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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 4:36 pm Post subject: First VW Project |
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This is my first VW build. I am planning on making a clean little manx out this old rust bucket. So far I have had the swing axle rebuilt, cleaned the pan, new swing axle mounts, new tie rod ends, new pedals, brake lines, brake shoes, and spray painted everything. I am waiting on my 3" body lift to get here. I have run into one problem. As you can see in the pics the tunnel has been cut to make room for the shift rod. Is this normal for a shortened car? It shifts nicely through all of the gears, but when you look at the side profile the shift rod is meeting the shift shaft at an angle. Its not terrible but it is off. The shift rod has been re mounted to the cup that the shifter goes into at an angle. Would you guys run it like this or come up with a better solution?
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5472 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Your Buggy has a '56 Beetle frame. It looks pretty nice overall, but I don't see an emergency brake. Your front beam is later, early '60's and your brakes have been replaced with parts of similar vintage all around (they appear to be '58-'64 type brakes, could be '65-'67 brakes.) The frame is not normally hacked like that to allow the shifter linkage to fit. You have a later transaxle ('61 up style case) and it is likely they kept the later front Beetle mount and bolted it to the existing, older type, frame front mount. That raises the nose of the transaxle (and lowers the engine.) The correct way to handle that is use a '60-'67 Bus nose cone and mount on the Beetle transaxle, then the shift rod would fit nicely in the frame through the factory hole below the current slot. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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EVfun wrote: |
Your Buggy has a '56 Beetle frame. It looks pretty nice overall, but I don't see an emergency brake. Your front beam is later, early '60's and your brakes have been replaced with parts of similar vintage all around (they appear to be '58-'64 type brakes, could be '65-'67 brakes.) The frame is not normally hacked like that to allow the shifter linkage to fit. You have a later transaxle ('61 up style case) and it is likely they kept the later front Beetle mount and bolted it to the existing, older type, frame front mount. That raises the nose of the transaxle (and lowers the engine.) The correct way to handle that is use a '60-'67 Bus nose cone and mount on the Beetle transaxle, then the shift rod would fit nicely in the frame through the factory hole below the current slot. |
Man thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. The title says its a 69 haha. Well i guess i will try to round up those parts. Is it possible to replace the nose in frame? |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20377 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5472 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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To make the front mount change you will have to pull the transaxle, but there isn't much to that when you have it apart like you do. That is a cute little starter on the transaxle, really short.
With the transaxle removed you can either weld the later type mount onto your frame and run the transaxle with the Beetle mount, or you can switch to the Bus nose cone and mount. The Bus parts are available new from a number of places because that swap is pretty common. If you want to change the frame mount you can cut from a '61-?? (seventy something) Bug being scrapped or buy that part new from a few places.
Most people recommend you keep the rubber transaxle mounts to minimize noise. I prefer to run my buggy with solid mounts -- which reminds me there is another option. There is an adapter front mount that will allow your transaxle to sit at the right height without making any changes to your frame or transaxle. This is what what the standard solid mount for a '61 up transaxle in a '61 up Bug looks like. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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EVfun wrote: |
To make the front mount change you will have to pull the transaxle, but there isn't much to that when you have it apart like you do.
With the transaxle removed you can either weld the later type mount onto your frame and run the transaxle with the Beetle mount, or you can switch to the Bus nose cone and mount. The Bus parts are available new from a number of places because that swap is pretty common. If you want to change the frame mount you can cut from a '61-?? (seventy something) Bug being scrapped or buy that part new from a few places.
Most people recommend you keep the rubber transaxle mounts to minimize noise. I prefer to run my buggy with solid mounts -- which reminds me there is another option. There is an adapter front mount that will allow your transaxle to sit at the right height without making any changes to your frame or transaxle. This is what what the standard solid mount for a '61 up transaxle in a '61 up Bug looks like. |
F##kin eggs bacon thats what i need. Thanks guys! |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12695 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Nice find and great project!
Last edited by oprn on Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:23 am; edited 2 times in total |
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joescoolcustoms Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2006 Posts: 9054 Location: West By God Virginia
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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When I buy parts, I usually buy more than one of each item at a time because I build a lot of buggies, and it saves on shipping. Last summer I stocked up on a lot of small parts like shift rod adjusters, trans mounts, fuel caps, beam adjusters and so forth. I bought three of those at once and they are absolute junk. I will carry one in my spare parts when I travel, but I will not put them on any buggy I build. I am still living and learning I guess. _________________ Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race
Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.
Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone |
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heywebonya Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2010 Posts: 823 Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 6:21 am Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Can you share a few pictures of the area tunnel that was shortened? It looks a bit suspect.
I added a parking brake back to my buggy and it turned out very nice.
Cut a hole
Weld in some homemade brackets
There is more described here https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=691399&highlight=
Good progress _________________ If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy! |
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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I believe you are talking about that extra weld job on the tunnel. Someone cut the tunnel to do god knows what. I just beat it back into place and welded it up. I have seen some really clean shortening jobs, but this was done in the mid 70s. I can tell they used a stick welder. I forgot to mention this car has been passed around like a joint in my family. My dad bought/built it in the late 70s early 80s. My sister rolled it in the late 80s. I started the rehab in 2002 and had to move so it went to my moms house and sat until last September. My dad is no longer with us, but I am trying to put this thing together for myself/sons/nephew. I dont think they did to bad of a job. There is no ebrake and when i replaced the rear brake cylinders and shoes i noticed all of the ebrake components are gone. I may run a line lock I am not sure. |
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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I got the lift yesterday in the mail. I am waiting on the trans mount to fix the shift rod angle. I also picked up some beards off clist for 200 bucks with monts and crow harnesses.
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heywebonya Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2010 Posts: 823 Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 6:17 am Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Cheeze,
Great score on the seats!
Think more about adding a mechanical e-brake (if going street legal) as I think the requirement is to have independent secondary braking.
I have had my brakes "fade" from a leaking seal and it was very surprising.
It was ~ $50 to buy a handle and new cables for the buggy.
Keep up the good work. _________________ If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy! |
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Thanks, I was gonna make one but for 20 bucks from jbugs you cant beat it. Everything is line up and shifting is a lot tighter.
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 10:47 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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I am gonna patch up that piece that got cut out and figure out my pedals then time for motor and body. Woo Hoo |
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brettsvw Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2007 Posts: 2145 Location: Florida
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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I got a little time today to start fitting the body and the lift on to the pan. I am liking it. More than enough room for 33s in the back. Do you guys think the stock front spindles will hold up with 31s?
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heywebonya Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2010 Posts: 823 Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 4:37 am Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Great progress, the kids must be super stoked!
Looks good. _________________ If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy! |
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Cheeze Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2018 Posts: 30 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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So i took my pedals apart to get all of the rust off and I am having a hard time getting them back together correctly. I have searched for a write up but I have not found one. I have a brand new set of pedals for later model bugs but the clutch cable does not line up good. Has anyone ran the newer assembly with no issues? I would like to use the newer pedals but if anyone could shed some light on why my clutch pedal keeps falling toward the floor that would be great. |
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YDBD Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2017 Posts: 891 Location: Bavaria, Germany
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Falling towards the back of the car? You're pedal stop is missing or not adjusted properly. In front (front of the car) of the pedals on the chassis floor is a bolt hole and a small L shaped piece of metal with a slot in it bolts there to stop the clutch pedal from falling. _________________ '56 pan Dune Buggy since '69
don't live in the past...but when I did:
'67 bug
'64 baja
'60 dune buggy
'73 Personenkraftwagen Type 182 "Thing" |
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57BLITZ Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 2385 Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:01 am Post subject: Re: First VW Project |
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Cheeze wrote: |
So i took my pedals apart to get all of the rust off and I am having a hard time getting them back together correctly. I have searched for a write up but I have not found one. I have a brand new set of pedals for later model bugs but the clutch cable does not line up good. Has anyone ran the newer assembly with no issues? I would like to use the newer pedals but if anyone could shed some light on why my clutch pedal keeps falling toward the floor that would be great. |
As EVfun mentioned . . . your pan is early.
You have discovered that there are compatibility issues using the later pedals.
Here is how the original pedals and stop-plates interact . . .
The early stop-plates bolt into the holes that are seen in the left of this photo . . .
The late stop-plate will not be in the correct position if bolted using the existing holes in an early pan.
It would be easy enough to add the provision to your floor pan for a later stop-plate.
Moving the clutch cable tube inside the tunnel . . . not as easy.
Here's how long the early pedal assy. extends into the tunnel . . .
Here's a late pedal assy. for comparison . . . _________________ Jesucristo es mi Señor y Salvador! |
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