New Project - 1984 Puma GTS

[joey1320]

This car was posted here about a week and a half ago and I had to have it. It's pretty much all original with still plenty of life left as it is.

It was posted as a 1983 but the title shows 1984, so I'm going with 1984 from now on. This will be a simple restoration project of removing, inspecting, cleaning, reusing and replacing as I go along.

The body and interior will get a proper cleaning/detail job and the engine will receive some much needed attention. Although the engine runs, I know it can be made better.

I'll try my hardest to maintain a good working routine along with the updates here. Any questions are welcome.

A few pics. I have more to upload

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**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[joey1320]

Few more pictures.

_________________
**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[joey1320]

Sorry for the bad pics. Not sure why my phone did that.

Ordered carb rebuild kits. Planning on doing some fiberglass repairs to the battery tray area, since it's cracking.

I finished all the work I wanted to do to my brother's '56, so now my energy can be used here. I need to figure out how to go about the damaged convertible top.
_________________
**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[Petfisheric]

Joey congrats on the acquisition of your Puma, looks pretty clean in the pictures. I'm sure you will learn that what you have is a GTC not the GTS. The GTS had steal bumper covers and from the front looked a little more like a Dino vs. the GTCs 911ish front end.

Couple of quick things about Puma's the GTC and GTIs were built on a cut down Brazilia platform so the top hat is different than German / North American VWs. This is only an issue if you need a Master Cylinder. You will have to source one for the Brazilia. Also the steering column is out of the Brazilia so getting a spare key made can be difficult. Finding someone with a proper blank is the trick. It is like a mirror image to the German VWs. The rear brakes will be Type 3 if they haven't been swapped for Type 1 components already. If they are Type 3 drums keep them as they have superior stopping power.

Here is a photo of mine from 1987 when I first purchased it.

[Kevin-T]

First post on the samba.

I also just purchased a Puma, 1981 GTC. It is on a truck back home to Canada where it spent all but the last two years in Florida. Just learning about the Puma differences to other old VW's. I am not new to the air-cool VW's as my first restoration was a 1972 Westy, that was back in 1988. About 12 years ago I restored a 1973 Super Bettle. My next project was a 1971 Ghia convertible. Then 4 years ago I restored a 1969 Ghia coupe. All are sold except the 69 Ghia which is a keeper. I missed my convertible so much that I recently started looking for a new convertible project and thanks the Hot VW mag doing a feature on Puma's, I knew right away I found my next project.
This car is complete and hopefully not a full on restoration like the past units because I really hope I will be driving it come spring.

[desi2960]

Just sold my 84 gtc, took it on a 275 mile trip last month and was tired when i got back to my home. At 77 years old, and 6 ft 200 lbs, there is just not enough room for me to get comfortable.
Your looks great enjoy it.

[joey1320]

[joey1320]

Started working on minor things. Removed the door panel to fix the leather, which is coming apart. Found some broken pieces which I'll need to have 3D printed.


Link

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**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[joey1320]

Question for anyone reading out there reading this, would Super Beetle brake disc components fit the Puma/Brazilia models? I want to redo my front brakes soon and would like to order the correct stuff.
_________________
**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[Kevin-T]

Clearly I am not an expert or even have much general knowledge of the Puma or the pan it is based on but I do have experience with old aircooled VW's. I had a 73 super beetle and have had two Karmann ghia's. The super beetle has a different front set up with McPherson suspension vs double beam. Someone else should verify this but I believe because the Puma uses the beam front end you should be sourcing your brake parts from a Ghia not a Super. You may want to ask this question on the Facebook Puma Group page.

Still waiting for my Puma to arrive but when I do, I am sure we will be able to swap a lot of information back and forth then.

[joey1320]