First VW, a 1970 Bug. What did I get myself into?

[70’DerpyDerby]

Evening y‘all!
A couple weekends ago I picked up my very first VW, a 1970 Bug thats been sitting for at least 20-25 years, 15 or so have been with the most recent previous owner. So far I have gotten the sunroof cables moving again after soaking in PB blaster and evaporust, though it needs adjusting as it doesn’t close properly. It has no title, but I did get the paperwork started and paid fee’s to get one, next up is vin verification. Thats about where the good stuff ends. I bought site unseen in Pioneer, CA, and after getting it home and ripping out the carpet, the inevitable was exposed. I got a better look last night when vacuuming out all the rust and plunged a hole in the rear luggage tray. So now comes my request for feedback. What parts can I cut corners to keep my initial budget low while I just get it up an running, and what should I just spend the upfront money on? End goal is a street legal baja bug, just something fun I can take to work on Friday’s and hit some sand Saturday. Currently I’ve settled on Wolfsburg floor pans, while possibly saving money by using a fiberglass luggage tray panel urethane’d and riveted in as I’ll be doing a rear seat delete anyways. Be honest, tell me how much I’ve gotten myself into. For reference, asking was $1k I paid $500. My goal is to hit as many swap meets as I can, and currently I have a lead on two separate stashes of new and used parts to help save costs.

[VW_Jimbo]

Find a Baja for sale and buy IT! Sell this one to someone who wants a 70 Bug, which is NOT A BAJA.

There are several Bajas for sale. To repair what is there and turn it into a Baja makes no sense. Spend 4 grand and get something completed already.

Okay, that was what everyone will say. From me, who like cutting and pasting steel for fun, I say go for it! But know you will be spending5 grand on the body repairs! Plus all that time!
_________________
Jimbo

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

[jinx758]

Howdy ... & welcome

Agree with VW_Jimbo


Not too hard to find a Baja project in CA.
Besides, even with floorpan replacement that thing will fold like a Death Taco if hit,
especially if a large rear portion is just fiberglass.
Also we have no pics of heater channels, frame head, fender wells, etc.

It probably needs the whole bottom 6 inches PLUS mechanicals.
Ambitious to say the least - price was decent, tho.

Best to you ... stay safe

jinx
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford

It's not unlike the same difference

You can't push a rope


VALVES (cold)
POINTS
TIMING
CARB (fully warmed engine)

SCRAPE ALL GROUNDS

My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor

[Igpoe]

I too agree with Jimbo. That little car has greater ambitions than to be a baja.
_________________
'73 super.

[70’DerpyDerby]

I appreciate everyone’s feedback so far, thank you!
Jimbo, I can see both aides of your comment. To me I have all the time in the world, and being a body man and fabricator by trade since I got out of trade school almost 7 years ago I’m not afraid of a all the welding and fab work. I don’t think I wan’t to swap fenders, or chop the nose and tail off this one for all the real-deal baja kits, just a little lift and some tires.

Jinx, is there a reason you say it it will fold like a death taco? I agree I didn’t get photos of the rest of those parts and will upload some later this week. Knowing I probably won’t chop the nose and tail off this one, does that make it useless as a weekend baja? As in if I don’t put a baja kit on here, is it going to struggle out in the dunes? Are those wide fender kits just to fit larger tires if you want to, and shopping the tail is really just a looks kind of thing?

[OldSchoolVW's]

The substantial rust you can see suggests plenty more that you can't ... and that can compromise structural integrity. Something to consider on any vehicle, but especially one that would have to cope with the stresses of any off-rode driving. Hate to see you put tons of time and effort into it and have it fold on the first outing.

Just a thought ... this can be a donor car to help you complete a more solid bug, or you can part it out. I suspect you can harvest and sell enough usable parts from it to turn a fair profit ... especially living in the Bay Area where there are more buyers available.
_________________
Tom

"Following distance is proportional to IQ."

'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback

[slayer61]

Ya, but you're gonna be a really good welder by the time you're done!
_________________

[Igpoe]

...........you must be one with the beetle
_________________
'73 super.

[OTTO 1303]

You have embarked on and adventure that can be large cans of worms and the deepest rabbit holes.

Good thing is, there is plenty of knowledge, resources, and paths for the journey. Ask questions, consider all advice, then proceed.

Good Luck
_________________
74 Super Sun Bug - OTTO
74 Super - DANZIG
74 Super - HERZOG

[70’DerpyDerby]

Thank you everyone for the input so far. I will be taking it all into account, currently I’m still a bit hell bent on a budget baja bug, but keeping it stock as possible. Meaning no chopping the front or rear off, no tubular chassis, no insane modifications. However I am open to the idea of going the other direction and making it a street bug. Above all that though, knowing there could be more compromised structure besides the pans, should I just start looking for a different pan? This is the original though so I’m more willing to fix it and reinforce what needs it in order to keep it with its original body.
_________________
Phil “Deluxe”

1970 VW Bug "Derby"

[Igpoe]

If you work on and fix your beetle into a respectable Volkswagen you will be very happy with it and it with you
_________________
'73 super.

[bomberbob]

Something let a lot of water in, was the sunroof left open, or the pop out windows left open, or just leaked? That luggage tray area is really bad. You can either cut parts out of an organ donor car, or fabricate your own pieces.
If you can weld, you can probably fix this vehicle. Parts will cost you, but you will save on the labor obviously if you do it yourself.
_________________
1968 Beetle (storage)
1990 Jetta GLI megasquirted, burning E85 (currently in heavy maintenance)
2004 Jetta turbo GLI
Marion, Iowa

[Q-Dog]

My 1970 had a lot of the same rust in the rear ... probably because all of the original window seals were dried up, shrunken and leaking.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[TDCTDI]

Here ya go…. Damn near a step by step.


https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=766263&highlight=wildebeest
_________________
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.

[70’DerpyDerby]

[70’DerpyDerby]

[Cusser]

Here's the thread for the resurrection of my own 1970, after it sat on the side of my house for 23 years:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=664950&highlight=resurrection
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[jinx758]

What I'm saying is your plan to use fiberglass and rivets is not the safest choice ... at all. MAYBE if you incorporate a roll cage with added supports & it's tied into the pan front and back.
These cars sit so low to the ground you mite stand a chance if you go up against a Camry. There are no crumple zones in a 52yr old vehicle.
Last Dec the Pres of my car club was hit while delivering X_mas presents. He was going thru an intersection & they were at about 40+ mph. It was a complete loss, he had to be cut out, & he now has a bionic hip with about 4 surgeries. We had a police escort to boot.
The pan of a bug has the VIN stamped into it. This is the only one that counts with state agencies concerning a title. You could save a lot of time by getting a body that is in good nick.

You keep saying you want a Baja but stock & keep the front & rear. (HUH ... ?) That is known as a Class 11 style look.
These can be very capable in off roading. Done right these can have 11 to 14 inches of ground clearance & I think they're UberKool.
The further you modify from stock the more you have to over engineer to keep it functional.
I use my '71 Standard as a pleasure car so NOT daily but I also treat it as a 4wheel motorcycle. I was forced to go off the highway across the median to the access road to avoid a jack knifed tanker in 2017. Both the Mustang & BMW behind me got stuck. Hee hee.

Build it how you want, learn as you go, have MUCH fun when you get to drive it.

Get it safe, make it stop, get it running, THEN drive the snot out of it all the while smiling from rear to ear.

Tons of info on here with lots of knowledgeable people willing to help. Start a thread in the Off Road section so we can follow your journey.
We want you to succeed ! ... safely ! !

Best to you ... stay safe

jinx
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford

It's not unlike the same difference

You can't push a rope


VALVES (cold)
POINTS
TIMING
CARB (fully warmed engine)

SCRAPE ALL GROUNDS

My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor

[70’DerpyDerby]

[TDCTDI]

Then if it’s the class11 look that you’re after, definitely peruse through my thread.

_________________
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.