'69 Bug Restoration (lotsa pics...sorry dial-up!)

TUDrewser · Last edited by TUDrewser on Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:29 pm; edited 4 times in total

I posted pictures a while back showing a '69 bug we were purchasing. There's another thread where I was asking questions, discussing VW's, etc. However, I decided to start a new thread in order to document the restoration process.

The whole purpose of this project is to fulfill a dream of my wife's. Her mother used to own a '69 bug back in the day. However, when she got married, her [ex]husband (my wife's dad) made her sell it. She sold it and a few months later the buyer totalled it. Ever since, she has talked about bugs, has little bug models, points them out when we drive places...therefore, my wife's dream for probably 20 years has been to buy an old bug, restore it, and give it to her mom.

Back in August, this became a reality. We found an old bug on eBay that, while looking like an ugly duckling, promised to have the same potential. We purchased it for $600 sight-unseen going on the seller's word. However, we figured for $600 we weren't getting much.

Two weeks later, my wife's uncle helped us drive out to L.A. with his flatbed trailer to pick it up. It was true to the pictures (cosmetically challenged), but still very solid. A little bondo on the front, straight frame, and the only rust was surface rust.

In December, we started stripping it down to overhaul it. It basically needs a new engine (or major overhaul), new interior, and new paint in order to be ready for "delivery". Our goal is to give it to her for Mother's Day.

Here are the original pictures from the ebay auction (and a few sent to me by the seller after the auction):

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

It sat for several months because our entire house flooded. 2 1/2 feet of water surrounding it. Here's a picture of the poor bug under water after it'd receded some:

Then we finally got started restoring it in December. The first step was preparing for paint. We got all the fenders off, took off all trim and accessories go the engine out.

We also decided just to purchase a running 1600cc engine instead of rebuild the 1500cc in there. It's a little (barely) more expensive than a rebuild but will run MUCH nicer and be more reliable we hope.

Here are the pics:

Fenders come off

Engine dismantling:

Parts to replace:

Parts to paint:

TUDrewser · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject:

Ok, here's some pics of the recent progress. We gutted the interior in further preperation for paint. It's in the body shop right now. Might as well get the expensive part out of the way Shocked

Stripping interior

Shot of dash:

Scraping the tar board off the floor...eeeeeew

Another 10 years bud...

While the body is in the shop, figured I'd get to work on rebuilding the 1600 engine I bought off a local guy. Came off his sandrail, so it was incredibly dirty/muddy and greasy. Spent Saturday dismantling the engine and stripped it down to short block. The push rod tubes were all shot, as the pictures will show, and I think I'm going to go ahead and replace the cylinders and pistons since I'm in there.

Here are pictures of the pushrod tubes. The bright shiny one in the second picture is the new one:

Here's the engine without the generator, carb and fan shroud just after the first cleaning (I think). It was way greasy and muddy:

Here it is being stripped down. I still have grease on my hands:

All done!

And the pile heading to the machine shop:

TUDrewser · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:33 am Post subject:

All ready for primer! Went to take a look last night and they're planning on spraying primer on it today or tomorrow. Oh, and front windshield broke during removal...typical. So if anyone has a '69 bug windshield, let me know. Even better if you're in Phoenix Wink

Here are some more pics:

TUDrewser · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:49 pm Post subject:

Took some pics after primer was put on the body. Fenders were put back on for sanding and body work, then taken off again for paint:

TUDrewser · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject:

Body just got painted yesterday. We stopped by as they were putting the sealer on just before painting:

John M. · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject:

What color is it going to be?
_________________

Current: 1972 Beetle - 96V EV
Previous:
1966 Beetle - Sea Blue - 1300SP
1966 Beetle - Sea Blue - 1600SP
1974 Beetle - African Red - 1914CC

DubStyle · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject:

TUDrewser · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject:

TUDrewser · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:50 am Post subject:

Went to see it last night. It's a little brigher white than we expected (wanted more of a creme color). But when I stood next to it in my white shirt, you could tell it was ivory. Oh well. Still looks fabulous and SO much better than the original pics! Will wait to post more pics when the fenders and accessories are done Smile

John M. · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:26 am Post subject:

Neat. Looks like a fun project for all involved.
_________________

Current: 1972 Beetle - 96V EV
Previous:
1966 Beetle - Sea Blue - 1300SP
1966 Beetle - Sea Blue - 1600SP
1974 Beetle - African Red - 1914CC

TUDrewser · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:17 am Post subject:

More pictures. Don't have the headliner pics handy, but will get them posted when I can figure out where they are. But now we have the headliner in, the glass back in (except for door glass), and fenders on. Also started upholstering the seats. Here are the pics!

Getting the sunroof back in:

Painted with fenders!

Getting the fenders on and the beading lined up:

Muscling the new vinyl over the seat bottom:

Jessica · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

Wow, looks like it's come a long way in a short amount of time. It's looking good! I'm sure your wife's mother is going to be very happy with this car. What a great surprise for her!
_________________
VW-less right now...looking
-OGST-
RIP HBB
RIP RW

John M. · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:38 pm Post subject:

Any more updates?
_________________

Current: 1972 Beetle - 96V EV
Previous:
1966 Beetle - Sea Blue - 1300SP
1966 Beetle - Sea Blue - 1600SP
1974 Beetle - African Red - 1914CC

highway penguin · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject:

Very nice man. Where did you get it painted? I'm starting to look around for a painter. Oh and how much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking.

Thanks.

TUDrewser · Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject:

Oh, sorry, didn't check back at the last message Embarassed

Had it painted by A Smooth Finish mobile auto and RV painters. They'll come to you and paint it in your garage or back yard if you want...entire system is mobile. Pretty good to work with and offer decent prices for that non-baked on finish. They have access to a paint booth if you want the several layers of base and then layers of clear coat, but we went with a "1 step" paint (not really 1 step, but a whole lot less). Once we get it all back together they're going to come by and wet sand it and buff it to get rid of the orange peel effect and make it a nice finish. PM me if you're interested in their number...I don't have it handy right now.

TUDrewser · Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject:

DELIVERY IS NEXT WEEKEND! We're shooting for a Mother's Day surprise to present the bug to my mother-in-law and the final touches are being done this week. I'll certainly be posting pictures and we'd like to have video of it too...we'll see!

Here are the pictures (much belated) of the headliner install and carpet:

Here's my wife helping to remove the masking paper after paint:

Here's the old headliner hanging down...eeeeew:

Pulling the new headliner tight:

Getting the new carpet and padding in:

And the engine fresh after rebuild. The oil cooler is the old one...ended up going with a new doghouse cooler, but it's on there for looks I guess. It was SOOO dirty and beat up before...how it has new mahle pistons and cylinders, new heads, split the case and cleaned it, replaced some bearings, and got it all back up to snuff:

Should have more pictures in a week or so, and maybe I'll even get my mother-in-law to sign on and tell the story Wink

vwdmc16 · Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject:

gotta love new engines man Very Happy

great work!
_________________
"Fiberglass is for boats and race cars-Steel is real-fix it right the first time"-Wolff

'72 Ghia: http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n146/vwdmc17/100_1964.jpg
'72 Honda Z600
'81 Delorean

www.EVILGENIUSRACING.com

TUDrewser · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject:

Delivery was a smashing success! She was completely surprised and even may have shed a tear on her initial drive. Here's before and after pics:

Before:

Delivery:

Check out the story and ALL of the pictures over on our website, www.drewlisa.com!

TUDrewser · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:43 am Post subject:

Sorry for digging up an old thread but figured I'd give an update. Long story short, she just gave the bug back to us to make room for the new Smart car she just bought. Said the bug wasn't "reliable" enough as she was having trouble getting it started and keeping it running, which COULD be because it hadn't had a tune-up in a year and a half (oil was changed one or two times).

Confused

At first, my wife and I were a little disappointed that she would give back a gift like this, but we decided instead to look at the bright side...that we were getting back the car we'd put all this time and money into and could now enjoy it ourselves! After a valve-adjustment and tune-up it should run like a top again! Wink

fukengruvenoval · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:43 pm Post subject:


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Reader's Rides	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1