The Deminimis 78 Vert Project

DeMinimis · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject: The Deminimis 78 Vert Project

Time to put this resto project into one thread. Let's start with some history. I bought this vert in May 05. Great car and never crashed. Had only a few issues:
Didn't run.
1-yr only color...changed to white.
Top trashed
Suspension shot.
Floors rotten.
Driver's window frame issue.
Damaged passenger vent window frame.
And so on...and on...

When I brought it home years ago, I got it running, and then it sat. With fuel prices the way they are, decided it was time to get to work on this.

A few weeks ago, replaced fuel pump and most fuel lines. Had some serious vacuum leaks that needed attention. Mechanically, its purring now.

A couple weeks back, started with the floors. Gutted the interior. Cut out old floors and welded in new ones. Seam sealed top and bottom. Por-15 top and bottom.

Welded the small stress cracks at the front top of the doors that always seem to exist on these verts (under the vent window frame rubber).

Removed the pass window mechanism. Replaced the one damaged plastic bushing and reinstalled the mechanism back into the door.

Tonight, removed the German windshield and cleaned up the spots of surface rust under the orig, dry, cracked windshield rubber.

Over the next few weeks/months, I'll be striping the rest of the parts and top from the car, sending if off for paint (back to the correct Peach Red Metallic), and making it tip-top once it comes back.. Too many projects, but I've got to get this one cranked out. Watch for updates.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

DrDarby · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

Are you going to restore it to original? Peach metallic with the off white top etc? That was one of the best looking S/Es there was IMHO.
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Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Woodstock, IL

DMC-12 · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:03 am Post subject:

I'm jealous of your welding skills and your garage. Good job, and show us the finished product.
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"Unpimp ze auto"
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Orange 181

1974 Orange Thing Daily driver/Rolling resto.
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1981 DeLorean DMC-12

DeMinimis · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

Near orig, but not quite. A couple years back when shopping for tops, I could only find the usual white pin hole top, not the off-white sand texture top. So, going with that. If down the road I want to change (assuming I ever find the correct top), its nothing to switch them out. Also, going to go with a cal-look front window rubber (I really don't care for the chrome strip rubber) and a tinted front windshield (the German glass I have has a chip and it does not have the sun tint). For wheels, I'm cheat'n a bit as I found some 914 wheels that are basically the VW Sports Wheel. This car didn't come with the Sports Wheels, but the style is the same as the factory wheels (just 1/2 wider), so I figure I can pull it off, looks-wise.

Thanks for the props. I'm only as good a welder as my grinder permits.

I'll make my apologies for the photo quality now. Using a camera phone. Its easier to upload.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

zoti · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject:

Are you going to do the top yourself?

DeMinimis · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Yup. This will be my second top install. Not that hard. Easier than new floors with the body on, that's for sure.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

73sports · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

I have a Champaign Edition II vert collecting dust in the back of my garage. It had an engine fire, so I picked it up cheap. Maybe some day I'll get to it. Good luck, it's nice to see a later car get some love too.
_________________
I will never lie, but sometimes the truth changes.

Central Jersey VW Society

zoti · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject:

DeMinimis · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject:

Since you asked so nicely, you're from my home state, and a girl I dated for only two weeks way back in high school lives in Plano will do. Go Blanco! However, I may not swap out the headliner as this one is perfect. The headliner is the hard part.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

DeMinimis · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

Didn't do much tonight. Had a pair of home brew bolt holes under the rear plate (decklid) from a previous butcher plate install. Bugged me. Welded a pair of nails throug the holes. Will grind off and smooth. I just like welding I guess.

_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

zoti · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject:

Sorry. Didn't mean to sound rude. Are you in TX now?

DeMinimis · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:42 pm Post subject:

You didn't sound rude at all. Hope I didn't. Nah, pretty far from the lone star state now. Dad, uncles, cousins are there though.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

DeMinimis · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:11 pm Post subject:

Well, its been a year, so fired up the resto project again. Clutch failed for some unknown reason so replaced the clutch and installed a new Kennedy Stage I pressure plate. Car is completely stripped of everything now in order to get it painted. Went on a bit of a spending spree buying new rubber (US and German) and other odds and ends. My painter bumped me for a week, so the car won't go to the paint shop until next Monday. No rush. Once I get it back, all I'll have to do it put it back together (and upgrade the suspension, brakes, etc.). Since my wife's garage is a single car garage, and its insulated, I'll do the work in there (easier to heat than my shop). I was going to replace the windshield, but since I still have the orig German one, I'm going to have the rock chip sealed. Returning the car to near stock but for a few minor liberties.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

DeMinimis · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:43 pm Post subject:

Found an interesting surprise when I pulled the rear package compartment carpet. Under the tar-ish layer at the upper rear deck, I found the words "Pfirsichrot met" handwritten in permanent marker. For those that don't habla, "Pfirsich" is German for peach and "rot" is German for red. "met" obviously is short for metallic. Well, I thought it was kinda cool anyway.

_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

DeMinimis · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:28 am Post subject:

Unbelievable. Just bought a correct and new Blaupunkt AM/FM for '77/'78 Porsche/VW/Audi cars. Should have been in bed hours ago, but had to get this. What luck.

Besides being brand new in the box, and being 31 years old, and a correct radio for my '78 restoration, this stereo Blaupunkt has input plugs on the back of the radio. I can actually run an IPod or my sat radio directly through this stereo via the rear port. Very cool.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

DeMinimis · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 8:16 pm Post subject:

It took 7 months, but worth the wait.

_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

akcapsamb · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 7:06 am Post subject:

DeMinimis · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 8:37 am Post subject:

Yessir. Unfortunately, I haven't done much of anything with the Bug (or our pre-runner) since. Been kinda busy with other endeavors. Hoping to find time this Winter to get after it. At least my shop is now insulated and heated.

_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

Dyad · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:18 am Post subject:

Hi DeMinimis,

I'm currently restoring the same car, a 1978 Champagne Edition II Peach Red Metallic. I started in March 2011 and still have a long way to go.

Please can we have an update on your car? Thanks.

DeMinimis · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 2:05 pm Post subject:

It's still in the same condition. Just can't find the time. You've heard it before, but perhaps this Winter.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.


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