I thought I would share the restoration of my 1967 bug,
I bought this car in October 2010, with the intention of having it as a daily driver, but after seeing the potential to restore it as original I wanted to know it had been done properly so I went ahead and started pulling it apart.
These are pictures of how I bought it back in 2010.
These are pictures of it in it's current state after pulling it apart and paint removed showing the bog and previous (poor) repair.
Now its slowly moving ahead
Here is a picture of the motor after I rebuilt and cleaned it all up.
Will post more pictures as I get on with the resto, the plan is to get it on the road by the following christmas.
Kazandmyrtle ·
Looking good! You've made some great progress.........what is your dream for her?
Paulc1964au ·
thanks for posting look forward to seeing more posts, will you be lowering it 🙂
smithy68 ·
Thanks for the comments, the dream is to get it back to original, with the exception of lowering it in the rear and fitting drop spindles in the front.
AndrewB ·
Its amazing what surprises you find under the surface of these clean looking cars.
Nice work, motor looks sweet.
Are you sticking with white paint or something else?
smithy68 ·
Going with a very close colour to original but more unique.
The suprises are amazing thats for sure, I have replaced the passenger door and got a new front apron for
it but other than that all the bad bits will be cut out and welded, but NO bog is going near it ever again.
AndrewB ·
Im on the same boat at the moment, cut and weld, cut and weld, smack with a hammer... haha
With the condition of your engine lid, Im surprised your rear beaver panel isnt rusted somewhere, i wish mine looked that decent.
Looking forward to seeing more of your progress!
smithy68 ·
Some more pictures of the progress, The fella that is doing the body work and paint (Karl, the old school master) may have it finished by the end of Febuary. Really looking forward to getting it and putting it back together.
More photo's when I visit the shop again on friday!, should all be in primer by then.
smithy68 ·
Can anyone tell me if the plate on the tunnel housing is a standard thing or not?
Camo ·
Appears to be a cover that someone has bolted over the tunnel after doing a clutch cable replacement. A lot of people cut a hole in the tunnel to make it easier to replace the clutch cable and then either leave a open hole there or put a cover over the hole as in your case. I would remove it and make sure they haven't cut out too bigger section of the tunnel.
Kev
smithy68 ·
Thanks Kev, I will do that.
Turbo54 ·
Smithy,
Where are you getting the body work done. Looking for somewhere in adelaide for my 54?
Looking good, motor came up nice.
Thanks
T54
mattie ·
just a heads up with that vw heratige front panel sitting in the car,make sure the bumper holes are in the correct spot the one i put on our 64 the lhs is 10mm higher haha
smithy68 ·
mattie wrote:just a heads up with that vw heratige front panel sitting in the car,make sure the bumper holes are in the correct spot the one i put on our 64 the lhs is 10mm higher haha
Karl (panel guy) made the two holes himself it came without them so he could get them spot on.
smithy68 ·
Got some more pictures today of the progress.....
t_tuffnut ·
Wow! It was a bloody clean car to begin with. That patch work looks amazing.
Cant wait to see this thing finished!
smithy68 ·
Some more pics of the progress, which of late has been very slow 🙁 oh well better done properly than rushed.
SebastienPeek ·
Where is this being done?
Zelda might need some TLC soon that's all 🙁
smithy68 ·
He is a one man show up at lonsdale, if you want his number to fix that damage PM me.
smithy68 ·
Got some more progress pictures today, will start to get some paint on it this coming week.
Found out that the firewall was loose and moving around so that has been welded up and fixed.
Now just getting all the panels on to see how they fit and then they will be removed for painting.
Craig Torrens ·
Its a lot of work, but well worth it 👍
smithy68 ·
Well It's finally got some colour, got some photo's of it with colour, I am very happy with it and should be coming home next week.
Will get final photo's next week when it's all polished and finished.
Handy ·
What a beauty !!
Camo ·
Looks bloody great and what an exciting stage of the rebuild the car is at 👍
Keeps us updated.
Kev
smithy68 ·
Some more pictures
Gracey ·
Looking good!!
rusty69 ·
Wow looking really good. Hope I can get mine to look half as good... drool... well worth the effort and money...
smithy68 ·
Well I thought it was time to share what I have done so far, which to be honest is not much. But as time permits between family and work you do what you can. I have taken the front end out of the car as it needed a good clean, while out I'll rebuild it with new brakes, wheel cylinders, hoses, tie rods and fit the drop spindles. I have also fitted various other bits around the car like seals, latches etc.
The engine bay is now been rewired with new wiring as have all the rear lights.
Paulc1964au ·
looks great now to put it all back together 🙂
mickya ·
Looks ace! Really like the colour!
smithy68 ·
Have had some time now to get doing some work, I have fitted a load of parts back on now and have finally got my Vintage Speed exhaust fitted after trouble with the heat rises and header pipes.
I have had all ther interior painted the same colour as the outside including steering wheel etc..
Fitted the rebuilt front end with drop spindles..
Here are some photos showing the progress, in a few weeks I take the car to the motor trimmers to have the roof lining fitted, hopefully all wiried up so I can drive it down, but might have to tow it.
Then I have to lower the rear of the car.
Have fiitted a hidden MP3 player/Ipod player mini AMP, just wondering if anyone had used one of these and how well they work?
vw54 ·
looks like a great job
I hope you kept the origional front n rear rubber mats they look good
smithy68 ·
Yea kept the old ones but there not in good nick, but have been searching for good second hand one. If anyone wants to part with good second hand mat I'll take it.
SebastienPeek ·
Wow, get this done quick so we can cruise already! 😀
sander288 ·
very very nice; love the new exhaust
empi ·
Whats the exhaust sound like good?? (i just got one but alas car not running yet)
smithy68 ·
Have not run the car yet, but should be soon just have to fit the voltage reg, will let you know what it sounds like.
I am trying so hard to get this finished before christmas.....
1966 type 3 ·
is the colour the late beetle colour harvest moon ????????
smithy68 ·
Its been a while but here is an update, been many years in the making but nearly together and finished now.
smithy68 ·
Finally on the road and finished 🙂
Morts ·
Looks really, really scmick - you must be rapt. Well done.
smithy68 ·
The Final Product!
BlasterTheRedBajaBug ·
Did you consider whitewalls it would really give it that "vintage" look.
adlbeetle66 ·
😍Beautiful work mate
1958kafer ·
Looks great! Are those pics from the car meet up in Blackwood?
smithy68 ·
Yes they certainly are from Blackwood, I have now changed the wheels to how I wanted them.
adlbeetle66 ·
What width are the rear wheels?
And how far did you lower the back? 👍
smithy68 ·
They are 15x8 rims, with 195/65/15 rubber and went down just over 2.5 inches lowered in the rear.
smithy68 ·
So now I finally did it and built a 2110 cc monster for it. Saying the jump from a 1300 cc to a 2110 cc was big is an understatement.... the thing is insane!
Its a 2110 cc 90.5x82mm
Dual 48mm IDF weber carbs (Italian) 40mm chokes, 160 mains, 55 idles, 200 airs.
SVDA electronic dizzy, fully set and rebuilt by Volksdoktor.
10.0 to 1 compression.
CB Performance mini wedge heads 43 x 37.5 valves with match ported inlet manifolds.
CB performance forged chromoly 82mm crank.
CB performance H beam Rods.
A1 Santa Anna sidewinder exhaust.
AA forged 90.5 pistons and jugs, with total seal rings.
30mm gene berg pump and pump cover
Full flowed case with remote oil filter and external additional oil cooler and fan.