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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 9:17 pm Post subject: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Just bought a 1965 Beetle. It had been restored sometime in the past and then sat in someone’s barn for a while. It seems like it has solid bones with not much rust at all. Unfortunately it has two small spots where bondo is flaking up Needs brakes and some electrical work before it’s roadworthy. It starts and drives as is but won’t stop and not all of the lights work. Planning on fixing it up and using it as my daily driver at college this year. Here’s some pictures.
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Eric&Barb Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 25475 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:10 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Nice project!
You will need to fix all the lower rust thru spots to keep more water from being pumped thru those in the rainy/slushy weather. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Pruneman99 Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2012 Posts: 5013 Location: Oceanside
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Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:22 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Pretty good looking start there. Some rust repair, but nothing too scary looking (yet). I bet that paint will buff out pretty nice.
What's the dashpot on the throttle arm? |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 25475 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Washed it up and replaced the bare wires along with some bulbs and cleaned the fuse contact points. Turn signals all work but it blows the first fuse whenever you turn the headlights on.
The floor pans seem to be original with a patch under the battery. |
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vwuberalles Samba Member

Joined: October 18, 2003 Posts: 1436 Location: Richmond, VA
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pondoras box Samba Member

Joined: March 22, 2004 Posts: 1296 Location: Eerie PA
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Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:46 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Dude, you sure have a gigantic garage! _________________ Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.
1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda)
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk |
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2019 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Pulled the engine and tires and wheels off. Next step is new tires and cleaning up the engine, repainting the engine tins and replacing the aftermarket oil cooler they had above the transmission with a stock one.
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 10228 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Be careful when you clean your engine compartment side and front sound insulation. They appear to be the original factory-installed panels with the outward bumps. Best of my knowledge that specific style is not reproduced. If you go about the cleaning aggessively such as pressure wash or garden hose spray, degreaser, scrub brush; it's likely that the top layer of impregnated paper will fall apart.
I suggest placing either a tarp or a large collecting tray under the engine compartment. Use a spray bottle with 50/50 diluted SimpleGreen to spray a mist onto one of the panels at a time. Let the sprayed liquid drip down, carrying surface dirt off.
Dab a sponge into the same cleaner mix and press it directly onto the surface. Do not wipe the sponge, because the lateral movement of the sponge could start to scrape off the panel top layer if it is already marginal.
Clean off the panel with clean water without any cleanser/degreaser, then either let it air dry, or spray it from a distance with compressed air. Assess the cleanliness once the panel is dry, and consider repeating if needed. You can try a soft-bristled kitchen scrub brush on the firewall panel directly above the transmission hump. In case that panel material is starting to degrade, just stop the scrubbing. It'll be hidden from plain sight by the fan shroud. |
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:05 pm Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Should I be worried that the engine insulation might break off and clog up the fan? |
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 10228 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:07 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Your insulation appears to be solid in the photos you posted. You'll be able to feel the integrity once you have the engine out. I've seen original insulation still appear to be uncracked and not peeling, but it had loosened from one or more of the fastening spikes so that it could be pulled rearward towards the engine's fan intake on the fan shroud once the engine was running. This reduced the amount of cooling air coming into the fan, ultimately leading to a hot engine. |
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vwuberalles Samba Member

Joined: October 18, 2003 Posts: 1436 Location: Richmond, VA
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Eric&Barb Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 25475 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Or run SS safety wire from hook to hook, just in front of the fan opening. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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The OG sound insulation seems to be pretty sturdy on the middle portion. The sides are questionable and very dirty though.
Rewired some of the headlight and turn signal wiring because the PO had used some cheap crimped connections to splice some wires. Soldered those together with some heat shrink made them sturdy again. Also rebuilt the headlight assembly's with new seals and new bulbs.
Lastly I got the new tires mounted but not bolted on because I have some brake work to do first.
General Grabber AT2 205/75r15 look really good on the stock wheel, not that much bigger than stock really. Really stoked with how these look sitting in their spots.
Also Got 1 BFG 155/80r15 hoping it will fit in the stock spare tire slot.
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Eric&Barb Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 25475 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Soldering and heat shrink are good, but factory style uninsulated brass terminals and proper crimping tool are better.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=338938 _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Yeah, I’ve been using my ratcheting crimper for ends that need replaced. The places I’ve been soldering are splices in the middle of the wire. |
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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Got some work done over thanksgiving break.
First thing I did was pull the transmission out and apart and wash off about an inch of caked on dirt and oil off the outside and also cleaned all of the sludge out from inside the transmission. Then reassembled with new seals to hopefully stop where it was leaking.
After I installed the transmission back in I reindexed the torsion bars for 1.5 inches lifted from stock. I think I’m going to go back and change it to more around .5 to .75 inches..
Next thing was new soft brake lines, master cylinder, wheel cylinder and pads along with cleaning all of the old springs, backing plates, and adjusters. The bug already had basically brand new drums on it from the previous owner.
After a good bleeding and adjusting I bolted on the new tires.
Next thing I did was take the engine down to a longblock and after cleaning everything and believing the engine to be in excellent condition it went back together with new intake seals, boots and a carb that I rebuilt. (Before removing it I did a compression test which showed all cylinders very close to 120) Also dropped in a new SVDA distributor instead of the 009 it had. Here is a picture of the valves while I was adjusting them. All of the valves measured out to .007 before I adjusted them. They looked very clean. I don’t think this engine had too many miles on it.
I only got the chance to drive it a couple of miles but it was running very well with no misfire anymore. Seems to have a good amount of power and is a very quiet engine. Next thing on the list is to install a new gas tank from WW, finish up the wiring and put new shift bushings in. |
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calvinater Samba Member

Joined: September 06, 2014 Posts: 3443 Location: 802 The Pointless Forrest
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 5:24 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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That sir is one good looking ride.
Love the stance and the colour.
What colour is it? _________________ "Albatross"! |
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:14 am Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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It is a dark metallic blue. I’m not sure on the actual paint code or anything as it was repainted 20 or 30 years ago. I can get some close up pictures of the paint after I polish it. I’m betting that it will look a lot better after a compound and polish. |
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Ericlottaallthat Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 138 Location: McCune, Kansas
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Franklin’s Preservation |
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I’ve been home for a week from Christmas break and have been getting a lot of work done! Got my first 4.0 this semester at K-State so that is exciting. I started by adjusting the rear down an inch so it is just a half inch above stock. It sits level now. Did a compound and polish with a DA polisher and then waxed it.
Pulled the rest of the stock tar board out and wire brushed the rust a little bit and then applied some POR 15.for now I am leaving the patch that the PO has under the battery. It is sturdy but not pretty. Put in a new fuel tank from WW.
Also hooked up the heater boxes. It blows Hot! But unfortunately smells very bad. I need to make sure that the exhaust is not leaking into the heater boxes.
Also took it to Christmas Eve service with my parents
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