Amy's 1968 Convertible Beetle Restoration "Grettah"

azamy66 · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:30 pm Post subject:

Got my engine back today and it is a beauty. What a transformation. thank you Frenchy! It's waiting patiently now while I get the car ready for paint.

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jhicken · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:16 pm Post subject:

Frenchy Dehoux? If so he's got a decent pedigree.

-jeffrey
_________________
Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

Cusser · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 6:43 am Post subject:

Frenchy should've ditched that fuel filter. Engine looks nice, reminds me why I'll be painting my own tins next time my engine needs to come out.

Remember to attach the hose or plug up that fan shroud fitting on passenger side top of shroud.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

azamy66 · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 8:11 am Post subject:

Yes Jeffrey, that would be Frenchy Dehoux. A super nice and talented guy. His son Marc, who is equally as nice and talented, is the one doing my metal work.

hi Cusser. I think that once the engine is back in the car I will relocate that fuel filter outside of the engine compartment. From what I understand, they can be placed underneath the car to make things a bit safer.

plotch · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:16 pm Post subject:

Nice car and you should be commended for doing things right. I've never understood the fuel filter after the pump. Underneath the tank makes sense to me.

plotch · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:18 pm Post subject:

Nice car and you should be commended for doing things right. I've never understood the fuel filter after the pump. Underneath the tank makes sense to me.

azamy66 · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks Plotch ~ It seems as though one thing has led to another. I am doing way more than I ever planned to do with he car. I can't say I know much, but I am learning as I go. And the information on this forum are extremely helpful to me. Thank goodness for The Samba and it's people. Without them I would be at a complete loss. Smile

azamy66 · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:34 pm Post subject:

With Christmas celebrated and a little time on my hands, it's time to get back to work on the beetle. I have cleaned up the inside wheel wells, which were covered with old undercoating. They are now cleaned and sanded. Smile

Removed the windows and have cleaned them up a bit. Today was devoted to removing the dash pad. What a chore, but fun just the same. The only thing I had trouble with was removing the clean air knobs. Everything I had read said that they would just pull right off. Not these. I finally got the right one off, but the left was broken during the extraction. An aftermarket radio was installed at some point and some slight modifications were done to the factory radio hole. It doesn't look like much though. Looks to be just some bending of the metal. All wires on the inside of the dash have been bundled and wrapped. The gas tank will come out soon, which will allow me to clean and sand inside. I'm not really sure if I am doing things correctly. If I am missing anything or need to be for warned about anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. Smile

azamy66 · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:22 pm Post subject:

We got the gas tank out and cleaned up the trunk area. The gas tank itself looked good but had surface rust on the underside, but that should clean up ok. The gas itself seemed pretty clean when we emptied the tank. There were no surprise debris or anything. Should I clean and treat the inside of the tank anyway?T

Inside the trunk area there was some pretty bad surface rust just under the brake fluid reservoir. Wire wheeled that area and sanded down the rest. Having the gas tank out gave me good access to the front end too. Sorta kinda. Still not the easiest area to clean up, but I got good start anyway. Did that for a bit then moved to the underside of the car. That's a messy job for sure! Got a good start there and think I'll finish that up this weekend.

I felt a little ADHD today moving from one thing to the next without fully completing the previous job. Smile

I figure the next time I go back to them I will be a little more detailed? Is that how it typically works? Smile

Andy Schneider · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:45 am Post subject:

Wow, you are one impressive bug enthusiast! I'm the proud owner of a 79 vert and trying to rebuild the engine as my winter project. Success for me will be if i can't get the engine reassembled (it's currently out and completely torn down) and drive the vehicle to the mechanic to check out my work and make adjustments where needed.

One thing i noticed was the cost vs value discussion and how you deal with spending more on the car than it'll ever be worth..............That's always tough for me too and i wish there was a good answer, but we do it for the joy of driving these cars i guess.

bigdog1962 · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:15 am Post subject:

Another option for the fuel filter is where it exits the frame in the rear. Here's mine (the transmission has since been defunked Very Happy

)

So far as cleaning and coating the inside of the tank, I would think most people would say do it while you have it out then you won't have to worry about it again. Just my 2 cents... Great job by the way!

jhicken · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:16 am Post subject:

Cost vs value is easy to answer. The money you "invest" in restoring a vintage vehicle is returned to you in the enjoyment your receive building the car and driving it afterwards. Don't forget the piece of mind you get by knowing it's done right [if you did it yourself] and the icing on the cake is the good karma you receive by bringing a vehicle back from the dead and extending it's life for others to enjoy.

That is the value.

Think of the money you spend on intangible things like movies, meals, vacations, etc. Once consumed you only have the memory/experience. At least with a vintage car you'll not only have multiple memories and experiences, but if you eventually sell it, you'll recoup part if not most of your original investment making all those valuable memories/experiences priceless!

-jeffrey
_________________
Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

Andy Schneider · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:25 am Post subject:

I'd love to believe that i'd recoup most of my investment, but i think that ship sailed a long time and expense back. It's ok, i'm not planning on selling it at any point in my life but just hope i dont' have to spend another boatload of money on it to keep it running. Funny thing is that i really could use a complete redo of the interior and a top for it as we speak!

I'd also add, that for me, it's the cheapest form of therapy i could ever think of. Nothing like having a bad day and hopping in this for a ride. You can't help but smile!

jhicken · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:54 am Post subject:

The "most" is when you do a lot of the work yourself. If you do it right, and hold onto it long enough, who knows, you might get it all back!

-jeffrey
_________________
Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

wcfvw69 · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 1:55 pm Post subject:

azamy66 · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 4:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input everyone. I would have to say that the more I work on the car, the more precious it becomes to me. She has me wrapped and in pretty deep as well. By the time I'm done with her I will have 16-20K into her easy. This one will be a keeper. Smile

As far as therapy goes, I would agree ten fold. Everyone needs something to look forward to. I am not saying that I don't get overwhelmed with it every now and then. Razz

I cannot wait until she is done though and will enjoy every moment with her on the road. Smile

Beautiful little vert Bill. Do you happen to have a thread on the restoration?

Cusser · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 5:33 pm Post subject:

Bill/wcfvw69 - that looks great !!! Wish my convertible looked that good, will be the ugly duckling next to yours and Amy's.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

azamy66 · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 7:30 pm Post subject:

Yours is far from an ugly duckling Cusser. In fact, I think it's quite charming. Also wish I could say that I've had mine as long as you've had yours.

wcfvw69 · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject:

Abscate · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:03 am Post subject:

Amy...am I smoking too much grass or is your 1968 a swing axle chassis? In your pix of the luggage compartment removed, it's a swing axle back end.

On edit....my fail. I got 1968 in my head as the first year of IRS, when it was in fact 1969. Nothing to read here folks, move along......
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Amy's 1968 Convertible Beetle Restoration "Grettah"
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