65' VW Bug project
- toxicavenger
- President Tranny
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65' VW Bug project
Yes I had one a few years ago. I actually got stalled on it (work took all my time) and someone else wanted it more than I did. So I sold it uncompleted.
Fast forward a few years later and I still had the Bug blues. I know, I know, I have only owned about 9 of them . But i guess mid-life crisis was calling. Either way I been kind of keeping an eye out for a decent one for a while now and prices are all over the board. I did not want a shitter but I wanted something I can drive right now to see what my daughter thinks. She is 13 now and I have been teaching her how to drive my Saab (don't tell the wife).
I found one that an ex-hippie owned up in Green Mountain Falls. I am working on a cabin up there for a friend so I took the family up to see it. This is a 2nd owner car with 95k on it. It was used as a tow vehicle for most of them years behind an rv. The right rear fender suffered some damage when a bias ply tire blew out about 40 years ago. They decided to not fix the fender. No worries.
When my daughter saw the car she absolutely feel in love with it and asked if she could have. So of course I said yes. My said "why would you want something so old". WTF is she talking about???
Either way we bought it. I drove it down the mountain with my daughter. Yes my wife was on pins and needles the whole time because it does not have seatbelts in it.
Plans for the car are to drive the shit out of it until the weather changes. Then I will replace the rusted heater channel on the drivers side (where the running boards go). I have another fender for it that my buddy will paint in a few weeks. The car has already been converted to 12 volts and has a later model 1600 motor in it. I have already rewired the engine to clean up the engine bay. It looks better but not perfect. I disassembled the wiper assembly and restored it to working condition and made it a 2-speed 12v system. I have installed lap belts right now, but I will put in 3-point versions later on. Rebuilt the stock brakes all the way around and installed a new german cloth fuel lines. I also uninstalled the fuel filter out of the engine bay and put it above the left rear tire. At this time I upgraded to a steel fuel filter and not the cheap plastic ones.
The car starts perfectly every time. It has been upgraded to an alternator instead of a generator at one point. This week I will rebuild all the shifter gommets and gas pedal assembly. One thing that I will address in the future is the swing axle transmission has a hum to it like it has a bad ring and pinon gear. I have already replaced the fluid but it is still humming. I called up a buddy of mine last week and found a later model replacement for it. That will be done later this year if this one holds up that long.
Either way my daughter is having a blast cruising in the car. Here are some pics I took of it today. I also added some USB ports in the glove box for charging cell phones.
My daughter added some of her stickers. The rest are from the previous owner.
I cleaned up the dash wiring.
Lap belts, fire extinguisher, c02 detector, and parcel tray from my last VW.
Usb charging port
Fast forward a few years later and I still had the Bug blues. I know, I know, I have only owned about 9 of them . But i guess mid-life crisis was calling. Either way I been kind of keeping an eye out for a decent one for a while now and prices are all over the board. I did not want a shitter but I wanted something I can drive right now to see what my daughter thinks. She is 13 now and I have been teaching her how to drive my Saab (don't tell the wife).
I found one that an ex-hippie owned up in Green Mountain Falls. I am working on a cabin up there for a friend so I took the family up to see it. This is a 2nd owner car with 95k on it. It was used as a tow vehicle for most of them years behind an rv. The right rear fender suffered some damage when a bias ply tire blew out about 40 years ago. They decided to not fix the fender. No worries.
When my daughter saw the car she absolutely feel in love with it and asked if she could have. So of course I said yes. My said "why would you want something so old". WTF is she talking about???
Either way we bought it. I drove it down the mountain with my daughter. Yes my wife was on pins and needles the whole time because it does not have seatbelts in it.
Plans for the car are to drive the shit out of it until the weather changes. Then I will replace the rusted heater channel on the drivers side (where the running boards go). I have another fender for it that my buddy will paint in a few weeks. The car has already been converted to 12 volts and has a later model 1600 motor in it. I have already rewired the engine to clean up the engine bay. It looks better but not perfect. I disassembled the wiper assembly and restored it to working condition and made it a 2-speed 12v system. I have installed lap belts right now, but I will put in 3-point versions later on. Rebuilt the stock brakes all the way around and installed a new german cloth fuel lines. I also uninstalled the fuel filter out of the engine bay and put it above the left rear tire. At this time I upgraded to a steel fuel filter and not the cheap plastic ones.
The car starts perfectly every time. It has been upgraded to an alternator instead of a generator at one point. This week I will rebuild all the shifter gommets and gas pedal assembly. One thing that I will address in the future is the swing axle transmission has a hum to it like it has a bad ring and pinon gear. I have already replaced the fluid but it is still humming. I called up a buddy of mine last week and found a later model replacement for it. That will be done later this year if this one holds up that long.
Either way my daughter is having a blast cruising in the car. Here are some pics I took of it today. I also added some USB ports in the glove box for charging cell phones.
My daughter added some of her stickers. The rest are from the previous owner.
I cleaned up the dash wiring.
Lap belts, fire extinguisher, c02 detector, and parcel tray from my last VW.
Usb charging port
Website: http://smallwhitestubbies.com/
Re: 65' VW Bug project
Looks fantastic Terry! What a cool car and love the upgrades. I bet your daughter can’t wait until it’s hers.
- JDC222
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
Very cool Terry! Once a V Dub guy, always a V Dub guy! You'll have lots of fun with your daughter in the 65' for sure!
Consider this, it's worth the $$, super easy to install for peace of mind
https://youtu.be/iePku-2jh7Y
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/blazecut.htm
Consider this, it's worth the $$, super easy to install for peace of mind
https://youtu.be/iePku-2jh7Y
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/blazecut.htm
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
Re: 65' VW Bug project
That's awesome T. Cool first ride for your daughter. Owned a few bugs and would love to own another someday.
Re: 65' VW Bug project
Oh, man that is sweet, Terry. It's too bad RMM closed up shop in Woodland Park. That would have been convenient for you (side note- I won Best of Class Mk1/Mk2 with an '83 tuna basket at their show one yr)
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- 1954Selmer
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- 59yukon01
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
Very cool.
- rockmastermike
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
Super cool, Terry
Re: 65' VW Bug project
This looks like a blast Terry. Always thought it would be fun to restore one of these.
Re: 65' VW Bug project
Very clean!! Miss mine every time I see a cool one like this.
- unixshrk
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
Looking good. I need to come check that out one weekend.
- Sidheguitarist
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
Tbear, one of the awesome things about you is how obvious it is how much your daughter means to you. Solid.
Plus, that bug is dope.
Plus, that bug is dope.
Re: 65' VW Bug project
This is outstanding! Congrats to you and your lucky daughter, she clearly has your car genes.
Will you adopt me and buy me one if I call you “Daddy”?
Will you adopt me and buy me one if I call you “Daddy”?
Re: 65' VW Bug project
That's awesome T.
- jswing
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
That's so cool. I love VWs. I had a Beetle when I was a teenager that I think I paid $60 for. It was a beater, but you couldn't kill it, it just kept driving. All these years later, I just paid off my Passat, so I guess I'm still a VW guy.
Re: 65' VW Bug project
I think I know where I could get an old bug locally in decent shape. The only thing that keeps me from doing it is the lack of ac. Summers in Atlanta are brutal.
No, it's not Tourettes.
- JDC222
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
You can get air-conditioning for an old Beetle!ChuckW wrote:I think I know where I could get an old bug locally in decent shape. The only thing that keeps me from doing it is the lack of ac. Summers in Atlanta are brutal.
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
- toxicavenger
- President Tranny
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
Nice I will have to check that out. That looks like a must have. I wonder where you would put it on a Bug? Just under the deck lid or below the parcel shelf area?JDC222 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:43 pmConsider this, it's worth the $$, super easy to install for peace of mind
https://youtu.be/iePku-2jh7Y
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/blazecut.htm
Brian I needed to get one. I got tired of dreaming about them.
Yeah they closed up a long time ago. I use to order parts from them when I lived in Maryland. Luckily we still have a few great shops around here. Also one of my buddies is a metal guru who restores 356's and VW's here in the Springs. So I am helping him out with some trade out work.
Funny you won at one of their shows. During that time I was probably at a car show in Manassas or Waterfest.
She loves it. Every time I ask if she wants to go cruising she is all smiles.1954Selmer wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 4:26 amDang! That looks great and I bet your daughter loves it.
Thanks Mike. Soon your son needs one.
Sometimes it is fun restoring a car. I have to say as I get older I like them where they only need minor tweaks to make them right.
It is really clean, except for the fender and one heater channel.
Thanks bro. My daughter is actually a good person. So I have no issues treating her good.Sidheguitarist wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 7:58 amTbear, one of the awesome things about you is how obvious it is how much your daughter means to you. Solid.
Plus, that bug is dope.
I thought you were daddy last time?
Thanks bro
I traded 2 cases of Yuengling for my first Bug. Good times for sure. The piston rings were frozen up in the cylinder walls. I put fresh oil in it and had my buddy drag me thru the neighbor as I continually popped the clutch to break it free. Once I got it free I drove it for a few years and sold it to my bro in MD.
Believe it or not they sell great ac kits for them. https://www.gilmore-enterprises.net/inc ... it/114/144
Website: http://smallwhitestubbies.com/
- toxicavenger
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
My daughter did not have a ton of fun today on the VW. I taught her how to remove all the chrome trim pieces and how I straighten them. They are made of super soft aluminium, they are so soft you can bend them while installing them. These look like they have not been removed in at least 30 years. There was a ton of dirt/mold behind them. We cleaned the paint on the car after they were removed.
In this pic I am showing all of the molding. The red box in the pic is showing the molding for the hood. It is tough to work the dents out due to the curve in the metal. So I worked it in sections. The piece was dented up really badly. I took a pair of needle nose pliers and slowly bent out the inner channel. That way I can get to the backside of the metal to work out the dents with my notched wooden block.
Not perfect but good enough imo.
In this pic I am showing all of the molding. The red box in the pic is showing the molding for the hood. It is tough to work the dents out due to the curve in the metal. So I worked it in sections. The piece was dented up really badly. I took a pair of needle nose pliers and slowly bent out the inner channel. That way I can get to the backside of the metal to work out the dents with my notched wooden block.
Not perfect but good enough imo.
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Website: http://smallwhitestubbies.com/
- JDC222
- Demander of Intro Threads
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
It literally clips anywhere!! No power source needed, activated by heat.toxicavenger wrote:Nice I will have to check that out. That looks like a must have. I wonder where you would put it on a Bug? Just under the deck lid or below the parcel shelf area?JDC222 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:43 pmConsider this, it's worth the $$, super easy to install for peace of mind
https://youtu.be/iePku-2jh7Y
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/blazecut.htm
Brian I needed to get one. I got tired of dreaming about them.
Yeah they closed up a long time ago. I use to order parts from them when I lived in Maryland. Luckily we still have a few great shops around here. Also one of my buddies is a metal guru who restores 356's and VW's here in the Springs. So I am helping him out with some trade out work.
Funny you won at one of their shows. During that time I was probably at a car show in Manassas or Waterfest.
She loves it. Every time I ask if she wants to go cruising she is all smiles.1954Selmer wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 4:26 amDang! That looks great and I bet your daughter loves it.
Thanks Mike. Soon your son needs one.
Sometimes it is fun restoring a car. I have to say as I get older I like them where they only need minor tweaks to make them right.
It is really clean, except for the fender and one heater channel.
Thanks bro. My daughter is actually a good person. So I have no issues treating her good.Sidheguitarist wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 7:58 amTbear, one of the awesome things about you is how obvious it is how much your daughter means to you. Solid.
Plus, that bug is dope.
I thought you were daddy last time?
Thanks bro
I traded 2 cases of Yuengling for my first Bug. Good times for sure. The piston rings were frozen up in the cylinder walls. I put fresh oil in it and had my buddy drag me thru the neighbor as I continually popped the clutch to break it free. Once I got it free I drove it for a few years and sold it to my bro in MD.
Believe it or not they sell great ac kits for them. https://www.gilmore-enterprises.net/inc ... it/114/144
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
- toxicavenger
- President Tranny
- Posts: 48115
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:25 am
- Name: HeadDIK
- Location: Colorado Springs
Re: 65' VW Bug project
Yeah they are essentially swamp coolers, right?
Website: http://smallwhitestubbies.com/
Re: 65' VW Bug project
Sweet ride Terry!
I learned to drive on a 67 and 66 camper van. Wish I still had that one. The 67 I totaled racing another Bug.
I learned to drive on a 67 and 66 camper van. Wish I still had that one. The 67 I totaled racing another Bug.
https://watchidiotsavants3.godaddysites.com/
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Chase after the dream, don't chase after the money
instagram @watchidiotsavants
Chase after the dream, don't chase after the money
- toxicavenger
- President Tranny
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
Hahaha nice. I just looked at a 69' bay window yeasterday.
Website: http://smallwhitestubbies.com/
- JDC222
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Re: 65' VW Bug project
That’s what mine is, 69’ Bay Campmobile
Buy it!!
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
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