ToughBug Update: Rock bottom and now things go back together

[beetlenut]

Looking good! I did my whole pan in Master Series products, and used the Silver primer under all the body work. So what makes your car a 73/74 hybrid? I started with a 74 Super, but went back to the 73 solid bumper mounts front and rear, so mine is also a bit of a 73/74 hybrid! Do you still have any of the old first body left? Reason I ask is I put a new spare tire tub in the front of mine, but it didn't come with any of the covers for the four access holes in the bottom, and finding them is proving to be impossible!
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scrapyards are for quitters
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[ToughBug]

Mine is a hybrid because the original 73 body was a disaster. I gave up after a year or so and found a 74 body in better shape. Sure hope they fit together!
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[ToughBug]

So..........

The wheels are back on!!!!!

Body got third coat of paint. All cables replaced except for speedo.

I'm preparing to put the body back on.

I'm a bit worried I'm going to find something I missed and have to take it off again. I need to bench bleed the master cylinder and replace it and mate the pedal push for to the cylinder. Have to put the rubber sealing down. And probably should reinstall the transmission.

What else am I likely to forget?????
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[beetlenut]

[ToughBug]

Hi everyone. A milestone this weekend as the body went back on the chassis. First time in two years and I'd started to forget what the bug looked like.

The fenders etc are on just to check the stance. Front is a bit low already, so adjustable struts need to be, er, adjusted.

I need to do more wet sanding to smooth out imperfections and do the clear coat.

Thinking about the wheels and tires. Then back to the mechanical stuff underneath.

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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[Tim Donahoe]

Looks good.

Have fun with that sun roof. The new seals are are bitch.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[ToughBug]

So.....group decision.....we feel we can do better on the paint. Actually, we're going to do vinyl wrapping instead. nice to know that with two coats of Master Series Silver and 2 or 3 coats of AG111 Red we probably won't see rust for a while. But the paint looks spotty and there's lots of lint in it. It'd be fine for a "fun" car, with astro-turf carpeting, and a don't care attitude. But family says for the amount of work I've put into it I should be happier with the final product. Nice of 'em. Stay tuned.
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[ToughBug]

*$^#(!**%&#?!!!!!

Vinyl wrap is some crazy combination of fun and frustrating. And all the curves on the bug make it slow going. Anticipate 20 hours with two people. But looks good so far.
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[calvinater]

pics?
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"Albatross"!

[ToughBug]

Photos over in the paint / body forum.
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[ToughBug]

Photos over in the paint / body forum.
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[ToughBug]

So much progress. So much more to do.

Half of car now vinyl wrapped. Anxious to be done with that.

Putting in 10 hour days on the car, just pushing to make headway while I can.

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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[ToughBug]

Progress. Vinyl wrapping continues. Dash coming along. Wiring harness installed - except I can't seem to get it through the death foam in the back. Silver inside is soundproofing.

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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[ToughBug]

Been working on he car a lot. Tired. Headliner going in now, interesting with the sunroof. Sound proofed. Dash coming along. Got the new wiring harness through the death foam. Even put the hardware back in the engine cover - including the VW emblem. Yeah!

Headliner progress held up for lack of hanging rod holder things. Wish big expensive kits including the little $0.10 pieces that make the whole thing work. Ugh.

Why don't ________ come with _______.
Master cylinders, full set of plugs needed to bench bleed them.
Sunroof headliner kits, rod hangers
Speedo cable, little rubber plug for backing plate
Full pedal cluster, roller wheel for accelerator (or accelerator pedal, or spring?)
Gear kit for removing rear castle nuts, chart of torque conversions

Anyway. Carpets next.
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[ToughBug]

Headliner done. Except for the sunroof hole. Kinda regretting getting a sunroof....that's not gonna be fun to rebuild. Vinyl wrap almost done. Window seals are a total pain in the ass. Got them from a shop years ago and they are pretty hard - no feeling in my fingers and no seals on any windows yet. Tried heating them briefly in the oven on warm - desperate times. They were almost too warm to handle. And they became as flexible and stretchy as warm rocks. I'd have better luck melting the glass. Is it bad that the UPS driver yells out "Hey Tom, more bug parts!" every time he leaves a package??

Between the Windows, door kits, and sunroof it looks like a fun month. One job at a time. I'm looking for an easy project to work on when I need to feel like I'm making progress - master cylinder install and bleeding might be it.

Ugh.
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[Mikedrevguy]

You got this. Keep at it. Slow and steady.
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74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato

Illigitimi non-Carborundum!!

[ToughBug]

A little progress between semesters.

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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved

[joey1320]

Man that wrap has got to be such a pita. Nice work
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**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[Chochobeef]

I like your hard work you have done and don't want to say anything bad. However, if I were you, I would have tried to wet sand that paint smooth before applying the vinyl wrap. You can see the imperfections through the wrap. Granted you can always take the wrap off, but to me you covered up the messy paint and now have a messy wrap job

Hope it works out for you and that you are satisfied with it because in the end, that is what matters and not what some person on the internet thinks.

[ToughBug]

Thanks. It was a pita. I'm bracing for the window mechanisms and sunroof next. I understand they're chores too.....
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1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved