Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
A 1970 Beetle followed me home. The build continues.
Page: 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Forum Index -> Beetle - Late Model/Super - 1968-up Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:36 pm    Post subject: A 1970 Beetle followed me home. The build continues. Reply with quote

Went to look at the wheels and took the entire car home. At first I thought it was going to be parts, but the car is pretty solid ... and it has a title. Engine is in a box, and there are a couple of trash cans worth of parts that came with it. It looks like most of the car is there. Paint is a poor respray in the original color. All 4 fenders have damage from tires rubbing the wheel arches. Some rust in both front wheelhouses, but heater channels appear solid. Floor pans and rear package tray were cut out with a torch. So far I see nothing that can't be fixed. Sooooooooo, what to do with it?
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

US Indy 4 1/2" X 15"
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Hood had some ripples in it, so it was filled with bondo that is failing.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Doors close well
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Heater channels are solid
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Package tray removed, but solid under the rear window.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Floor pans removed with a torch. Napolean's hat is solid.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Original Radio
Right now, I'm thinking of a quick and dirty reassembly. First I need to inventory what is there before I make a decision.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle


Last edited by Q-Dog on Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:16 am; edited 4 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Kabasue
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2011
Posts: 359
Location: Nevada
Kabasue is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It’s VW breeding season, so it’s not uncommon for a lonely bug or bus to follow enthusiasts home. Sadly I am no longer allowed to adopt as I have reached my limit of non-functional vehicles in the front yard. Looks like you found a good loving bug, that needs some work.
_________________
Remember to get your VW spayed or neutered
71 SB convertible (Finally Finished!)
73 Transporter (next project)
73 Westy with a 411 engine (Finally Finished)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
nemofulcrum
Samba Member


Joined: July 10, 2012
Posts: 126
Location: Nebraska
nemofulcrum is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dang... was this a failed project or someone decided to part out the car?

In some places it looks better that my 1970 yellow beetle.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The fellow I got it from says he never touched it. He drug it home in pieces, put it in a shed and ignored it for a couple of years. Then work and family got in the way. So, yes I guess it was an abandoned project ... twice.

I guess this is gonna be a build thread. The thought is to see if I can get it back on the road in a month. I don't have time to take pictures while I work, but I'll try to take a few when I have major progress to report.

Today was a get to know it day. I washed the cobwebs and dirt out of it and started to inventory the pieces. Looks like most of the bits are accounted for. I found a pretty good sized dent in the roof on the passenger side. Maybe someone sat on it? I popped the dent out and spent about an hour with a rubber mallet and a pad and my hand working the edges of it. It still has a minor ripple in it, but you have to look for it. Good for now.

I have no history on the engine. (I'll look up the numbers later.) It's a dual port with a dual heat riser intake and has no noticeable endplay. It turns just fine by hand. I may take a chance and try to start it. I have to think on this some more.

Before I can really get busy on this car, I need to move a couple of other things around to make room for it.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
kentuckyruss
Samba Member


Joined: June 02, 2012
Posts: 32
Location: Central Kentucky
kentuckyruss is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sweet! Anytime something like that follows me home I have plenty of room for it to stay. Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Strawberry Jam
Samba Member


Joined: February 10, 2013
Posts: 36
Location: United States
Strawberry Jam is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like a great start to a project! I say put it together and clean her up a bit and call it good, nice find man, and good luck!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
swhitcomb
Samba Member


Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 5673
Location: Inwood WV
swhitcomb is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 3:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Funny, same exact thing had happened to me before. My 71 Super was just a car I went and looked at on a whim because the ad said new engine, $500. I figured it'd be a rusty pile of junk. It didn't have a new engine, but it was solid enough, and I liked it enough that it followed me home, and for only $300.

Note to self: Stay off Craigslist. Smile


Last edited by swhitcomb on Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:12 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Facebook Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
hudsonce
Samba Member


Joined: January 29, 2010
Posts: 506
Location: Hagerstown, MD
hudsonce is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So the heater channels are fine, but the floor pans were so bad that someone cut them out? Somebody explain this to me.
_________________
Use "to" for "give the wrench to me."
Use "too" for "I have too many VW projects"
Use "two" for "two people will not fit in the back seat of a Ghia."
For the sake of Peter, PREVIEW your post before you submit it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pushed the car under my shed and lifted the body off. The pan will get moved in a couple of days but the body is gonna live here while I work on the pan.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Rear wheelhouse looks good.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Getting a little crowded in here.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This is supposed to be a quick and dirty build. I wasn't gonna do any body work yet, but I couldn't help myself. There was a patch here, so I sanded it smooth, primed it and shot some rattle can green on it to test the match.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The match is close enough that I'm thinking I'll do under all 4 fenders. No one is gonna notice under the fenders if the match isn't perfect. And I may undercoat the car anyway.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Started getting the chassis ready for new pans. Cleaned off lots of rust, paint, tar, slag and grease.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Shiney!
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The remnants of the old pans.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Framed head is solid ... except for this. Cut with a torch.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Need to order parts soon.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
75smith
Samba Member


Joined: July 09, 2011
Posts: 2275
Location: NH
75smith is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hudsonce wrote:
So the heater channels are fine, but the floor pans were so bad that someone cut them out? Somebody explain this to me.


1. floor pans are lowest in the car so leaking window water will collect and rust

2. floor pan edge helps provide protections for underside of channels, until they rust through

3. floor pans are the lowest in the car so any thrown up dirt and gravel cuts through undercoating and promotes rust


Sorry for the Hijack, looks like a great start though, looks like the PO didn't know what was floor and not, had a friend cut out the heater channels cause he thought it was the floor as well...
_________________
My 1975 Beetle Build Updated 8-21-12

My engine build
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been around the block a few times with Beetles, but if anyone sees anything weird, or has any suggestions, please post them here. I can always learn something new.

I'm still undecided on if I'm gonna repaint the entire car, or just the fenders and hood. I want to roll it like it is, but the hood and rear fenders are in tough shape.

Did a bit more cleanup, then shot some rattle can primer on the tunnel to cut down on any flash rust.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

We're supposed to get rain this evening and I won't start welding for at least a week.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



Also, I went for a ride in the buggy late yesterday afternoon and came home with a nice, solid package tray.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

No rust, just a couple of very small holes drilled in it.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Now I need to clean and prep the tray ... and order pans and brake parts.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A little rain delay! We've had LOTS of rain lately so the ground is saturated, then 2+ inches of rain in one day flooded the shed.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I'd rather not stand ankle deep in water while operating power tools, so not much work got done the past couple of days.

Of course, the parts list is growing and I haven't even looked at the engine yet. More progress when it warms up and dries out a bit.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Jon65
Samba Member


Joined: September 29, 2012
Posts: 2417

Jon65 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That looked like my yard at the beginning of this week. We got a good bit of rain here too.

Great progress so far, and nice buggy too. Cool
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the comments. The buggy needs paint, but then I might not use it as much as I do if it were too nice.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I've been down with a gimpy leg but I was able to do a little more work today. Time to prep the donor package tray.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Wire wheel quickly removes paint and seam sealer. Look at those spot welds.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Use a sharp punch and a hammer in each weld.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Pry the pieces apart.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

One package tray, ready for trimming.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Not as clean as drilling out the welds, but much faster.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I'll drill the welds on the car when I get there.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tabney
Samba Member


Joined: December 28, 2009
Posts: 188
Location: Louisville
tabney is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very cool! This post will serve as a ghetto subscribe...
_________________
1971 Doublecab - Bertha
1966 Beetle - George
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
JONSMITHBUG
Samba Member


Joined: March 21, 2012
Posts: 162
Location: albany,new york
JONSMITHBUG is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

little buggers /___\
( o o )
_________________
73 beetle w 70 eng 1600sp daily driver,72 squareback
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Q-Dog
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8688
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
Q-Dog is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got a little more done today.

Started with this, that the PO cut out with a blowtorch.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Removed the old seam sealer to expose the spot welds, then drilled them out.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The remnants almost fell out.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Metal is really solid under here. Should weld up nicely.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Drop in the donor.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Still need to do final trimming, but I'll wait until I start welding.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I wish the donor had a little more metal on it. As it was cut, I will need to patch a couple of small holes after the large part is welded in.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
19-VW-74
Samba Member


Joined: June 28, 2009
Posts: 757
Location: Utah
19-VW-74 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You sure don't waste much time!
_________________
-Austin
My 1974 Standard Beetle Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492617
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Beetle - Late Model/Super - 1968-up All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Page 1 of 4

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.