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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:37 am Post subject: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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long story short, I have a 67 beetle that was in my family since 70. Father worked at VW plant in new stanton and bought a rusted fender 67 back from the plant and built a baja. He gave it to me when i turned 16 and was my daily driver for about 8 years. then she sat.. sat for a long 17 years, until she needed moved cause bureau warnings. so it was time to revive her.
Decided to go to a dune buggy as i always wanted one.. will be using the motor transaxle and ignition, steering column, and the misc parts and pieces. first step was to make sure she ran:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CngfIOUTcoE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://youtu.be/CngfIOUTcoE
So after that it was time to start stripping..
No luck in selling the body shell as it sat, so more stripping was needed.
Not going to lie, a piece of me died when this happened..
time to work on the pan, I got the motor, transaxle, and front beam pulled. I got the swing axle core cut out, and the rest was scrapped..
Just so happens my oldest boy has a hockey tournament in hershey pa, and our hotel is 20 min from ACME car co! Loaded up my new chassis and did checked out the body for some measurements.
not sure exactly what route I'm going to go with the buggy, can't decide on slightly lifted and aggressive off road type, or slightly lowered street and sporty..
thats it for now, going to be a long build, lots to do, lots to clean, lots of parts to order. |
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Mr. Unpopular Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3715 Location: Tampa Florida
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:13 pm Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Looking forward to your progress.
Oddly enough, I was the one that submitted the name Genesis to ACME when they had a contest to name their new car. I won, they got my info for prizes, but never got anything. Oh well.
I've decided I'm going to build a long wheel base fiberglass buggy, but long body's are tough to find used around here, and not sure I want to pay for a new body plus shipping, so I may have to stretch my short body. _________________ "In any racing engine, the nearer you are to it disintegrating, the better it's performance will be"
-Keith Duckworth, creator of the Ford/Cosworth DFV |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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thanks, will be slow progress, but will certainly be posting as i go. |
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joey1320 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: Cleveland, OH
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 8:08 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Man, that clean body going into the dumpster kicked me right in the balls...
Good luck with the project! _________________ **1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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weasel_ugs Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2012 Posts: 721 Location: Prescott Valley,Az.
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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joey1320 wrote: |
Man, that clean body going into the dumpster kicked me right in the balls...
Good luck with the project! |
Clean? |
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joey1320 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: Cleveland, OH
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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weasel_ugs wrote: |
joey1320 wrote: |
Man, that clean body going into the dumpster kicked me right in the balls...
Good luck with the project! |
Clean? |
Clean enough that it didn't need to go to the crusher. _________________ **1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:30 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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joey1320 wrote: |
Man, that clean body going into the dumpster kicked me right in the balls...
Good luck with the project! |
thanks, yeah that was tough to watch, i tried selling it for over a month, ran out of time and needed the trailer. I hated to see it go, especially with the crank sunroof. had second thoughts after i had the car stripped to redo it as baja, but always wanted a dune buggy and open air. haven't had any progress yet, been too busy with kids sports and camping, hopefully get some garage time in the next couple weekends. |
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ammocan Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2014 Posts: 169 Location: utah, usa
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Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2017 12:42 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Just out of curiosity what was the point of doing all that work and dismantling a bug then just going out and buying an all new chassis. Seems like if your going to buy a chassis and a body after that it's just bolt on parts. No sarcasm here just genuinely curious. Why even mess with the old beetle at all? _________________ skill comes by the constant repetition of familiar feats, not by one over bold attempt at a feat for which the doer is yet poorly prepared |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:50 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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ammocan wrote: |
Just out of curiosity what was the point of doing all that work and dismantling a bug then just going out and buying an all new chassis. Seems like if your going to buy a chassis and a body after that it's just bolt on parts. No sarcasm here just genuinely curious. Why even mess with the old beetle at all? |
mostly to scavenge parts, wasn't sure what all i was going to need, trying to keep as mush as i can to add some of the old beetle into the buggy.
decided it would be easer to go with a new frame after it was apart. |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2017 11:20 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Got the chassis and transaxle sandblasted and painted.
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:48 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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got some time to start disassembling the motor.
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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unfortunately no matter what i tried i could not get the 2 tin screws out of each of the cylinder tin covers that go down into the head.. eventually they all broke off.. got every other screw out with tons of penetrating fluid, air chisel vibration, and impact screw gun. but those 4 bastards just would not let loose.. broke 2 bits using the impact screw gun, rounded 2 of the heads using vice grips, and eventually cut one of them with grinder wheel.. the other 3 broke with vice grips and impact.. good times |
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heywebonya Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2010 Posts: 823 Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:44 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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I like how the transmission turned out. Simple and clean _________________ If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy! |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:53 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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heywebonya wrote: |
I like how the transmission turned out. Simple and clean |
thanks. i'm at a crossroads now of do i stay simple clean, all black or go chrome on the motor.. I've wondered both directions, i really like the all blacked out look, frame, engine, all accessories, wheels, everything black and going with either orange or orange flake body.. or do i dress it up with chrome engine and everything else blacked out?? too many decisions.. |
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wythac Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 11:22 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Quality of chrome on parts is all over the map. I know its tempting with your engine being an exposed part of the exterior look of the car to consider hanging a lot of chrome. But I'm afraid that unless you never exposed the car to water, even when washing it, or salt air, you'll likely eventually see more rust than chrome when you look at the back of your rig.
Paint can be refreshed with ease and low cost at any time. Even color matching to the body can look good.
Just food for thought. Good luck with your build. |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8689 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Rockbound wrote: |
Got the chassis and transaxle sandblasted and painted.
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Does this mean you sandblasted the trasaxle too? _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 9:52 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Q-Dog wrote: |
Rockbound wrote: |
Got the chassis and transaxle sandblasted and painted.
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Does this mean you sandblasted the trasaxle too? |
I did yes. made sure to have any access to bearings, or internals was properly sealed and covered, then thoroughly cleaned before re opening. |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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wythac wrote: |
Quality of chrome on parts is all over the map. I know its tempting with your engine being an exposed part of the exterior look of the car to consider hanging a lot of chrome. But I'm afraid that unless you never exposed the car to water, even when washing it, or salt air, you'll likely eventually see more rust than chrome when you look at the back of your rig.
Paint can be refreshed with ease and low cost at any time. Even color matching to the body can look good.
Just food for thought. Good luck with your build. |
yep, mostly my thoughts as well, most likely be re assembling after a good clean and re paint in black. |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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making some head way again, been a rough go the last year and few months, but i am back at it and pushing to finish this summer.
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5446 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: Out for 17 years, now back in it! Building a Berrien Genesis |
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Rockbound wrote: |
i'm at a crossroads now of do i stay simple clean, all black or go chrome on the motor.. I've wondered both directions, i really like the all blacked out look, frame, engine, all accessories, wheels, everything black and going with either orange or orange flake body.. or do i dress it up with chrome engine and everything else blacked out?? too many decisions.. |
My first buggy was a blacked out engine and I think it looked pretty good. Even the aluminum dual intake manifolds where painted black. It had an aluminum power pulley with chrome nut, chrome alternator pulley nut, and the tips of the dune buggy duals where chrome. The paint was a mix of flat black high temp paint and satin Rusroleum. Even the case was painted. It looked pretty invisible and good.
My current buggy is getting a very clean stock looking engine. I ceramic coated a quiet exhaust and use stainless or chrome on things that will get wrenched on so they don't rust but it is a more "natural" look. Keeping a chrome engine detailed is hardest, black is easier, and I'll see how much is needed for a natural engine. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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