Mountain Buggy by Stevie

[Longtooth Jim]

Howdy from Montana.
First post as I am new to the forum as well as new to the VW world. I’ve been wrenching off and on all my life but have no claims to being a professional mechanic. I love taking things apart to see how they work and then put them back together to see them run. It’s hell having ADHD at 56 lol.
My son Stevie is special needs with Cerbral Palsey and a few other developmental issues. He decided he and I needed a build project so yesterday we drove from Great Falls to Lewiston, ID (15 hr round trip) to pick up and VW dune buggy rolling chassis that’s been sitting for along time. I’ve never seen him so excited about something. I gave him a new socket set and bought him new off-road Halogen lights today to get him started. He couldn’t wait to get started so he and already spent the evening removing a few things. I of course have to walk him through every step and have to assist on certain things because he only has the use of the one hand.
All this to say Dad will need some advice and technical assistance on occasion not having any familiarity with VW’s or transaxle systems. Thanks ahead of time.
Jim

[avwa]

Love this

[oprn]

Awesome! Welcome to The Samba!
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We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age)

[indianpeaksjoe]

Wonderful Can't wait to see what you two do together.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[halfassleatherworks]

Just some info from what I see you have, is a pre 1966 link pin front end, rear end may be 6 Volt, maybe listed on the starter. most times the front and rear-end come from the same car. also the front wheels are on backward. Good luck.
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Halfass Leatherworks*****GOT LEATHER Made to order Leather crafts, you can find us on that face book thing

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[Manx1173]

Rear end looks like IRS in the last photo.

[71StandardReduction]

Eye agree that it appears to have late model rear suspension/transmission. Can't see if it's single or dual side cover.
Looks like factory VW pedal setup also.
Going to be a fun ride when driveable.
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One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the House of The Lord all the days of my Life, to gaze on the beauty of The Lord and to seek Him in His Temple~Psalms 27:4

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YHWH SHALOM

64 Pan Buggy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Ruby Red 1966
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=779597&highlight=

https://youtube.com/@SCOFabwerx?feature=shared

[Vanapplebomb]

Front wheels are backwards. Does it work? Yes. Do you sacrifice spindle strength? Also yes. I suggest you flip them so they are on correctly if you plan on doing “real” off road driving with them.
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1800 Type 4 Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

[Longtooth Jim]

Thanks all. Stevie is super excited for sure as I am because I love mechanical things. Here is the code on the tranny. AH 16069 59

[Longtooth Jim]

So it’s a May 9th, 1969 tranny if I read it right correct?

[Longtooth Jim]

May 9th, 1968 I mean

[Willin]

Looks like a lot fun!
I'm the same, but these cars are pretty straight forward to work on.
Many ACVWs running around GF?
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73 bus. Org. 1700 with dual Weber 40 idfs, bus header with Empi qp muffler, CB magnaspark 2 " ready to run kit".

[ORANGECRUSHer]

Awesome
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Brian H.
I may not know everything,but I will try to help if I can
OrangeCrushER Berrien Warrior 2.4L Quad4
LAZY MARY 1970 Baja 1835cc

[Longtooth Jim]

[Longtooth Jim]

Progress pics. Yesterday I get home and Stevie had actually removed the electrical by himself. Was very proud of him. Tonight we got it up on the stands and removed to wheels. Sprayed all bolt connections down with WD40 so tomorrow will be the transaxle and IRS. Found a couple of in depth YouTube videos on the transaxle rebuild so a little more prepared for that. Our plan is to get everything stripped off and take a sandblaster to the frame. A few welds going to have fix or completely redo. Clean all the joints and welds up before primer it.

[Willin]

Lot's of newer Vanagons.( they don't really count)
I hardly see any ACVWs on the road.
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73 bus. Org. 1700 with dual Weber 40 idfs, bus header with Empi qp muffler, CB magnaspark 2 " ready to run kit".

[67rustavenger]

Jim,
VW transaxles are rather complicated to rebuild, with out the proper tools and fixtures to get them setup correctly.
Maybe leave that for later in your and Stevie's buggy build.

As a suggestion, look for and buy a really old copy of, John Muir's, "How to keep your vw alive, for the complete idiot.'
The older the printing the better.
The later reprints combine in water cooled cars and cloud the intent of the manual, as intended when it was first published.
It's a fun and informative read. Stevie will love it, I'm sure.

Have fun with your father and son buggy build.

I'll be following along on the team's journey.
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[Stinky123]

I'll expand on what he said....do NOT open up your transmission. You CAN NOT rebuild it yourself.

It takes special tools and jigs.

[Q-Dog]

PB Blaster is much better than WD40 for breaking loose rusty bolts.

_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[oprn]

The transaxles that have been used with a stock engine are pretty bullet proof. Personally I would clean the outside, drain the oil and look closely for metal filings... there will be a bit of brass normally, check to see that all the gear positions feel normal (input shaft turns the output flanges in each gear) then set it aside and don't dig into it any further unless there is a good solid reason to.

Just taking it apart will tell you next to nothing unless you are familiar with exactly what to look for and what to measure.

That is what I just did with a used IRS I picked up and now it's in the car, full of fresh oil and working perfectly.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
_________________
We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age)