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Dec 28, 2009 10:33:59 GMT
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Well, my good Uncle David stopped by today, and helped me out with some of his VW wisdom. First was a quick inspection of the Type 3 and a fiddle with the timing, which then necessitated an increase in the idle speed. All good now and running smoother than I could've believed. This was followed up with an evaluation of the Beetle's condition.
If I'm honest I basically knew this for a little while now, but David's opinion has made the decision final. Basically, the Bug is tragically beyond economic repair, and shall be officially designated as a parts car. The front half of the body is more or less a lost cause, not only the left side but the entire thing has been pushed over to the right. The framehead is a little bent as well, so it would need straightening even if I were to use the floorpan for something else. Destroyed front beam+ruined body+bent framehead adds up to a requirement for a new car.
On the bright side, however, I now have an excellent parts car with a perfect 1600cc twin-port motor, gearbox, rear suspension, a full set of good fenders and bumpers, doors, glass and other such parts. So, basically all I need is a straight shell and I'm away. If I end up buying a complete car, I will have such a comprehensive catalogue of spares that I will be the envy of most club-level racers.
So, the search for the next shell is on!
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Dec 30, 2009 12:44:49 GMT
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Thanks for the tip-off sammm. It's in my watch list now. I probably won't bid on it though, for several reasons. Partly because it's in Mount Gambier which is a bit far for me, but mostly because I really strongly dislike L-bugs. The McPherson strut front, the rubber dash, the massive tail-lights and ugly fenders and bonnet, it all just screams WRONG to me. No offence to people who like them, it's just that in my opinion the Beetle peaked with the 1500, and the only worthwhile Beetle features which don't come on a 1500 are the twin port motor, which is easily swapped, and the IRS rear end, which is a bit harder but worth it.
Also, the torsion bar front ends are much more durable for off-road work. Basically my dream Beetle will one day have ball-joint front and IRS rear in a 1500 body, but I will settle for another swing-axle 1500 for now, or just a body of one.
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Today's news is that I have made contact with someone who may be able to supply me with a suitable new shell to rebuild my car with. I'm quite excited about this! I wonder whether that will require a new thread of it's own, given that it will technically be a new car? Hmmm...
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Jan 23, 2010 14:10:40 GMT
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I went to look at a new Beetle today and will be picking it up on Monday! Very excited! ;D ;D
Whilst I will always remember old Bertie fondly, the new car will be improved in several important ways. It will be shinier, straighter and better handling, and hopefully faster too!
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,410
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Jan 23, 2010 18:59:02 GMT
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Good to hear you have a new shell. Looking forward to seeing that car progress
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Thanks Qwertina. Because the new car is so different I think I might make it a new thread, so this one may be dying soon. However, unlike the previous thread, in this one progress will continue apace! I've got all the parts I need, and hence money will not slow me down. All I need to do is assemble the car and tidy up a few bits here and there. Without further ado, here is the first pic of the new shell! First step will be to clear out all the spare parts that are inside the car. Then, the whole thing will need a thorough clean inside and out. Then, all the glass can go in, followed by the engine, seats and interior, lights and trim. Can't wait!
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Ross
Part of things
Posts: 83
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Jan 25, 2010 21:35:01 GMT
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Its an 02!
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Mini eh? Rolls Royce Merlin bolts straight in them you know.
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Jan 25, 2010 23:24:11 GMT
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Its an 02! We call them S-bugs over here, but yes, yes it is. IRS rear and MacPherson strut front will make it a completely different car to drive, hopefully in a good way. I've never driven or been passenger in one before, but the rear end at least is guaranteed to be a big improvement!
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Time for a decent update on this. After getting the shell home and installing all the glass, door latches and handles it looked like this: This took a solid afternoon with the help of my mechanic mate Rex, who also volunteered his car as the tow rig and not only helped me tow the car home but even went to look at it before the purchase. What a top bloke! With some more of his help today we got cracking on stripping some good bits from the 1500 and putting them on the Super. We rolled the 1500 into the shed first (on 3 wheels) so that it would be easier. We removed the engine, starter motor, clutch throw-out bearing, the aftermarket semi-solid mount for the gearbox and the front brake calipers. After a bit of closer inspection we soon realised that the clutch throw-out bearing for the IRS box is different, but I managed to find one in serviceable condition in my parts collection in the shed, so we cleaned that up and put it on, along with the starter motor. Next was the front brakes. After a long struggle involving cutting one of the flexible lines, clamping the caliper in the vice and a deep socket on a big ratchet, the brake lines from the 1500 eventually relented and parted company with the calipers. Because the brake pads were nearly new when the crash happened, there was too much material for the caliper to just slide on even with the pistons pushed right back, so we ended up having to take the pads out and refit them one at a time with a bit of a struggle. All went well though and I now have front calipers on the car which are known to be good. Result! Next job: clean up and possibly paint the engine bay, ready for the engine!
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Potter
Part of things
'E who dares wins,eh Rodders??!
Posts: 304
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Shame about your old Bug mate but looks like this new one is gonna be even better! best of luck with it!
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More cars than sense or money!🙄
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Mar 11, 2010 13:49:14 GMT
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Just read your story of 70 to 72 S-main reason I joined was your link came up on searching S's. I had a 1970 some years ago and sold it as did.'t need it anymore but now would love it back. Came across 72 VW S today with original 1500 and in reasonably good nick and think it is way to go. Your post has made me more positive
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Mar 13, 2010 11:36:35 GMT
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Thanks Westair. It's been a while since I updated this, as progress has been going fairly slowly. The engine is now in and a few other things have been done. I currently need to replace a flexible brake hose and one rear wheel cylinder, rewire half the car, repaint the interior and put it together! I've stripped out all the sound deadening from the interior to discover some minor rust, which is now being treated. I'll get some pics up soon.
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Okay, belated update time! Here's how the S-Bug looked today after being rolled out into the sunlight for the first time in a long while. On the hunt for the old car owner's perpetual enemy, I stripped out all of the old sound deadening material, and sure enough I managed to find some ferrous oxide festering away. I'm part way through treating this now. For some reason, the front-left corner is almost the only area affected by rust. There's a little bit of pitting in the battery mounting area, but that's to be expected. The rear luggage area has already been painted, and most of this was taken back to bare metal with a paint-stripping disc on an angle grinder. There are quite a few rather large holes drilled in the rear luggage area for some reason though, perhaps a huge sub box was mounted back here at some stage? The engine bay is pretty much all sorted. The engine starts on the key and runs beautifully, although I think the ignition wiring might be the wrong way around as it only starts when you let go of the starter! Wiring has been the biggest headache in putting this car back together, as so much of it was ripped out when the car was disassembled for painting. I think this car might be sitting a bit too high for a stock Super Bug, as I've currently got 28cm of ground clearance at the front of the running boards, and 29cm at the rear! Good for off-road work, although perhaps a touch high for street duties. I may look at adjusting this, depending on how it drives. I'm very tempted at this stage to make a bull-bar for the front of it, put some nice chunky tires on my set of Sunraysia-style rims and go for an off-road style! So that's progress so far. I painted the rest of the floor this afternoon and it should be dry by now. Tomorrow I will probably put a driver's seat back in it. Work will then need to continue on the wiring loom. Any auto electrical experts out there who would like to lend a hand? I may be in over my head with the electricals on this car! I definitely know that I need to buy an indicator flasher and a headlight relay, and then comes the big job of working out what all the pins on the back of the steering column do! How can there be 16 pins just for indicators, wipers and high beam?
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The Super got it's first wash ever today! Looking good! Shiniest VW I've ever owned by a long shot. I got my sister to hold the engine lid while I lined it up, I think we did a pretty good job. Looking good with a shiny new number plate bolted on. It still looks way too far off the ground though. I might have to drop the rear by one spline, even for off-road work! I'm finished painting the floor for now, so I've now put in the front seatbelts, driver's seat and the rear side trims.
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Apr 12, 2010 11:35:19 GMT
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I bit the bullet today and did something I've been a bit nervous to do, which was to cut down the splash guard/backing plates on the front discs so that my large collection of 14x6" wheels will all fit on my car now. I just ripped into it freehand with a 1mm cutoff wheel on a 4" grinder, and all came out okay. No damage to brake calipers or anything, and the wheels fit without hitting the brakes or suspension. Whew! Tried the wheels on and pulled it outside for some pics in the fading light. Today was also a milestone, as the garage where this car will live is finally tidy enough to put the car in, so it was moved to it's new home. The car still sits WAY higher than I would imagine a stock Super Beetle should. It has probably 15L of fuel in the tank and no spare wheel or back seat, but it's still a lot higher than I want it, even though it will be used off-road. Is this really stock height?! I do have a front bumper for it and it will be going on as soon as I get another bracket for it, as I only have the right one! So there you have it! All it needs now is a passenger seat, a lot of wiring and a front bumper bracket, then it's ready to hit the streets. I can't wait!
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Mike
East Midlands
Posts: 3,387
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Apr 12, 2010 13:21:42 GMT
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Looks really good, bet you are itching to use it!
It does look very high though, even for stock.
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dungbug
Posted a lot
'Ooligan!
Posts: 2,852
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Apr 12, 2010 14:06:47 GMT
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Looking good Waveman......Haven't been on AussieVW's for a while so probably missed this on there. Nice looking Bug & good progress being made, I agree the ride height does look a bit high. Have you checked to see if the shocks & springs are the standard VW one's (?) Considering what you'll be using it for the extra ground clearance might be a good thing! ;D I wish it was as easy to pick up a descent Bug shell in the UK, doesn't look like there's much rust on there at all (afternoons work with the welder would see it solid). Great work fella, look forward to seeing the progress.
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Past: 13 VW Beetles from 1967 - 1974 Bay Window Campers (1973 & 1974) Mini's (1992 Cooper lookalike & 1984 '25 Anniversary) MK2 Polo Coupe S (1984 & 1986) MK2 Polo Breadvan (1981 & 1984) MK4 Escort (1989) MK2 Granada Based Hearse (seriously) Fiat Uno 60S (1986) Punto 60S (1998) Cinq (1997) 1998 Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat 2003 Ford KA
Current: 2004 Ford Focus (barely alive)
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Apr 12, 2010 14:21:47 GMT
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That's definitely higher than stock height on the suspension front! New body looks good. A bit reminiscent of how my Beetle used to look with the red and black and wide steel wheels.
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Thanks guys!
It is a reasonably good shell but I bought it as an unfinished project and the previous owner had apparently thrown a fair bit of money at it in a professional panel shop. As a result the paint is pretty nice, apart from all the big chips and scratches it got from sitting in a barn for a few years! It has had a big hit from behind in the past but it's been professionally straightened, so it looks perfect from the outside but the inner engine bay panels are a bit bent. Also, it's had a postcard-sized patch in the inner front-left arch, and I believe a new pair of heater channels. All done properly though and paid for by someone else, so I'm more than happy!
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