TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:39 pm

So I am embarking on a major build on my '71 Squareback.
I started about 4 months ago...I bought a '70 Square from CA and had it shipped here to NY
I had a guy here in NY who was going to do the work but he wasn't giving me a warm fuzzy feeling -I had already ordered the engine, transaxle and clutch from a shop in CA.
I found another shop in Tennessee to do the work.
They had a 4 month wait before they could take the car.
I figured since the car was going to be in the shop for a year I would get another one to drive.That one (Shantung Yellow) also came from CA...
So.... I was fooling around with the clock(of all things) and managed to short out a wire which fried most of the wires in the dashboard-Devastating!
New plan...I sold the orange one and decided to send the yellow one to be restored (will be painted orange)-The wiring is was going to be all new as part of the restoration but I still wanted one to drive so I got a red fastback-locally...
Are you following this-it's complicated.

So I have been collecting parts for the restoration and today I shipped the car to Tennessee filled up with all the parts I have.

The shop (Long Restoration) is doing a "nut and bolt' rebuild-Bead blast body ,Buffed paint job epoxy coat pan, all new wiring with american style fuse box,

Here are the specs/ideas so far:
1776 engine(buit by John Moe/west Coast Core) with electronic distributor, alternator Dual weber 34 carbs external oil coiler ,counterbalanced crank, deep sump, spin on oil filter pro street IRS transaxle, Performance Clutch

Re-chromed bumpers with powder coated brackets
All new rubber/trim
NOS dashboard
NOS gauges
Wood steering wheel
new Bosch starter motor
Airkeweled steering box
Koni shocks
Coolrydes 4 wheel disc brakes with 4 piston Wilwood calipers,Shifter,and Pedals (orange)
Sewfine interior with orange piping detail
Air conditioning
Michelins?

I want the exterior to look completely stock-Like it just came out of the factory but with a better paint job...
The interior will reflect my quirky nature.

Tue Sep 10, 2024 3:05 pm

Check behind the 3 slots for sewn fabric pillows or expanding foam put in for condensation.
They will get rusty there, but yours is good it looks like?
Show us pics of your fasty driver!

Tue Sep 10, 2024 5:12 pm

Here is the Squareback full of parts -it has already been delivered to TN

And here is my '71 Fastback-.It is an Automatic-probably the slowest car I have ever driven!

It gets a lot of attention from its shiny non VW color paint job.-It has a lot of rust bubbles under the paint (it's a 10 footer at best)and the guy before me put on these coil-over springs that raises the front and reminds me of a Willys Gasser....
Also some rocket scientist welded the bumpers brackets on to the body-Sheesh!
The interior is very nice though-it's white.
It's too "sporty" looking for my taste,but the price was right-$6000.
I plan on selling it when my Squareback is done.

Wed Sep 11, 2024 1:26 pm

That could be a twin to my wife's car, except the 4x4 look in the front (her's is dropped 2 outer splines), but has the 8 spokes and AT. I like to think of it as a full body go cart, as you drive it like one (full throttle take offs), since you only have 2 pedals to work with. Her's does have the FI still, which the AT likes. Her car (a 1970) is also Clementine Orange, which looks more burnt orange than bright orange like KT Phil's 71 Fastback.

Tue Oct 08, 2024 3:22 pm

Making great progress at Long Restoration...

Wed Oct 09, 2024 12:07 pm

Looks like they're making quick work on it. I usually start with separating the body from the pan, and rebuild the pan first (like they're doing). After that it's body work and paint, followed by new seals (windows and body).
Are they polishing the old paint to save it? Or to see any dents and dings? Rust?

Wed Oct 09, 2024 3:25 pm

Bobnotch wrote: Looks like they're making quick work on it. I usually start with separating the body from the pan, and rebuild the pan first (like they're doing). After that it's body work and paint, followed by new seals (windows and body).
Are they polishing the old paint to save it? Or to see any dents and dings? Rust?

We are changing the color to Clementine Orange....
The body is about to be bead blasted to bare metal, then any rust (minor in this case) and dents will be taken care of.
All new rubber,ball joints,Tie rod ends,brakes Steering box,engine transaxle clutch stater motor lines,cables,interior etc.,etc.

Sun Nov 17, 2024 7:57 pm

Body and panels bead blasted and primed.
Virtually no rust anywhere on this car.

Sun Nov 17, 2024 9:42 pm

Wow that’s looking great. Won’t be long until it’s got a fresh coat of paint. 8)

Mon Nov 18, 2024 3:59 pm

How's the hump in the front trunk? Just asking as most 71-73's have some rust hiding there (leaves and such caught in the "fresh air system" box. It doesn't seem to matter where the car has lived it's life either, they just seem to go there.

Mon Nov 18, 2024 6:33 pm

Bobnotch wrote: How's the hump in the front trunk? Just asking as most 71-73's have some rust hiding there (leaves and such caught in the "fresh air system" box. It doesn't seem to matter where the car has lived it's life either, they just seem to go there.
It's perfect-not a speck of rust.

On my other car the '71 fastback -it's completely rotted out.

Mon Nov 18, 2024 6:35 pm

Scotty D wrote: Wow that’s looking great. Won’t be long until it’s got a fresh coat of paint. 8)

Yes, They let the primer shrink for a couple of weeks and do whatever body work it needs and re-prime those areas.

Tue Nov 19, 2024 2:12 pm

Have they got the foam out of the top and rear of the rear windows? Just asking as most every 71-73 Squareback rusts there due to the foam the factory added there. It was one of the reasons I cut the roof off my 71 Square (from ALL of the rust there). I only mention the foam, as if they leave it, it WILL rust there in the future.

Fri Nov 29, 2024 5:53 pm

Bobnotch wrote: Have they got the foam out of the top and rear of the rear windows? Just asking as most every 71-73 Squareback rusts there due to the foam the factory added there. It was one of the reasons I cut the roof off my 71 Square (from ALL of the rust there). I only mention the foam, as if they leave it, it WILL rust there in the future.

Yes, as a matter of course they remove the foam.

Sat Nov 30, 2024 3:11 pm

Gitarzan wrote: Bobnotch wrote: Have they got the foam out of the top and rear of the rear windows? Just asking as most every 71-73 Squareback rusts there due to the foam the factory added there. It was one of the reasons I cut the roof off my 71 Square (from ALL of the rust there). I only mention the foam, as if they leave it, it WILL rust there in the future.

Yes, as a matter of course they remove the foam.

Good. That stuff has killed a few projects in the past. Even beetles suffered from it.

Fri Mar 07, 2025 8:15 pm

Steady progress on my Square.
The body is all primed, working on the mechanicals.
all the upholstery/carpet is made.

Sun Apr 27, 2025 3:45 pm

Getting to the finished coats of paint.