Is there really a "right way" to resto.

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Ok if you follow this forum you know that I just bought a 71 super that I considered to be in fair condition. I bought it with the intention of building my dream race bug out of it. After doing some carefull research and getting input from you I have decided that this fat boy is just to heavey to start with. So Im stuck with it but ohh well life gives me lemons all the time Im like the friggin lemonaid brew master.
So I have decided to do a complete resto on this car if for nothing less for the practice and for the learning asspect of it. I started last week and I must say its like crack Im hooked I love it. Once I start thats it aside from work eat and sleep. I wanna make this car like it was in 71 or as close as possible. Now the question is there a right way an order a sequence of events what or how should I do this. I am a mechanic in the Marine Corps 7 years now and I have takin a few body shop classes at the locall college here so thats the extent of my expertise. First I started by washing the car thouroly and identifying inperfections and rust in the body then I took to stripping the body down of lights bumpers every thing. I know the interior is shot so I removed it and started to remove the head liner and windows. Thats how far I am now I know what needs replacing and what is still servicable. Im gonna start fixing the body now prep for paint. Then paint, then interior then minor mechanical touch-ups. So ok old pros hows this sound what am I forgeting. Is there really a right way?? Any helpful sites/literature recomendations?? Whats a well restored 71 super worth anyhow?? Thanks

[fourboxers]

that sounds great. at last people are starting to restore later bugs i love it. nope there isnt a pattern really. just make sure you are organised are that you keep everything neat during the span of the project. the way im doing my car is im doing all the body work up until its primered and ready for paint. then i will do the pan and suspension. the once the pan and suspensions are finished i will do the enigne , then the body and the interior ECT...... but it doesnt matter what order you do it in as long as you take your time and dont rush. the worst thing that you can do is rush a project. a perfect 71 super beetle is worth $10000-12000 dollers this seems high because there are very few restored super beetles around and the ones that are restored are just freshened up so they dont fetch top bucks but a perfect 71 super is worth that money. GOOD LUCK WITH THE RESTO AND HAVE FUN

[TimGud]

Well,I would think that now is the time to decide if it's going to be a pan off or not.If a pan off first do rust repair and paint then mechanical systems on the pan to include engine then body work and paint on the body,put body back on the pan,then electrical and make sure everything runs and works (keeps grease off the interior) then interior and last is the glass and trim.I may have missed a few minor points but that is more or less the order I have done it in. How are things in the old motorcycle club? Semper Fidelis. and good luck

[TimGud]

Keifernet knows more of the superbeatle particulars than I and is a wealth of good info.

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Wow, hey thanks for the great info. Your right Im sure Keifernet will have some good input on this matter as well. I dont plan on removing the body from the pan as I really dont think its nesesary, the only bad spot is were the battery is and its not even that bad otherwise the undercoating has really done its job well. The brakes and suspension are all in great condition as is the electrical, all the little things you would think should be broke by now actually work fine. I started on the back and Im working my way forward got it pretty much gutted now. The only problem I have had is whoops I broke the front wind screen ohh well make omelet=break eggs right. Otherwise I have been real maticulas about marking everthing and checking for servicability. The dash is kinda being a pain I dont want to have to completely remove the speedo to take out the dash do I? Thanks for the help.

[keifernet]

Is the dash going to be replaced? If it is, then yes you need to pull the speedo which is no biggie. Depending on what your plans are for painting under the front hood you can just loosen the 2 screws holding it in and take it out and wrap it in a plastic shopping bag wires attached and all...
Then there are 4 tabs to bend to remove the Bezel.. 2 10mms on the dash grab handle and 2 on either end of the dash and all the little screws under it... And the plastic ring around the glove box is abit of a pain....
I wouldn't worry about the windsheild, it probably had some tiny rock chip or stress point you could not see anyway... Plus a nice new one gives the ultimate in vision in when you get it back on the road...
And at least it's not the more expensive 73 and later curved one!
I'll be happy to share what ever info you need (that I have anyway!) as you go along.

[BeetleBoy]

Jakub the bigmouth you aren't right again.
LOL asshole fuck you LOL
B

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Yes The old dash had some little cracks in it so I am replacing it. Thanks for the info all that you just mentioned is not in my Haynes repair manual. Im sure Ill have about a million other question before this is over. Thanks keifernet.

[[email protected]]

Hey albersondh, I just finished nearly 2 years of restoring a 72 Super Beelte and had pretty much the exact same question as you: Is there a "right way" to resto a VW? I wanted to make it look just like it did in 72--that changed a little, but it is mostly stock expect the ride height--I lowered it about 4 inches all the way around and it looks awesome! Just like you, I did not take the pan off, but did a complete resto of everything else--inside and out; replacing all 4 fenders, trim, weatherstripping, rubber, handles, knobs, complete interior, added some cool correct accessories. Your on the right path: when you're done stripping (and labeling all parts, screws, bolts, etc), do the body work, any mechanical/suspension work, paint, install interior, exterior trim, tires/wheels, wash, wax, drive with pride! When I started the project, I knew alot about cars, having had several American muscle cars, but this was my first VW. Some advice: stayed tuned to this site, read everything about VWs you can get your hands on, go to shows, ask people, buy quality parts, be patient, don't do anything half-ass, if its in the budget pay for a high quality paint job and get your hands dirty! Dude, we practically have the same car, I will be glad to answer any questions, I can. Post them here and keep us updated on your progress; if you want I can email you pics of my car. Pete. Check out the following websites:
http://www.1302super.com
http://www.webwrench.com/airaccess/
http://www.thebugshop.org/index.htm

[Aussiebug]

Beetle boy - take your foul mouth someplace else and let us get on with talking VWs.

Either that or offer some useful suggestions without the %$&*#

Regards
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/

[79SuperVert]

So what is better? Keeping it original, or restoring it? I mean, for long-term investment purposes? If you restore it, you have to compare what you're spending on it vs. what you might get when you sell it. If you keep it original, you spend a lot less money so you don't need to sell it for as much to get a decent return. And it helps keep prices down for the hobby. I think. I don't know.

[fourboxers]

i think restoring them is better for the hobby personally but it doesnt matter to me as long as you dont throw on suiside doors and shave it and try to make it look like a 65 while your at it. id restore it i think its a good car becasue its a 71 which was the first year of the super, now that autocrossing is getting popular and more people are realising the potential of the irs cars the first year fully restored super might be worth something down the road.

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Yea to be honest this isnt really the car I want or wanted. I want to go fast ,very fast, I know it can be done in the super but for a substantialy larger sum of $$. So I consider this task of restoring this car as my way of trying to preserve a piece of history. I dont plan on keeping it when Im done "but who knows" the old lady is kinda taking a liking to it. When its all done I hope I can find someone who can really appreceate the historical asspect of it, and the hard work it took to make it like new again. No custom anything for this super just as close to 1971 as it can get.

[keifernet]

Hey, did you clear your mailbox yet? I had a few more shots for you if you want... mail me....

[oregonian52]

As much as I enjoy my original 72 Super I know it will never be worth more than $4000 fully restored to perfection. I've been offered $3200 for mine.
$10-12000 is for those 79 convertibles with 1000 original miles. The market for supers is just not all that great. For us Super fans it just makes the cars cheaper to buy and restore.

[keifernet]

Yeah, I like the "what it's worth" estimates from fantasy land... where the insurance fairy gives you top dollar and pays you for everything you ever added to the car as long as you have the reciept! LOL! And there are people stopping you everyday begging for you to sell them your 71-later Super for 10 grand.....!

[TimGud]

Aww come on, You really shouldn't doubt the kid. Its obvious he knows "everything" about VW's. LOL

[79SuperVert]

To the general public a Beetle is a Beetle and they can't tell the difference between a standard and a super. They smile and point at it all the same.

[keifernet]

79, I'm not sure I get your point on that last post???? Do you mean they can't tell a nice bug from a POS with a salvaged title...LOL! OH, that doesn't matter, I forgot... eh Tim?

[fourboxers]

oh yeah you guys know your vws eh. yup a 71 super in absolute perfect condition undriven fully restored trailer queen is worth 10-12. the old car price guide says 15 but i thihk thats a little high. dont listen to people like keifer and tim on this thread , like i said the reason that this price seems doubtfull is becasue there isnt any people that restore supers to this kind of quality ,thats why you havnt seen any selling for that kind of money. but actually if youve ever been to auctions such as the barret-jackson and such you see those kind of cars come up or survivors that go for big bucks. ofcourse if your not going frame off but just freshening it up and you will drive it then 4 is a good estimate like oregonian said.


if you look at the rants and raves someone posted that my beetle looks like it was hit buy a train and me asking 1600usd for it was "OUCH" well i sold it in one day , so you can believe what you want .....