65 Sea Blue Revival

[diablosandwich]

Much to my wife's dismay I brought home another bug last week. Number three for the driveway.

It is a 65 originally Sea Blue. It has been in a barn for 30-35 years (and it smells like it inside). It was from a mechanic in Southern Illinois that passed last year and his wife had an auction of his shop and cars. Classic old VW mechanic shop, out in the country. There were about 400 lots in the auction and over half were VW related. He had a 74 standard, a 70 beetle and this 65, the 70 was the coolest of the 3 but I bid on the 65 with a wrecked front passenger side with no engine.

It is very solid with original undercoating. Under the battery is rock solid and there is shiny sea blue paint on inside of wheel wells.

I cut the cracked windshield out and removed the rear window to help with airing it out, It had mice in it and they pulled it out of storage and left it outside and the window seals leaked. It had old bias ply tires on it, the spare was a 66-67 rim dated 1/66 with what looked like a very cracked Continental original tire on it. I bought some cheap tires on eBay and got them switched out last week.

I was lucky and found a hood and front right fender from a 66 on Marketplace 25 miles away. The fender bolts and running board bolts came out without breaking.

It has 67 seats that are in decent condition in it, the transaxle is dated 1960.
I have one that I sealed up for one of my 66's on engine stand, I may just put that one in this 65.

My plans are not to restore but to get it back on the road, hopefully by springtime. Having 2 66's already, I have quite a bit of parts that I plan to use on this bug. I am going to install all new brakes, a new wiring harness for a 66, new engine seals and tarboard, new shocks and steering dampner. I am not sure what I want to do with interior. I may just get it going and drive it for a summer or two and sell it, we will see.
It is the most solid bug I think I have ever owned, no rust at all behind the front tires, which is rare for an Illinois car. It looks like it has been wrecked two times in the same front right corner. It has a replacement apron in front pop riveted on from first accident then wrecked again

this is spare tire well, metal is ripped!
I am going to build a 1300 for it, hopefully yet this fall. I have all the parts cleaned and ready to assemble. Need to get the wiring harness and brakes done first. Looking forward to getting started on it!

Casey
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2 1966 Java Greens and a 65 Sea Blue that is green

[onwardtothestars]

diablosandwich,

Nice score! quick work finding the hood and fender already!
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Beetle, Ghia, Vanagon Syncro, and more

[thomas.]

Ditto on that. Good luck was shining your way ! How did you find this gem ? Was it just an ad while browsing the internet ? The leftover wrecked parts don't look that bad & could be fixed and sold.

[diablosandwich]

Thank you! I was happy to find such a solid bug for a reasonable price. The guy who owned the car was my friend's mechanic. My friend let me know about the sale. It was a 30 day online auction. Lots of other things I wanted, a Porta tool align bore bar was up for auction and went for $850. I ended up buying the bug, a car cover (for the bug that will spend the winter on driveway), 5 early hubcaps, since some were missing from bug, and a box of connecting rods for $3. My total out the door was $1576. I was watching the ad for the fender and hood the whole time I was bidding on the bug. It worked out well. I ordered the new electrical harness and everything needed to get started on it.
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2 1966 Java Greens and a 65 Sea Blue that is green

[diablosandwich]

[diablosandwich]

While I am waiting on the wiring harness to arrive I started cleaning trunk area.
There is an asphalt based undercoating sprayed on. I put mineral spirits on a scotch brite pad and soaked it for 10 minutes then wipe with paper towel, rinse and repeat. After another 10 minutes I put mineral spirits on a clean rag and wipe down. It brings back the original paint nicely!

As seen here on passenger side.
I am going to pull the tank, speedo, wipers and gas gauge and clean the rest of area and spray tank black-it has green overspray on it. You can see why I wanted to replace the wiring harness.

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2 1966 Java Greens and a 65 Sea Blue that is green

[diablosandwich]

I had yesterday afternoon off so I cut out the old harness from the trunk, removed wipers, speedo, fuel gauge.

Continued cleaning the undercoat that was sprayed on the trunk and gas tank.
Sanded the tank, wiped with acetone and primed and rattle bombed it. I am very happy with how the trunk cleaned up.

The hard fuel line under the tank was full of sludge varnish. I used a dental pick to try to clean it out with no luck. It had the consistency of roofing tar. Put a piece of wire in 5 inches long and it broke through a little. Filled it up with a can of carb cleaner with the straw on it and let it soak for a bit. I had engine lid up and had fuel line in rear on top of bell housing, then put my air compressor on the front and gave it a good blast of air for a minute or so. It cleared the gunk out of hard line and blew the carb cleaner/varninsh combo about 12 feet behind the bug onto the driveway. All cleaned!
The VDO sender was locked up from varnish so I disassembled, cleaned it. One of my other 66's has a VDO gauge but a Wolfsburg West sender and I never know how much fuel I have without looking in tank. Going to put the VDO sender with the VDO gauge in the 66 and use the WW gauge and sender for this 65. Still waiting on harness, brake lines and some cheap running boards to show up. Bought a NOS 66 turn signal switch from a fellow Samba member, waiting on that too.

Casey
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2 1966 Java Greens and a 65 Sea Blue that is green

[diablosandwich]

I picked up a new can of Gumout carb and choke cleaner, put a length of fuel line on the front end of car into an empty water bottle. Filled the line from the rear with carb cleaner until it ran into bottle. I let it sit for five minutes and put air compressor on rear and this is what came out of the line.

Repeated steps a few times until it came out reasonably clear. Then put air compressor on it with zip tie holding it open. I went to front and air was blowing out nicely.
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2 1966 Java Greens and a 65 Sea Blue that is green

[Apostle_]

mmmm...coffee!

[Redfox86]

It’s great when you can get stuck into a project soon after buying it. I wish my workshop was close to my house instead of being 12 miles away, I’d get a lot more done. But I’m sure my wife thinks the opposite as she’d never get me out of there if I had everything at home.

[heimlich]

Looks like a good car.
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[RobE30]

You're making me jealous! I miss wrenching on bugs.... I sold my 67 bug 15 years ago and have been jonesing for one since.

Regarding all the pictures you've posted, I can smell those pics man! Keep up the good work!

[diablosandwich]

[diablosandwich]

[quote= I can smell those pics man! [/quote]

When I walk into garage now in the morning, first thing I smell is the varnish and old gas, not the smell of mice. Getting there!
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2 1966 Java Greens and a 65 Sea Blue that is green

[diablosandwich]

I cut the old engine compartment seals and engine wiring out of engine compartment this morning. The channel the engine compartment seal fits in is mangled. I used a pair of flat, duck billed pliers to straighten it out but it still needs some help. I recall seeing a tool that was made to fit the profile of the channel to help straighten it out and ease the installation of the new seals. Does anyone know if they are still available? I looked online and did not have any luck. I guess not that hard to make if I cannot find one.
Also, there are 2 holes drilled in firewall on the drivers side. Anyone know what they could be for? I don't recall seeing them on my other 66 I put together a couple years ago.

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2 1966 Java Greens and a 65 Sea Blue that is green

[scrivyscriv]

Judging by the big patches and extra holes under the frunk, it looks like the two holes in the engine bay would have been for air conditioning hoses.

Congrats!!!!
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[OldBeetles]

The hard fuel line under the tank was full of sludge varnish. I used a dental pick to try to clean it out with no luck. It had the consistency of roofing tar. Put a piece of wire in 5 inches long and it broke through a little. Filled it up with a can of carb cleaner with the straw on it and let it soak for a bit. I had engine lid up and had fuel line in rear on top of bell housing, then put my air compressor on the front and gave it a good blast of air for a minute or so. It cleared the gunk out of hard line and blew the carb cleaner/varninsh combo about 12 feet behind the bug onto the driveway. All cleaned!
Casey[/quote]

Wow that brings back memories of a '65 I resurrected when I was in college. Fuel line was full of tar and was able to shove something like a coat hanger through and eventually get it cleaned out. Ended up dailying it for like 5 years.

[sportin-wood]

Looks like a cool project! Looks like a front clip is in order? Following your progress. Nice find!
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Dave

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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

[splitjunkie]

[Apostle_]

Last time i had sludge in my fuel line, i pushed a piece of stainless wire longer than the car through the line. I put a little coil in the end and dragged all the tar out. Carb cleaner made it clean as a whistle.