I have just started on the rebuild of this 1968 Beetle.
It is a beetle that I have known of all of its life.
It has travelled around Australia in recent years with Mick Miller at the wheel and he has recorded it and written a book.
The Beetle is a little sad with some rust appearing.
Time for a birthday as it is about to head overseas in 2020 for another great adventure with Mick.
It is off to New Zealand first next May, then Fiji and then off to USA.
grazza7755 ·
The roof rack has seen better days, a new one is in order.
grazza7755 ·
Panel by panel
grazza7755 ·
Rotten running boards and some difficult guard bolts
grazza7755 ·
Interior strip with coins, pens and crap everywhere.
Well, I suppose Mick has been spending a lot of time in it, nearly even living in it.
grazza7755 ·
Spreading its wings
vw54 ·
I like the battery strap and cover
beetleboyjeff ·
Great car with a lot of history. I first met Mick when a mate of mine and myself attended a sail coaching clinic and he made a great impression on me. We often used to talk about him and his attitude and drive.
The next time I saw him was with this beetle at the VW Nationals a few years ago, and it was great to catch up with him again. I bought his book and it is a great read, and a very good story on how to get a new perspective on life when you get a huge curve ball. Even though I have really only met him the twice, I hold him up as one of my great role models.
From reading the book, the engine sure won't be worn out the way Mick drove it - about 80kph all around Australia. lol
hulbyw ·
Thanks for the heads up Jeff. Just ordered the book. I have a '68 Beetle too although I haven't driven it around Australia.
Cheers..........Wayne
grazza7755 ·
Body to chassis bolts all undone but there is always something that is forgotten.
This time it was the engine wiring and the brake fluid reservoir fluid line and then the brake light switch wires.
Can't think of everything.
grazza7755 ·
Chassis wheeled out of the way.
It goes around to the wash bay for a full steam/hot water wash.
grazza7755 ·
Chassis is rust free, having had a section welded in sometime in its life.
Good to go with a clean and a paint, but not today.
grazza7755 ·
Body now on a simple but great frame set up that I have had for decades.
Would like to have used the rotisserie but 1955 single cab still fixed to it.
grazza7755 ·
Doors fully stripped.
One door, drivers, has a double lift regulator that I would happily swap for a good single lift one.
Both door glasses need lift channels so would be easier to have matching.
grazza7755 ·
Rust found in about 10 locations.
All to be welded up.
grazza7755 ·
Doors
grazza7755 ·
Heater channels etc
grazza7755 ·
Bits and pieces, all to go back one day.
grazza7755 ·
vw54 wrote:I like the battery strap and cover
I think they got that idea from one of your rebuilds a few years back 🙂
grazza7755 ·
One of my pet dislikes of roof racks is that they can collect dirt and crap where they bolt on to the roof.
This then leads to moisture and then rust!
This is what it has done to this beetle.
Imagine a few more years 🙁
vw54 ·
I think they got that idea from one of your rebuilds a few years back 🙂
NOPE wasn't me washim
I think we may be able to find a the correct fitting battery then you wont have to replace the timer cover
hulbyw ·
grazza7755 wrote:Chassis is rust free, having had a section welded in sometime in its life.
Good to go with a clean and a paint, but not today.
Just wondering what type of paint you will be using on the chassis? I will be painting mine very soon (body still on) and am trying to decide whether to use POR 15, Rust Bullet or a quality black cold gal. The pan has little rust (it was treated and painted with single pack epoxy some years ago)
Cheers..............Wayne
grazza7755 ·
Wayne,
I have used POR15 on occasions but usually just use 2 pac black paint which is always on hand around here and leaves a great finish and a tuff coat.
Cheers
grazza7755 ·
All areas getting welded but have found some extra rust in the bottom of the heater channels.
I had looked there and thought it was OK but its not.
Hate welding panel work upside down as gravity works well and drops hot lava on ones body.
Change of approach now needed.
So, into the other shed to retrieve the rotisserie.
grazza7755 ·
Good excuse to get "Frankie" off and start on it again soon
grazza7755 ·
Rotisserie out and "Frankie'' left on a couple of pallets.
grazza7755 ·
A couple of hours making new mounting bars and away we go.
Much easier to work on now and a better job.
grazza7755 ·
The area needing attention.
beetleboyjeff ·
Well done
Bizarre ·
Love watching this stuff
Great job
vw54 ·
What made you start this project before you have finished off the other 25 ??
grazza7755 ·
vw54 wrote:What made you start this project before you have finished off the other 25 ??
The order is all worked out scientifically, according to age, condition, rarity, cost, value, difficulty etc.
The cars are all listed on a dartboard and a dart is thrown.........
grazza7755 ·
Fabrication, welding and grinding.
Hours and days of it
grazza7755 ·
about 20 lower body areas
grazza7755 ·
always the lowest point where the water sits, naturally.
grazza7755 ·
Anyway, dozens of pics but all similar.
Now getting some primer started.
grazza7755 ·
Doors repaired, ready for next step.
1303Steve ·
good work, do have all the rodders in town this weekend?
grazza7755 ·
1303Steve wrote:good work, do have all the rodders in town this weekend?
Yes Steve,
Over 500 classic and rods here in town for the week
Bloody hot though especially for half of them that don't have a roof.
I am about to stop playing with 4 cyls and get the V8's out.
1960 caddy coupe and 1970 Camaro.
Should be a great weekend
Cheers
1303Steve ·
I'm very jealous, you have some cool cars. I think a friend of mine stayed with you, Willie Tesoriero
grazza7755 ·
Ok, back on track.
Time for the hoodlining to come out, much easier on this angle.
grazza7755 ·
Dozens of small rust areas to weld up
grazza7755 ·
welded up
grazza7755 ·
Guards, doors, bonnet and engine lid all getting a makeover
grazza7755 ·
Bumpers are to colour coded to the car by choice of the owner.
Chrome would have looked good and they are handy way of predicting rain.
When they start to rust, you know it is about to rain.
grazza7755 ·
You've gotta love this area. Getting all the wiring out and starting to clean it up
grazza7755 ·
A bit better now
grazza7755 ·
Another fun area to be cleaned up
grazza7755 ·
Lots of awkward rust in this area.
all welded up
grazza7755 ·
2 pac primed and painted
grazza7755 ·
The little bits all needs the same attention of cleaning, priming and painting
grazza7755 ·
With the body coming along, time to get the chassis ready.
Motor off first.
grazza7755 ·
Pick it up to pressure clean everywhere.
grazza7755 ·
All areas, all angles
grazza7755 ·
Cleaned any surface crusty rust off the surface, then primed it
grazza7755 ·
A coat of 2 pac black to make it look like new.
grazza7755 ·
Whilst the engine was just sitting there, thought I may as well pull the tinware off it to freshen up its looks.
grazza7755 ·
Fresh black paint after degreasing, sanding and priming.
grazza7755 ·
The body has now got its new coat of Zenith Blue paint.
grazza7755 ·
All panels painted both sides in full gloss
grazza7755 ·
Under body painted with the 2 pac chassis paint.
hulbyw ·
Great progress. Looking good
grazza7755 ·
Tail pipes were rusty and 2 different lengths so have replaced with larger bore, 35mm, stainless tube.
Gives a nicer note.
Will cut to length when lined up with the bumper bars
grazza7755 ·
Always easier to check the gearbox level when it is this accessible.
grazza7755 ·
Yet again, time to sort the wiring out. Not my forte but can work it out eventually.
grazza7755 ·
Time for the rims to get a birthday.
Decided to go 2 tone in keeping with the 60's.
grazza7755 ·
Lot of fiddly work but should look good.
grazza7755 ·
Dash looking smart again
vw54 ·
Get rid of those 25 amp blue fuses should only be red n white in there
Easy job
wheel painting two tone colour scheme is a time consuming job
grazza7755 ·
Ok, no blue fuses.
Red and white only.
Righto, back to important things.
Mating season today.
Body meets chassis.
Sounds like a movie title eh.
grazza7755 ·
Mating in progress.
grazza7755 ·
Done with satisfaction.
Job well done.
Bizarre ·
Brilliant work.
Love the exhaust tubes.
Pan was ok? No rust?
grazza7755 ·
Pan had about 2 sq ft welded in in the past.
It was a good job and needed no further attention.
Now coated both sides with 2 pac chassis paint so shold be good for a long time.
Cheers
vw54 ·
Your working too quick
grazza7755 ·
Thanks, I think.
I work 3 (12 hour days) days a week at our Motel, here now Sat, Sun and Mon.
Lucky there is no rain so I don't have to be on the tractor putting our crops in at the moment.
If there were more days in the week, I could do more 🙂
vw54 ·
I thought you may have been neglecting the Motel with all the VW work
Mate looks good keep it up how did the wiring go
grazza7755 ·
Cleaned all the threaded holes out on and under the chassis.
Makes assembly much easier.
grazza7755 ·
Guards on.
grazza7755 ·
Lights and bumpers on.
Owner opted for painted bars.
grazza7755 ·
first a clean up for the tank
grazza7755 ·
Then a coat of paint
grazza7755 ·
Check everything before fitting tank
grazza7755 ·
Back on terra firma again in 1 piece
grazza7755 ·
Both window glass channels were rusted away
grazza7755 ·
New channels with rubber and sikoflex
grazza7755 ·
Ahh, the fitout of doors.
you need patience and persistence
I suppose it gets easier after 40 years of doing them but it doesn't always feel that way.
grazza7755 ·
The wheel was pitted and in pretty ordinary condition.
A good rubdown and 2 pac paint later.
Voila!
grazza7755 ·
The Beetle had a roof rack on it as Mick carries 2 spares at all times.
1 under the bonnet and 1 on the roof.
The old roof rack was sad and I couldn't bring myself to fitting it back on so this pile of wood, steel and nuts and bolts was bought.
grazza7755 ·
end result is a nice rack
grazza7755 ·
Outside for the first time for a while
grazza7755 ·
This was a few weeks ago when I took it to the trimmers.
The hood lining and trimming around the side and rear windows is out of my league so hopefully back before the end of Jan to get windows and seats in.
Time to think about what next?
The '64 Karmann Ghia in the back of the shed for the last 18 years might be a starter as the Vw Spectacular 2020 are looking for them.
beetleboyjeff ·
Love your work.
I agree, the Gia would be good for the VW Spectacular
hulbyw ·
Top job. Wish my '68 was looking this good. Looking forward to seeing the Ghia at Macksville!
Cheers..........Wayne