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Here goes....
wiked_storm - January 26th, 2009 at 11:09 PM

Ok...so I've wanted a bug since I was 13 years old and finally, at the age of 29 (after I divorced from my husband) I bit the bullet and aquired my very first one. She's a beauty! A 64 model convertable....the beetle of my dreams. The only problem is, I know NOTHING about cars!:lol:

I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty and I reckon you're never too old to learn new things I just dont know where to start and info and advice is not easy to come by.

She's not registered but apart from a new soft top, some work on the electricals and a new ignition switch, she seems in pretty good order (so I've been told by the guys who know a bit more than I do). So that's obviously the first thing I want to do is get her registered.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I dont want her to just sit in the carport rusting away. We've all gotta start somewhere right?:blush:

eraser - January 27th, 2009 at 05:30 AM

Welcome, it depends on what your wanting to do with it?

Restore?
Drive it daily?

vw54 - January 27th, 2009 at 05:39 AM

where you at ???

desh - January 27th, 2009 at 07:16 AM

Quote:
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I dont want her to just sit in the carport rusting away. We've all gotta start somewhere right?:blush:


Did you get the owners manual with your Beetle?

You can view an Acrobat version of it here:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/60_65bug_replacement.php 


Which goes through how to change the oil, check the battery condition, belts etc..

I am guessing anything more detailed and you would want a mechanic to look at your car?

If you can advise where you are located someone here may be able to poin you to a trustworthy VW mechanic

greedy53 - January 27th, 2009 at 08:37 AM

to be honest if your local blue slip guy is handy take to him and as what did i need to bone for rego that way your not doing every thingjust in case
good luck and wecome

wiked_storm - January 27th, 2009 at 09:38 AM

Hi guys. Thanks for the replies.

I'm in Orange NSW.

It didn't come with a manual so I bought one but I'll definately check out the Acrobat version. Thanks for that:).

I want to drive her daily but after she's on the road I'd absolutely LOVE to hot her up a bit. I'll have to get some photos of her to post on here.

Thanks again guys for the replies:).

Gringo_54_oval - January 27th, 2009 at 12:25 PM

hot her up i say
No.1 rule.............. drop it!
Mechanic needed for that
all the best with your dub.

paladin - January 27th, 2009 at 01:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by wiked_storm
n you're never too old to learn new things I just dont know where to start and info and advice is not easy to come by.

She's not registered but apart from a new soft top, some work on the electricals and a new ignition switch, she seems in pretty good order (so I've been told by the guys who know a bit more than I do). So that's obviously the first thing I want to do is get her registered.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I dont want her to just sit in the carport rusting away. We've all gotta start somewhere right?:blush:


First things first - if it's unregistered, has it been registered recently? You can run into problems if it's a modified vehicle (ie: not a factory convertible) that has been out of rego for a long time or not registered since the body work. Does she have a compliance plate etc??

Have a good look for rust in the usual places - under the battery, around the bottom of the doors, in the body pan, in the a pillars, in the heater channels etc. You want her to be structurally bang-on for rego purposes. You want to establish both the above things before going to the expense of a new soft top etc.

In terms of getting to know your new friend mechanically, I'd suggest John Muir's book "How to keep your volkswagen alive". A very groovy read and makes things nice and simple for those of us (myself included) who have little experience with things mechanical, but are competent and willing to give it a go. Workshop manuals and so on are great and detailed, and some are better than others for certain things, but for me the Muir book is the VW bible.

You've come to the right place though. I'm just starting out myself leaning things about my bug, and the crew here are just wonderful.

StenGuns - January 27th, 2009 at 03:02 PM

Its not PINK by any chance is it?

Joel - January 27th, 2009 at 05:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gringo_54_oval
No.1 rule.............. drop it!




cant slam hacktops
chassis bracing underneath bottoms out on everything
they got sucky ground clearance when at stock height let alone lowered

not to dishearten you but depending where abouts you live getting a softtop blueslipped can be a nightmare

theyre are lots of requirements a convertible needs that most in built in the 80s and early 90s dont have like the rollbar connected floorpan, rear wheel arches and front windscreen

wiked_storm - January 27th, 2009 at 08:48 PM

That IS disheartening :(

I've wanted this car SO desperately for SO long I couldn't stand having to sell her because of her mods.

Joel - January 27th, 2009 at 09:31 PM

dont loose hope its all stuff that can be added to make it safe
i know of a few convertables that had this work done to bring them up to scratch but thats in NSW they mightnent be as strict in qld

just noticed is the new bug the one in your avatar?
cos thats a 71 or 72 superbug
just helps to know when ordering parts

desh - January 27th, 2009 at 10:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by wiked_storm
That IS disheartening :(

I've wanted this car SO desperately for SO long I couldn't stand having to sell her because of her mods.


First port of call then might be to someone who does blue slips, get them to look over your car and give you a report on what's what. Down here something like that from a mechanic will cost you about $80-100.

That would be a good starting point, as they can advise on how much the work is roughly going to set you back,

68AutoBug - January 27th, 2009 at 10:40 PM

Hi,

Seeing You live in Orange, You may be OK getting a blue slip...
it really depends on the mechanic doing the blue slip...

some mechanics are fine... others are a pain...

ask around as you will probably have a choice of mechanics to go to... as Orange is a big place...

He could make you go to an engineer to get a certificate

and they do go over everything...

I wish You luck...

LEE


PS: Most beetles have wiring and ignition problems because they are so old... and the parts have lasted this long.... lol also many owners fiddle with the wiring..
but You can buy everything to fix it...
New or 2nd hand.... LEE

68AutoBug - January 27th, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desh

First port of call then might be to someone who does blue slips, get them to look over your car and give you a report on what's what. Down here something like that from a mechanic will cost you about $80-100.

That would be a good starting point, as they can advise on how much the work is roughly going to set you back,


YIKES .. I'm sure mine didn't cost that much...
Maybe they are cheaper in NSW....


Lee

bajachris88 - January 28th, 2009 at 12:36 AM

If u were in qld i could have refered ya to an easily going mechanic :(

Got my bros car rwc-ed with no worries 10 months ago, despite huge exhaust leak, bald tyres, no hi beams, blown indicator, intake vacuum leak, teared seats & worn steering wheel padding...

:tu:

The car has since been made safe simply for the purpose of not dieing but ur best bet is to ask around for an easy mechanic. :smirk:

vw54 - January 28th, 2009 at 05:41 AM

Go and have a chat with this guy he may point you in the right direction

Ross Preen
Websters Mech Repairs
24 Moulder Street 6362-2073

he knows me

there are several VW people in Orange

desh - January 28th, 2009 at 06:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 68AutoBug
YIKES .. I'm sure mine didn't cost that much...
Maybe they are cheaper in NSW....


Lee



ah ok, down here in tassie that's generally what you pay, we have the benefit of only having to do this once, then you just keep paying your rego each year, doesn't matter how crappy your car is. only time you might be in trouble is if/when you get pulled over by the boys in blue.

So yes no annual inspection here in Tasmania.

wiked_storm - January 28th, 2009 at 07:30 AM

You guys are the BEST!!!

vw54....will do! Thanks for that!

Joel....Yep! Thats my baby! I love her SO much!

desh....Good idea!

68AutoBug....Thanks for your ongoing help! It is MUCH appreciated!

bajachris88....One day...Eventually I'm moving up Bundaberg way to be near my grandfather :).

It's SO good to finally find somewhere that I can talk to people who know what they are doing!

matberry - January 28th, 2009 at 10:40 PM

Second vote for Ross Preen, been around vw's for ever.

LIFE IN THE LOW LANE - January 29th, 2009 at 06:50 AM

Orange has got a reputation for building quick VW's me thinks......

wiked_storm - January 29th, 2009 at 12:37 PM

Drove over to see if I could track down Ross Preen but 24 Moulder St is a residence :(

rose - January 29th, 2009 at 06:49 PM

Blue slip will cost $51.30 for a bug. And if you have old rego papers that state that it is a convertible it may be ok. If you don't have old papers you may need an engineers report. We do blue slips everyday boy are they a hassle with the documentation that the rta require.
If you don't have any documentation on the car then there's nothing to put on the paper work so you need to get it engineered as you can't just make up information on the car.
Hope this helps you.

wiked_storm - January 29th, 2009 at 06:59 PM

Thanks Rose. I don't have any paperwork on her but I went to the RTA today asking questions about her history and she has been previously registered as a convertable. I dont know how to get paperwork on that though.

rose - January 29th, 2009 at 07:23 PM

You can't get the paper work rta.

You have to start from scratch so go see your mechanic that does blue slips and he will give you an engineer to go to.

Unless you can get a copy of old rego papers from the people you brought it from.
Good luck


Quote:
Originally posted by wiked_storm
Thanks Rose. I don't have any paperwork on her but I went to the RTA today asking questions about her history and she has been previously registered as a convertable. I dont know how to get paperwork on that though.

ian.mezz - January 29th, 2009 at 07:26 PM

Hi Welcome to the vee dub world.
If you PM me pics I'll pass your car ;);)nudge nudge. Don't tell Rose.:lol::lol:

If you need bits for your bug maybe you should go and have a look at the Bathurst swap meet on Sun.

wiked_storm - January 29th, 2009 at 08:22 PM

You're a sweetheart ian.mezz :). Bathurst huh? Where abouts and what time?

ian.mezz - January 30th, 2009 at 08:01 AM

At the showground really early behind the toilet block :crazy::lol::crazy:

Quote:
Originally posted by wiked_storm
You're a sweetheart ian.mezz :). Bathurst huh? Where abouts and what time?

matberry - January 30th, 2009 at 08:07 AM

Ross Preen is on here but not too often, search members, his user name is his real name.
You may find email add.

wiked_storm - January 30th, 2009 at 02:08 PM

ROFL ian.mezz !!! You cheeky bugger!!! I like your style! :lol: