TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Mar 21, 2003 10:54 pm

Hi im new at this. and i'm 14 years old and im going to get my license in two years and i am looking at buying a "73 super beetle to work on. this car needs full restoration, its a junkward car. i need some tips to customize it. im lookin at dropping, shaving the handles, maybe air ride suspension, and any other ideas you may be able to give me to get a custom car that will win at shows. if your able to also give me web sites to buy cheap parts and accesories. the help would be appreciated Thanks!!

Fri Mar 21, 2003 10:55 pm

i don know the diff. between a super beetle or a normal beetle but i have an uncle who is a VW know all and he says that the super beetles are a bad thing and that you should stick with the normal ones because there are more parts available for the normals than the super beetles, and so on. he says to get a 65 beetle, honestly since this is my fist VW i don know the diff. and i guees if you could tell me that would be a good start. and have you ever customized a super beetle before, like i want to,before? because i don know where to start and could use some pointers, also do you know of a way to revese the doors so they open suicide style?

Sat Mar 22, 2003 12:49 am

man, superbeetles just suck in general. i mean dont get me wrong, theyre still vw's, but its not the same as an original style veedub. 67, when super beetles were started, is when they changed them to 12V instead of 6V, the bumpers are bigger and uglier, the headlights and taillights are bigger, there's fuel injection, which is more to worry about than non-fuel injection, a few more things to worry about in general. i'd stick with the classics myself. superbeetles however are cheaper, if you wanted to buy one, id say no more than 1000 bucks for a junky superbeetle that at least starts up. one without an engine that was junky couldnt go for more than 400 bucks id say, so if ya want a good solid yet junky one go for the super, just custom it to look old, and put NOS parts in it. (New Old Stock) an older beetle is gonna cost you more, if you see a cheap one its because its not very solid like the pans are not original or rusted as hell, and the battery tray could then also be very very rusty. check those two things first of all, and go from there, other parts arent too bad for older beetles. you can buy unpainted engine lids, doors, hoods, fenders, pans, etc for a good price from various catalogs such as Rocky Mountain Motorworks, So. Cal. Imports, VW World, bla, bla, bla...well i guess now im sayin it doesnt even matter, depends on what engine you wanna put in, any engine is most likely gona fit in a super beetle, because they are bigger in the engine area. well i hope some of these points possibly have helped you with your decision. i'll just leave you with these last words, AT LEAST GET A VOLKSWAGEN!

Sat Mar 22, 2003 12:59 am

super beetle parts are easier to find,My first car is a super, 73 too, I dont have a lot of money and the super parts are cheaper and easier to find where I live.5 miles from where I live theres a VW junk yard,The guys that work there are coo, and thers a lot of supers there, and they give me free stuff or for cheap,,It all depends on U,If u have the money go for it, what matters that ur happy with it,I get a lot of stuff about people who hate supers, but it doesnt bother me cus i love my super,the point is at longest its a VW :D,

Sat Mar 22, 2003 6:10 am

Body work is expensive you can shave and do everything your self but it seems like you want to do it right. Bbefore you start pluggin holes and covering stuff up get some quotes at local body shops. The most expensive things like body work will raise the cost of your project. Its nice to see you starting at a young age. Your full restoration maybe wont cost you that much if you do it over time. If its a junk yard car its prolly going to need new pans and heater channels. Where do you live? Do you need heat? You can save on the pans and channels by welding them yourself. You can rent a mig wire feed welder from Home depo and just need to play around with the same thickness of metal. Say like fenders or something else. Its not hard I never knew how and I welded my whole car. The breaks are not to bad to work on and the engine is a snap once u get it tuned right. Im not to sure on the fuel injection on a bug since I have a 69 with a carb but it would depend where you live what you have available to you and what you want to do with it. I get alot of my parts from www.cip1.com. There is a few places that sell stuff cheap or cheaper but then they hit you up with the shipping. I have had really good experiences with them. To lower a bug in the front you need to get dropped spindels on a super I am not sure whats up with it, the suspension in a super is different than a regular bug it has shock towers. Air bags are cool but if it was a daily driver it might not be as cool when you ride in it. Is it just going to be a show car? Or you just want to be able to drive up to shows with the car you drive all the time?

Sat Mar 22, 2003 8:09 am

Grifter,
You better be glad some of the hard core enthusiasts haven't posted yet. Stay away from supers! I don't know what volkbug is talking about but standard bug parts are much easier to come by. Plus, you can get standard bugs with ragtops, split windows, oval windows, and verts(supers too, but not as cool)Instead of buying a complete junker, why don't you look at getting something that may need an engine and minor body work? You have to keep in mind that your budget it probably not endless, and body work will kill your budget. I know you want to "trick" your bug out and all, but think about keeping it mostly stock. There are alot of shaved door beetles out there that look cool but are worth nothing. So when it comes time to move onto the bigger and better projects and sell this one...you're not going to get your money out of it. Keep all trim on the beetle, because it is a pain later down the road to redrill holes where you think the trim is supposed to go. As far as airbags. Woooooo. They are some cool stuff. Again keep in mind that it is going to cost a butt load(upwards of $1500) when everything is said and done. As far as websites, check all mentioned above, as well as www.wolfsburgwest.com and www.bugzone.net. And read, read, read. I know I sound like your English teacher, but literature is the best way to learn about anything. Go to amazon.com and type in VW and buy some books that have high ratings. And don't be afraid to post on this website either. Great people who are willing to help always. And remember if you do anything, at least make it a VW!

Sat Mar 22, 2003 10:32 am

Grifter,
As for Standard vs Super, it's all up to you. Many people hate supers and many people love them. Just look at pictures of all the different years. I drive a '69, but my personal favorite is a '54 Oval Ragtop with Semaphores. Check everything out before you make your descion. Even take a look at the Type II's and Typle III. You never know what you'll like the most! Just make sure that you get a VW! You won't regret it!

Sat Mar 22, 2003 12:13 pm

kidcharlemagne14msn.com said... (3/21/2003 at 11:49PM PST)

" 67, when super beetles were started, is when they changed them to 12V instead of 6V, the bumpers are bigger and uglier, the headlights and taillights are bigger, there's fuel injection, which is more to worry about than non-fuel injection, a few more things to worry about in general."

Sorry "Kid" but first year for Super was 71... also 67 did not have the "bigger bumpers and lights".... at least you got what year VW went to 12V.

67low... I agree with what you say.

Supers are not as cool as early/regular beetles, but they are not a bad start for a newbie who is probably going to eff-up everything he touches until figuring out what /how to really get things done.

I know there is alot of dislike for them, but I have owned/ driven several and still have a 79 vert along with several other models and I'm of the if it's Air Cooled it's it's still cool mentality... to each their own... but I like them all, just some more than others.
Some people think Ghia's are ugly and some think Things are well... things...
Type 4's? 3's ... whatever.... just be glad you own a AC VW and keep on....

Sat Mar 22, 2003 12:34 pm

stay pre 67! forever! haha

Sat Mar 22, 2003 1:05 pm

thanks for the help and i already got one in mind a 73 with a rod through the engine but the guy says with a little work it will run, and another plus is its already got some nice mags, me and my dad will either buy it for a couple hundred or get it for free the owner hasn't decided, but thank you for the help and ideas
Vws all the way right?
i want it to be an every day driver but im not worried about the ride im worried about the ahndeling because i heard when you lower it and put air bags on it that it loses handeling is this true?
thank you for the talk
thanks for the help and i don't worry about selling it because the kids in my town will eat them up.
hey i like things

i can get alot of parts for free and we've had a prica total at about five thousand for every thing, and we are thinking of doing the body work ourselves

Sat Mar 22, 2003 1:19 pm

Airbags and lowering your beetle actually increase your handling. Lowering your center of gravity. I think you have handling and ride comfort confused. Ride comfort will suffer when you lower a beetle without airbags, but I have heard people of putting bags on their bugs and the ride is better than a stock beetle. Just read stuff, and you'll learn.

Sat Mar 22, 2003 1:24 pm

thanks man i was told it decreased your handeling
thanks and i will read

Sun Mar 30, 2003 11:32 pm

BOO ON THE BIG LIGHT BEETLES. BOO. i LIKE THE CUSTOM LOOKS ALOT BETTER THAN THE STOCK LOOKS AS WELL THOUGH.

Mon Mar 31, 2003 12:47 am

mama says super beetle's is the devil