. Don't feel like trying to repair the damage already done. Here is how not to smooth your deck lid.
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The emmisions filter is long gone and all the ends were capped off to an extent. I've rread the threads on here about rebuilding the system...any recommendations on capping it off when completely gone?

A little progress while waiting for the engine gasket set to arrive. Got the tins cleaned, primered, sanded and painted this morning.
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Noticed another custom job the PO did. This is an original shroud. Cut out the heater vents and weld in some more scrap, bondo and you got a smooth custom job. Except it's not that smooth. The lower tin is an after market Cal look without the heater holes anyway. The car still has the heater box's though, not in to bad of shape either.

Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:07 pm

Well I made a little more progress today. Found a junk yard about 30 minutes from here that said they had an old bug sitting out back. I asked about fenders and windshield, they said it had both, and for $100 bucks I could take off anything I wanted. So I loaded up the tools and headed out, hoping it was at least early 70's or older. The bug turned out to be either 68-69. It had fenders, with about 3" cut off the edges to fit bigger tires. I did get the windshield, hood hinges, all electrical switches, both door handles, deck lid, hood (ya it's a standard but hey), deck lid hinges and drivers side mirror. Supprisingly enough most of it was in good shape. The deck lid is complete and relatively rust free and straight. The bug itself was missing the engine and complete front end as well as bad pan rust. The inside was filled full of old wasp nest and junk. I was told they got it from a meth dealer and had to have the cops come look at some of the containers inside befor they could put it in their lot.

Here's the loot at home.
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Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:18 pm

To follow up, I did get some work done on it. Fixing the PO's custom job. The drivers side mirror mont was smoothed over (weld and bondo). Got the bondo and weld ground off. He stuck a piece of metal in from underneith that coverd the mirror hole and the chrome hole below it and tacked it in!!! Got that out, need some work around the hole but the mirror mount was still usable, thankfully.

I also got the hood hinge on and hood in place, fits like a glove.

Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:11 pm

Hey, thanks for your service in the Army; it really means a lot to us ordinary folks. (former USAF for a short time).

The Super actually isn't so bad; especially the 71 super. The Super has a nicer ride (I just drove 800 miles from MSP to Effingham and back) and I have experience in earlier bugs. The suspension and steering are really an improvement. When you try to drive in today's traffic you will want the best ride and most stock power you can get.

I have 135,000 miles on my 71 super and I use it for a daily driver, and every single day I get a thumbs up from someone.

But anyway, keep at it. If you want to move to an earlier bug, do the best you can on this one and someone will pay a good price. The older bugs are certainly equally, or more cool. Its just the local driving that gives me the chills because of today's overly aggressive drivers.

Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:30 pm

The '71 Super is in my top 3 favorite Beetles. Looks like you got a pretty solid one... even if it has a few kinks to be ironed out, I think it'll be a gorgeous little car if you keep at it.

It's nice to see anther one saved.

Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:38 pm

It's nice to see another VW person here in KY! I've got a '72 Super...and though I prefer earlier models as far as styling goes, it's what I have so I'm rollin' with it 8) If you're interested in some VW clubs check out:

ACVW site:
www.rivercityoildrippers.com

General VW site:
www.louisvillevw.org

Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:32 pm

If you want one of the older bugs put in for a transfer to Germany. Lots of bugs and tons of spare parts.

Tue Jul 13, 2010 1:30 am

Those holes below the mirror aren't chrome holes, they're just random ass holes someone drilled in there. Looks like a solid project though! My PO shaved my mirrors too #-o I don't get why someone would do that. but they did it more solidly than your PO did, so it's pretty much irreverible unless I wanted to drill it out and re-tap and bla bla bla.

Tue Jul 13, 2010 1:40 am

why paint? hmm

i polished one of these out before.. hmmm i dun have a pic of that one

but this can be nice

like this one i just did couple days ago..

Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:46 am

Old Moe wrote: .....The bug turned out to be either 68-69.........

Hummmm, that ain't no 68-69 engine lid, but it'll still work good. Nice score.=D>

-dasdachshund

Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:41 pm

Hey Rusty, thanks for the link. I'll have to make up to a cruize nite some time when it's running.

Well I'm still bouncing around the ideal of keeping the Super -vs- getting an older one. Or mabey keeping the Super and still getting an older one.

Well a couple of updates over the last few days. Got the engine put back together, for the most part. Still need to comb through the wiring from front to back and fuel lines replaced. It's starting to look like an engine again.

Before:

After

Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:41 pm

A little progress over the last couple of days. Found a guy that was cutting up a '70 for a baha and had rear fenders and bumper. The fenders are in descent shape. The bumpers have the standard rust but not bad. Need to get some SB brakets and hope the fit.

Got one of the fenders back down to metal for the most part. Had only two coats of paint and a little bondo. The worst was the primer they sprayed over the original yellow. That stuff was harder to get off then the brown respay. The bondo was filling in some small dents that I should be able to hammer out. There is one rust hole I found in the passenger fender that was fiberglassed and bondoed. Got the rust ground out of it for the most part and will leave it until I can get it welded up.

Sat Jul 17, 2010 1:40 pm

I got a couple of things accomplished today. The passenger side rear fender stripped down to metal. A few dings need to be smoothed out and it still has the rust hole. It looks alot better now without the 3 coats of paint.

Got the passenger side chrome holes re-drilled. Sanded the length of the car where the chrome goes down to metal to get all the bondo off of the old welded up holes. Looks better already.

I'll tackle the hood next and work my way around to the drivers side. The only issue with the hood is the latch handle mech was welded in with out the out side handle.

Sat Jul 17, 2010 4:31 pm

I love a poster that uses a ton of pics. Keep it up bro, you are making great progress! Keep it or sell it, either way, you are saving it!

Sat Jul 17, 2010 6:00 pm

Well your right Fink. If anything I'll keep it alive and pass it to a good owner.

I thought I was done for the day. Changed into non-VW working cloaths and all. That didn't last long. Decided to see how bad the damage was to the hood handle. Once I got to grinding and hammering, part of the weld popped off. At least enough to get the handle and latch on. The rest stayed, but it apears to still function as it is right now.

Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:00 am

Looks good! I'm finishing a long term 71 Super project as well. (Not quite as long as yours!) I'm also looking at something earlier for my next Beetle project, I've found a 62 ragtop in decent condition, but my wife has already claimed the Super since it is in much nicer shape than the 71 Squareback we picked up for her.

It's nice that you are correcting all of the PO's garbage! Keep up the good work!

Here's a link to mine.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4721539#4721539

Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:05 am

12Step, your bugs looking good, coming along nicely.

A little more progres today getting the bug back to somewhat original condition.

I got the chrome holes drilled back into the hood as well as getting the front turnsignal holes opened back up. Again, the work smoothing them out was shabby, so it wasn't to hard getting the welds out.

Sun Jul 18, 2010 4:41 pm

Well I got one of the last PO mods fixed today. At least the last one I'll attempt to fix. The antenna mount is now back on the bug. Again, crappy welds and bondo so it just popped out after grinding it down some.

I also got the last of the chrome holes on the drivers side re-drilled.

The two noticeable mods that are left are the quarter window vents are smoothed over as well as the exhaust cut outs are gone. I think I may just leave them as they are.