Scored a local ‘65 Deluxe, The Monster

[toxicavenger70]

Looking good! I would totally recommend putting some deadener in the doors/quarter panels, and greasing/lubing up the window regulator/channels. They are usually dried out and will benefit from some sauce.

I would get a battery cover while you have the back seat out. You can use some SEM black vinyl paint for those armrest and with proper prep they will look really good.

[KTPhil]

[richparker]

[richparker]

[richparker]

[toxicavenger70]

[richparker]

Pretty good day with the car. After I got the temp tags I installed a new trunk seal, new blinker seals, new tail light seals, license plate bracket and a new grab bar. Then I took it to town, washed it before my eye appointment and when I got home I put the Patina Sauce on it. The car has a set a balls and is a blast to drive. It’s definitely not quite.

The speed bump came when I got home. Last week I brought the idle up a bit, but after driving it today and working everything in it was pretty high. So I brought it back down to where I liked it, went to turn it off and my oil light was on. 🤬 I sent a video to my builder and he thinks it’s the oil sender. He stated he installed a used one I had in the box of parts I dropped off with the car. Well, I certainly hope that’s the issue cause this guys build quality is beyond excellent. He left me a new sender in his mailbox and I’ll be up and out early to go get it and install it before my 10am vin inspection. 🤞

I remember chasing an issue with my bus for a few thousand miles, it’s always something. At least it’s not leaking. 😂

Patina Sauce on the passenger side. It definitely spices it up a bit, I’ll take a pic of it in the sun tomorrow.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[richparker]

I was up and out early, I took my ‘71 to the Vdub shop and got a new oil sender. When I got back I installed it and that fixed the issue, phew… 😮‍💨. The on I headed to the gas station for its first fill up in decades. After that I drive to the trooper barracks for the vin inspection. That was a breeze, best $50 I spent so far on this preservation. Off to the DMV!

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[sportin-wood]

[richparker]

^I'll be sure to cross post that pic there. I have a bunch of bus pics like that, I’ll keep that thread in mind for the future.

After the vin inspection I headed to the DMV. All the people who helped me yesterday were there and were stoked I drove the Beetle there. They were over the top nice and took extremely good care of me. They even filled out all the title paperwork for me, I love living in a small town!!!

After that I drove around a bunch, that was super fun. I can see some suspension work in my future. When I got home I adjusted the front brakes and installed the Thule ski rack. Not sure how I like the look, but I know I’m gonna like the functionality of the rack. Especially since I plan on driving it to the ski resort the next 3 days. Holla!!! 🎿 ⛷ 🏂

I also sent an email to buy a Kats VW-15 sump heater from the classifieds. I have one on my bus and I’m stoked there is one still available to purchase. My bus is a lot happier during cold winter starts with the Kats heater and I’m sure the beetle will be too.

Here’s a pic of the car in the sun with the Patina Sauce, I think it adds a nice sheen.

Here’s one with the Thule ski rack installed, might not be everyone’s cup of tea but the functionality is key to me.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[vwuberalles]

Heck yeah, congrats on getting it roadworthy and legal! the ski rack looks nice and functional, but it's easy enough to take off if you put the car in a show.
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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

[richparker]

Thanks vwuberalles!!!

Did a bunch of honey do’s today I had been putting off all week so I could work on the car. But, I did manage to get some car stuff done. I pulled both headlights, painted the buckets and installed new seals when I put them back together. I also put new rear grab straps and coat hooks in. Now my WW box is empty.

I didn’t end up going skiing and we got tickets to the Snowdown Follies. Snowdown is a winter celebration festival that Durango throws every winter. The Follies are a big local thing to do and tickets are hard to come buy, we had them offered to us and snagged them up! So needless to say I won’t be skiing tomorrow either, since we’ll most likely be out late. Skiing on Sunday for sure tho!

So, maybe tomorrow I’ll conquer the door seals. I’ve been sitting on this job cause im really not stoked to do it.

Here’s the buckets, I used Krylon Nickel cause that’s what I had in the cabinet. I know it should be gray, but this is close enough for me.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[slayer61]

^^ Those are "HELLA" cool! ^^
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[richparker]

[richparker]

It was 5° out this morning when I went to fire the car up and…it didn’t want to start. 😞 I tried for about 15 minutes before I had to make the decision to go before we were late for Ski School, they don’t wait for you. I’m 100% sure it would have fired, as it was trying to towards the end, but I could waste anymore time we had to go. 🤷‍♂️

Last week I ordered a Kat’s VW-15 sump heater from the classifieds. It was the only I could find on the inter-web, which surprised me a bit. I have one for my bus I purchased back in 2013, that one cost me $35 and the one I just bought cost $75. Both were NOS with all the tabs and in the original boxes, so that’s cool. Anyway, I’m sure that will help my cold starts. My bus starts a lot better in the cold with the heater and I’m sure the bug will as well.

When we get home I’ll fire it up, take it for a drive and get shit moving. Tomorrow is another day.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[richparker]

Well, it was 40° when I got home from skiing and it fired at n the first turn of the key. I guess it wasn’t meant to be this morning. We drove it for a bit to get the fluid moving and charge the battery.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[richparker]

Think I might have the cold start down, by cold start I mean below 10°. I got it to right up this morning. The drive to work was great, the heat in that car is ridiculous 🔥. Maybe all Beetles have good heat, I don’t know. But I have all OG stuff in my bus and it definitely take a lot longer to produce the heat the Beetle does pretty much instantly.

After work I found a dark spot with a wall and adjusted the headlights. They seem to be pointed pretty good, no issues seeing on the drive home tonight.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[richparker]

Got the cold start down now.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[Pruneman99]

That's an awesome picture!

So what was the cold start issue?

[richparker]