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Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:36 pm

So I figure I'd finally start my build thread. I found the car in a field in San Diego and talked the guy into selling it for $1000 6 months ago. It didn't have a front beam, engine, hood, rear fenders, interior or any glass. But the body is STRAIGHT! No rust, it looks like it was originally L 380 Turquoise, painted over with white once. There is no evidence what so ever of any collisions, accidents, dents or dings. The only sketchy body work that was done is someone replaced a few fender mounting nuts up front and it looks like they welded them with bubble gum.

The pans looked solid, again, no sign of any major rust (I love finding well kept California cars).

So I started on the deconstruction. I didn't take any pictures of the car as it was together (I forgot, no am a little angry with myself), but every other step of the way I have been snapping pictures.

The car is going to be bullet proof when it is finished. I will be using it as my daily driver, but I wanted to comb through it and replace every single nut and bolt. Which I have come pretty damn close to completing.

So we will start with the pictures. This is the closest I have to what it looked like when I brought it home. This is right after I pulled the body off the pan:

Here's a few shots of the shape the pan was in at first:

I completely stripped the pan, took everything off of it.

Then I took the pan and had it sandblasted...

The rear frame horns, torsion housing and shock towers were all powder coated in semi gloss black. You can kind of see it in this pic...

From there I put two coats of master series on the top and bottom of the pan then took the pan and had it rhino lined, also top and bottom...

I had a 6" narrowed beam built by Sam Manis (slowlow here on the Samba). you can find his work here...

I'm two outer splines down in the rear, so I had Mike Womack (vwwomack here on the Samba) build me some notched and extended spring plates, you can find his workhere... You can see them on the car here...

I had Kevin from KCR build the transaxle. It's a "freeway flyer" mixed with his super street setup. It's got a 3.88 r/p, super diff, heavy duty side plate, welded 3rd and 4th, steel forks and hardened key ways. You can see Kevin's work here...

I've got ACI wide 5 discs on the back...

And CB wide 5 discs with 2.5" dopped spindles in the front...

One of the PO put late model pedals on the car, I switched those out with a rebuilt set from Scott @ Pedal Werks. You can see his work here...

I've got stainless steel braided flex lines on all four corners of the car, and the brakes were bled today...

Aside from a few minor odds and ends, the pan is ready to roll...

Next is the engine build. Going with a 1915, full flowed, Steve Tims heads, engle 120 cam, and CB fuel injection.

After the engine is done then I will start tracking down a decent hood, some rear fenders, and deck lid then take the thing into my body guy and have it painted. I'm still deciding on a color. Not sure if i want to go with L412 Diamond Green or just a single stage black lacquer. I want to ride on stock smoothies, with some white walls. So I'm thinking powder coat the rims red, and paint the car black.

Tell me what you guys think so far. This is my 2nd bug I've built from the ground up. It's going to be my daily driver, but I am aiming to get it into a magazine or two as well.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:58 pm

It all looks great. Keep up with the pics. Always cool to see a build...Kyle

Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:42 pm

Looking great. I'm also building up my chassis as we speak. And I realized today that I have an EARLY pedal assembly on a late pan, go figure.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:46 am

Looks great! I vote for Diamond Green

Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:53 am

It's coming along nice, nice detail work. Keep up the good job =D>

Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:30 am

looks good keep it up... I kind of have a soft spot for 63's

Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:46 am

This is one of the nicest builds I have seen!

Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:09 pm

thanks guys!

I'm leaning towards diamond green as well!

But what color should I do on the smoothies? I want to run hub caps and white walls...

Mon Apr 19, 2010 10:14 pm

Wow, Hugo! Looks great! Can't wait to see it completed!

Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:39 pm

=D>

Looks phenomenal.

Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:54 pm

great work, great thread, we will be watching

Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:12 pm

Thanks guys! Really appreciate it!

Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:10 am

Looking good. For a 63 you might consider a color called diamond grey, Or a 59 color called Fjord blue. I'm sure whatever color you pick will look good.

Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:31 pm

Diamond Grey I like...

I dig the Fjord Blue as well, but I can't see myself driving a blue car. Not sure what it is...

Diamond Green is what I'm leaning towards...

This is also a Range Rover green that turns almost a charcoal color in certain light...

Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:43 pm

Great looking build!

Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:18 am

Damn, nice!! 8)

I like the Fjord Blue a lot more than the Diamond Grey/Green, but that's just me. ;)

Keep going like this!

Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:31 pm

Yea, part of me just wants to go with a single stage black laquer as well, keep it old school.

Then there is this...

Frozen grey metalic. I think that would be cool just from an originality stand point.

:x

It's so difficult! One day I feel like I'm set, then the next I see something I like more.

Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:36 pm

What did you use to paint your Trans ?

Everything looks really good...

Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:56 pm

The axle tubes are powder coated semi gloss black. The trans was painted at KCR, I don't think it's anything special, just painted when it was all apart with a rattle can I think. I actually didn't want it painted, but I forgot to tell Kevin that.

Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:20 pm

Really nice work, my man. Made me wish I had done some things different on mine. Oh well. There's always the next VW, right? 8)

Seriously, great job. Looking forward to the final product.

Moto