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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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 Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:31 pm Post subject: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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Yo. Figured I'd debut my project here for everyone to laugh at. 63' Ragtop that's been local to my little town here for many decades, sat under a tarp last licensed in 88'. It's just a car that had been known to myself and a few people forever, not exactly even hidden- but just 'not for sale' until a guy I know went and bothered them again last summer.
So guy I know takes it home and it's basically a flip for him, he doesn't even touch it. Since it was local and easy to get and not a *terrible* deal, I drag it home about 3 weeks ago.
First things first I have to get a good look at everything and get it running?
Engine was *stuck*, ...not seized luckily. ATF in the cylinders for a couple days and it loosened up fine.
Odd thing I found that the oil and spark plugs were quite literally brand new. Plug wires were all backwards, maybe that's one reason they parked it?
Swapped a carb onto it and it, sorted some wiring, put a 6 volt starter I had in and fired right up. Engine has no endplay and sounds ok actually.
Took it up around the corner and went through the gears too, trans shifted and stayed in all gears!
Once I understood how big a mess it was I decided to try and deal with the title, so dragged it out to the State Patrol, got an inspection and hit a wall. Inspector lady was a total wackjob. She screwed up the 'ownership in doubt' and decided it was now an 'abandoned vehicle'.
Dammit. If she's gonna be difficult I'll just make my own title. So, filled out the Vermont Paperwork and sent it off. They cashed my check today, so I think I'm all set for a title. 
Had to spend a day -1/2 swapping the engine in my Vanagon, and then pulled it into the garage and took some bolts out and took the green part off the black part with the wheels.
Does it have RUST?
Yeah.
Not as bad as half the cars people resurrect, it's salvageable. 10 Years ago this car would've been a clip. 5 years ago it's a toss up. But these days we have to save what we can.
Plan is to hopefully get the pan *restored* by the end of summer and work on the body next winter.
And LONG term plan is to make this a daily driver 365 car with a bit of power 1.9L maybe, ...maybe mircosquirt. Add a heater, super nice interior.
Exterior will be...who knows what.
I am not good at body work, I have no idea how to do this.
Where it came from.
Got it home.
Inspection DAY!
In the garage. Next to the other thing.
Some stuff isn't fixable.
Is a good copy of this panel available anywhere?
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| hitest wrote: |
| Had a girlfriend once who shall we say, nearly arrived at the mere sight of a semaphore in action- easy to please she was... |
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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It's really not a horrible car. Gonna need all the obvious and usual. Heater channels, front bulkhead, a couple inches in one rear 1/4 panel.
Oh, here's the other car from the garage since someone's going to ask.
54' that I got locally here 3 years ago. It was a good start, but basically a complete painted shell when I got it. Now it's a driver. Salvaged all the original materials and parts I could.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730263&highlight=
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758099&highlight=
[img]
[/img]
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| hitest wrote: |
| Had a girlfriend once who shall we say, nearly arrived at the mere sight of a semaphore in action- easy to please she was... |
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Dusty1
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2090
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:03 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| Bub wrote: |
Some stuff isn't fixable.
Is a good copy of this panel available anywhere?
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I hate hammered spare tire wells. Hate 'em because maybe 90% of Bugs that are left have been punched in the nose.
They call that a "light tap". 
The whole spare tire well was available from Brazil. Haven't checked lately. Nothing semi- or pseudo- OEM is available lately.
Having said that...
I've been stashing straight nose clips for at least the last 30 years. Any time I see an OG Bug so rusty you can throw cats through it I salvage the front clip if I can.
And...
If you cut it through the quarters like you did you might as well splice the whole thing on at once. Why do a re- weld of individual pieces?
Re: Your back of the spare tire well bulkhead:
The same panel or close enough is used on many VWs from 1960 up. Look under the hood of a Ghia, there's your panel. Look under the hood of a Thing, there it is again!
Looking at the OMG! straight '72 spare tire well clip I brought home literally a few days ago... there's your panel!
I'm pretty sure I have a '65 clip that's perfect right down to its OG apron. Not a solicitation. Just mentioning they're out there evidenced by the several I have. Just in case doncha know?
Next part: The shape of the front section of the front quarters is the same AFAIK from 1961 to 1973. '74 got "5mph bumpers" with gnarly big- ass brackets under the fenders. Still, if you want "5mph" crash worthiness you can splice on a German '74 to '77 spare tire well. It includes braces that brace into your beam if they haven't been cut. It's meant to brace against a ball joint beam. I can't tell you how it would fit with a link pin. The braces often have been trimmed to expedite beam removal. If you get a trimmed one it should slot right in there.
Apron is different and there's no hole for your brake fluid reservoir. Still, later German tin can be made to work close to perfectly.
Next part: '68 to '73 spare tire wells will fit all the way back to 1961. You will end up with a pair or redundant bumper brackets under the fenders for the '68 and up bumpers. You can carefully remove them or you can leave them in place for a little extra strength. Again, the late apron isn't correct for '67 and earlier and there are no mounts inside the spare tire well for your earlier bumpers. That's easily remedied. Simply swap the late apron for early. If the apron is damaged then no regerts, just drill out the welds and pop on a new early apron.
But wait! While the apron is off fit your early bumper mounts inside the spare tire well. Fit and tack everything. Measure it, eyeball it and make sure it's right. That includes fitting your bumper. They don't hand out trophies for cockeyed bumpers even if you're in the Rat Rod class.
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Dusty1
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2023 9:40 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| Dusty1 wrote: |
| Bub wrote: |
Some stuff isn't fixable.
Is a good copy of this panel available anywhere?
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I hate hammered spare tire wells. Hate 'em because maybe 90% of Bugs that are left have been punched in the nose.
They call that a "light tap".
The whole spare tire well was available from Brazil. Haven't checked lately. Nothing semi- or pseudo- OEM is available lately.
Having said that...
I've been stashing straight nose clips for at least the last 30 years. Any time I see an OG Bug so rusty you can throw cats through it I salvage the front clip if I can.
And...
If you cut it through the quarters like you did you might as well splice the whole thing on at once. Why do a re- weld of individual pieces?
Re: Your back of the spare tire well bulkhead:
The same panel or close enough is used on many VWs from 1960 up. Look under the hood of a Ghia, there's your panel. Look under the hood of a Thing, there it is again!
Looking at the OMG! straight '72 spare tire well clip I brought home literally a few days ago... there's your panel!
I'm pretty sure I have a '65 clip that's perfect right down to its OG apron. Not a solicitation. Just mentioning they're out there evidenced by the several I have. Just in case doncha know?
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My original thought was to get the crappy brazilian clip and hopefully straighten the rear shelf panel enough to splice it into the clip and have something that looked *halfway* correct.
But now I'm not sure this one can be saved for what it would cost. The repro crappy clip would be good enough for me for the most part, but if I can make it better without spending 2 months on a small detail I want to try.
Since you mentioned it...you might get a message!
This isa good start:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2266335
But for the budget if I add $250'ish for this part, then have to blow $375 on the repro clip I may as well just spend $500-600 on an OEM clip from a car.
Probably worth just doing this, considering the berzillian clip is about $400.
It's even the right color.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2560858
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2090
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2023 10:07 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| Bub wrote: |
My original thought was to get the crappy brazilian clip and hopefully straighten the rear shelf panel enough to splice it into the clip and have something that looked *halfway* correct.
But now I'm not sure this one can be saved for what it would cost. The repro crappy clip would be good enough for me for the most part, but if I can make it better without spending 2 months on a small detail I want to try. |
Friends don't let friends use Brazilian metal.
If you say so.
But... pay yourself as if you're paying a body shop. $75 to $100 (or more!) an hour. How much do you feel like screwin' around? Especially when you don't have to.
There you go! If I got in on the ground floor of this I would have suggested you keep the seal edge all the way down to the apron. Cut the quarters where you want. If you keep that little piece of metal intact it's easier to make the rest of it look like it's never been messed with.
If you go with the long clip you might as well make a road trip and pick it up. Way I figure it there's no point payin' UPS or FedEx good money to smash your parts.
It wasn't so long ago I could buy a whole '63 for $600. I still have two of 'em in my barn and a sunroof clip hangin' off the rafters in my woodshed. Probably don't have $600 in all of 'em, not even including towing.
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:06 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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And then there's this:
[/img]
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mykidsbug
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Joined: April 07, 2011
Posts: 473
Location: SoSo Cal LA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| Nice! My favorite type of VW… I’m there… |
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 11:50 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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More stuff and things...
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VW_Jimbo 
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Joined: May 22, 2016
Posts: 11112
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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Very nice! Love seeing a pan bolted to engine stands. It means someone is smart and works with their mind and not their back!
Keep it going!
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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!
| TDCTDI wrote: |
| Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
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GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:51 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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Haven't updated this in a while...but been working away as much as I can.
Won't bore you with a narrative of every hassle..but it's getting there.
Short story:
First car I've ever done myself from the ground up..I mean, sort of. I sort of did a 60' 356 25 years ago when I was a kid. Now that I think about it, that counts I guess.
But on this thing I had to cut most of the bottom 4" off to replace.
YOu get the idea of how I want to finish it I guess. I have a few cool accessories- Pull out Blaupunkt, Motest triple gauge, Kamei parcel tray, HULs recliner for driver seat, Tilt-a seat of passenger. Oddball but proper 60's steering wheel....old empi chrome tail lights housings, LED replacements everywhere I could manage
Engine is a 'whatever' I scrounged 1680cc w/ big valve heads, Andrig fan.
I'm not trying to fool anyone, I did some fairly dodgy repairs on this thing, it was a bit worse than I hoped and I'm not great with body work, but I did manage to keep the filler to a bare minimum.
I painted it out in the backyard..though it's not bad.I did start to get in a bit of a rush though and should have took a break during primer and sanded and re-primed once or twice for best results.
I didn't, and..I suppose it shows in a few spots. I think it is fine overall though- most of the parts on this car are what I could scrounge and salvage, and they're refinsihed with paint I can get at the store easily- for future touch ups.
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| Had a girlfriend once who shall we say, nearly arrived at the mere sight of a semaphore in action- easy to please she was... |
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Bobs67vwagen
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Joined: March 27, 2005
Posts: 243
Location: Eastern north carolina
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 10:02 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| For the rust repair required and all the work you did to get it to this point at a low cost I think it looks great. I love the empi touches also. Back in the 70's and 80's I could put a bug together for some of the low cost numbers you spoke of, but those days are long gone. Nice work |
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matthew henricks
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Joined: January 02, 2002
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Location: So. Cal
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 9:53 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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LIttle more progress yesterday...
HULs !
Cool steering wheel...I wonder if its off a boat or something
tilt-a -seat
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 1010
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 11:22 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| I am pretty sure this beetle was sitting in Quincy around 20-25 years ago. |
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 11:48 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| type241 wrote: |
| I am pretty sure this beetle was sitting in Quincy around 20-25 years ago. |
You know maybe…? It might have been longer than 25 years ago.
Because this car sat across the street from Safeway here in Wenatchee since the early 90s for sure. Because that’s about when I personally approached the people to see if they sell it back in the old days.
It’s in that same spot until a friend of mine got it about five years ago. Then I got it from him.
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Dusty1
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Joined: April 16, 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 8:34 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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As much as a like Java green "'63s are supposed to be pearl white".
It would be cool if you could save the original door panels.
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 8:54 am Post subject: Re: 63' Ragtop salvage driver project |
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| Dusty1 wrote: |
As much as a like Java green "'63s are supposed to be pearl white".
It would be cool if you could save the original door panels.
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I do have the original door panels- they're red/ grey of course. But they're fairly hammered. The way I scrounged for deals I was able to put together a whole TMI interior kit for around $800, and it all matches pretty well.
I planned to salvaging the door panels, but couldn't pass up $200 for brand new TMI panels.
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