VW Bugs - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ggadgit · 10-20-2004, 11:01 AM

Hi All

I'm looking at maybe getting a old aircooled VW Bug, any advice or info on them would be great.

bluehare · 10-21-2004, 01:57 AM

www.thesamba.com

Irishsean · 10-21-2004, 02:07 AM

bullmoose · 10-21-2004, 09:04 AM

They are a blast to drive. Parts are plentiful and cheap. You are going to have to tinker with it a lot. Watch out for rust undercar, and just about every where else when buying one. Have fun!

JStrider · 10-22-2004, 06:04 AM

it would be cool to get an old bug or karmann ghia and fix it up....

netnut · 10-22-2004, 06:56 AM

One the more technical and hot rodding side is http://www.shoptalkforums.com
If you have any specific questions about what years let me know. I have been working on them for 20 years and am on my 3rd ACVW of my own. Currently I am building a '75 Baja Bug. It is a ground up rebuild including a Bug trans conversion. It has taken a year so far and it is almost ready to be put on the road.

rockogre · 10-22-2004, 07:28 AM

I've had six of the little critters and the way gas prices are going I may get a seventh. I never had one I didn't like. If you take care of one it will take care of you. Mud, snow, summer, winter, not a bad little car at all.

yakimushi · 10-22-2004, 05:27 PM

Check the heater channels! I repeat: CHECK THE HEATER CHANNELS.

I've got a '71 Bug sitting in the garage, stripped to the bone but because the heater channels have to be replaced the project is probably going to be scrapped.

If you can get one from below the rust belt, I highly suggest you do so.

splck · 10-22-2004, 06:02 PM

Great little cars, I've owned 3 of them...we used to call them a "poor man's porsche".

buy one, then drive it till it drops is my only advice...

netnut · 10-22-2004, 06:42 PM

Yak,
You can get replacment heater channels at your local VW parts house. If they don't have they can order them. Or pick up a copy of Hot VW's. There are many advertisers that carry them.
And a video onhow to do it here: http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...X/appId-311297

I would hate to see you scrap a perfectly repairable car because of rust. I did the entire pan halves on my car. It is a lot of work, but it is worth it knowing that you saved a Bug from the crusher.

yakimushi · 10-22-2004, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netnut

Yak,
You can get replacment heater channels at your local VW parts house. If they don't have they can order them. Or pick up a copy of Hot VW's. There are many advertisers that carry them.
And a video onhow to do it here: http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...X/appId-311297

I would hate to see you scrap a perfectly repairable car because of rust. I did the entire pan halves on my car. It is a lot of work, but it is worth it knowing that you saved a Bug from the crusher.

The heater channels are sitting under the bug as I type this. We've got most of the body panels that needed replacing but this bug is just out of my dad and I's skill. We're talking rust holes that go _through_ the shell, the channel, and the firewall!

The understanding that we have to weld in a cage to keep the body from warping while accurately cutting out and welding in new channels is just flat out daunting to a couple guys who really haven't done extensive body work before.

We've been thinking about trying to find a donor car from down in the southwest so we can build a Frankenbeetle.

Sorry to hijack... if you think its pertinent ggadgit I can post pics of our project as it stands right now.

merkerguitars · 10-23-2004, 10:16 PM

They are nice project cars if you know how to do wrench and body work. Parts are plentiful and cheap and there are lots of people that know how to work on them.

JStrider · 10-23-2004, 10:43 PM

hehehehehe.... when i was in highschool i spent a lot of my freshman thru my junior years tryin to get my parents to lemme get a bug to fix up...

and this thread has gotten me wanting to do that again... im spending too much time lookin at the classifieds and forums on thsoe sites... and not enough doin homework...

hehehehe... i cant wait till i get a job and money... then i'll actually be able to do some of this stuff that i want...

jujueye · 11-02-2004, 05:58 PM

Just don't get a New Beetle. Every other one on the road has a headlight out. That's not quality control!

Lizzy · 11-02-2004, 08:30 PM

my bf drives a 73 super beetle purchased for 200 bucks from my folks, he loves it although he could use a truck.

Agang579 · 11-30-2004, 08:39 AM

I too, had a 73 superbeetle. Yes they are a blast to drive. I would stay away from the 73 model year. It's an in-between years and VERY hard to find parts other than engine parts. When you do find them they are EXPENSIVE. Steering gear-$300.00.
Forget about body parts and tail lights.

Cadwiz · 12-06-2004, 12:26 PM

My brother-in-law and I did a full blown, body off restoration on a '72 standard beetle. I made some custom aluminum bumpers that are totally slick. I'll put up some pictures in the Photography section if anyone is interested in seeing them. Between us, we have four bugs and a dune-buggy. Two down, three to go.

10-20-2004, 11:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
ggadgit Tilted	VW Bugs Hi All I'm looking at maybe getting a old aircooled VW Bug, any advice or info on them would be great.

10-21-2004, 02:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Irishsean edited for content Location: Austin, TX	http://vwvortex.com/ Great Forums... __________________ There are no absolute rules of conduct, either in peace or war. Everything depends on circumstances. Leon Trotsky

10-21-2004, 09:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
bullmoose Wookie Location: Howdy from Oklahoma	They are a blast to drive. Parts are plentiful and cheap. You are going to have to tinker with it a lot. Watch out for rust undercar, and just about every where else when buying one. Have fun! __________________ Rehab is for quitters.

10-22-2004, 06:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	it would be cool to get an old bug or karmann ghia and fix it up.... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

10-22-2004, 06:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
netnut Upright Location: Soggy NW but Cali born and raised.	One the more technical and hot rodding side is http://www.shoptalkforums.com If you have any specific questions about what years let me know. I have been working on them for 20 years and am on my 3rd ACVW of my own. Currently I am building a '75 Baja Bug. It is a ground up rebuild including a Bug trans conversion. It has taken a year so far and it is almost ready to be put on the road. __________________ "What if the Hokey Pokey is really what it's all about..." -- J.B.

10-21-2004, 01:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
bluehare Upright	www.thesamba.com

10-22-2004, 07:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
rockogre I aim to misbehave! Location: SW Oklahoma	I've had six of the little critters and the way gas prices are going I may get a seventh. I never had one I didn't like. If you take care of one it will take care of you. Mud, snow, summer, winter, not a bad little car at all. __________________ Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American G. I. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom

10-22-2004, 05:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
yakimushi Addict	Check the heater channels! I repeat: CHECK THE HEATER CHANNELS. I've got a '71 Bug sitting in the garage, stripped to the bone but because the heater channels have to be replaced the project is probably going to be scrapped. If you can get one from below the rust belt, I highly suggest you do so.

10-22-2004, 06:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	Great little cars, I've owned 3 of them...we used to call them a "poor man's porsche". buy one, then drive it till it drops is my only advice... __________________ nice line eh?

10-22-2004, 06:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
netnut Upright Location: Soggy NW but Cali born and raised.	Yak, You can get replacment heater channels at your local VW parts house. If they don't have they can order them. Or pick up a copy of Hot VW's. There are many advertisers that carry them. And a video onhow to do it here: http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...X/appId-311297 I would hate to see you scrap a perfectly repairable car because of rust. I did the entire pan halves on my car. It is a lot of work, but it is worth it knowing that you saved a Bug from the crusher. __________________ "What if the Hokey Pokey is really what it's all about..." -- J.B.

10-23-2004, 10:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	They are nice project cars if you know how to do wrench and body work. Parts are plentiful and cheap and there are lots of people that know how to work on them. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

10-23-2004, 10:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	hehehehehe.... when i was in highschool i spent a lot of my freshman thru my junior years tryin to get my parents to lemme get a bug to fix up... and this thread has gotten me wanting to do that again... im spending too much time lookin at the classifieds and forums on thsoe sites... and not enough doin homework... hehehehe... i cant wait till i get a job and money... then i'll actually be able to do some of this stuff that i want... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

11-02-2004, 05:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
jujueye alpaca lunch for the trip Location: in my computer	Just don't get a New Beetle. Every other one on the road has a headlight out. That's not quality control!

11-02-2004, 08:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
Lizzy Upright Location: Memphis, TN	my bf drives a 73 super beetle purchased for 200 bucks from my folks, he loves it although he could use a truck.

11-30-2004, 08:39 AM	#16 (permalink)
Agang579 Upright	I too, had a 73 superbeetle. Yes they are a blast to drive. I would stay away from the 73 model year. It's an in-between years and VERY hard to find parts other than engine parts. When you do find them they are EXPENSIVE. Steering gear-$300.00. Forget about body parts and tail lights.

12-06-2004, 12:26 PM	#17 (permalink)
Cadwiz Insane Location: work	My brother-in-law and I did a full blown, body off restoration on a '72 standard beetle. I made some custom aluminum bumpers that are totally slick. I'll put up some pictures in the Photography section if anyone is interested in seeing them. Between us, we have four bugs and a dune-buggy. Two down, three to go. __________________ Semper Fi