Shawn's 72 Squareback

[sharmstr]

Hello from Los Angeles. Recently bought this '72 Squareback for $400. It was a project car that the PO gave up on. Apparently the engine hadn't run in over 5 years. Put fresh oil in it and a new battery. Started right up with starter fluid.

https://scontent-lax1-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-x...8834_n.mp4

I dont plan on keeping the original engine. I'm going to be talking to Chico Performance about building a bigger cc daily driver engine for it.

The top and rear apron are pretty bad. A rag top kit will take care of the top, but need to find a rear apron. I have a call into ISP West and the Pomona swap meet is tomorrow. Hopefully I find something. In the mean time, I'll be finishing up the tear down that the PO started and sending the body off to get media blasted.

Is the stock disc brakes safe/reliable enough for a bigger cc motor? Were they any good to begin with? Or should I be looking to upgrade those? I'm guessing I need to figure that out before deciding on what wheels to run.

I want short back seats. I read a thread on here that is probably best to cut down the stock seats. Is that correct? Or should I look for earlier seats at the swap meet tomorrow?

[Mike Fisher]

My stock disc/drum brakes stop good & will lock up all 4 wheels if necessary, so I don't see the need for better brakes. Chico will need your block,heads,tins,carburetors,fan etc to build you a 1776 cc etc daily driver. Place WTB (want to buy) ads for any/all Type 3 parts you need.
_________________
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

[sharmstr]

Thanks, Mike!

[NDAHAUS]

As far as low back seats go. I went the easy route and bought '66 Bug seats. Over the winter I am going to cut out the '73 hump seat tracks and weld in the early style Bug rails. I have to patch my pans anyways so it will be perfect timing. You can try and source early type 3 low backs...but probably more pricey that way.

[sharmstr]

That's a good idea on the seats. Thanks

[Bobnotch]

[sharmstr]

Excellent info. I did see a topic about that on here. I suppose I have some time to figure that bit out

(I'm a girl)

[Bobnotch]

[TMI Products]

[Mike Fisher]

I would buy some carburetor linkage etc to get it running. You could then try out the transmission,brakes etc at least around the parking lot. You'd be a lot more knowledgeable about what you have & what it needs before you tear it all apart.
_________________
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

[sharmstr]

Paid a visit to Chico today. What a great guy. Dropped of my engine and ordered a 2017cc 130HP with a Sidewinder header/muffler, his Smallternator kit and a prostreet trans (4:12 .89 forth).

Need to get the body to the media blaster and start on refreshing the pan and suspension. I'm sure I'll find the time between school, working and the 4 other projects I got going on right now. LOL.

Going with 2-1/2" drop spindles, but still need to decide on which wheels I want to run before I order.

Need to find more pictures of the rag top kit (specifically with it closed) before I order that. Choosing a paint and interior color should probably happen before I order it as well

Beyond the that, I havent settled on modifying much more. Mulling around not using a padded dash.

[sharmstr]

Hmmm. I guess there's no drop spindles for type 3s?

[ataraxia]

[sharmstr]

Will do. Thank you!

Also found these: http://www.vintagev-dubs.com/shop/type-3-drop-spindles-drum-or-disc/

[ataraxia]

[sharmstr]

Made some progress over the last few days.

Drove over to Pier Side on Saturday and ordered a bunch of parts (rear disc kit, wheels, axle kits, bushings, bearings, etc...). After that got the body onto the wood dolly I built (stole the idea from another build here.)

Spent several hours Sunday pressure washing with simple green. Was able to remove most of the crud including the pan/body sealant and the tar paper from the pan. What a mess that was.

Yesterday I separated the rear sub from the pan. That took longer than expected since I didnt have my VW manual yet. (It arrived a few hours later. LOL).

The front will be removed within the next few days and I'll send the body and the pan off to be media blasted.

I paid a visit to Russell at Old Speed. Cool guy. I need to take him my spindles to be modified.

The only other few things I need to sort out are shocks and figure out what needs to be done with the front disc brakes. With those sorted, I should have everything figured out for the bottom of the car

[Mike Fisher]

The reproduction dashes from Retrovan in South Africa look pretty good & are tough. Dieselgirl reupholstered her stock dash pad with imitation snakeskin? that looked pretty cool. Keep your 3 point Beetle style seats & just cut down the high backs into lowback seats with seatback release on the sides.
_________________
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

[Bobnotch]

[sharmstr]

Mike - Those do look nice. Not sure I'm going to go the padded dash route though.

Bob - Thanks for the heads up on the trans.

I have no idea what's going on with the seats and custom seat rails (?). Seats came with the car, but they were laying in the back I'll have a closer look once the sun come up.

[69 Notchback]

good work. Looks like you are moving right along on this project.