Fixing up my daily driver/sons 1303 (L Bug)

1303Steve · 2009-02-16T09:26:57+00:00

Hi Just before Christmas our 1303 was vandalised, it had the roof & bonnet trampled in. I bought this 1303 from Dave Becker in 2007, it had average paint but for its age it was virtually rust free, so after it was damaged we decided to give it a full respray, our insurance company paid to fix the roof & hood, I paid for the rest. Its in getting a new hood lining now, so I will start putting it back together soon. My other 1303 was getting close to going to the get painted, this has put it back a bit, but Im very pleased with the results from the panel beater, so I will be taking my other 1303 to him as well. Steve Just got it home from Dave Beckers house I lowered it and fitted some Subaru wheels to it and a 944 rear end Fitted a new front apron with a mesh vent in it and a 2nd hand bonnet, thanks again to Dave Becker Welded up the extra wiper holes Roof being fixed Quick visit to home for some rust proofing before the hood lining goes in

vanderaj Administrator a suffusion of yellow

3,130 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Sep 2009, 9:49 pm

#738068

This resto looks awesome!

I am looking for any one of the various post '70 models to become my occasional daily driver, but now you've converted me to the 1303 bug cause. I think I have to have the elephant's ears!

Andrew

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 29 Sep 2009, 9:57 pm

#738074

vanderaj wrote:This resto looks awesome!

I am looking for any one of the various post '70 models to become my occasional daily driver, but now you've converted me to the 1303 bug cause. I think I have to have the elephant's ears!

Andrew

Noooooooooooooooo. orange, red, clear, tinted.... tombstones!!!!

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 6 Oct 2009, 6:12 pm

#739155

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 6 Oct 2009, 6:16 pm

#739156

Love the carter car 🙂

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 6 Oct 2009, 6:47 pm

#739174

beetleboy88 Officially Full-On Dubber

255 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 6 Oct 2009, 10:03 pm

#739250

Nice ride you got there Steve 😉
I also did a welding job on my 1303 L bug. I had the vent welded up because i found every time it rained it seemed to drip right on my foot. I'm thinking of actually going back to the panel beaters and getting them to also weld up the extra wiper holes and the wiper washer hole because the wiper washer doesn't even work. Stoping that rust is a major priority up here in Cairns so filling those holes in should at least stop any major issues plus it will look a whole lot smoother!

1973 Super Beetle

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 6 Oct 2009, 10:16 pm

#739258

the wiper washer needs to be there... I think its a legal requirement....

just get a motor for it, fix the pipe and check the wiring... it needs to work so you can clean the windscreen.

filling the vent is a good idea, as is the spare wiper holes...

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 6 Oct 2009, 10:20 pm

#739263

what times did it do at warwick ?

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 6 Oct 2009, 10:29 pm

#739267

10.8..... I think. Dave got a trophy... Craig, you will soon learn i have a terrible memory for times... 🙁

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 6 Oct 2009, 11:32 pm

#739278

beetleboy88 wrote:Nice ride you got there Steve 😉
I also did a welding job on my 1303 L bug. I had the vent welded up because i found every time it rained it seemed to drip right on my foot. I'm thinking of actually going back to the panel beaters and getting them to also weld up the extra wiper holes and the wiper washer hole because the wiper washer doesn't even work. Stoping that rust is a major priority up here in Cairns so filling those holes in should at least stop any major issues plus it will look a whole lot smoother!

Hi

Thanks for posting all the photos Colonel.

This car is really Davids now, but I get a kick out of working on it.

A friend who's wife owns a 1303 made a catch tray for the water coming through the vent, I'm going to do the same thing and I will post a thread on it.

The washers can be made very reliable with an electric motor on the stock washer bottle.

Craig, the motor is a 1904 cc, its pretty mild, don't want to make it too quick for a P plater, it did a 10.8 @? and drove all the way up and back under its own steam, David won the slower air cooled bracket.

Andrew, Ive owned flat screen bugs all my life and have had 1200s up to 2.1 turbos, this is my 1st 1303, I'm amazed how well a curved window bug goes through the air on the highway.

They are not without rust issues, find a good one and keep it, the strut cars do suffer from shimmy, this one doesn't, the secret is urethane bushings and stronger front springs.

Steve

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 7 Oct 2009, 12:04 am

#739279

The stronger springs i have... lowered too... 🙂 But all new bushings are on the cards... in a few months. 🙂

beetleboy88 Officially Full-On Dubber

255 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 7 Oct 2009, 4:03 pm

#739391

colonel mustard wrote:the wiper washer needs to be there... I think its a legal requirement....

just get a motor for it, fix the pipe and check the wiring... it needs to work so you can clean the windscreen.

filling the vent is a good idea, as is the spare wiper holes...

If the wiper washer is a legal requirement i guess i will have to keep it 🙁 At the moment my wiper washer nozzle is just sitting very loose with the plastic tube pushed into the hole in the car. I guess i could cheat and just silicon the wiper nozzle down so water wont get in the car?? My wiper washer has never worked or been used in the 2.5yrs I've owned her. I just give her the windscreen a good wash when i pull into a servo 😉 As for the unused wiper holes....I will get them welded up before the wet season kicks in for sure!!

1973 Super Beetle

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 17 Oct 2009, 9:11 pm

#741443

1303Steve wrote:Thanks for posting all the photos Colonel.

I kinda broke them, but will repost when I get a chance....
whoops. 🙁