2 year update 3/54' I brought home..

[Bub]

So, since it's 135* outside I'll sit here inside and chill with this little update for my 54' .
I've been a bit busy with it and gone a variety of different directions. But I'm narrowing it down.
To start I broke it down into some phases, and first was the mechanicals. So I pieced together a working brake system, 100% stock.
Pulled the trans, cleaned and adjusted, tinkered, fixed the things that were neglected. Ran a new fuel line in the correct place. Went through and corrected and preserved the wiring and mechanicals where it was salvageable. Rebuilt the Semaphores. Rebuilt the engine - a couple times actually to get it sweet.

From there onto the interior, Carpet from WW and a headliner from WCC. I feel the original interior is absolutely serviceable, so I've saved what I could and replaced what I could with good used stuff. I decided to carry on the red from the seats and door panels to the carpet. Got a pair of front seat covers from www.wetokole.com until I get the front seats sewn back together.
Patched some holes- in the dash and a couple other places they didn't need to be. Got it on the road and driving decent.

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[Bub]

And moving along...as much as i LOVE a good old survivor bug, I sorta knew where I would go with this one all along.
I'm keeping ALL the original parts I've swapped in storage, no irreversible changes will happen to this car.
But...as you can see I did some changes after leaving it stock for a while.
4" Narrowed beam, adjustable springplates. I got the LAST set of BBT Sprint Stars I could find available on earth. I wanted parts as nice / correct original as I could get them, but also on a budget. So no way was I going to put some alloy repro's on this.

Found some deals on proper period parts, RaBambus parcel tray (was NOS)- whichg I eventually swapped out for a more uncommon Kamei unit I got from Austria. I experimented with a couple different radios. I really liked the Tach-o-Rad in the grill, it's awesome. But decided I wanted a proper old tach for later on when I do some engine fun- for the radio I settled on a Sapphire 2 which is in there now. Not easy to find a good decent / affordable proper tach, so again, I got some junk ones and made my own.

And of course have to have a proper gas pedal and a place to toss stuff over your head. I made a rear deck to keep some noise down and installed some cool late 60's speakers with chrome covers since the Sapphire 2 has the fader.
I sort of like the idea of a *fuel gauge* if it's halfway functional and period correct, so I decided to put together a 3-1 motometer gauge, which ended up not being worth a damn in the end. So decided to try the repro Dehne setup from Vintage Speed. I'd love to give it a good review..but it sucks in every way except aesthetics. They should just sell the gauge trim/faceplate and let people do what they want with it, their gauge is junk- I had two fail entirely very quickly (1st one then I paid to get a 2nd/ exchange).
So I used their housing and again built my own. Works FANTASTIC with parts from Amazon for about $40.


Anyway, here's some more visual stuff in no particular order:

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[VW_Jimbo]

What is that gauge on the ash tray? Fuel level? Any info on it?

Bug looks good!

Edit: Went searching for a more info and found that you already posted that upgrade up! Nice stereo system and so hidden!
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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!

[Bub]

The ashtray gauge is the reproduction of the old Dehne gauge from the 50’s/60’s. It’s made by vintagespeed.tw and while it’s a good idea, their gauge doesn’t come with a sender, and I had a bad experience with it.
The part in their setup that is the actual electrical display is junk. I had two fail in very short order- not fun at over $200.
But, since it’s a good idea I decided to copy them, use their faceplate/surround and make my own.
I retrofitted this into their faceplate:


[url] WonVon Fuel Level Gauge,2" 52mm... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QG5ZWB7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share[/url]

And used this sending unit, which can be disassembled and mounted from the filler neck:

[url] Actron SP0F000013 Bosch Fuel... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VAGA19S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share[/url]
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[VW_Jimbo]

VERY COOL! A fuel tank gauge would be a nice thing to have on these.

I mistakenly thought it was a stereo system based off of your photos.

Thanks for setting me straight!
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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!

[Bub]

Oh yeah...that was one of my stereo projects. Works really great all things considered. Outside of the Florida/ SoCaL vw scene that's about as nice a stereo as anyone needs in an old VW.
But, I realized I wanted to use that spot for something else and also felt like the car deserved a more appropriate sound system. I still have a tiny bluetooth adapter thing- the kind that play over FM- to listen to something besides the sh*tty mexican / country radio where I live. I run it and the fuel gauge off a tiny 12V transformer.
I've been driving this car pretty much daily since I got it on the road. It does take a break in the dead of winter...
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[D. Haviland]

sweeet

[Jap]

Your car is awesome!!! So glad to see another Oval in grey. I’m doing mine in Nardo grey and good to see another similar.

[5500]

Like the direction you're going in with your oval. The color is awesome... what gray is it? Sorry to hear about the repro Denhe gauge, but thanks for saving me the expense of buying one.

[H82WRK]

Hi there, bug looks great! Love the color

What adjustable spring plates did you use? Also did you do the install on the headliner yourself? I’m about to undergo that task myself actually

Thanks!

[Bub]

[5500]

Its nice to keep a car original, and its nice to see cars modified/personalized as well. My black 57 is no longer as it left the factory. A previous owner grafted a ragtop and cut the dash for a fuel gauge. That will be my excuse to change colors when I get around to having it repainted. Your color is in the contention for my car. I think its light enough to show off the natural curves of our Beetles and I agree, it looks period correct. Regardless, your car is awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[Bub]

We all have our preferences for how we like to see these cars and I definitely think everyone needs to express that in whatever way they want.
But I personally like these cars- even when not totally original - should represent VW's vision and creation. It would be pretty boring if we just kept them 100% original and the other way around.

BUT! Today I have a box of salvaged original red interior being delivered, door panels and all the seat upholstery. In a few weeks I'm going to tear the seats down and send it to a friend of mine who sews leather to get the front seats back to original. And maybe do some little custom things since I'll have some left over.

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[empiracer]

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[Bub]

[Chickensoup]

I must say thats a very nice car!
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-'85 c10 5.3 LS, cam, heads, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'01 e46 325ci *tree modded
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP

[empiracer]

[Bub]

More updating of this project.
Done a bunch of stuff. I'm nearly done with stitching the seats back together. All original upholstery, new piping. Cleaned, scrubbed, dyed original color and going back together. Looking decent.

BUT! The meaty stuff: I've got a WW Okrasa carb setup, NO heads. So I'm going to do a single port 32pbic . I have a set of good fresh stock heads, just need to build the manifolds. Tore the engine down today and REALLY need to get a set of piston/cylinders. Was there not a slip-in 80mm big-bore 36hp kit out there?
I swear there was at one point.
If not- are there any pistons that match (wrist pin placement/ etc) so I could *make* some using 36hp cylinders?
The point being I'm trying to avoid tearing down the lower end *again* and machining the block but think a big bore kit is probably worth it.

~I must be crazy , no such thing as an 80mm kit huh ?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=383006

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[vwoldbug]

Beautiful .