1964 Bug project

[vwnut1]

Hello all. I just picked up a '64 Bug and am very excited to start the project. It has Bahama Blue factory paint and is super solid with virtually zero rust issues (CA car entire life). It's only had one repaint during it's life and was found to be very original and unmolested. I had to tow it home due to a major leak on the master cylinder and it has not been registered since 1999. My major decision will be paint color when the time comes. I am currently deciding between VW Beryl Green, white, tan, or having it resprayed the factory Bahama Blue color. I plan on using PPG's Concept line of single stage urethane paint. Some of the upcoming modifications include slightly lowering the front/rear suspension, eliminating the running lights on the front fenders, early snowflake style rear tail lights, blade style bumpers, 911 Fuch chrome replica wheels, one piece quarter windows and stainless steel body side moulding. This site and the numerous vendors that cater to VW restoration projects are awesome, let the fun begin...

Here she is before being towed from prior owners home

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As expected every piece of rubber on this 50 year old Bug is hard and rotted

I started to pull off the factory sound deadener off the interior of the pan

The interior is completely original, even the seat covers. I started the removal process while waiting on some new brake parts to arrive

It suffered a minor front passenger collision many years ago and the only body filler I could spot was on the front apron. The new one awaits installation and all body parts appear original minus the hood and front passenger fender

Rear fenders are off so I can install adjustable drop plates, new shocks and complete a full brake job

And yes, more rotted rubber

Its been a few years since it was legally on the street

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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

[Rome]

You chose wisely to purchase such a solid and unmodified Beetle.

To help you decide on the color of repaint, how about investing a day to polish and wax the existing paint on the entire car? It appears as though you might get a surprisingly good shine out of it. Carefully sand down the small, thin rusted sections like after banging out the left rear fender and touch them up with an equivalent color like this-
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/krylon-catalina-mist-indoor/outdoor-satin-spray-850214/,

found on this thread- http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=424324

Spray some of the paint into the cap, then use a modeler's paint brush to apply the paint to the sections. As you work your way around the car to those areas, go back to the first section and apply a second coat- the first layer should be tacky enough to accept another layer, or not be cured too much.

You could even drive it like that once you get the basic mechanicals sorted out, to see if you like the color or if you do actually want to change it. Add an hour to polish the existing bumper chrome... and maybe just add the Fuchs wheels to it.

[56Cabrio]

[grandpa pete]

This might help

Wrong year ; but you get the idea
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63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

[vwnut1]

The old respray is way worse than it looks in the photos. You can actually see the old factory green paint coming through on the replaced hood and passenger fender. I like your budget minded suggestion, but unfortunately for my pocketbook I am WAY to anal of a person to even consider doing that. I do plan on removing all of the glass, window scrapers, etc. before taking it down for paint to ensure a quality respray.

I have always been fond of Porsche Cashmere Beige, I think it would look awesome on '60s Bug

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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

[grandpa pete]

Have fun with your new toy .
Two suggestions
leave the tarboard on the tunnel....not reproduced and it doesn't rust under it usually
And
convert your early single circuit master cylinder to a newer safer 67 dual circuit master cylinder
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604177&highlight=upgrade+dual+master+cylinder
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63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

[vwnut1]

[vwnut1]

Early Chevrolet Mist Green is another color that I am considering...

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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

[57BLITZ]

Looks like you have a nice solid car for your project . . . way to go!

[vwnut1]

Thanks, much appreciated. I have had a vision for what I wanted to build for quite some time. I know removing the pop-out rear quarter windows is sacrilegious to some people, but they simply will no go with final look that I am after. Restoring to factory original condition is probably the best way to recoup my investment but I am simply not digging the 100% stock condition look of a '64. If it were a split window or '57 or earlier I would restore to factory original condition in a heartbeat due to how rare they are now getting.

As with all cars beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. It's like the person who paints the exterior of their home a gaudy color (purple, yes I have seen it) and thinks it looks awesome.

One thing that I have learned many years ago is that projects ALWAYS cost more than a person budgets for. Those online parts orders add up quick!
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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

[57BLITZ]

COOL!!!
When you do swap out the windows, and if you want to get rid of them, LMK, ok? I'd like them for my '57!

BTW, consider 155/60r-15 for your front tires. That's what I have on my Oval . . . they are a nice size for the 15x4 1/2 and still plenty short enough!
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Jesucristo es mi Señor y Salvador!

[117harv]

Yep, there are some here that would disagree with what YOU are doing to YOUR car, i'm one of them.

That car has survived all these years without major damage and looks to be complete, and you want to defile it? You want to put the wrong lights on it, remove front signals, lower, different wheels and engine as well as a color change, maybe a non factory color. Why dont you find another basket case, or a anothers project that has stalled and do what you have planned to it?

Yes, I like stock VW's, but I can appreciate a well done custom one as well. Why dont you do as the previous poster suggested and detail that as is and make it a safe driver with redone interior. Do that and drive it and enjoy it for abit while you find another less than perfect car to build your dream from. You may even make some $$$ on this bug if you clean it up and pass it along to a new caretaker. They are origonal only once, and clean early bugs are getting harder to find daily. If you need proof look at the hundreds of custom bugs here in the class. that seem slow to sell or dont, while the clean origonals are snapped up...jmo

[56Cabrio]

[vwnut1]

[57BLITZ]

[vwnut1]

I have no intent to use as a daily driver or to "flip" the car. The goal of the project was to find a solid but needy and neglected classic Bug (how people do that is beyond me) and build a weekend cruiser and occasionally hit up a car show. I am in no hurry to complete the project and finish quality and mechanical safety will be my top priorities. The Bug will be sitting under a car cover when not being driven and enjoyed. Yes, I will probably have more into the car than its worth but it wont be too bad of a hit. I recently watched a car show on television where a guy invested $120K in a custom car that he ended up selling down the road for a $70K loss. Now THAT is poor ROI!!!!
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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

[Campmobile Chris74]

It's your car so build it how you want it but it's a lot easier to go from stock to custom than the other way around. Suggestion - Build it stock drive it around for awhile and then if you want a new look customize it.

I tried to restore this '64 on my own. I bought the car strip it down, refurb the pan and then it sat for 10yrs. Tired of looking at an empty shell I hired an expert to finish what I started which took another year to complete. I'll be lucky if I can get 70% of my investment back but i did it for the love not for an investment return.

If I had to do it all over again ( restoring an old car vs buy a restored car) I would buy a restored car. You get a car at a discount compared to the restoration cost and you'll save time by getting the car right away rather than waiting months or perhaps years for car to be completely restored.

I'm not trying to discourage you, I just want you know what may lay ahead. We can never have enough restored Bugs stock or custom. Keep us updated on your progress. Good luck, have patience and don't give up.
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Go Seahawks!!!

[vwnut1]

This is my 2nd Bug project. My 1st was a $500 Bug that I purchased from a lady 20-years ago by simply knocking on the door after I noticed weeds growing around the car. Towed it home and built a "driver" quality Baja Bug out of it using a hacksaw to cut the fenders and rear apron.

I hear all of you on purchasing a restored car vs. restoring a neglected one for $$$ reasons. I almost purchased a co-workers finished Cal Style Bug before this one. It simply was not a color I would have chosen myself and I wanted to get the satisfaction of building the car on my own. I will restrain myself from purchasing narrowed front beams, disc brakes, 1915cc engines, leather interiors, etc. that add up VERY quickly. I will attempt to take more photos of my progress and post accordingly. I love reading about other members builds on this site, very informative and entertaining.
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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

[Zundfolge1432]

Anytime you can rescue a car from a shit pile and put it back on the road you've done a good thing. I just sold my 64 for 5200 US. I made a small profit and I worked my ass off getting it ready. I like to use this old adage

Never make a modification that can't be undone. I bolted on a few upgrades like a 1600 engine and made it 12 volt but these are things most people would do anyway. Use a heat gun and that crusty tarboard will come up easier.

[vwnut1]

VW Bug owners were generally frugal by nature, here is a great example. Crimped together battery cables and wrong color wires for pos/negative terminals. They were probably on the clearance rack.

My Kaddie Shack adjustable drop plates and KYB shocks arrived so I decided to tackle the project. WARNING: If you attempt to remove the OEM drop plates yourself BE CAREFUL. Many VW owners have elected to use a floor jack to prop up the rear of the drop plate above the "lip" and then pry the plate off the torsion bar. If it slips the sudden release of energy from the torsion bar will snap your bones in heartbeat. I elected to be safe and order a clever and simple drop plate removal tool (can be seen in photo) from Charles at Atomwerks Engineering. The tool is very HD and makes this job a snap and keeps you safe. I highly recommend the tool if you attempt to tackle this potentially dangerous job yourself.

I bolted on the tool and used my pry bar to pull the drop plate off the lip while I slowly lowered the plate with a wrench and the tool. Once the plate slipped off the lip and dropped to its natural un-tensioned position I took a measurement with my electronic angle finder. This gave me reference point to install the new one. I also used a paint pen to make some marks before slipping it on.

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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod