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cseay1 Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2012 Posts: 1341 Location: Elkwood VA
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 9:39 am Post subject: |
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Time to rebuild some hype surrounding Beetlebaum.
I'll be home on Wednesday of this coming week, so I've got one or two projects waiting! Of course, Beetlebaum still doesn't run, but that'll be a Christmas break project. The project for Thanksgiving is this: my mother found some beautiful bumpers at a big car show a few months ago, so, when I get home, Beetlebaum gets a nice shiny set of bumpers! Watch this space.
Also, I was teased when I had a dream that Beetlebaum was fully functional last night. I sure did enjoy driving him...until I woke up!
Therefore, check back in about a week, when I will have installed some beautiful new bumpers! _________________ 1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
Post your Super here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331999
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EA812 Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2008 Posts: 1223 Location: North central, CT
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:36 am Post subject: |
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That will be a fun project! I've had them same kind of dreams but the car usually falls apart before I wake up. Try sitting in it and pretending to drive it. My son and I used to do that before Herbie was driveable. It will motivate you😀 |
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Beetlebaum got new bumpers today, which make him look much better. They're Brazilian, but they're not rusty or bent up, so they're a major improvement.
BEFORE:
Removing the old bumper, which I had refurbished with chrome spray-paint about six years ago
The new rear bumper with overriders, which is the eventual look I'd like the front and rear to have.
The front, before:
Taking the front bumper off proved challenging, because of some rusty square bolts that were hidden away within this brace inside the bumper.
An enjoyably quirky look.
New bumpers on the front and rear!
The bumpers look nice! The only disappointing thing is that the overriders' bolts are worn out, bent, or too short to fit through the bumper up front. Therefore, until Christmas break, when I can next work on Beetlebaum, I'm going to have to let him look like a regular late-model, sans overriders. Early in Christmas break, I'll purchase and install longer carriage bolts in the overriders so that they fit onto the bumpers and complete the look.
Also, I'll be discussing taking Beetlebaum in to the mechanic starting Monday, so let's hope all things work out well on that end! I need to charge the battery and prep him before I leave for finals and such tomorrow...but, at least things have been set back in motion after three years of inactivity! _________________ 1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
Post your Super here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331999
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EA812 Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2008 Posts: 1223 Location: North central, CT
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Them bumpers look great:) |
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:52 am Post subject: |
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Hey all--
As you can probably gather, not much has happened with Beetlebaum. I was going to bring him in to get him fixed by the mechanic, but I realized that I'm a college student with not enough money for that. Instead, he's still sitting and rotting.
On a more practical note, the bumpers I put on recently are already rusting. How do I stop that or undo it? It's rather frustrating--they were gorgeous! _________________ 1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
Post your Super here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331999
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EA812 Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2008 Posts: 1223 Location: North central, CT
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TheRustySuper Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2009 Posts: 2076 Location: New Albany, IN
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:56 am Post subject: |
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I know the pains of keeping an old Volkswagen running on the budget of a college student...especially when you've got two other VW's to keep going as well.
Regarding your bumpers, you can keep them waxed and that should slow the rust. I've also heard that clearcoating them with something (rattle can will prolly do) can also keep the rust at bay. _________________ My '72 Super |
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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TheRustySuper wrote: |
I know the pains of keeping an old Volkswagen running on the budget of a college student...especially when you've got two other VW's to keep going as well.
Regarding your bumpers, you can keep them waxed and that should slow the rust. I've also heard that clearcoating them with something (rattle can will prolly do) can also keep the rust at bay. |
Dude! You've got two other VWs? I know about the GTI, but what's the other one?
Also, thanks for your input, both of you. _________________ 1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
Post your Super here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331999
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TheRustySuper Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2009 Posts: 2076 Location: New Albany, IN
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:24 am Post subject: |
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I've got my Beetle and the GTI, and my boyfriend has a 2005 Passat wagon lol. _________________ My '72 Super |
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:28 am Post subject: |
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Alright, I'm slightly hesitant to post this, since we all know from experience that I end up talking about what I'll do to my car instead of actually getting it done!
That said, I have what might be the best news in a long time, if it comes about: some members of my family have expressed interest in giving me a gift for graduating college--specifically, they want to fund Beetlebaum to go to the mechanic! (Yes, I've talked about sending him there a lot, but this time it might actually happen...fingers crossed!)
So, hopefully, by the time summer begins, Beetlebaum may have a new lease on life! And that's it on my end. I survived my comprehensive exams and am itching to get back home in mid-May to work on and drive my Super. Woo! _________________ 1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
Post your Super here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331999
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dubjeep Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2011 Posts: 354 Location: Rhode Island
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Stock Steve Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2005 Posts: 1963 Location: My Left Nutmeg State
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:54 am Post subject: |
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Beetlebaum wrote: |
...I have what might be the best news in a long time, if it comes about: some members of my family have expressed interest in giving me a gift for graduating college--specifically, they want to fund Beetlebaum to go to the mechanic! (Yes, I've talked about sending him there a lot, but this time it might actually happen...fingers crossed!)
So, hopefully, by the time summer begins, Beetlebaum may have a new lease on life! And that's it on my end. I survived my comprehensive exams and am itching to get back home in mid-May to work on and drive my Super. Woo!
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Haven't checked in here in a while--so happy to hear you're still soldiering along! Keep the faith, and it sounds like some (well-deserved) angelic help may be on the way too! Good for you--so happy for you! _________________ Stock Steve
Shoreline Antique Auto Connection
http://www.shorelineantiqueautoconnection.com/
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Ich Bin Ein Facebooker: https://www.facebook.com/steve.fromsaac
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Join VVWCA: http://www.vvwca.com/
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 10:50 am Post subject: |
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So, what's new in my life (and in Beetlebaum's world)?
Not much, in some ways, and a whole lot, in other ways.
I'm waiting (and have been waiting a while) for the mechanic to call me back about getting Beetlebaum to him to get running. Beetlebaum's still sitting, as he's been doing. I recently made a list of the things I want to fix on the car this summer, which will be a very busy summer for me. I'm going to be home only for a few weeks at the beginning of the break, so here's hoping I can get a good start on cleaning up Beetlebaum!
Also, I graduate from college in a few weeks! Woo!
Finally, and perhaps most ominously, Beetlebaum might not get all the attention when I'm home. My daily driver, a 2000 Ford Contour, decided to reveal to me the fun that comes from a burst brake line! I was near my college, pulling up to a stoplight, when the brake pedal unexpectedly went to the floor--a complete failure of the integrity of the brake system! I haven't gotten a chance to look at it, but I saw a major leak of brake fluid from the rear of the car, so I'm currently assuming that a rubber brake line split from age and the harsh winter. (Imagine if it had failed at 70 mph on my way home in just a few weeks! Yikes!) So, my parents are going to tow the Contour home when they pick me up for graduation. We'll see how easily the Contour can be fixed.
That's that, on my end. Not too much exciting stuff happening for Beetlebaum, but a whole lot of exciting stuff happening overall. Here's hoping the mechanic calls me back! _________________ 1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
Post your Super here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331999
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Stock Steve Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2005 Posts: 1963 Location: My Left Nutmeg State
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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I'm home! And I graduated! And...the Contour is officially on its last legs; it turns out that the rust (which it got from spending a lot of time in the Northeastern US) got a lot worse this winter. The brake issue came not from a burst soft line but from a hard brake line that rusted through! The car's now fixed, but I also have now accepted that it's just not safe enough to keep for an extended amount of time.
Beetlebaum has his own set of issues and good things going on. The mechanic has not been returning my calls, so I'm not going to take the car to him. Instead, I'll go to the Bug Out soon and get some new engine parts to put on the car. Hopefully, those things fix the running issues!
Today, I got to work on the Bug for the first time in a long, long time. I ended up focusing on the windshield washer system and hooked it back up, but I can't get it to work at all. Does anyone know how to access the fresh-air box (or whatever it's called) where the nozzle which sprays the windows is found? I took the screws off the black panel in the luggage compartment, but the panel wouldn't come off.
Here's what I'm talking about (see the screws on the black panel in the background?):
Also, just to brag, here's the glorious job I did hooking things back up... [Sarcasm may have been in use there. ]
And here's my dash all torn open for the surgical procedures I performed today...
And, finally, here are some of the most recent pictures of Beetlebaum, which I took today!
That's it for today! It's raining now, and the windshield washer system still isn't working, but it felt great to get to work on Beetlebaum once more. _________________ 1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
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Stock Steve Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2005 Posts: 1963 Location: My Left Nutmeg State
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 6:10 am Post subject: |
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Congrats on graduating! What's your degree/what field? Any jobs lined up or prospects for same?
Glad to see you have been able to spend some time on the Bug, and unfortunately I do not know how to attack that panel that you have questions about.
I went to the Bug Out once many, many years ago, and remember it being a seriously big deal. These days I keep more to local events. I hope you're able to find parts you need. Buying stuff you need at events like that sometimes works out very well, since it would seem that sellers would be motivated to sell, rather than cart all the stuff back home with them again. Anyway, good luck, have fun. _________________ Stock Steve
Shoreline Antique Auto Connection
http://www.shorelineantiqueautoconnection.com/
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Ich Bin Ein Facebooker: https://www.facebook.com/steve.fromsaac
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Join VVWCA: http://www.vvwca.com/
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Your source for old school metal tire valve caps: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1416217
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Thanks Veterans
Last edited by Stock Steve on Fri May 22, 2015 10:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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EA812 Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2008 Posts: 1223 Location: North central, CT
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Beetlebaum Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 2181 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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