Any VW fans out there that knows where what the equivalent Aircooled VW forum is?
I'm going to start restoring my old 72 Bug and the forums I found at the top of the list on google were all water-cooled focused.

Also I'm not turning against mini. I still love mine as a daily driver and a classic cooper is one of the few cars I'd trade the Bug for.

 

Here are a few to try:

http://wzus1.ask.com/r?t=p&d=us&s=a&...aircooled.com/
http://wzus1.ask.com/r?t=p&d=us&s=a&...mdisplay.php?9
http://wzus1.ask.com/r?t=p&d=us&s=a&...agevwcars.com/
http://wzus1.ask.com/r?t=p&d=us&s=a&...lkswebbin.net/

 

Sounds like an interesting project. If you are doing a build thread on another forum it wouldn't be much to copy and past some of that over here. I'm sure most of us would enjoy seeing the restoration of an old Beetle.

 

Nabeshin,

I was thinking more of hitting up the true enthusiasts for advice but you know I think I will try to keep a build thread.

Back Storey of the Bug
So back in about 1997 my Dad bought my older brother and I 1963 Dodge 440 (440 is model # not engine size) which Quickly became my brothers Car. Being a future engineer I wanted to restore a car of my own. Seeing the high cost of restoring the Dodge and the low Prices in the JC Whitney catalog for Beetle Parts, I did the "sensable" thing and bought a 1972 Type 1 Beetle. It was a one owner car that was in the process of being restored when the former owner Died. I got it to be a decent daily driver for my senior year of HS (2000) but a fender bender due to the lack of a defroster put it out of commission for college. It has sat in a Barn on my Grandparents Farn until last week. I put some fresh gas in and charged the battery. She started up but will only idle. I didn't have time on my visit to get it fully running.

I'm now getting quotes to ship the Bug from the Farm in IN to my home in CT.

The road ahead.
* lots of rust repair along the running boards
* Redo the interior again. (mice ate what I installed back in 2000)
* Paint
* Engine tune up maybe modification
I'm going to have a lot to keep me busy with this a hobby car.

I'd love to hear any bug tips or storys
(I've been amazed strangers have approach me on the street to share Beelte or Mini storys. That never happened in my Audi or Celica...)

 

I'm sure you have, but have you looking on VWVortex.com? I'm on that as well seeing as though I've been into vw's for a while now.. but they have all sorts of stuff on there and get tons of traffic. Do you have pictures of your bug?? I LOVE old beetles and would love to own one someday...

 

opps sorry... just saw the one link was vwvortex!

 

I keep posting at work during my lunch break and all my pics are at home. I really don't have many either. 2000 was a bit early for digital cameras so the good pics are still on paper. It's not much of a looker now.

 

Check out www.thesamba.com That has a good forum AND a good online classified for everything aircooled. VWVortex is great for the watercooled crowd but is usually scarce for the aircooled heads. I've had a few aircooleds myself, My last being a restored 1969 Karmann Ghia Vert in Porsche Silver with a black roof. I loved that car. Someday I will do a standard beetle. Goodluck, if I can help at all please let me know.

 

hahaa I had a hunky thing as a digital camera back then :D -- well if you ever get a chance to upload some pictures that'd be awesome It's not about being a looker really -- it's a project car.. they're supposed to look out of sorts. Are you going to make a build thread for it?

oooo Karmann Ghia - I really like those cars. Yeah I've been into the watercooled stuff, but would love an aircooled some day - since I haven't had one I don't know the hot spots for that information. but good luck with everything! Keep us posted

 

Here it Is




And the Dodge 440

 

neat color! It does look like she needs a lot of work... good luck with it!

 

Yes that would be factory red with 40 years of oxidation. (it's looks to have a little more orange to it then most Reds though)
I've never been a fan of red but a full color change will be expensive. It would have to be an interior and exterior paint job.

 

ah ha! Still, it's neat. I'm not one for red as well... you describing the 40 year oxidation reminds me of "tornado pink" (tornado red after a few years in the sun hahaa). I agree with the color changing being expensive, but honestly it would be a good time to do it w/o everything in the car and stuff.. and if you know how to prep it properly getting someone to finish and spray should be cheaper then. Where are you located by chance?

 

I'm in Connecticut

I replaced the bug with a Red turned pink Celica maybe there's a reason I don't like Red.

Finish work like paint is a long way off but I've been toying with the idea of an "anti Herbie" theme. Negative Herbie colors. Basically make it look like it could be cast as a rival, villain or evil twin in a Herbie movie...

 

haha pink celica That could be why! Don't worry, I'm not a fan either but some cars it looks good with.

I LOVE the anti herbie idea - I have yet to see something like that I say go for it! I love seeing different beetles and ideas use with them Are you making it out to H2O this year? There's usually some pretty sick beetles that come out

 

oh plus... if you haven't been there it's like Vw/audi/bmw (and a few others ).. heaven

 

you mentioned JC Whitney.... have you looked up Mofoco (Milwaukee) or Mid America Motorworks (Effingham, IL) for parts? both places have a big Bug gathering each year and they specialize in air-cooled VW parts. I haven't been to Mofoco recently, while I still get MAM catalogs... I tried to restore a '69 Mexican Beetle. but the car was too rusted out for my skill level and I gave it away when I got my MINI... I would love to own a split-window VW Bug or a Bug with a canvas sunroof (factory cut opening). but after this weekend.. I'd love to get my hands on an Isetta