TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:43 pm

Hey Everyone! Newbie here with my first VW project. I am 37 years old, married with a 3y/o daughter and a son due in may, and have been into cars as long as I could remember.

This will be my first attempt at building a semi custom VW Beetle. I will be the first to tell you that I dont know anything about these cars, but I learn fast, and am not scared to jump in to it.

What I have is a 69 beetle. I was told by the previous owner that it has a 4" narrowed beam, with drop spindles, and has early model fenders and hatch.

When I brought it home, and with the help of a good friend that is no stranger around VW's, we were able to get it running, but quickly noticed a very excessive oil leak. So we pulled the motor, checked every thing out, put in all new gaskets, and reinstalled it. Runs great now, and "almost" oil leak free.

Ok, so on to the pics...........

Here are a few of the motor tear down.

And finally all back together, installed, and running.

So, now that I have it running good, with the help of my friend Eric, my future plans are basically to fix some little dings, repaint, and redo the interior. Also want to add a set of polished EMPI 5 spokes.

I am undecieded on paint colors right now, but have it narrowed down to Hot Rod Flatz Daytona Blue, and either Hot Rod Flatz twilight metallic, or Hot Rod Flatz arctic white. Still not sure on which way I want to go yet.

So the finished project will hopefully be this.......

or this.......

Here is the Blue I am going to use.

Here is the black I am considering.

Also, one of the first things i am wanting to do is take out those headlights, and go back to the original ones, as soon as I can find a set with just the right patina.

Well, there is what I am working with, and I look forward to all the info, support, and feedback I can get from this forum.

Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:14 pm

what a great start, mucho potential

Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:28 pm

Thanks, I'm gonna give it hell!

Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:28 pm

Welcome and good luck on your build. 8)

Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:22 am

Thank you, glad to be here. This site has already been very helpfull. Lots of info here.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:06 am

not sure if you might want it but i have a fiberglass cal look dash that i'm not gonna use

https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd...M7TnuT7K6Q

Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:45 pm

Heck yea!!! My dash is in desperate need of that.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:09 pm

Awesome look forward to seeing your progress. I also have a 69 beetle which is also being modified, new engine planned to be built later in the year

Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:57 pm

NICE!! Next on my list to get done is my wheel alignment. This thing is down right scary to drive right now.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:00 pm

Rock on with it homie....hit me up if you need any more direction, just a text away.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:02 pm

Looks sick dude. Love the stance its similar to mine. Or will be once i get the rear re indexed :) Are you keeping it Hoodride or going shinny new paint and all eventualy?
*edit* woops!! missed the paint sceam at the end. lol.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:52 pm

Hey Chris!! Nice to see a familiar face around here. I'm sure once I get further into this project I will be 'bugging" the hell out of you with questions. lol (pun intended)

Thanks GG, although I am a fan of the "hoodride" look, that rusted up hood is bothering the hell out of me. lol

Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:45 am

Dang

Look what the dogs dragged in. LMAO

Never expected to find you around here Bert.

Great minds must work alike. I'm working on a 67 bug project as we speak, only mine is geared toward the 1/4 mile rather than the street. Call me when you can brother and we'll talk.

Richard

Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:35 am

Man, they just let anybody post over here dont they. lol

It was good to hear from you this morning Richard. Its been way to long.

Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:43 pm

I think that blue and black would look great on the car.

Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:43 pm

Yea, I am really leaning towards the blue and black.

Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:44 pm

A Little update, I changed out the HID conversion that the previous owner did for some original headlights, and the flat black paint was getting a little tired, so I did a quick color change on it to change it up a bit.