Aussie/German/Euro Look project rebuild pics
 

Hello everyone, I have to say that I have drawn a lot of enthusiasm and inspiration from this site and member's rides. After all my Australian 1963 beetle (68 pan) was originally destined for the cal-look treatment...until I talked myself into selling the Fuchs for some 17in wheels!

I have detailed pretty much every step of the project progress thus far. A brief synopsis is:
S/A B/J pan with 63 hardtop body converted into ragtop (Golde)
Rebuilt s/a g'box 3.88r/p heavy duty side plate, super diff
4 point rollcage, minor dash mods
Type IV 2L upright converted engine, custom fanshroud paintwork custom exhaust
4 wheel CB Perf discs

Won't bore you with any more detail, just thought maybe someone may draw some ideas/inspiration from the rebuild as I have done with members cars in the past. Still fair bit of work to do but hopefully the painful part of the project is over.

Click here for full details:
http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/gallery/album95

Cheers
Alan

very nice alan. i love a well documented project. always intended on doing that with mine and it ended up half done.

thanks for sharing.

Wow Alan, that's quite the write up.

Excellent work, and very nice bug !

Rob.

As the saying goes -- 'no pain no gain'. Looks like you've gained a lot. Keep up the great work -- 'you get what you pay for'. Paying in pain is better than cash. For one, you forget about the cash. Secondly, doing it your self frees up cash for more pain. ;)

Awesome dash mod :agree:

Thanks so much....it has been very satisfying thus far...and certainly will be moreso when I can finally drive it! :D

Here is a pic taken today (paint is done - by me...yes more pain!...just has to be colour sanded). Body is back on pan for the moment until I have to repaint the pan soon, and colour sand the roof, interior etc.

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...an16.sized.jpg

Very nice project. Lot's of great detail work. I'm sure that you can't wait to get it on the road. :agree:

That's for sure! Its been about 18 months now so you could say I am getting a little edgy to finally enjoy it out on the streets!

How did you prep it for paint ?
Especially the inside, how did you get rid of all the glue and tar ?

Rob.

I had the bare shell sandblasted after completely stripping it (wiring and all other misc bits and pieces). The sandblaster although ensuring me of no warpage did warp the doors a little unfortunately....this aside though, it was the easiest and quickest form of prep (I never wanted to do it by hand!).

Looks great so far! Might I ask what color that is exactly? It looks to be a dark green/grey. Keep up the good work!

Cheers, the colour is an olive metallic which has a goldy bronze through it in certain lights. Don't know the exact colour name, only the code which I hate to be protective but would like to get it on the road and driving before I give out the exact details (sorry bout that). :(

Dasdubber, check your private messages :)

I slid the type IV back in place today...nice and easy with the removable rear apron! All things going relatively smoothly thus far! More pics as usual here:

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/gallery/album95

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...eb15.sized.jpg

Looks great!

Cheers, shroud back in place and carbs (temporarily)

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...eb16.sized.jpg

Schweeeeet!!!

Awesome! :)

Rear fenders on, popouts in, doors slowly coming together. Have to raise the rear end a little as there is not enough clearance for the extractors - won't have to go up much, just a little.

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...eb26.sized.jpg

I just love it!!!

Keep up the good work mate :D

Wiebrand

Wonderful work. I absolutly love that color!

Dasdubber,

Your paint job looks great!

What paint setup did you use, paint gun, compressor, hvlp?

Randy :confused:

Will have to check out brand, but was just an entry level high efficiency (thats what the box says!) gravity feed gun similar to HVLP but not exactly the same. 15cfm single cylinder compressor (not sure of tank size), with normal regulator close to tank plus additional filter and water trap/regulator after about 5m of hose (screwed to wall). Spies Hecker products used throughout from etch primer to high build as well as base and clear coat.

If you like I can look at the gun brand (I was told it was the level a spray paint apprentice would use [around AU$250]) - did the job well for me and certainly resulted in a lot less loss of paint through overspray than my first gravity feed gun (which required more air pressure).

hope this helps? :o

This pic is a little blurry but trim etc is slowly finding its way back on the beetle after some time consuming polishing with my bench grinder/buffer.

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...Mar1.sized.jpg

Wow! That is Sweet!
 

What a beauty!

Steering wheel is on the 'wrong' side though.

-grin-

DrDuktayp

Decklid back on, windscreen and rear window back in, doors slowly coming together (I hate inner and outer scrapers!), steering wheel back on (the correct side) :)

Nothing too major but all this fiddly stuff takes time!

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...Mar6.sized.jpg

your illness is beyond a cure..lol
That is 1 of my favret bugs now..
It's just too clean to not love..so when will you deliver my dream car? :D
Peace Troy
My Project

Cheers Troy! It certainly has been a labour of love...spent way more time and money than originally estimated (but hey, thats a full resto for ya). :rolleyes:

The light is at the end of the tunnel....still a faint distant light, but it is there!

Bolted up (for trial fit) the 80mm narrowed beam and all other suspension/brake components...and temporarily added some washers behind the wheels to determine the spacer width I will require (around 16-20mm) to regain the turning circle! Wheels are tucking under quite nicely at the moment.

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...ar13.sized.jpg

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...ar13.sized.jpg

its lookin sweet down there man....oh BTW...I dont kow if this was answered earlier but are your fenders windend any?

Stock width all round (only mods to fenders is front indicators have been shaved). They look a little wide in the pics but they are standard.

Are those 18' or 17' turbotwist? Awesome just awesome! :)

Little old 17's :D

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...ar13.sized.jpg

It will really be one hell of a driver when its done, cant wait to see the final stages of the bug, nice work. :agree: :)

It is comming together, can't wait to see it on the road. :agree:

Sweet man...I ordered a pair of widend rear fenders for my car and I just dont like them too well....so I'm going back to stock!

Thanks for the info! :agree:

Lookin good :agree:

That looks great. Makes me want to go out to the shop and do some more welding. One question swing axle???

Yeah the project started out life as a cal-looker aimed mainly for steet/strip...I shelled out cash for a super diff and heavy duty side plate, then had a swinger box rebuilt. After this was done, I could not justify (to me or my wife!) starting again and going IRS. Not ideal but such is life :o

Here is my pooch keeping an eye on things this afternoon! She is friendly but a good guard dog :)

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...ar23.sized.jpg

That is very nice looking, and nicely done as well.
I am planning on the same wheels for my 1302.
17x7.5 front 17x9 rear =)

Whilst my Cup3's undergo a little custom treatment, I borrowed my mate's 16x6 and 7in Fuchs....looks kinda cool still in an old school way!
http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/a...pr16.sized.jpg

Hopefully in a few weeks the cups will be back on ;)