1961 Bug Rescue and Patina Build - Pic heavy

[vwuberalles]

I vote red firewall. that thing is looking awesome!
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1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040

[AirKooledGarage]

Still moving along.

Lowered cars are stupid. 45 minutes of floor jack square dancing to get it high enough to get under it to reposition the throttle cable

Air system mockup is wrapped. Roughly 4" of range. Needs red carpet in the package tray!
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1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug

[AirKooledGarage]

Finally getting back to this car. Air ride is wrapped. Turbo motor seems to be solid. Struggled with steering linkage (pie cut pan misaligns everything).

Finally found a u-joint that ties is all together.

Started the BMX bike built that will live on the roof rack.

And had an Instagram connection cartoon it.



Next up is slight gas tank raise to help tollerate pie cut, bleed brakes and do some test runs. Front end really needs alignment, but not sure how to make that happen.
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1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug

[AirKooledGarage]

Getting closer. With steering linkage sorted, I needed a tank raise to clear everything. 1" square tube and a few tabs did the trick. Everything now clears everything.

Did a bit of a ghetto alignment to get the car down the road. This should last me through the season, then I'll need to find someone that can do it right.

Hood latch jammed, so had to cut off the original handle. Amazon'd a replacement. Who knew Car Custom was still around?

Blood red seatbelts for the win! Normally carpeted interior area will get a blood red bedliner style paint to top it all off.

Love the RLR trans raise, but hate it hitting the ground. This will have to be modified or replaced before I can do any serious driving.

Fixed every single electrical part in the car. Even the interior light functions. The yellow driving lights just make me smile.
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1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug

[AirKooledGarage]

Car is getting the final touches and heads to another show next weekend. Did a seat resto project that quickly go out of hand. Had found a set of pretty gross, but seemingly intact frames, but soon realized this is a ton of work.

Apparently racoons enjoyed this set.

Not realizing the drama it would create, I had the frames sand blasted. This mostly revealed all kinds of issues.

I then ended up disassembling them and priming and painting the components. Only a few of the tabs boke off, so I guess it wasn't too bad

Watched a ton of videos and using the TMO formed foam, I wrapped it with a trash bag

The cover slid on perfectly!

Bases came out great as well (credit to TMI for foam and well fitted covers)

Finished seats and TMI door panes look at home on painted pan.

Next up was rear seat delete and dumb 80's style speaker box. Initially mocked up in cardboard.

Dual 12" subs and 6" mid/tweaters each in their own boxes. All of which have to be accessable to get to battery/air manifold/compressor

Finished system was coated in Raptor liner to match the heater channels.

Love detail stuff and pocked charging port is eactly that.

Made it to a local Cars & Coffee with little drama, although carb is still pretty rich.
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1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug

[scrivyscriv]

that thing is DISGUSTING.

Great job!!!
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[finster]

nice! love the pigalle interior.
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[[email protected]]

Any update on the RLR trans raise plate hitting? I wanted to do that on mine but not sure about it yet.
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70 bug was my first car
68 bug second car
59 rag top bug third car
54 bug had for years need to restore
66 bug currently driving
70 bug son is restoring into a Baja
73 bug other son restoring stock

[AirKooledGarage]

Sadly, I sold the car. If I were to do it again, I’d cut off the bottom 1” of the RLR plate, flip the piece 90 degrees and weld it back on.

[cd973]

Where did you happen to find that u joint? I have a 67 and I’m at the same point. Pretty much the same suspension setup minus the trans raise. Thanks for the help