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Wed Jun 22, 2016 12:18 pm

Hi all,
I saw this semi auto beetle the other day, over here it's the only option to find an IRS rear\ Beam Front car
i was offered to buy it without engine\tranny which is fine by me.
but there are some scary rust holes and i wanted to know if it's not to far gone. i plan to do the work myself (got a mig welder & other tools)

Thanks
Eran

Wed Jun 22, 2016 12:35 pm

If it were me, I'd look for a less rusted one. Rust is like an iceberg, what you can see on the surface is only about 20% of what you'll end up finding once you get in there. Besides the front of the car, you have the dreaded "death foam" on both sides in the rear. Below is just a sample of what you're likely to find once you tear into it.

If you do get it, hope you're a good welder with several miles of MIG wire! :wink:

Wed Jun 22, 2016 5:01 pm

nope! Not even if it is free.

Wed Jun 22, 2016 5:22 pm

That's a parts bug, plain and simple. I'd RUN from that bug at full speed. That rust bucket needs to be striped of any usable parts and the body crushed.

There are still thousands and thousands of rust free bugs in the SW USA looking for good homes. You'd save yourself thousands of dollars buying one of them and driving it home or paying to ship it home.

Wed Jun 22, 2016 5:29 pm

Oh PLEASE stay away from that.
You would have a hundred hours of metal work into it alone.

Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:56 pm

Its doable but the time that will be put in is probably beyond the worth of the car. Ride it as it is if you do get it, just stop the rust then watch it die slowly

Wed Jun 22, 2016 7:29 pm

Like someone said; that's a parts car.
I'm also in IL, and I KNOW you can find better. In fact, I know of 2 Bugs, just sitting locally, that are in better condition.
I haven't inquired about them because I already have projects. But if you'd like, I can ask.
I'm in Aurora. PM me if you're interested.

Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:31 am

Ok, got the message :-)
anyway, IL for me is Israel, i wish there were thousands of good bugs here.
there are some but 99.9% are swing axle cars

Thu Jun 23, 2016 5:11 am

eran_k wrote: Ok, got the message :-)
anyway, IL for me is Israel, i wish there were thousands of good bugs here.
there are some but 99.9% are swing axle cars

you can convert a swingaxle car to IRS a lot easier than fixing all those rust areas...

I have all the parts you need on hand to do so...
Or if you can get that bug for free, you'll have most as well :lol:

do all the bugs rust out like that over there?

Thu Jun 23, 2016 7:04 am

vwinnovator wrote: eran_k wrote: Ok, got the message :-)
anyway, IL for me is Israel, i wish there were thousands of good bugs here.
there are some but 99.9% are swing axle cars

you can convert a swingaxle car to IRS a lot easier than fixing all those rust areas...

I have all the parts you need on hand to do so...
Or if you can get that bug for free, you'll have most as well :lol:

do all the bugs rust out like that over there?

They call the Midwest region of the US....the rustbelt.....for a reason. Illinois, Minnesota, Indianna, Ohio, Iowa......have very cold snowy winters and use tons of road salt. Ray

Thu Jun 23, 2016 9:16 am

eran_k wrote: here it's the only option to find an IRS rear\ Beam Front car
eran_k wrote: i wish there were thousands of good bugs here.
there are some but 99.9% are swing axle cars

Sorry, I couldn't help.
Just out of curiosity, what are your plans that exclude swing ax cars?

Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:48 pm

Air-Cooled Head wrote: eran_k wrote: here it's the only option to find an IRS rear\ Beam Front car
eran_k wrote: i wish there were thousands of good bugs here.
there are some but 99.9% are swing axle cars

Sorry, I couldn't help.
Just out of curiosity, what are your plans that exclude swing ax cars?

I want to build an off road bug, SA is not a good candidate for lifting

Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:44 am

build a dune buggy with it