TheSamba.com :: View topic - dubjeep's 1970 fixer-upper

Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:55 pm

I got this bug for free. I still can't believe it. I've wanted one since I was a kid (yes because of the love bug--get over it). A guy at my church got it as a wedding present so of course I had a million questions about it every time I saw him. One day when I asked about it he said I could have it if I wanted it (of course my jaw fell to the floor). Apparently he didn't have the ambition to fix it and since I was always asking about it he felt I would give it a good home and a new lease on life.
here are a few pics of it:

This is Ed, the guy who gave me the car(which I still don't have a name for:( )

A close up of the front end damage

Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:57 pm

Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:02 pm

The car ran when parked. Supposedly. I have no keys for it and have ordered a new ignition cylinder with 2 keys from Wolfsburg West. My other concern is that it has been sitting for 2 years with gas in it...
So after I get the keys straightened out I'll pull the gas tank and replace the soft lines(taking the opportunity to move and replace the fuel filter with an actual fuel filter)
More to come as I get stuff done.
I will say that I am looking to make this a stock car(for the most part) so I won't be "slamming it"

Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:15 pm

Nice gift, doesn't look too bad and `70 is great year, first year of the 1600 Beetle (although SP)...reminds me of my first car, had a full-size school-bus back into me...nearly identical damage.

Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:17 pm

That looks to be in fairly good nick. I am partial to a 70 myself.

Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:26 pm

Looks nice and a pretty fair price! Glad to hear you are going for stock. I hope to keep up with your progress, good luck.

Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:16 pm

Here's what it looked like many years ago... when? I don't know for sure.

Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:57 pm

Spaghetti tube fuel hose....awesome :lol:

Front damage shouldn't be too hard to fix up, new front clip section welded in and some new bolt on panels you're good to go.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:45 am

Joel wrote: Spaghetti tube fuel hose....awesome :lol:

Front damage shouldn't be too hard to fix up, new front clip section welded in and some new bolt on panels you're good to go.

That's what I was thinking. I do want to get in running and registered/insured first though. Unfortunately I'm finding this is costing A LOT more money than I had thought. Most of the money I had saved for it went to the tent garage, the flatbed tow, and the new ignition cylinder.

And I have already purchased new fuel hose lol

Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:04 am

Unless the ign. cylinder has been replaced, the doors and the ignition should match. You could pull a door handle and have a locksmith cut keys from the code.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:19 am

Someone beat me to it, but remove a door handle and bring it to a locksmith. Your gonna want keys for the doors anyway, and if you are lucky the doors and ignition lock still match. If not, you will want the door keys anyway.

The front doesn't look too bad. A good body shop can probably repair that front apron without much trouble. Then you just need a new hood and fenders. Not bad from the pics, fairly original, and looks like it hasn't been messed with too much.

Oh, looks like factory Yukon Yellow. Like yours, my 69 was faded to the point that it looked white.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:56 am

You can save a few bucks by doing the locks yourself. Undo the philips screw and pull out the cylinder. Insert the new ignition key. See which pins are sticking out and shuffle them around till they all align with the key in. Maybe you will end up with one or two of the little brass pins that won't fit, but who's to know? You don't have to spell it out on the side of the car.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:33 am

Looks like it's crying as you can see because it has broken nose. :cry: they certainly have personalities.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:05 pm

RDbugger wrote: Looks like it's crying as you can see because it has broken nose. :cry: they certainly have personalities.
Funny that you say that... I thought the same thing.

As for the keys... The PO said that the car had 3 keys; 1 for the doors, 1 for the ignition, and 1 for the decklid. I have ALL of the paperwork on this car including the original sales agreement and repair history. The ignition was replaced in 1988. I already have a new cylinder with 2 keys on the way so I'm just going to drill the little hole in the housing and try to pull the cylinder out with pliers.
here is my ignition:

Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:42 pm

My first was a 1970. Yours looks like a fun project, enjoy it!

Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:16 pm

danno627 wrote: ... so I'm just going to drill the little hole in the housing and try to pull the cylinder out with pliers.
here is my ignition:

No, stop....that's just a rubber bumper the cover plate rests upon when you tighten the two screws to the left of the picture.

If you pull out the ignition housing a little further there should be a ~1/8" hole visible - poke an awl or paperclip into the hole, while pulling on the tumbler with a pair of channel locks....

Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:30 pm

Ignition Key read this.
http://www.vw-resource.com/ignition_switch_replacement.html

Take your time do it right. Pull the engine clean it up replace seals. You will be glad you did. Scout out the correct distributor also.
A 1600 single port is rock solid engine.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:38 pm

Chris Vellat wrote: danno627 wrote: ... so I'm just going to drill the little hole in the housing and try to pull the cylinder out with pliers.
here is my ignition:

No, stop....that's just a rubber bumper the cover plate rests upon when you tighten the two screws to the left of the picture.

If you pull out the ignition housing a little further there should be a ~1/8" hole visible - poke an awl or paperclip into the hole, while pulling on the tumbler with a pair of channel locks.... thanks. Ignore the red circle. It was on the picture for a previous post. I wasn't going to drill that. But thanks for having my back!

Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:53 pm

:lol: Right on...There are a couple scenerios where drilling is required...but you'll probably be A-OK without...

Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:05 pm

19super73 wrote: Unless the ign. cylinder has been replaced, the doors and the ignition should match. You could pull a door handle and have a locksmith cut keys from the code.

Q-Dog wrote: Someone beat me to it, but remove a door handle and bring it to a locksmith.

It's usually a case of the door handles are the ones that don't match.
After 42 years of opening doors a few thousand times they get broken and replaced.

I've got several door handles where the lock barrel doesnt match the code on handle as it's been swapped, its only one screw to change and make the new handle use your existing key.

Not the case with car but is with many.