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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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 Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:09 pm Post subject: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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Greetings all from Arizona's High Desert. Been lurking for awhile and finally decided to join. Since it's been over 20 years in the making, I figured I'd start with a bit of history on our build.
This is the oldest known photo of when it was purchased new in '71. It has been in the family ever since.
Here it is in '77. Currently, my wife (3rd from left) is the owner. It was her grandfather that bought it when new.
In the mid 80s, after his passing, my wife became the new proud owner. Not a fan (to say the least) of it's original color, and thanks to Earl Shieb, here it is sporting it's new look.
She drove the car during high school and then college, until passing it on to her cousin around 1992.
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Last edited by AZSCAWPION on Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:29 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SUPER BEETLE BUILD |
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Fast forward a bit. By now, her cousins have moved on and it sat, not running for a few years. When it was offered back to her, we jumped at the chance. After a bit of tinkering, we got it running again and it made the nearly 60 mile journey back home. By this point though, it needs a ton of work.
Unfortunately, without the time or funds to get things going, it's put into storage for another few years.
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Last edited by AZSCAWPION on Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SUPER BEETLE BUILD |
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By now, it's the spring of 2001. The Bug is fired up again (no pun intended) and begins it's journey back home again from where it is being stored. This time, things didn't go as planned.
Well, we were planning on rebuilding it anyway. At least the damage stayed within the engine bay.
Last edited by AZSCAWPION on Sat Apr 28, 2018 9:00 am; edited 2 times in total |
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SUPER BEETLE BUILD |
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By summer of that same year, we're full swing into this project. The first order of business is to remove the engine. My wife has known this car practically her whole life. I on the other hand, have only ever owned or worked on American cars. I'm a Ford guy. I currently drive a '65 Pickup. (if anyone's interested, here's a link to it's build https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1521614-65-f250-c-s-build.html ) To this day though, I can remember my WTF moment when I learned that the engine comes out the bottom! No worries though. I like learning new things.
Where I'm from a pan is what you use to fry eggs or to bake ziti. What would Mama say??
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ps2375
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2014
Posts: 2471
Location: Meridian,ID
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SUPER BEETLE BUILD |
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| I'm guessing when this is done, it will not be leaving your immediate family. |
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vamram 
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 7300
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SUPER BEETLE BUILD |
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_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'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.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SUPER BEETLE BUILD |
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| ps2375 wrote: |
| I'm guessing when this is done, it will not be leaving your immediate family. |
Spoiler Alert!! A 2500 mile move didn't even get her to think about giving it up! |
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SUPER BEETLE BUILD |
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2001 proved to be a productive year.
Yeah, things were moving along nicely!
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Buggeee
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 4407
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 6:47 am Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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Thanks to all for the interest & kind words.
So, as I mentioned, 2001 was a productive year. By this point, we had completely rebuilt the pan and lowered the suspension front and back. We rebuilt the tranny and installed a new engine. We even started to tackle the seemingly endless amount of body work that was needed.
At this rate, it would have to take something really big to slow us down or, something really small to completely stop us. So, as life goes, this tiny, barely more than 9lb. little baby boy, brought things to a screeching halt. We snickered at the people that told us he would help us finish it one day.
Alas, this is how it would sit for the next few years.
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:58 am Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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The next few years brought another baby and a 2500 mile move across the country. Not for a minute did the Mrs. even consider leaving it behind (the Bug, not the baby).
We made good use of it after the move though.
It became a storage bin of sorts.
Sometimes, even a lumber rack.
But, unfortunately, no real progress for quite a while. With 2 kids and a new house, I know I'm not alone when I say that there's always something else that's more important.
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joey1320
Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: Cleveland, OH
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| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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Wow great progress. I completely understand the baby/house conundrum, I'm right there with ya.
I also have a '71, but luckily an insanely less amount of work needed to get it going.
Best of luck!
Welcome.
_________________
**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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joey1320
Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: Cleveland, OH
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jberry
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2007
Posts: 118
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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| Definitely understand... but I just gotta see more now. I'm gonna need you to get to work on her. |
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VW_Jimbo
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016
Posts: 9954
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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| joey1320 wrote: |
| What's the yellow box used for? |
Looks like a 12 inch wood planer. Maybe a Powermatic.
_________________
Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
| TDCTDI wrote: |
| Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31360
Location: Hot Arizona
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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| joey1320 wrote: |
| What's the yellow box used for? |
jimbo would be correct.
15" powermatic planer. My garage is set up as a full time wood shop. It's how we pay the bills. |
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| Somehow you have a 1972/later steering wheel in there. |
Steering wheel was swapped out years ago. The story is that her dad broke the horn ring, so they changed the wheel. That's before my time though. |
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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| jberry wrote: |
| Definitely understand... but I just gotta see more now. |
Here goes.
For the better part of the next decade, not much else happened. The little that did, ended mostly in frustration. Mainly due to body alignment issues and rust. Having lived in NY all our lives, rust was always an issue. And this Bug had lots of it. We had taken care of some of it, but never really saw an end to it. Also, since moving to AZ, I quickly learned what "rust free" really meant. So, a couple years ago we came across a bare body and pan of the same year, for a steal. We decided to grab it and do a body swap. Surprisingly, our original pan was virtually rust free from the get go, so, we kept that and as much of the original body as possible. We then sold the original body for a couple hundred bucks. Getting the new body kinda relit the spark to get things going again.
While we did test run the engine years ago, we never did get the autostick working. Figuring with the body being off again, now would be a good time.
To all the people that predicted it, yes, here's the 9lb baby boy helping us.
Alas, for the first time in about 16 years, baby boy doesn't have to help push!
The Bug finally moves under its own power. Not sure who was happier!
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AZSCAWPION
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2018
Posts: 66
Location: ARIZONA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 Super Beetle Build |
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So, while the spark had been lit, the Bug would have to be put on hold 1 more time. It seemed that baby boy was now old enough to drive and would need a ride of his own.
So, we spent the next year transforming this...
...into this
Now don't get too excited. This one is mine. Baby boy got my old S-10
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