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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:01 am Post subject: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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These two bugs were my Dad's. He got them in the Fall of 2003 and they lived on the edge of the Mojave Desert since then.
They stayed outside in the back yard most of the time, which ironically is a good thing because about 3 years ago there was a 7.1 Earthquake that literally tossed the contents of the house and garage!
This 67 Sunroof is the second bookend of the pair, the other being a 56 Oval.
This is a solid car and I know it was driven 3-5 years ago, so after checking fuel line and changing all the oils it could very well start right up!
It needs a lot of TLC because of the years being wind blown by the desert dust have taken its toll on the paint and the heat has hardened the rubber.
This is such a bittersweet time, he passed away in July and they were delivered yesterday.
I will be doing this work with my adult sons but would love to have Dad around to tell me everything I am doing wrong!
Oh yes, my sister has a 56 Bus that Dad gave her a few years ago and she loves it!
Anyway, here's what I know about my car.
1967 Body and Chassis
1966 Engine and Dad kept a spare 1966 engine, maybe for parts?
I have not found any rust in the frame or body, I live in Florida so that is just weird!
There is surface rust, on edges and I imagine places where the dust wore away enough paint
They are in my garage now, which is an outright miracle since I only have a 2 car garage
In interior is complete (no radio) and fairly clean, I will clean it with caution.
It was painted in 2007 and the overcoat is still in good shape, but there is some rust in the vent area below the rear window, maybe Macco didn't paint it in 07.
I wonder what the most urgent task is, with the car coming from a bone dry environment to the Humidity of Florida do I attack the surface rust and seal it up with rattle car primer?
When I touch the paint I get a dry dust on my hands, could it be road dust?
This is road dust and because of the overcoat I think it may be safe to just wash it, in time.
Here are some of my "before" pictures
The bugs at play in their natural environmant
Engine
Delivery!
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67conv Samba Member

Joined: July 10, 2005 Posts: 424 Location: Simi Valley, California
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Congratulations on your inheritance! Both look extraordinary!! Did your dad keep the aluminum trunk and side trim strips separately stored somewhere when it was repainted? They appear to be missing on the '67 pics. Otherwise, a VERY nice example of a '67. Any chance your dad might've put away the original '67 1500 engine someplace? _________________ 1967 VW Convertible, owned 35 years.
1957 DKW 3=6, owned 21 years.
PREVIOUS: 1972 "Baja Champion SE" Spec. Edition Beetle bought NEW @ Pierce VW in Denver; 1979 Super Beetle Convertible bought NEW @ Downtown LA VW; 1967 type 1 savanna beige; 1967 Porsche 2.0 911S; 1973 Porsche 2.4 911T; 1963 356 T6 B Cabriolet; 1964 356 SC sunroof coupe; 1972 Type-3 Squareback; 1968 + 1969 Type-3 Fastbacks; 1987 Vanagon GL Weekender |
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Busstom Samba Member

Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 4571 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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I spy half of a transmission case on the bench. Did you bring it back to Florida? Your dad probably used that to start engines on the bench (or ground).
The old jacks had probably seen better days. |
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Larmo63 Samba Member

Joined: May 26, 2015 Posts: 338 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Personally, I'm much more impressed with the '56 bug.
That's the better project. _________________ Lawrence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘61 Mango Green Single Cab
'62 Pearl White Ragtop sedan
'66 Ruby Red Cabriolet
'86 Porsche 911 Carrera |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 4:07 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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67conv wrote: |
Congratulations on your inheritance! Both look extraordinary!! Did your dad keep the aluminum trunk and side trim strips separately stored somewhere when it was repainted? They appear to be missing on the '67 pics. Otherwise, a VERY nice example of a '67. Any chance your dad might've put away the original '67 1500 engine someplace? |
I have not had time to unpack the bugs, there are a bunch of strips inside.
I think I misspoke, the VIN and engines are all from Nov 66 which is the 67 model year.
Even the spare engine is from the same month, amazing. |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 4:09 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Busstom wrote: |
I spy half of a transmission case on the bench. Did you bring it back to Florida? Your dad probably used that to start engines on the bench (or ground).
The old jacks had probably seen better days. |
Yes I agree about the jacks and the case is waiting to be unpacked. |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 4:15 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Larmo63 wrote: |
Personally, I'm much more impressed with the '56 bug.
That's the better project. |
The 56 is clearly more of a project, I think the 67 is 90% complete.
I'll love all my children equally
I have a weekend driver and a project, who could ask for anything more?
I need to change ALL the fluids, check the brake pads, clean the fuel line and buy a battery.
Oh yeah, being in the desert heat, I need to see what rubber is hard, hopefully only the rubber that was in the sun is bad.. |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2021 4:28 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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I made time this weekend to get the spare engine, tow bar and some other part out of the passenger compartment and lightly cleaned it up!
It looks like a Big again!
I have all the chrome and found a bag of clips in the ash tray.
Of course my wife was my first passenger, but we couldn't go anywhere since I still need to change all the fluids...
I then discovered 5 yr old gas in the tank, removed, drained and cleaned it.
Looking closer I saw this sticker and it made me wonder if this was the original tank
Oh yes, there is always a question!
I could not get the seat bottom all the way in, I needed less than 1/4" or maybe 1/8" to get it to slip down into the frame.
And likely because of that the seat back won't stay down at all. If I pull it forward and let go, it pops back up to fully open.
I'll have to pull the seat bottom and take pictures, too much stuffing on the rear edge (the side under the seat back)?
All in all a really Good day! _________________ Tampa, FL
1956 Oval Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760503
1967 Sunroof Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760508 |
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Big Bill Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2005 Posts: 1804 Location: Fortuna Calif.
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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:08 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Enjoying your posts on the 67. The rear seat on my 67 is also VERY hard to get into the frame piece, the PO over stuffed the seats at some point with thin foam rubber . Tilting the seat back forward helped a little. |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Big Bill wrote: |
Enjoying your posts on the 67. The rear seat on my 67 is also VERY hard to get into the frame piece, the PO over stuffed the seats at some point with thin foam rubber . Tilting the seat back forward helped a little. |
Thanks I'll try that!
edit: Ah Ha! Thin foam doesn't compress as well good to know! _________________ Tampa, FL
1956 Oval Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760503
1967 Sunroof Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760508 |
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67rustavenger Samba Member

Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 10403 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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This tire pressure sticker is factory correct.
My 67 has it in the same location. _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:49 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Well it seems that both rear seats are over stuffed, I picked up a rear seat bottom for my 56 and tries it in the 67 (seat came from 72, they are the same from 56-77 from what I have heard)
Seat bottom fits properly, but rear won't stay down
How flat should a 67 lay?
Can the seat covers be opened up and re-closed, I have always thought not.
One thing I did notice is that white seats was not an option with zenith blue paint
They should be either Water Blue (Cloth) or Black basket weave.
I am not really going to do anything about the seats right now, I need to get it on the road first! _________________ Tampa, FL
1956 Oval Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760503
1967 Sunroof Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760508 |
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Chickensoup Samba Member

Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 5394 Location: Good Hope, GA
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:10 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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hello, the 72 seat you bought, should fit the 67 perfectly.
However, your 57 came with a different shape seat. IDK if it will physically fit. Either way, its not the same seat. I THink, pre 65 seats use the same frame, and may be the same as 57 seats. |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:37 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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chickensoup pt 2 wrote: |
hello, the 72 seat you bought, should fit the 67 perfectly.
However, your 57 came with a different shape seat. IDK if it will physically fit. Either way, its not the same seat. I THink, pre 65 seats use the same frame, and may be the same as 57 seats. |
This is covered in the Oval thread...
Summary: Rear seat back has seen the most changes, mostly from the Oval fenders blending with the body differently, rear seat back is wider on Oval, but workable.
The seat bottom frame is the same from 56 onward.
The Seat back up to 64 has the correct mounting.
We'll find out, watch the Oval thread for the results...
But getting this car on the road is the current priority! _________________ Tampa, FL
1956 Oval Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760503
1967 Sunroof Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760508 |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Big Bill Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2005 Posts: 1804 Location: Fortuna Calif.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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That is a great looking interior, I have never seen that combo before. VW sure had some neat color combinations.  |
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Yes for the zenith blue exterior paint the Technical Paint/Upholstery page shows only Water Blue (Cloth) and Black (leatherette) as options for the seats
I am really liking the Water Blue in smooth vinyl, and may switch it out at some point (gotta get it on the road first!)
Found out the rear seats are over stuffed, so may try to unhook them and remove some padding and seal it up.
I can be fearless since I want to change them later. _________________ Tampa, FL
1956 Oval Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760503
1967 Sunroof Build https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760508 |
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Big Bill Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2005 Posts: 1804 Location: Fortuna Calif.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Mojave 1967 Sunroof |
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Thats what I did since i am going to change mine out this winter. They were way over stuffed to the point of pulling the seams apart . I removed the cover and took out some of the foam rubber so it would fit in the lower frame channel. POs you got to love them...
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w2vy Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2016 Posts: 124 Location: Tampa, FL
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