Jims 1952

[scarabee]

I was wondering what happened to you, Jimone! This is one of my favourite builds to follow. Looking forward to more photos.

[Jimone]

thanks everyone!

i have Smiley licensed and insured and have driven him almost every day since i got him running. its been pretty wild. being outside and getng peace signs and having conversations with strangers is quite the difference from fighting off spiderwebs and cleaning off decades of filth.

65 miles so far. lots of minor adjustments. lots of fluid changes.

here is some minor stuff from lasts year.

we had an f1 tornado drop on our house last summer. lost 16 trees. we dodged major damage. there are still tarp roofs in the neighborhood almost a year later. it really put a damper on my bug time.

on new years eve my vw buddy Mike passed away from heart trouble. here is a pic of mike checking out the motor. its the last picture i have of him. its a rad last pic.

mikes passing really lit a fire under my ass and i got real busy on the bug this spring.

more later. gonna go play with the car. or maybe hang out with my family. tough call
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november 1952 ragtop
november 1954 single cab

[VW_Jimbo]

Sorry to hear that you had a good friend pass. It sure does suck when it happens!

It does make you realign your priorities! Good man!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Jimone]

aint that the truth Jimbo.


this spring i finally bought a decent battery. got the electrical (mostly) sorted.

did some trim bits. it would have been better to do the carpet trim rings with the carpet off. it was rather challenging doing it in place.

got the seats covered in cocoa fiber. Joann went out of business so i got a smoking deal.

my girlfriend made me a plush Smiley

and here we are out in the real world.

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november 1952 ragtop
november 1954 single cab

[Two Glove Boxes]

Congrats on getting it to this point! Now enjoying it and discussing it is the life long reward. Plus you in the club of bringing more early cars back to life! Also sorry for loss.
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1950 Deluxe Sedan Build

1951 Split Standard Hoffman Build

1960 Dove Blue Double Cab Patina Build

Two Glove Boxes IG

[Jimone]

thank you! its a surreal club to be a part of. mostly project cars just sit and rot in my experience. it feels a bit like accomplishing the impossible.

after getting the front end sorted i decided i wanted to turn the bug around in the garage. put the butt near the work bench and tool box for engine install.

here it is outside for the first the first time in the 21st century.

heres some rear brake photos. i went with the 54 style brakes rather than the original ones. the originals are hard to source parts for and i plan to drive the car. i put all my original parts in a box and put them on a shelf to deal with later.

i havent found anything about the number on that brake line bracket. if anyone has any info on that id love to her what it might represent.

check out how worn out the old horn brush was.

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november 1952 ragtop
november 1954 single cab

[VW_Jimbo]

That is the Chassis number. They all have one!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Jimone]

ty Jimbo! you are always so helpful. i wonder if you have more hours assiting people on the samba or in your garage on the oval. i really appreciate your time (and also your awesome build thread) dude!

i added some seatbelts. there were already holes drilled on the the drivers side so i only had to poke holes on the passenger side.

this circlip on the starter was one of the most frustrating things on the whole project. what. a. pain.

hooked a generator up to the battery to test. work fine. i dont have the one tht would be correct for the car. ill pick one up eventually. this one is from a 1960 i think.

got some high density foam for the seats. ill probably cover this in wool to get the og feel and smell. comfy is nice though. they still feel like camping chairs. i dont think any amount of padding will change that. also...a butt. im a child.

more hats

at home wheel alignment. it was right on the nose.

heater controls. these tubes were gross. hooked a clutch cable to a drill and reamed them out.

installed the fuel tank (i have the motor in at this point but ill talk about motor install in its own post). put some gas in it and had a flood. ran new fuel line.

another shot of Smiley in the sun. im gonna need a bunch of sunscreen.

more later.
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november 1952 ragtop
november 1954 single cab

[VW_Jimbo]

Thank you for those kind words. The time spent on tS gains me motivation to go out into the garage! I am extremely lazy by nature! Accountability has been my only motivation progressing through life!

That last picture is AWESOME!!! Good to see Smiley, smiling is the Sun!

It all looks great! One thing that I did a double take on was the fuel line. Going over the tunnel. I would have reservations about that. To eliminate the possibility of damaging it with the seat, you could cross over the top of the transmission and enter the cabin next to the battery cable. Drill a hole that allows for a rubber grommet and the line. Be sure to paint the edge of the exposed steel after drilling it out.

Love this Bug thread. It is so cool!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Jimone]

[56Cabrio]

So cool to have your father's car running again, what a great feeling that must be. I've been following since you first posted.
Here is a bulletin from Volkswagen (fitting an additional fuel line)
I like Jimbo's idea better though, crossing over the transmission.
Can't wait to see the 54 SC running.

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F#CK CANCER
Make a donation

1956 Rag Top owned since 1988
1956 Convertible owned since 2000
1963 Hard Top

RIP Dad 4/20/1951 - 2/4/2023

[Jimone]

yeah. thats what i did. it crosses under the back seat to the rear of where the seat makes contact with the column.

i created a youtube so i can host some of the short videos we have made. check it out:


Link

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november 1952 ragtop
november 1954 single cab

[VW_Jimbo]

That is inspiring! Thank you!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[DSweinhagen]

I've been following from the beginning and so cool to see it on the road!
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David S

[janerick3]

[Jimone]

[VW_Jimbo]

[ddutch]

Lots has happend since you bought an engine from Mr. Okrasa last year. Good to see you're able to drive your dad's car now! I'm sure he and your friend Mike are both very proud of you, somewhere on the others side, in the spiritual realm.
I guess you have a very valid and realistic point of view on project cars that can't be used but just sit and are quetly detoriating. You've managed to get the car drivable within 4 years, which is a great accomplishment. The colourful patchwork appearance is symphatic, it grows on me and it suits your approach and the 'mixed' origins of the car very well. I hope you'll enjoy your (p)ride a lot.

[swharris]

I seriously urge you or anyone who uses or has the "clamshell" style seat belts to upgrade them to some sort of positive locking belt mechanism. While they are period correct(sort of), your life and possibly your future mobility might depend on them. I understand no VW is "safe", but you can make them safer if you use the right stuff.

I had those types in my '62 DC, you see in my sig. '06, my wife was driving it and was hit in an intersection in the passenger side A pillar. The impact dislodged her belt clasp, and she was thrown from the bus, suffering a severe spinal cord injury. Sorry to be Debbie Downer, but this is a real, albeit remote possibility when using those belts. We have lived for 20 years with the result of my choosing not to upgrade to a better 3 point positive locking belt, and I regret it every second I am alive. Learn from my mistake. I sincerly believe had I had positive locking belts or better yet a 3 point in the truck she would have stayed in the truck and be walking today. Sadly that is not the case. I love these things, but will never forgive myself for my lack of preperation and
deference to how dangerous they are.

Living with an SCI is to be avoided at all costs. And yes, I would choose death over SCI.

I

[Jimone]

thanks for the thoughts everyone!