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jwagner Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 574 Location: chicago il
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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my parents made me sell mine sophomore year of college. Bout to graduate and make bank though so i can buy it back! _________________ -1973 Super Beetle DD in need of resto |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:14 am Post subject: |
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My bug will officially be back in action on Thursday! I PCS out of Fort Eustis in June and plan on driving it from Seattle to my duty station in Colorado if leave time permits! My old man will be sending me lots of pictures of it at the end of the week! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Just waiting on the tabs to get to the shop, with everything else working, John is going to use my bug for a few days to make sure everything is ready to go prior to letting folks pick it up so there aren't any malfunctions. I can't wait to get pictures of it again and am extremely excited to see how it handles with all new parts in the front and rear end! It's been far too long. _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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The beetle is only a day or two away from coming home! I texted with John yesterday and he said the last thing he was waiting on was new heater cables! Hopefully here in about a month and a half, I'll be packing it with the rest of my things from home and making a trip half way across the country to Fort Carson! He said it drives well, all the little things, like the door handles, have been fixed! New front and rear end, 'new' freeway flyer '75 transmission, and a strong running engine! I can't post pictures from my phone, but my project is nearing the end of having everything mechanical being redone! So with some extra cash in my pocket, I can start looking at getting it looking as good as it drives! For the first time in the almost 20 years my family has owned it, it's 100% mechanically sound and getting the treatment it's really been needing! I can't wait to go home and pick it up so I can drive it again! It's almost been a year and a half since it was last driving! Stay tunes for more updates! My dad plans on taking lots of pictures and videos of it for me and I'll try and have them posted up by him once it's back with my family! Hooah!
-PVT PatterBon _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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*New pictures added to the gallery*
Talked to John today about the beetle, it's original pick up date was due for today but when he took it for a test drive, it wouldn't accelerate on the freeway. So after getting it back, he discovered that there was crap in the carb (guess that's what happens when things like that sit for a year and a half) but after a good cleaning, it's running like a top again.
But that brings me to this, John has taken upon him self to test drive and get all the kinks worked out prior to letting it go. As I'm sure some of you have experienced with mechanics, a lot of them will do the bare minimum and not give you a quality product. John not only has fixed small issues, but is going out of his way to make sure I have the best quality car possible before turning it back over to my family. He even recognized today that the frunk doesn't have a locking latch and has ordered a new one so my car is just that much more secure! He's going out of his way to make sure my headache of a project is top notch even despite the fact that the 21 year old owner who lives 3,000 miles away isn't there to drive it.
I wanted to do a huge shout out for him and suggest to everyone in Western Washington to give Morris Race Engines a look when their air cooled VW's need service. He's even having the car brought back in after a month of it being my my dad's hands to verify that everything is in good working order one last time before I come home. It means a lot to know there are people who take pride in their work and provide you with a quality car when you take it to them!
My car is due home mid next week and I have no worries at all that it'll be the best driving beetle around the puget sound when it's finished. You really couldn't ask for a better mechanic! More updates to come next week once it's on the road again! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Well it's official now, bug comes home on Tuesday! Last week John fired it up and it have it's issues. He, again, went the extra mile and held onto it and has literally fixed every last little issue with it. Now I have a locking good, new glove box, doors that open and close properly, a rebuilt front and rear end, new transmission, strong running engine, properly working brakes, and all the little electrical issues have been fixed!
It really put in perspective to me how much my car actually needed done and I cannot wait to feel how it drives! When I drove it last, the front end was dead, almost 2" of play in the steering, no sway bar, collapsed shocks, no front end alignment, brake cylinders were all different sizes and the transmission was on it's way out.
Everything mechanical has been redone from front to back! Never would have though when I started this post over 5 years ago, this is where my car would be! And now, other than cosmetics, it's as mechanically sound as it was 41 years ago! These next 6 weeks couldn't go by quick enough so I can get back into the drivers seat! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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It finally came home today (and I finally figured out how to post pictures) more to come! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 10:35 am Post subject: |
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And just like that, it's become a daily driver again! Crazy to think it was neglected for so long and with just a couple months at the shop, it's better than ever! My old man said he's going to take it down a windy road this evening to see how the new suspension feels since being rebuilt! 5 weeks and some change left until I can *hopefully* drive it again! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:15 am Post subject: |
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Sent the bug in over the weekend to have it's last minute adjustments done and this is what happens! My leave got approved and I'll be home in 2 weeks to pick up my car and then drive it to Colorado! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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Hey guys! Been a long while since my last update! Leave ends tomorrow and I've been spending the last 15 days driving the beetle like I stole it. As I had mentioned before I am driving it to Colorado! I started 3 days ago, making it across Washington without a hitch! I spent the evening in Pullman, WA at my older brothers house and set off yesterday for Missoula. Couple hundred miles later, what do you know? Made it with no issues at all, 75 mph the whole way. Spend the night in Missoula with a friend, got up this morning and set off again with Wyoming as the goal, 508 miles of driving through some of the most beautiful country in the world! And now I'm proud to report in Buffalo, Wyoming, both me and the beetle are happy as clams. It's done an amazing job! Never would I have imagined that my dad's old car would be piloted by me all the way from Washington to Colorado! Tomorrow I will report to Fort Carson, Colorado in the beetle, ending one adventure and starting a new one!
_________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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Mr. Whatever Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2014 Posts: 23 Location: Fredericksburg, VA
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Very cool....back in the late 80's and early 90's, I had a '73 Super that I drove across country a couple times. Those kinds of pictures look familiar.
Still kicking myself for selling that car in 1995.
Oh well....have a decent '74 Super in my garage that I am trying to get back to "daily driver status".
Good luck on the rest of your trip to Fort Carson!!
Mark
(Former UH-1 mechanic) |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Made it to Fort Carson without a hitch! Now I'm cruising around post in what seems like the only old beetle here! 1575 miles and it carried on like a modern car! It was an awesome drive! I'm thinking my $80 transmission feels differently, but it made the trip with no issues! And thank you for your service! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 11:12 am Post subject: |
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_________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer
Last edited by PatterBon on Wed Aug 19, 2015 7:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 11:12 am Post subject: |
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Hey guys, remember me? It's been a long time since I last updated and frankly, a long time since I've been on The Samba. I do still have the beetle and we've been on a lot of adventures since moving to Colorado! I recently got married and have even managed to convince the wife that Ken the beetle is part of the family..But for any of you who are curious, here's some pictures of the beetle over the past year!
This was last January, driving a beetle in sub-freezing temperatures is no fun.
Looking over Colorado Springs this last winter, up in the mountains.
I also went ahead and got my awful tattoo fixed too!
So needless to say, we still go out on a lot of adventures and the only mishap I've ran into this past year; year and a half has been an alternator failure.
But as another year gets closer and closer to being over and as I get further along into my military career, the beetle lives on.
At the end of the year, my unit will be headed to the Middle East and after some negotiation and big decision making, I've decided to send the beetle in for restoration at the shops I used to work at up in Washington. It's been a long time coming and after long conversations with my wife, we decided that we can support it and we're giving it the green light!
So when I arrive home, I'll be coming back to my freshly restored beetle and the adventures will continue from there!
_________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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Chochobeef Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2013 Posts: 811 Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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First - Thank you for your service.
Second - Its wonderful to see that you are still enjoying your bug. They are wonderful little creatures that take our time and money and we love them for it. Maybe if your close enough you can take it to Dubs Along the Rockies. I wish I could goto that show again, was alot of fun (until the random hail storm swept over the mountains).
Happy Buggin |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Thank you! It's been a fun adventure and we'll keep the memories rolling as the years keep coming! I take that car everywhere and can't wait to give it the attention that it deserves..
We went out for a little bit of fun last year in the mud!
And why can't it be a safari car too?
Thank you all again for the support and I'll start posting more again as I take the beetle on more adventures! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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kjvforme Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2009 Posts: 222 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:51 am Post subject: |
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Good to hear that you still have the bug and still like it. Wow that tatto must have cost you some major coin. Keep posting so we can see how it's going. I just got my '70 up and running, it needed new tires badly and now has them. |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 5:29 am Post subject: |
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Thank you! It's been an on going adventure. I still drive it daily despite my wife and I owning a 2015 Chevy Cruise now. The next big thing I have planned for the beetle is floor pan replacment. My drivers side floor pan finally rusted through and Colorado winters are brutal. So needless to say, I want this car to be as air tight as can be. I'm also starting to pice put the cost of body work and want to reuphoster the seats myself. It still has a long way to go, but it still runs like a champion and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It sat for a month was I was at a field exercise and after a little fuel to the carb, she fired right up as if nothing had ever happened. I'll keep posting as time goes by, but for now, we're just cruising! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: Getting the ball rolling '73 Standard - It's Alive!! |
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Hey guys, long time, no update!
I just got back from my first deployment in Afghanistan and have been away from the bug for only two months, but two months all the same. Right before I left, I (ironically) broke down in an Advanced Auto parking lot while picking up parts for a friend's car. I didn't have the time to diagnose what had happened so my car sat for the time while I was gone. My friend swung by and told me he had a feeling it was the coil. So three days ago, I had some time to work on him and sure enough, the coil was the problem. A local VW shop, Cars with Character, got me back on the road with a Bosch coil (with vintage blue '12v BOSCH' label) and with a little bit of new gas in the carb, the bug came to life and is my daily once more! I have some big plans this spring and summer and will post as progress happens! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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johnnypan Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 7431 Location: sackamenna
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:47 am Post subject: Re: Getting the ball rolling '73 Standard - It's Alive!! |
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Afganistan? married?..sounds like youre living a full life.. |
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