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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:45 am Post subject: Swedish '59 bug from belgium - next step 12v conversion |
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Hi from Belgium
Since I have already learned a lot on this forum I would like to take a moment to share my beetle with you.
It is a 1959 beetle that was imported from sweden in 2015.
I did already have a 1960 beetle 7 years ago.
What have i learned from my 1960 beetle? That I will not mount an extremely narrowed front axle.
Now my 1959 patina beauty!
From very far away this is a beautiful car but when you look closer you see the imperfections.
The paint is poorly done and has many drips....
The car already has some serious rust spots that I am going to address.
Mechanically a lot has been renewed though
The gearbox and brakes received a complete overhaul
The engine was replaced by one from 1969 with 1500cc
A lot was replaced
Engine: sheet metal partly renewed / repainted, gaskets inlet and exhaust renewed, seals oil cooler replaced, new v-belt, new spark plug wires, new spark plugs, new crankshaft pulley, new rotor + distributor cap, new contact points and condenser, new fuel hoses, new ignition coil, new fuel pump + fuel pump support, new valve covers + gaskets, new clutch/pressure group/pressure bearing, new crankshaft seal, new throttle cable, valves adjusted, carburetor and ignition tuned by Leo de Ryck
- Electrics: new 6V battery, rear lights wiring harness renewed, completely new battery cables + ground strip gearbox
- Suspension: four new shock absorbers, front axle stop rubbers renewed
- New window rubbers mounted on fixed side windows, windshield and rear window; new windshield (star was further cracked during disassembly), NOS snowflake lenses mounted in taillights, license plate light seal replaced, new trim clips and caps
Interior:
- All original interior, roof liner in very good condition (once replaced), driver's seat cracked (new fabric included for repair, this can still be done by agreement at time of sale)
- Rare triple MotoMeter instrument in dash
- Original Ra-Bambus rack
- Double sun visor
- Swedish front lap belts
Otherwise, there is some work on the body but this is a largely original 63-year-old car.
That there are some spots after all these years seems normal to me. technically OK I thought more important + some patina? I LOVE IT
I am fortunate to be able to do a lot myself at night school, we have all the tools and materials there.
The door is the first job I will do there.
At a further stage the body will come off.
[img]https://i.ibb.co/YD8Y4bs/
303611830-996110087848890-712723182093285194-n.jpg[/img]
This weekend I am going to install a battery key from Hella.
Lowered spindles are also ready to install.
At that time the link pins are also going to be renewed.
I did give the spindles a coat of paint to prolong their life, though
I am also working on the new wheels 
Last edited by Wily on Sun Dec 18, 2022 2:37 pm; edited 14 times in total |
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Zundfolge1432  Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12542
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Presenting my black 1959: lot of text and pictures |
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Very beautiful car 😀 |
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matthew henricks Samba Member

Joined: January 02, 2002 Posts: 1276 Location: So. Cal
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Presenting my black 1959: lot of text and pictures |
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Quickly fitted a battery key today.
It is a hella one.
The ground cable is self made from 25mm² and the battery cable is a 35mm²
For now it is just in the car but the bumper plate under the rear seat is currently made out of some kind of cardboard.
This I am going to make in aluminum or stainless steel and then build the key in it
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 10228 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:30 am Post subject: Re: Black patina 1959: fitted a batterijswitch |
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Very nice Beetle. Too bad the taillamps are mounted too high. Just last week a man at work brought his black mostly original '60 Beetle to the office. It also has a 1500 engine, though he converted his car to 12 volts. Has same wheels as yours- painted factory stock two-tone- though the tires have whitewalls. |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Black patina 1959: fitted a batterijswitch |
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Rome wrote: |
Very nice Beetle. Too bad the taillamps are mounted too high. Just last week a man at work brought his black mostly original '60 Beetle to the office. It also has a 1500 engine, though he converted his car to 12 volts. Has same wheels as yours- painted factory stock two-tone- though the tires have whitewalls. |
i have some fuch wheels but waiting for my tires  |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2022 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Black patina 1959: fitted a batterijswitch |
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Photo with my other toy
Finally got my new wheels
Empi fuch rims in 4.5 and 5.5 wide
Rear 195/65 front 155/60 falken brand
They are still dirty from the tire grease but I will polish that up.
I didn't have any lead left to balance them but I'll do it on Tuesday.
I also want to paint the center caps to break up the whole thing a bit |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 10:47 am Post subject: Re: Black patina 1959: bought wheels |
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extra pictures
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TRS63 Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2017 Posts: 1088 Location: Stuttgart - Germany
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Black patina 1959: bought wheels |
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TRS63 wrote: |
Let's see pictures with the wheels mounted how will you make the change to 5x130?
Bests
Antoine |
Hi
i dont need to change mine are 5x205
First i need to mount my dropped spindels before i put the wheels on Antoine |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2022 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Black patina 1959: bought wheels |
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time for a little update
opted for swan neck mirrors after all.
maybe not the best to see anything but i just like them!
Some pictures how to mount them
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: swan neck update! 14 october |
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Here I am again
Keep posting , maybe I can help someone through the pictures.
Already started disassembling the original spindles today.
That goes very smoothly and easily I must say
The spindles are now off.
At work I will have to use a press to get the bushings out of the spindle holder.
So that will be for the next few days.
Then also paint some parts (brake plate, steering rods...).
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sportin-wood Samba Member

Joined: September 12, 2010 Posts: 2164 Location: Texas
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 6:52 am Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: lowered spindels coming |
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Nice car! Are you going to use wheel studs for the Empi Fuchs? Also, I understand that when using the Porsche center caps, some have encountered clearance issues with those wheels. _________________ .
1966 Bug project
1973 Thing project
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"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman. He's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." --- Jeff Spicoli |
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hobthebob Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2021 Posts: 438 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: lowered spindels coming |
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Very honest and clean car brother. Keep up the good work. |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:34 am Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: lowered spindels coming |
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sportin-wood wrote: |
Nice car! Are you going to use wheel studs for the Empi Fuchs? Also, I understand that when using the Porsche center caps, some have encountered clearance issues with those wheels. |
True, the centercaps come against the wheel bearing protective cover at the front.
You can't remove these because your speed cable is in there.
However, you can put a spacer so your wheel will be more forward.
That way your center cap will fit.... There are also companies that make wider caps.
I am not going to put centercaps on the front for now and I am going to polish the caps of my bearings. In the future I can look for spacers but then you would already have to put a narrowed axle or your wheels will come out too far |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:36 am Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: lowered spindels coming |
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hobthebob wrote: |
Very honest and clean car brother. Keep up the good work. |
thanks for the fine comment
Currently working on replacing the king and linkpins.
I am doing everything at leisure because the winter season is about to start in belgium.
That way I can also renew the wheel bearings and paint some things on the steering gear |
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sportin-wood Samba Member

Joined: September 12, 2010 Posts: 2164 Location: Texas
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: lowered spindels coming |
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Wily wrote: |
sportin-wood wrote: |
Nice car! Are you going to use wheel studs for the Empi Fuchs? Also, I understand that when using the Porsche center caps, some have encountered clearance issues with those wheels. |
True, the centercaps come against the wheel bearing protective cover at the front.
You can't remove these because your speed cable is in there.
However, you can put a spacer so your wheel will be more forward.
That way your center cap will fit.... There are also companies that make wider caps.
I am not going to put centercaps on the front for now and I am going to polish the caps of my bearings. In the future I can look for spacers but then you would already have to put a narrowed axle or your wheels will come out too far |
I purchased these center caps recently for mine. They don't look as nice as the Porsche caps you have, but they will clear the speedometer cable, and I wanted to avoid the wheel spacers if possible.
_________________ .
1966 Bug project
1973 Thing project
.
"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman. He's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." --- Jeff Spicoli |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: lowered spindels coming |
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Quote: |
I purchased these center caps recently for mine. They don't look as nice as the Porsche caps you have, but they will clear the speedometer cable, and I wanted to avoid the wheel spacers if possible.
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You can find those with porsche logo below
Maybe something for you? will match the rear ones
https://www.johnbrownwheels.com/product/foosh-rais...POm_L3saK4 |
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: Black patina '59: lowered spindels coming |
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Removed the linkpin bushings today.
I also removed the kingpin bushings because they were in poor condition.
The new kingpin bushings are in the caliper and next week I can visit someone to use a vw 224 tool. You need this one to ream the kingpin bushings a bit. Then the lowered spindles will come on and the wheels will get new bearings.
We are trying to do everything ourselves hence everything is taking a little longer
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Wily Samba Member

Joined: September 11, 2022 Posts: 80 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Black swedish patina '59: bit of paint front axle parts |
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When I feel like it I always do something small to the car
Today refreshed some parts with rustoleum paint.
This protects against rust and suddenly looks much fresher
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