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matthew henricks
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2002
Posts: 1264
Location: So. Cal
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toxicavenger70
Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2019
Posts: 882
Location: CO
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 Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2022 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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| WOW! That black is deep! Is that a stock VW black? It looks stunning. |
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56Cabrio
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 1995
Location: San Fernando Valley, CA
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2022 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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| toxicavenger70 wrote: |
| WOW! That black is deep! Is that a stock VW black? It looks stunning. |
To be honest, I don't know what "black" it is. They said they painted it the "blackest black" you can get. It turned out beautiful.
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2022 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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April 11 2022 they post the final video :
Link
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2022 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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And pictures they posted on their Instagram site piecing it back together :
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2022 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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Back together except for the front hood. They said there were some flaws in the paint and it would need to be resprayed. I'll have to come back for that later.
You'd never know this started life as a '64. Now it looks like an oval window from every angle 
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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pierre2
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2002
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2022 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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I love how perfectly the fenders flow into the front/rear aprons.
Pierre |
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matthew henricks
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2002
Posts: 1264
Location: So. Cal
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vwuberalles
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2003
Posts: 1431
Location: Richmond, VA
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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April 11 2022 it finally gets delivered to my driveway! It's finished and looks amazing.
The gull wing you saw in the background at the shop I believe is a kit car of some kind but I could be wrong. They are a high volume shop with a year long waiting list at any given time. They bust out projects left and right and aren't afraid to tackle anything. The fellow that did my body work is a total perfectionist.
First thing I noticed when it was dropped off was the fact that someone had the wheels on backwards . Out came the jack and the 135's got put back up front where they're supposed to be  There was no rubbing so all is good.
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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A few weeks later the hood has been repainted so I pick it up and a buddy helps me install it.
Looks so much better complete!
But... I don't like how it fits  This was a super straight original paint 1958 4-tab hood. I swore it fit really nice when I first installed it 5 years ago. Now it has some major issues. It sits too tall along the windshield cowl, the front tip rubs against the apron and there is a huge gap along the drivers quarter panel. Argh!!
To be honest, the shop came across some of these issues during final fitting when it was in primer. They didn't like what they were seeing either and had me come out with the latch, handle, cable and hood seal. They wanted to mock everything up together.
A few days later they text me and said they think they were able to get it fitting 90% better. To get 100% they have to start chopping the hood up - cutting, sectioning, welding and redoing the bodywork. I figured I could live with 90%.
I don't want to play the blame game as I have no idea what happened to my hood. It was at numerous shops in the last 5 years and for all I know someone dropped it and tweaked it out of shape. It's just too bad this wasn't noticed on day one at the body shop.
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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I just can't live with the black hood! It's driving me nuts. No amount of adjustment will help.
My buddy comes over and we try fitting the hood that originally came with the car when I bought it. It's pretty rough but it fits way better! Flat and level with the cowl, proper clearance at the apron and even gaps on the quarter panels.
I get back to the body shop about this and the owner feels terrible for me. He's a stand up guy and wants me happy. He said he's willing to body work and paint my yellow hood all at no charge. The yellow hood isn't a 4 tab but at this point I don't really care. I want to run a Wolfsburg crest so I'll just have the holes drilled.
After thinking about things for a while, the idea of using my yellow hood is bothering me. The car is so nice that using a beat hood that will definitely have filler etc just doesn't seem right. The car deserves a nice hood. Finding air cooled parts where I live is tough. The supply chain dried up years ago and finding another mint hood will be next to impossible. Where to start? How about posting up a "wanted" ad on Craigslist and see what happens...
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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A couple weeks go by and someone responds to my Craigslist wanted ad. A guy 40 min from where I live is offering up a clean hood that came off a 1965 Bug. I get his address, stop at the bank for some cash and head out to see if I can make a deal.
After a bit of back and forth negotiating, I become the new owner of the hood. $400 bucks + I give him a beat down hood that I have in my collection from a 1963 that I'll never use. He didn't really want to part with his hood. He knows a nice one is hard to find. He wanted something in return so at least he still had one in his collection. A rough one was better than nothing. I'm gratefully he was willing to help me out.
Nice and straight. No major dents, no rust and no cracks in the metal.
And it fits!
The body shop has agreed to body and paint this one for me. They said they should be able to book me in for August.
So... this is where I'm at with the Bug. From here on, it will be about slowly piecing it back together and rounding up parts etc.
I also have a Zwitter that I've owned for over 25 years that has been sitting for probably a decade. I've rolled it out of the garage and I'm currently working on it to make it a turn key driver again. I can't have 2 projects sitting around in pieces. The Zwitter must be put back together by the end of this summer. Then I can consider it done and move forward with the chop top.
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2022 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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Sent off an NOS oval ignition switch, NOS outside door handle and a mint used t-handle - all to be re-keyed so that they operate off the same key. All SG key codes.
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2022 10:35 am Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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Nothing much happening with the Bug for the last few months. I switched gears and have been working on my '53 Zwitter instead. That car has been sitting off the road for over 12 years and I decided I better get it back together so I can drive it again before I focus back on the chop top.
Finally got the green light from the body shop to bring my red 1965 front hood in for body and paint. They sent me a text on Monday and they are completing some of the modifications I asked for.
They welded up the 3 holes for the VW emblem and have re-drilled the pattern for a 1960-1963 style emblem. They also welded up a molding hole, drilled a new one and added slots for a Wolfsburg crest.
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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slayer61
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2021
Posts: 1130
Location: CA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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Very cool. 
Details, details, details.
_________________
| Cusser wrote: |
... Most folks are idiots when it deals with electrical !!! |
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
3/4 race cam? What's missing, one of the lobes? |
Paul
'68 Manx clone... Sears??
2276 built on AS21 case
W-125 w/ GB 1.25:1 rockers
Mahle forged pistons
CB 4340 crank
CB H beam rods
deep sump
44 HPMX
EMPI GTV 2 STG II wedge ports
CB Magna spark
1 5/8 merged collector w/ hater stinger |
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toxicavenger70
Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2019
Posts: 882
Location: CO
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| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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| Stunning work! |
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Stephan Schmidt
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2002
Posts: 215
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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| banana split wrote: |
A couple weeks go by and someone responds to my Craigslist wanted ad. A guy 40 min from where I live is offering up a clean hood that came off a 1965 Bug. I get his address, stop at the bank for some cash and head out to see if I can make a deal.
After a bit of back and forth negotiating, I become the new owner of the hood. $400 bucks + I give him a beat down hood that I have in my collection from a 1963 that I'll never use. He didn't really want to part with his hood. He knows a nice one is hard to find. He wanted something in return so at least he still had one in his collection. A rough one was better than nothing. I'm gratefully he was willing to help me out.
Nice and straight. No major dents, no rust and no cracks in the metal.
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Who did you get it from? |
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banana split
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002
Posts: 1109
Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: 1964 Chop Top Build |
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Hi Stephan, the beat down 1963 hood came from you! The red hood came from a guy named Brian who lives rather close to you. Don't recall his last name (and it's not Cook).
The chop top is still sitting in my garage with a car cover untouched. Still waiting for the body shop to finish up up the replacement hood. I know it has been a very long time but I told them no rush, the car is just sitting waiting for Spring time and warmer weather. I'll be reaching out to them soon. The chop top will still sit because getting my '53 Zwitter back on the road is priority for me.
_________________
My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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