Too much rust? Buying my first vw. Need advice

[calvinater]

Get the tow bar,, you know it won't be the last bug you buy..
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"Albatross"!

[iowegian]

Whatever you do, do NOT fly there with the plan of driving the car home. If the plane crashes and all souls aboard perish, you will never forgive yourself.

[VW_Jimbo]

[VW_Jimbo]

[joshlm]

Ok guys so I’m officially going to make the drive tomorrow to check it out. Wish me luck!

[Multi69s]

Josh,

If you haven't picked up the car PM me. I live in Fresno also, been into VWs for over 40 years, so I can give you pointers. Also have a tow bar you can borrow.
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69 road Bug 2110
73 Squareback - 2L, T4, Automatic W/ AC
Gone, but many fond memories 69 Baja Bug 2010 - 5 Rib Bus Transaxle
Gone but not forgotten 72 Baja Bug 2010
My builds
T4 into Squareback http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458944&highlight=
Auto Trans Rebuild http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=516066&highlight=
AC in Squareback https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=

[calvinater]

There ya go. Good man Multi.
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"Albatross"!

[TDCTDI]

Well?!? What did you find? Didja get it?
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[joshlm]

I went and looked and decided to take a pass on this one, rust was worse than expected. The search continues!!

[VW_Jimbo]

Dont give up. One will show up that you can take care of. You should look into the local JC at the welding classes. May be a skill that you end up using in the future. Nothing wrong with learning something new!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[hitest]

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

I'll echo those before me above:

Keep looking, the right one will come along for you.

And although it can be discouraging/ a let down when you go to look at a car and you have to walk away- remember that you are learning what is and isn't a dealbreaker for you.

I looked at probably 100+ cars thoroughly online speaking with the owners, only looked at probably 8 in person which I though were worth the drive to go see.

Everytime you go and look at one, give it a full evaluation. There were many times as soon as I got underneath the car I knew I was going to walk away, but I still looked at everything on each car. These cars are quirky- combine that with 40+ years of tinkering and 'modification' by the owners and there is a wide variety of things that can be changed by the POs. Some things can be reversed, some cannot.

A more fun way to look at it is: Each beetle you go to look at has something to teach you, discover what that particular beetle wants you to learn.

Maybe it just wants to give you the 'bug fever'
Maybe it wants to show you what a rusted out frame looks like.
Maybe it wants to show you why a shiny 'chrome' air cleaner isn't good for cold engine performance.
Maybe it wants to show you what years of abuse and mistreatment does to the engine.
Maybe it wants to show you what the 'clunk' of bad/excessive end-play feels like.
Maybe it wants to show you that the interior and paint is perfect, but the mechanical works were ignored.
Maybe it wants to show you how sitting in storage for years on end with no exercise can negatively affect a machine.
Maybe it wants to show you what a properly maintained ACVW sounds and looks like (and it'll show you, even though it knows you can't afford to buy it)

Maybe it wants to show you that just because it has multi-color body work, doesn't mean it's not a solid, running, driving car- ready to go (that one is my beetle I bought last year)

The best part of you going to look at as many beetles as you can: when "the one" comes along and you are laying underneath it- you'll know.

My best advice: Keep looking and don't lose heart, you're beetle is out there
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor

[Subi-Bug619]

[quote="AlmostHeavenWV_VW"]You're in in the West Coast, specifically Cali, and you found a bug with rust??

As someone who bought a Cali bug, yes, rust does exist. They are mostly found on cars that sit outside by the coast. That salt water and morning marine layer will put rust on the car. I looked through at least 6 different bugs before finding a RUST FREE '74 super. If you want to avoid body work, be patient and a nice body with a decent price will float by you. Might have to drive a ways to get it, but in the end it's worth it.

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

[rjplumer]

That's rust? Come to Massachusetts and I'll show you rust,lol. Rusty floor pans aren't too bad to deal with. If they're solid just clean them and apply POR-15(or equivalent). Heater channels are the big one to look for. Good luck in your search.

[scrivyscriv]

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

[Zundfolge1432]

X3 go to Phoenix. You don’t have to settle for rust.

[mark tucker]

hmm so I should drive out west and swap bodies.....or..have one stuck on a pallet!!!but that would mean...effing with the wiring harness.....and actual work on my bug....I don't see it happening.

[joshlm]