I bought a VW project!!

[Imonit]

Hi Everyone,
I'm Scott B from The Florida Panhandle and just bought a Project! The guy before me bought a project and didn't do much to it and now its my turn.

It's a 1974 Super Beetle, Convertible.

The Good - The frame and floor boards are separate from the body right now. Both of these parts are in very good shape - like all the rot has been fixed and the floor is new (with surface rust). The engine is in boxes so that is going to be a challenge for me. I may have a local engine builder reassemble. The interior seems to mostly be there. I have no idea about lights, gauges or wiring. It has glass fenders and running boards, I'm not crazy about that but hopefully Ya'll will tell me that is a good thing.

The BAD - Has a frame for the convertible top and that is it. I understand this is a big job and expensive. I'll think be looking for a recommendation for someone to install the top once i get the rest of it together.
- There is no dashboard. Well there is a blank piece of fiberglass. I have no idea what I'm going to do about this. I think I'll be looking for a use dash right away. any feedback on this or any other part of my project is welcome.


The builder - I'm 58 and have driven a new(er) car/truck since I was 20. Until a couple years ago I never had the time to work on cars. I always wanted an Old Jeep, so I bought a welder and a bunch of tools and built one. Well resto/mod one.

This was a total frame up job and did all the popular mods along the way. 1966 Cj5 with factory V6. Added power steering, YJ spring Swap, front disk brakes came with D30 axle swap, rear fuel tank and many other mods. You can see the whole build here on the Early CJ5 Forum. http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/scotts-66-make-it-driveable-build.129438/

A few months ago I started on another Jeep project that I was taking to the next level with engine swap (Buick V6) and total running gear swap ('79 CJ7). http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/1964-cj3b-build-my-second-jeep.138104/ I'm going to push this out into the driveway while I build the Super Beetle.

Current state;

Photos of the Beetle I'll get tomorrow when I pick it up. Again feedback welcome (and leads to a dashboard more than welcome).

Thanks Scott B.

[Zundfolge1432]

Welcome aboard, panhandle of Florida then you must meet our friend the lumberjack aka Mark. Lucky you you’ve chosen a great forum plenty of accurate information here, and a fair amount of humor

[VW_Jimbo]

Welcome!

Those skills from Jeeping are sure to make life easier on you restoring a Bug!

Good luck and hope to see some photos soon! Then the really fun can start!
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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!

[Tom K.]

Learn to reassemble that engine yourself. Not too difficult, and then you'll be in much better position to maintain it properly.
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'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[Imonit]

[Zundfolge1432]

Mark is mostly on the performance forum. I must say he had me fooled for a long time with misspelling and vague responses but he knows more than most and then he has the last laugh. Along the right side of your screen at the top scroll up to google custom search. Now plug in Mark Tucker and see what comes up. He knows this vw stuff.

[Rome]

Congratulations on your '74, and welcome to theSamba. As for the engine, if you are willing to invest about $40 in 2 books and then study all the engine parts you have, you might be willing to give the assembly a try yourself. Even though the engine is considered simple, it was originally built using close tolerances, and strict adherence to tightening torques.
https://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Volkswagen-air-Cool...&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-...amp;sr=1-2

[Imonit]

Got it home. How many photos y’all want?

4 wheel disk.

Seller said this was a good one.

Transmission cost more than I paid for all of it.

[Bama Dave]

Might not be the transmission that was paid for on the receipt....if it was, it seems to have to sat out in the elements for 2+ years. I am doubtful.

Either way, welcome to the world of spending far more money than you plan. Just like the rest of us.
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David Richerson

!964 Beetle Sedan
1970 Beetle Sedan
1971 Super Sedan
1972 Baja

[Imonit]

[calvinater]

As sponge said to squidward " good luck with that "
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"Albatross"!

[VW_Jimbo]

Tranny was built with something. It has a heavy duty side cover. And it is the SSC single side cover transmission from 74 and up. Most of those came with the preferred 3.88 ring and pinion. According to the receipt it has a 4.12. Makes you wonder what else they did to it.

Is that wheel well dimpled or is that just the primer contrast?

You need to ask Santa for several thousand dollars! Have fun!
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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!

[blankc72]

Welcome to The Samba. Rare Air VW club is based out of Pensacola and also has resources locally available to members.

[Imonit]

My neighbor is a VW guy so he came over today and helped me figure out some of what’s what. Big help. Thanks Rick.

Then I removed the tranny and the wheels and brakes. Was a roller.

Is this the fuel line? Does it need to be replaced? What’s easiest way?

What are these?

[VW_Jimbo]

Yep, that’s the fuel line. You will need to test it for leaks to know if it needs to be replaced. Plug up one end and inject some mineral oil in there to check it.

Those two tubes are for the heater cables. They run up to the levers on either side of the e-brake. They exit the tube and attach to the heater boxes on the engine.

FYI. That nut up higher on the fork by the fuel line is for the negative battery cable attachment.
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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!

[Imonit]

[VW_Jimbo]

Here you go! See it sticking out the tunnel?

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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!

[Imonit]

[Imonit]

An hour with the wire wheel and I have the loose paint, grease and rust off the front 1/3.

The middle 1/3 will be a breeze.

The rear 1/3 is going to take some time.

[VW_Jimbo]

It may have rusted away or been pushed back into the tunnel. I have a 54 I am restoring right now. After I get the body stable again, I will be returning to the pan to weld in some stainless steel tubing for the cables and gas line. I had already started on this task when the body started to cave in on itself. Damn thing! VW had a bulletin out for the installation of a fuel line on the exterior of the tunnel. Maybe someone will chime in with that option for you.
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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!