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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:39 pm Post subject: '71 Squareback build thread |
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So I am embarking on a major build on my '71 Squareback.
I started about 4 months ago...I bought a '70 Square from CA and had it shipped here to NY
I had a guy here in NY who was going to do the work but he wasn't giving me a warm fuzzy feeling -I had already ordered the engine, transaxle and clutch from a shop in CA.
I found another shop in Tennessee to do the work.
They had a 4 month wait before they could take the car.
I figured since the car was going to be in the shop for a year I would get another one to drive.That one (Shantung Yellow) also came from CA...
So.... I was fooling around with the clock(of all things) and managed to short out a wire which fried most of the wires in the dashboard-Devastating!
New plan...I sold the orange one and decided to send the yellow one to be restored (will be painted orange)-The wiring is was going to be all new as part of the restoration but I still wanted one to drive so I got a red fastback-locally...
Are you following this-it's complicated.
So I have been collecting parts for the restoration and today I shipped the car to Tennessee filled up with all the parts I have.
The shop (Long Restoration) is doing a "nut and bolt' rebuild-Bead blast body ,Buffed paint job epoxy coat pan, all new wiring with american style fuse box,
Here are the specs/ideas so far:
1776 engine(buit by John Moe/west Coast Core) with electronic distributor, alternator Dual weber 34 carbs external oil coiler ,counterbalanced crank, deep sump, spin on oil filter pro street IRS transaxle, Performance Clutch
Re-chromed bumpers with powder coated brackets
All new rubber/trim
NOS dashboard
NOS gauges
Wood steering wheel
new Bosch starter motor
Airkeweled steering box
Koni shocks
Coolrydes 4 wheel disc brakes with 4 piston Wilwood calipers,Shifter,and Pedals (orange)
Sewfine interior with orange piping detail
Air conditioning
Michelins?
I want the exterior to look completely stock-Like it just came out of the factory but with a better paint job...
The interior will reflect my quirky nature.
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Mike Fisher Samba Member

Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 18041 Location: Eugene, OR
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Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2024 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Check behind the 3 slots for sewn fabric pillows or expanding foam put in for condensation.
They will get rusty there, but yours is good it looks like?
Show us pics of your fasty driver!
_________________ https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2024 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Here is the Squareback full of parts -it has already been delivered to TN
And here is my '71 Fastback-.It is an Automatic-probably the slowest car I have ever driven!
It gets a lot of attention from its shiny non VW color paint job.-It has a lot of rust bubbles under the paint (it's a 10 footer at best)and the guy before me put on these coil-over springs that raises the front and reminds me of a Willys Gasser....
Also some rocket scientist welded the bumpers brackets on to the body-Sheesh!
The interior is very nice though-it's white.
It's too "sporty" looking for my taste,but the price was right-$6000.
I plan on selling it when my Squareback is done.
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Bobnotch Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 23286 Location: Kimball, Mi
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Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2024 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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That could be a twin to my wife's car, except the 4x4 look in the front (her's is dropped 2 outer splines), but has the 8 spokes and AT. I like to think of it as a full body go cart, as you drive it like one (full throttle take offs), since you only have 2 pedals to work with. Her's does have the FI still, which the AT likes. Her car (a 1970) is also Clementine Orange, which looks more burnt orange than bright orange like KT Phil's 71 Fastback. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2024 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Making great progress at Long Restoration...
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Bobnotch Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 23286 Location: Kimball, Mi
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2024 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Looks like they're making quick work on it. I usually start with separating the body from the pan, and rebuild the pan first (like they're doing). After that it's body work and paint, followed by new seals (windows and body).
Are they polishing the old paint to save it? Or to see any dents and dings? Rust? _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2024 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Bobnotch wrote: |
Looks like they're making quick work on it. I usually start with separating the body from the pan, and rebuild the pan first (like they're doing). After that it's body work and paint, followed by new seals (windows and body).
Are they polishing the old paint to save it? Or to see any dents and dings? Rust? |
We are changing the color to Clementine Orange....
The body is about to be bead blasted to bare metal, then any rust (minor in this case) and dents will be taken care of.
All new rubber,ball joints,Tie rod ends,brakes Steering box,engine transaxle clutch stater motor lines,cables,interior etc.,etc. |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2024 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Body and panels bead blasted and primed.
Virtually no rust anywhere on this car.
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Scotty D Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2020 Posts: 257 Location: Claremont CA
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2024 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Wow that’s looking great. Won’t be long until it’s got a fresh coat of paint.  |
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Bobnotch Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 23286 Location: Kimball, Mi
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Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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How's the hump in the front trunk? Just asking as most 71-73's have some rust hiding there (leaves and such caught in the "fresh air system" box. It doesn't seem to matter where the car has lived it's life either, they just seem to go there. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Bobnotch wrote: |
How's the hump in the front trunk? Just asking as most 71-73's have some rust hiding there (leaves and such caught in the "fresh air system" box. It doesn't seem to matter where the car has lived it's life either, they just seem to go there. |
It's perfect-not a speck of rust.
On my other car the '71 fastback -it's completely rotted out. |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Scotty D wrote: |
Wow that’s looking great. Won’t be long until it’s got a fresh coat of paint.  |
Yes, They let the primer shrink for a couple of weeks and do whatever body work it needs and re-prime those areas. |
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Bobnotch Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 23286 Location: Kimball, Mi
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Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Have they got the foam out of the top and rear of the rear windows? Just asking as most every 71-73 Squareback rusts there due to the foam the factory added there. It was one of the reasons I cut the roof off my 71 Square (from ALL of the rust there). I only mention the foam, as if they leave it, it WILL rust there in the future. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2024 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Bobnotch wrote: |
Have they got the foam out of the top and rear of the rear windows? Just asking as most every 71-73 Squareback rusts there due to the foam the factory added there. It was one of the reasons I cut the roof off my 71 Square (from ALL of the rust there). I only mention the foam, as if they leave it, it WILL rust there in the future. |
Yes, as a matter of course they remove the foam. |
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Bobnotch Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 23286 Location: Kimball, Mi
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Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2024 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Gitarzan wrote: |
Bobnotch wrote: |
Have they got the foam out of the top and rear of the rear windows? Just asking as most every 71-73 Squareback rusts there due to the foam the factory added there. It was one of the reasons I cut the roof off my 71 Square (from ALL of the rust there). I only mention the foam, as if they leave it, it WILL rust there in the future. |
Yes, as a matter of course they remove the foam. |
Good. That stuff has killed a few projects in the past. Even beetles suffered from it. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Steady progress on my Square.
The body is all primed, working on the mechanicals.
all the upholstery/carpet is made.
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Gitarzan Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2024 Posts: 48 Location: New York
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2025 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: '71 Squareback build thread |
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Getting to the finished coats of paint.
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