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Tue Jul 29, 2025 6:13 am

Hi. Just wanted to introduce myself real quick. I'm sure you're all going to be sick of me and my questions before this process is over. I'm just beginning a restoration of my late husband's 1969 Westy for our son. Hopefully, I can get it finished before he gets his license.

The first step will be getting the replacement top put on. The original pop top fiberglass was ripped off by a tornado a few years ago. I managed to find a replacement for it, and will be putting that on and putting new tent canvas up while the top is off.

The child has very specific ideas of what he wants, which aren't always feasible and/or "right" (read: factory correct) so this may end up testing both our patience, lol.

Tue Jul 29, 2025 7:03 am

Welcome

Tue Jul 29, 2025 7:06 am

Welcome to The Samba!

You've come to the right place to get the important answers. I stumbled upon this site about 8 years ago when I bought my '76 Riviera sight unseen.
And if it weren't for the experienced Sambanistas, I doubt I wouldn't have a working vehicle.

You may want to start by using the "search" function available.
It will help you find answers that have been asked many times before.

That is one lucky son to be able to help in the restoration of his late father's VW, and to have a supportive mother willing to take on this task!
Best of luck to you both!

Tue Jul 29, 2025 7:30 am

Quote: The original pop top fiberglass was ripped off by a tornado a few years ago.

Yikes!

Welcome to the swarm. No doubt the first trip will involve a family game of Twister

Tue Jul 29, 2025 8:12 am

Welcome. I would be sure that the "child" participates and invests in the work so that your dream and his work together, or the bus will mean little to him when it comes time to drive and own it. From experience.

Tue Jul 29, 2025 8:21 am

SGKent wrote: Welcome. I would be sure that the "child" participates and invests in the work so that your dream and his work together, or the bus will mean little to him when it comes time to drive and own it. From experience.

He's a good kid and has been a great help with other projects around the house (helped me re-felt a pool table last year and didn't complain once about pulling 800+ staples, lol). It's also his dad's so that will help. We ended up having to let a couple of his dad's vehicles go, and this is one that he chose when I asked him what we wanted to try to save.

Tue Jul 29, 2025 3:08 pm

ShakeItUpNowSugaree wrote: SGKent wrote: Welcome. I would be sure that the "child" participates and invests in the work so that your dream and his work together, or the bus will mean little to him when it comes time to drive and own it. From experience.

He's a good kid and has been a great help with other projects around the house (helped me re-felt a pool table last year and didn't complain once about pulling 800+ staples, lol). It's also his dad's so that will help. We ended up having to let a couple of his dad's vehicles go, and this is one that he chose when I asked him what we wanted to try to save.

That sounds like a solid start, picking the thing he has interest in.
Like repairing a building, rule 1 is keep the water outside where it belongs. I'd be looking at it to see if it can be a rolling restoration repair project. Might not be perfect when he can drive it, but being legally drivable at that point would be a big encouragemen. Rolling restoration if you will.

Tue Jul 29, 2025 3:46 pm

Quote: which aren't always feasible and/or "right" (read: factory correct)

Well, one thing I told my kid: get anything to stock, so you know how it is supposed to look and work. Then you can modify once you understand things. I mean, you COULD start right off with a big HP motor, but unless there is already knowledge of tuning dual carbs, or a trusted shop, etc it may be so frustrating that they get rid of it.

if they've done some wrenching a higher bar may be appropriate, but I'd still advise not starting out w/ a Subaru motor attempt. :)

Wed Jul 30, 2025 3:55 am

I would agree with keeping it as close to stock as possible. I have no idea what your budget is like. But nowadays when you start modifying things like the engine it starts getting expensive real quick. Since he will be a young new driver, I would address all the things that would make it reliable and safe. Things such as engine tune. Brakes and suspension will get you off to a good start. Good luck-Bob

Wed Jul 30, 2025 7:51 am

The absolute first goal is to get it watertight and "operable" (this part is important because code enforcement is giving me a hard time about it). I managed to locate keys and get inside last night. The water damage from the tornado isn't nearly as bad as I was fearing, so that's good. There are a couple of pieces of headliner that will need to be replaced and the panel on the sliding door needs to be replaced, but that's been that way as long as I can remember. No visible mold/mildew and no obvious mold/mildew smell.

Neither of the keys I found seems to work on the ignition though. I have what I thought was the original ignition key. It's on the same ring and similar shape to the one that works on the doors, though it's possible that is for my father-in-law's Beetle. There's also a newer looking VW key, which I was thinking was from where the ignition was rekeyed about 15 years ago. It doesn't fit either, so either there's still a key missing, or there's something going on with the ignition switch. Oh, and the tachometer is missing. That's fun. Or maybe it never had one in the first place. I don't remember because I kinda don't know how to drive a manual transmission. He tried to teach me a few times, but we never got as far as knowing when to shift, only how to shift. And I wasn't very good at that.

A friend of my husband's is actually going to tow it to his place and help/do some of the work for us. I appreciate that more than I can say.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 7:59 am

ShakeItUpNowSugaree wrote: The absolute first goal is to get it watertight and "operable" (this part is important because code enforcement is giving me a hard time about it). I managed to locate keys and get inside last night. The water damage from the tornado isn't nearly as bad as I was fearing, so that's good. There are a couple of pieces of headliner that will need to be replaced and the panel on the sliding door needs to be replaced, but that's been that way as long as I can remember. No visible mold/mildew and no obvious mold/mildew smell.

Neither of the keys I found seems to work on the ignition though. I have what I thought was the original ignition key. It's on the same ring and similar shape to the one that works on the doors, though it's possible that is for my father-in-law's Beetle. There's also a newer looking VW key, which I was thinking was from where the ignition was rekeyed about 15 years ago. It doesn't fit either, so either there's still a key missing, or there's something going on with the ignition switch. Oh, and the tachometer is missing. That's fun.

A friend of my husband's is actually going to tow it to his place and help/do some of the work for us. I appreciate that more than I can say.

There is a guy here on Samba, Gabe, who can get your keys sorted - Ill find and link to him on my next conference call.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 8:48 am

Safety first.
Get the brakes sorted, including soft lines.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 9:22 am

KTPhil wrote: Safety first.
Get the brakes sorted, including soft lines.

Definitely high on the list. I believe that was one of the last things that he did to it, but don't quote me on that.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 10:52 am

Reach out to Gabriel at,
https://gabvwkey.com/
He has keys and codes for just about any VW.
He can guide you on where to find the key code(s) for your ignition switch.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 11:04 am

67rustavenger wrote: Reach out to Gabriel at,
https://gabvwkey.com/
He has keys and codes for just about any VW.
He can guide you on where to find the key code(s) for your ignition switch.

Thanks!

Wed Jul 30, 2025 11:39 am

This may be a silly question. With the key that fits the ignition key slot. Did you turn the steering wheel left and right. Sometimes the steering wheel needs a little motion to turn the key. Also. I think every old VW I have had. Had a key hidden in the engine compartment or underneath by the previous owner. Perhaps explore when you have free time.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:13 pm

welcome

i’ve a purely demographic question.

how old is the child?

and, x has a great suggestion.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:14 pm

sounds like fun.

Keep an econobox around for an actual car that starts every time you turn the key. A VW Bus is a challenging choice as 'first car' in 2025. It's got CG problems, anti-lock brake issues. No air bags.
Valves to adjust, clutch to adjust, brakes to adjust. Points to adjust.
edit: the front door handles have a three digit code stamped in them. A locksmith can use that to cut a new ignition key for you. Some disassembly required. : l

Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:39 pm

Xevin wrote: This may be a silly question. With the key that fits the ignition key slot. Did you turn the steering wheel left and right. Sometimes the steering wheel needs a little motion to turn the key. Also. I think every old VW I have had. Had a key hidden in the engine compartment or underneath by the previous owner. Perhaps explore when you have free time.

I didn't, but I've been reading about that today, so I'm going to give it a try when I get home.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:46 pm

@dodger tom, he's 12.

@timevw7476, I don't really see this as a daily driver for anyone. It's been a fickle beast for years and years. He'll learn that one day, lol. The plan has been for him to get the Jeep I'm currently driving and I'll get something new. There's also an older Jeep that my son has always seen as "his dad's" that we're trying to save too (it was mine for like 12 years, but the kiddo was a baby when I got the one I'm in now and he doesn't remember me driving the older one).