1960 Ragtop Resurrection from Baja

[Navydave73]

So, we were driving around the block working the Bugs out, no pun intended, and i heard clank, clank, boom. A couple of times while we were test driving, the brake pedal went to the floor, so we thought that there was an air bubble or something. We bled again, no air, and readjusted the brakes.
After the boom, we pulled everything apart and found:

I have never seen brake pads come unglued like this. Whatever happened to rivets? Anyone else have issues like this? I’m going to the parts store tomorrow to see if they will swap them out.
Are riveted or German brake shoes still available somewhere?

[Pruneman99]

Holy crap. What brand are those? That's downright scary.

[mukluk]

Another recent thread had the same problem -- https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=706416

I wonder if they're both the same brand of shoes?
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[Navydave73]

Thanks for the info. I just posted to that other thread with the same pics.

On another note, the supplier was extremely cool about it. He replaced them on the spot and looked up the order info to see when the batch was ordered. He has sold 80 sets with zero issues.

We will see if it happens again, ill keep testing around the block for a while.

Replaced the brakes and everything works great now.

[Rome]

Incredible transformation, with nearly all of your work was done by yourself at home. Seeing the car through to its completion must also give your sons a lot of inspiration of "can do" spirit on future car, general mechanical; or house repairs/renovations.

[Navydave73]

It is the plan to go with the Vintage Speed striker 36hp with the WW Okrassa kit....just ran out of money so i put a loaner motor in for now. I have the case, rods, pistons, etc...just need to get the crank and carb/head kit.

Good enough to get on the road.

[Navydave73]

Ok, this is it. I may get back on here and post some more pics as he upgrades and we finish some little things, but for all intents and purposes.....this is it. We are done....until we build the 36HP motor next year.

[mukluk]

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the transformation from what many would have classified as scrapyard fodder into a good looking driver, you and your kids should be proud.

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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[wcfvw69]

I just stumbled across this thread. Wow. Simply fantastic save of an old, neglected bug. Having two boys myself, it was great to relive the times I spent w/my kids too in the garage.

Super kudo's for you in knocking this bug out so quickly for your son. I bet he's thrilled for sure.

Well done!
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[Navydave73]

I love looking under his bug! So clean, it’d going to be cool to watch it age.

However, looks like we need a replacement 60 only front trans mount. It’s torn after 58 years of abuse.

Looking cool after the Pomona Swap meet birthday run.

It’s actually raining here in SoCal and we have some leaks.

[Dake]

Leaks, that's not good hope it did not stain the headliner. What's the plan to fix? As I have not had mine out in the rain yet I may need your fix . Great job on the car.

[Busstom]

[Navydave73]

Santa brought my son a RetroSound radio. It is really slick and the single speaker has both right and left channels built into the same cone. Looks just like a Saphire radio but modern with Bluetooth and MP3 controls.

Unfortunately....when we took the dash grill out to install the speaker, the tabs broke off.

[Navydave73]

There was one last tab remaining that i could measure.

5/16” on the fat end, 1/4” on the skinny end where it attaches to the vent

Not the most beautifully cut pieces of art, but whose ever gonna see it?

I cut them from the 18ga sheet metal i removed from the Bus

I set my Miller Welder on the lowest setting for 24ga with .024 wire and it worked amazingly well. I thought this was going to be a fail but actually turned out ok. We had to repaint the grill, luckily we had a rattle can of Anthracite from WW.

[Navydave73]

On the “Dumb Decisions” list, i can add:
1. Cheap imported running boards
2. Cheap Master Cylinder

The running boards were the “Heavy Duty” ones that most of the cheap parts houses carry. There were horrible! The shape did not match, the rubber mats were like twizlers...the just tore apart. There was some disgusting petroleum based adhesive underneath also. Total waste of money. We purchased Wolfsburg West running boards and the up-to-‘60 rubber mats. Beautiful.

They look a million times better than the cheapies.

And the Master Cylinder....duh.... we bled and bled the brakes and my son still had to pump them up. We adjusted the stars, everything we could think of. No more air came out of the lines but still had to pump. We didn’t bench bleed the master cylinder when we first installed it...maybe?? Not worth the gamble, so again another trip to WW for a German one. This time, we bought a bench bleeding kit from O’Reily’s Auto Parts with the red and blue plastic fittings. After a quick mock up with the reservoir and a few pumps using a screw driver......ready for install.

That seemed to do the trick, probably should have done the same thing with the first one but I’m sure it didn’t hurt to have a German MC.

[Navydave73]

This is the kit from O’Reilly’s

[wachuko]

What an amazing thread!!! Thank you for taking the time to document, photograph, and share the journey!!
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Drive safe,
Wachuko

1961 VW Beetle - Ownership Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711372

[TheDon]

wow, super impressive. I really like the end result and it isnt even super low.

totally an inspiration for all.
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[wachuko]

[Navydave73]

So, I’m welding in the garage on the Bus and i get a call from a close friend. He has a bug in a family member’s yard that he needs gone. Turns out, another 1960 Ragtop Bug......this time.....with semaphores!

It’s a little rough, but complete, and mostly Indigo Blue. Looks like there was an engine fire and that’s why she got parked. But we found the original key inside and semaphores move. Next will be to trace out the wiring diagram to figure out why it has turn signals and semaphores. Rich at WW thinks it might have been part of the legally required conversion when it was imported. The speedo is MPH also. I’m thinking this is a European bug that was converted to US spec and imported by a returning Military member??? My grandfather also had an Indigo Blue 1960 that he bought when he was in the Air Force from someone in his unit that was returning from Germany. I will start a build thread on this as we go, but it will be slow progress because I want to finish the bus first.
The plan is to keep the OG paint and blend where the fire damage was. We will see. Very nice original car with the OG Key, cloth stripped interior, door panels, radio, etc... super excited to restore this for my Daughter. Now my kids will be at the same high school with matching 60 Ragtops. They want to get t shirts made and call themselves the Beetles... at least they have good taste.