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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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 Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Pretty much done stripping the chassis.
Going to try to keep the original tar board on the tunnel and work around it. It's in great condition.
Started experimenting with Silicon Carbide grinding discs. They work very well, but I'll try wire wheeling in the hard to reach spots.
Not finding any rust through, and hoping it stays that way. 
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Lookin' for a wheel stamped 5/66 |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Body is finally mobile. Wonderful to be able to reposition as needed.
I've been stripping the chassis down bit by bit over they past couple of months as I have time. Front suspension is completely dismantled. Transaxle is next.
Had some time this afternoon and started on the muffler. Wire wheel wasn't getting the job done, so I switched to the angle grinder and an abrasive disc. That was more like it.
Under all that rust, I confirmed it was original.
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:59 am Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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| Busstom wrote: |
| Awesome, love the pan-offs! Kudos to you! I probably don't have to state the obvious, but please don't crawl under the body without supplemental support underneath, adequate to leave ample body space (yours) in the event of a collapse. |
Thanks!
Never be afraid to state the obvious for moi, but yeah, I had no plans to go messin' around under there without additional support.
Haven't figured out what that's gonna be just yet, so I'm all ears if you have suggestions.
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:52 am Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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| The Pilch wrote: |
What a marvelous little car and a great thread so far. Keep it up, you have a great energy and can do attitude.
Well done on the body removal...I've done it solo a few times now, and each time I wonder why my friends are coincidentally busy that day  |
Really appreciate your words of encouragement, Pilch!
I do have an 18 year old son, but he's in school studying saxophone. If he was to injure a finger helping me out, his mother would break all of mine! One by one, mobster-style. Needless to say, I don't employ him in my VW shenanigans.
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Busstom
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014
Posts: 4579
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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| summerof78 wrote: |
It seems I proved this can be done with one man and a hydraulic jack.
Completely knackered after the past two days, but feeling good about what's ahead.
Can't wait for autumn!
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Awesome, love the pan-offs! Kudos to you! I probably don't have to state the obvious, but please don't crawl under the body without supplemental support underneath, adequate to leave ample body space (yours) in the event of a collapse.
| The Pilch wrote: |
| ...each time I wonder why my friends are coincidentally busy that day... |
Right, everyone's busy with their lives, gotta do it ourselves 
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My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom)
| cory464 wrote: |
| if you aren't perfectly centered in the hole you will have issues when you tap it. |
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The Pilch
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013
Posts: 742
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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What a marvelous little car and a great thread so far. Keep it up, you have a great energy and can do attitude.
Well done on the body removal...I've done it solo a few times now, and each time I wonder why my friends are coincidentally busy that day
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'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it. |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2024 9:47 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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It seems I proved this can be done with one man and a hydraulic jack.
Completely knackered after the past two days, but feeling good about what's ahead.
Can't wait for autumn!
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13682
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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I've restored several VW's with dealer applied undercoating. In most cases it did its job. The only issues is when it gets damaged from rocks or other impacts. That's when it can fail under it.
The biggest issue with undercoating is removing it. Ugh... Not good times. LOL
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Contact me at [email protected]
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40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
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**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:14 am Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Bit of break from the heat the other day prompted me to begin rooting around in the frunk, remove major body bolts, etc.
Can't tell you how grateful I am that the gentleman who bought the car new paid for undercoating.
I've even got the documentation from the dealer for how much was paid for the service: $25 bucks.
Notice the shiny black spot on the underside of the tank. I picked away some of the undercoat to reveal a beautiful rust-free surface. Inside looks great too.
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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| Apostle_ wrote: |
| I feel your pain ! Passenger broken bolts. 2 front,4 running board, 4 rear. |
Yeah, I finally got wise and bought a propane torch. Still a real chore, but having some success.
The body bolts that run the length of the pans are real fun....not much success getting PBBlaster to defy gravity!
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Apostle_
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2023
Posts: 112
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 7:02 am Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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| I feel your pain ! Passenger broken bolts. 2 front,4 running board, 4 rear. |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Getting ready to put wheels back on, so I can have a rolling chassis.
Surprised by how well these front bearings cleaned up. 90k miles on them and they look and feel really good.
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iowegian 
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9945
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2024 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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| summerof78 wrote: |
I finally got a really good look at the carpet in the back. Spent a few minutes vacuuming and voila. Really don't see what would be gained by ripping it out.
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Beautiful.  |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2024 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Finally got the running boards off this week. Driver's side good. Passenger side...not so much.
Got a problem above the rear shock as well.
The broken bolts are killing me. They are just disintegrating no matter how much PB Blaster I apply or how careful I am.
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2024 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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I finally got a really good look at the carpet in the back. Spent a few minutes vacuuming and voila. Really don't see what would be gained by ripping it out.
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Cool, I will definitely try it out before deciding on anything. Thanks!
edit: just saw what they go for on eBay..... 
Think I'll leave it right where it is.
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9945
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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| summerof78 wrote: |
I was going to replace the Hurst shifter. What's so special about them? |
That shifter is quite collectable and worth some good coin. It is spring loaded to prevent accidentally hitting 2nd gear when trying for 4th, for example. And you have to pull up on the trigger to intentionally put it in reverse.
If your shift rod bushing and coupler are in good shape, it will be as smooooth as buttah. |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2024 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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It was there when I bought it at auction. Some a-hole stole it somewhere between PA and KS.
I was going to replace the Hurst shifter. What's so special about them?
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9945
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2024 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Looks like a Hurst trigger shifter. You're gonna love it.
Check with Samba member "glandnut" for a knob.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=512669
Last edited by iowegian on Tue Jan 09, 2024 1:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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summerof78
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2023
Posts: 173
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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| Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1966 Ruby Red Sedan Restoration - Sat for 47 years |
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Finally got the bug on stands, dealt with the floor pan bulge (mostly), and got a real good look at the busted oil strainer stud, which is probably what led to it being parked back in the year of the bicentennial.
I plan to cut a groove in the stud, and see if I can back it out with a screwdriver. Hitting it with PB Blaster for now.
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