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timwhite
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2017
Posts: 15
Location: missouri
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 Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 10:21 am Post subject: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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When my daughter got old enough that she was going to need a vehicle I asked her what she wanted. She said "a new Beetle". I explained that that was not going to happen, and after some thought she decided on an old Bug.
After looking around for a few months we were finding restored bugs that we couldn't afford, or total wrecks.
After awhile she decided that what we needed to do was find a restore-able Bug we could afford, and we could work together to fix it up. What father could resist having a project his 16 year old daughter wanted to do with him? And so the journey began.
Photos can be found at
https://imgur.com/a/yZNe5
Tim |
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timwhite
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2017
Posts: 15
Location: missouri
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 10:35 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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I had an old beat up 69 Bug sitting behind my shop that we thought we could use for parts, and we eventually found a 1970 Bug that the parents of one of my students had started to fix up and had given up on. It was in pretty sad shape, but it only cost us $100, so we hauled it home. It had been painted up as a Batmobile!
Tim |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3200
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 11:02 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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| Nice job. And creative garage you built. |
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joey1320
Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: Cleveland, OH
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Multi69s
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Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 5364
Location: Lefty, CA
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timwhite
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2017
Posts: 15
Location: missouri
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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The "bug barn" was designed to be a temporary shelter for us to work in. We used 1/2" rebar in 20' lengths, wired them together to make 30' arches, and nailed one to my existing shop wall. The ends were set into short lengths of metal conduit sunk into the ground, and we ran cross pieces from end to end. We also ran pieces diagonally from the bottom corners to the opposite top center for some stability. Then we covered it with chicken wire and 60 mil black plastic, put a sheet of rubber (like they use for roofing) on the ground, and ran a temporary line for lights and on outlet. It worked pretty well until we got a 20" snow, when it collapsed on the bug! Amazingly it did no damage to the bug, although it was an all day job (in 15 degree weather) to get it jacked up enough to pull the Bug out!
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Buggeee
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 4416
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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sb001
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011
Posts: 10406
Location: NW Arkansas
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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| timwhite wrote: |
After awhile she decided that what we needed to do was find a restore-able Bug we could afford, and we could work together to fix it up. |
She decided that huh? 
_________________
I'm the humblest guy on this board.
1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor |
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SBD
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2012
Posts: 3269
Location: SOUTH DAKOTA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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Maybe you can repair your garage using electrical conduit instead of rebar. Might be stronger? 
_________________
"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"
| mark tucker wrote: |
| I wouldent waste $ or thyme on building a small motor. build it big so it dosent have to work hard.remember it's only as fast as your foot alows it to be unless you build a small turd then it just stinks as it squishes up through your toes when you step on it. |
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jlex
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2009
Posts: 2902
Location: NW Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:31 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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You're a talented man to transform a junk heap into a great looking car. Great job!
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jlex.
'70 std. "Elsie"
'88 Carrera |
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joey1320
Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: Cleveland, OH
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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One thing I would like to point out is the safety factor of newer cars as opposed to pre-airbag ones. I, just like you, would be happy to work on a VW project with my son, but for him to use the car as a daily driver would be something for me consider. In the end, I would probably say no and have him drive something safer.
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**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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calvinater
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2014
Posts: 3328
Location: 802 The Pointless Forrest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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depends on where you live
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joey1320
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Joined: September 12, 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: Cleveland, OH
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Tim Donahoe
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012
Posts: 11740
Location: Redding, CA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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Joey, in a decade or so, parents will be reluctant to have their kids drive non-self driving cars, due to the fact that self driving will no doubt be safer as time goes on. Are bugs death traps? Millions were on the roads in the sixties and seventies, and I don't remember hearing or reading about any widespread VW carnage, in spite of all the big tank American cars that were sharing the road with them at the time.
Tim
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joey1320
Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: Cleveland, OH
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 6:27 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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| Tim Donahoe wrote: |
Joey, in a decade or so, parents will be reluctant to have their kids drive non-self driving cars, due to the fact that self driving will no doubt be safer as time goes on. Are bugs death traps? Millions were on the roads in the sixties and seventies, and I don't remember hearing or reading about any widespread VW carnage, in spite of all the big tank American cars that were sharing the road with them at the time.
Tim |
Tim, I think this is one of those "Agree to Disagree" type of sentiments. I understand that these cars shared the road with big American tanks back in the day and continue to be used nowadays but for me, in the current driving conditions around me, I wouldn't have a new driver use a pre-airbag car as his/her daily driver. By current conditions I mean the total disregard by other drivers to pay attention, follow the law and put their f'ing phones down while driving.
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**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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calvinater
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2014
Posts: 3328
Location: 802 The Pointless Forrest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:03 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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To elaborate, living in BFE northern Vt very little traffic, 30 min to nearest traffic light. Boy has been driving the super down town and around to friends at 15. yrs old. taught him good driving habits and safe following distances . trust him totally. plus he can tune and time it himself.
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vamram 
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 7304
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:22 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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To Tim White, amazing work by you and Kaite! How long did the project take from start to finish?
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'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
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timwhite
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2017
Posts: 15
Location: missouri
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 10:37 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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We started the project by building the "bug barn" in October, and had the car on the road and driving everyday by September, so just shy of a year for the whole thing. A lot of work was done in winter in the unheated bug barn. I told Katie that doing so built character. She said she didn't need that much character!
Tim |
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SBD
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2012
Posts: 3269
Location: SOUTH DAKOTA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:50 am Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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My dad put us kids through a lot of those "character building" experiences when I was growing up. I seem to recall a lot of them involved doing things while being cold and miserable. 
_________________
"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"
| mark tucker wrote: |
| I wouldent waste $ or thyme on building a small motor. build it big so it dosent have to work hard.remember it's only as fast as your foot alows it to be unless you build a small turd then it just stinks as it squishes up through your toes when you step on it. |
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timwhite
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2017
Posts: 15
Location: missouri
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: 69/70 bug rebuild |
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After we got the shop addition built we took the two Bugs and pulled the bodies off the pans so we could decide which to use. We finally decided that the Red 69 body was (slightly) better than the Yellow 70 body, but the 70 pan was (marginally) better than the 69. So we removed the engine and Auto stick transmission from the 70 pan, removed the manual tranny from the 69, and set to work making a good pan. Two things helped greatly. First was my decision to buy a small MIG welder and also a spot welder. Neither top quality, but very useful. The second was to visit MidAmerica Motors bug fest, where we picked up a lot of parts!
Tim |
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