Hey all, I am hoping to buy a Bug in the next few months that is basically 50% restored. As in, no rust, good body, mechanically good. From there I want to retrim the interior, put my kit on and repaint. A few people will be helping me do it up.
I want to do a lot more to it but do you guys have any tips on customising Beetles? I am aiming to make it drive and look like a new car. And I want to make it look really sexy :-D
I'm not sure if to buy a new motor (I think they have them at Mick Motors) or is it cheaper and just as good to rebuild? Am I able to put newer brakes in it? (like from a Nissan) Because I would love to get some nice chrome mags for it and obviously the stud pattern is different. And what do you think of Carrera kits?
Anyway, ANY info or tips would help a lot, same if you know of any good VW shops!
I am in the Brissie area.
Thanks heaps people!
Jo

carrera kits are horrible. anyone who tells you otherwise is either selling one or just plain wrong.

i know where you can 120HP+ at the rear wheels..
keep it looking bugly and scare some ricers

*puts her hand up for some of the carrera kits*

they are daggy, but they also do rock! and im not biased just because my bug has most of the carerra kit... they do get you noticed !

DONT go the rectangle tail lights and DONT go the flattened bonett, DONT go the humongous chunky bumpers (yes, you can get bumpers much bigger and chunkier than the one in this picture... eeew!) and DONT go the big chunky carerra back wing.:puke

DO get the big elephant foot tail lights, DO get flared guards, DO get a simple rear wing (at the moment im thinking mine looks better without one! though some days i like it better with one) DO lower it and get the carerra side skirts and DO get a monza 4-tip exhaust.

so ive only really got half the kit, I like it that way.
and if you get bored with it, you can always take it all off, or keeps bits on and take bits off!

just my $0.05 worth...

In my opinion carrera kits have dated not so well, I would never use one but each to their own! Diff'rent strokes fro diff'rent folks so they say.

In regards to different wheels, to cut costs you can try and buy blank drums/rotors (not sure of current set up) and have them drilled to suit new style mag wheels which will enable you to choose from endless sizes/styles/offsets. Sticking with the original vw or even porsche pcd (stud pattern) limits your wheel selection. Here is Brissy, redrilling the drums to suit another stud pattern is illegal (According to the auto engineer I have dealt with). Adapting other brakes is possible but can be tricky - especially if you have to have custom made caliper brackets or whatever made up which equals engineer approval etc etc.

Engine, well that is a hard one. You can spend $3K on a stock rebuild, or $10K on a healthy well built performance motor, with variations below, above and in between the $3-10K range. Buying a second hand motor always runs the risk of premature failure as you don't really know what is lurking inside, or exactly how many km's its done, or how hard it has been driven etc.

Having an engine rebuilt by a reputable builder will give you peace of mind but will cost you a bit.

From my experience whenever customising a vw, there are always flow on effects. Eg. fit wider rims and tyres...may have to narrow the beam, or fit wider fenders. Change braking system may have to upgrade to dual circuit master cylinder. Fit a more powerful engine, may have to fit a rebuilt gearbox or a heavy duty clutch. etc etc

Work out a budget for your mods as close as you can, then triple it (not kidding). Figure out how long it will take and at least double it. Not trying to be pessemistic, just being realistic!
Alan

Oohh! that was hurtfull Cray!

Carrera kits are ok, but I'm biased because when I bought my Go-Kart with doors it was already fitted
If I was starting from scratch I'd go for the Engine and suspension first, then -if I had any money left- attack the bodywork.
Roger.

Nissan brakes are out.... although nothing is impossible if You have the money.... normal type 3 front disc brakes and rear type 3 drum brakes are the usual thing... Complete new engines are expensive... but if You can afford one go for it... otherwise find yourself a good VW mechanic to rebuild Your engine.... if its not too bad inside its not going to cost all that much and at least You will know its not going to let You down on the First long trip.... I also hate Carrera kits, especially the rectangular tail lamps and guards that have been widened, and look like they have been widened.... or more like a bit has been added on. You can get widened Fibreglass guards that look standard.... and have VW tail lamps...
You can get widened front guards with Porsche 356 style headlamps... (early vw type).. Best of Luck... Lee

Hey, thanks so far for all of your very different and honest opinions! I am trying to get as much info as I can to decide whether it's worth doing one up or buying one thats already got everything! I am on a budget but my bf and I are going to rebuilt it ourselves which will save some dosh.
I have actually got a carrera kit, Saas Sports seats and a few other bits and pieces lying around from my last bug that I never actually got to use. The kit looks exactly like the one Starbuggy has. Except the indicators are on the front bumper and I do have the rectangle tail lights.
I do agree some do look daggy and very 80's but then again there are the occasional one's that are really nice. I would love to be able to somehow mould the front and rear bumpers onto the car, like some of the newer cars and I think this would be different. If I could do it is another thing! And I like the idea of lowering it.
I was wondering what big elephant foot tail lights??
Thanks again people! Can't wait to hear more of your helpful suggestions!

Jo

Elephant foot tail-lights are tail-lights found on late model (not sure what year in 70's) beetles. They are large round ones that stick out a little at the top - I'm sure someone can post a picture here.

Lowering is not that hard. Either try and find a front beam which has adjusters already welded in or have a competent welder weld them in for you. Rear is pretty straight forward to adjust the spring plates by rotating them a combination of inner and outer splines. Heaps of info on the net - just do a search.

Moulding bumpers onto car would be hard because the mudguards are designed to be removed from the car which would make the operation a little more difficult. As stated above, anything is possible with money (and time).

Alan

Hi Jo,
sorry for being so critical about the carrera kit.. If You like the rectangular tail lamps go ahead, You only have to please yourself.. Firstly, buy some VW workshop manuals.. some people like the VW book for idiots by the late John Muir... Many VW owners have this book under their seat...
I don't really like it, although I have read it. I have 9 different VW manuals. You really need some good instruction manuals. I completely stripped My Beetle
in one go many years ago, then because of medical problems, everything stopped include Work & work on My Beetle. I don't think I would ever do that again, its a BIG job, one of the main problems was I can't remember where everything goes... If You can do it bit by bit it would be much easier, then again I thought I would have it all finished in 6 months time....
If You are happy with something... then do it.. We ALL like different things thats why no two Beetles are exactly the same.
Elephants feet tail lamps are those Large round late model 73-76 tail lamps... Many people like them, Many people don't.....
Best of Luck... and don't forget to go to Nambucca later this year for the Largest gathering of VWs in Australia....
Lee

Hi Jo,
sorry for being so critical about the carrera kit.. If You like the rectangular tail lamps go ahead, You only have to please yourself.. Firstly, buy some VW workshop manuals.. some people like the VW book for idiots by the late John Muir... Many VW owners have this book under their seat...
I don't really like it, although I have read it. I have 9 different VW manuals. You really need some good instruction manuals. I completely stripped My Beetle
in one go many years ago, then because of medical problems, everything stopped include Work & work on My Beetle. I don't think I would ever do that again, its a BIG job, one of the main problems was I can't remember where everything goes... If You can do it bit by bit it would be much easier, then again I thought I would have it all finished in 6 months time....
If You are happy with something... then do it.. We ALL like different things thats why no two Beetles are exactly the same.
Elephants feet tail lamps are those Large round late model 73-76 tail lamps... Many people like them, Many people don't.....
Best of Luck... and don't forget to go to Nambucca later this year for the Largest gathering of VWs in Australia....
Lee

Are those tail lights your talking about the ones on the super bugs? Mmm, If they looked like that I would prefer to stick with what ive got.
Thanks so much for your info on lowering bugs Alan, it seems a lot easier than I originally thought.
And I will take your advice Lee and invest in some VW manuals, I already have one so far. I know it will be a big job but my bf is a smart lil’ cookie when it comes to cars and anything mechanical.
I will still be saving up for the next few months and selling the car I have now, but in the meantime please, please please keep all this info coming! You don’t know how helpful it is.
If you people want to share piccy’s of your bug with me or wanna email me my address is: Destinys_chic83@hotmail.com.

Jo

picture of elephant foot tail lights, plain wing and monza 4-tip exhaust.
(no, cherry is not a hovercraft:P, shes on stilts getting some koni's{because thats what you give the beetle you love})

monza 4-tips look great and are LOUD! (if thats what you like) though the tail pipes, which are quite heavy, have a bad habit of falling off if you land on them too hard. when you get the exhaust put on, get a little brace welded from the tailpipe to the muffler for some extra support.

Yep elephants are like above and in my avatar

Something not mentioned is if you want to go Standard or Super

I will simplify it by saying in a modified way Standards make great Cal Looks and Supers make great German Lookers.

Supers are heaps easier to lower being strut fronts and easier to put 7" or 8" on the front.

Standards go for adjusters on torsion bars and narrowed beams at the sacrifice in handling at speed but have "the look"

Dream you car first and build around it

TTFN

Barry

I am looking at getting a 69-70 Bug, because my first car was a 1970 & I was really happy with it!
Now that I see the elephant tail lights they do look really cool starbuggy! But I have always liked the torana ones.
I only have the moulds for the sideskirts though, does anybody have any suggestions for where it's best to get them moulded?
On my old bug I went and got a side-exhaust put on it and it was reallllly loud which was awesome! But I really do like those 4-pipe exhausts, specially when the back spoiler is moulded around them (I have seen this done). Do they still give the bug more power? I'd even love to have two out of the back and put a huge chrome tip on them.
Also, with being able two fit a variety of mags to a bug were is a good place to get the brakes/rotors stud pattern redrilled? And about how much am I looking at. Prolly looking at getting 17".

I am welcoming any kind of stories you have about your VW's, tips or anything in general!

Jo

There is quite a bit of info in the paint & body forum in regards to painting a Beetle.

stop plugging your forum, helbus
for a real cool look try the rat fanciers forum

He He.

I never thought of it like that.

The Paint and Body forum v's the Rat Fanciers forum.

'Ding' 'Ding' Three x two minute rounds.

iffin' ye waint so dang skeered o dentin yer chassis now we maht jest have us a fight

Ok Ok

Paint and Body gives in. We are throwing in the towel before the fight.

Scared the pretty looks might get spoiled.

See you at a concourse.....

In fact might get some heavies from the Racers or Buggies to back us up.

Guys.. Hello ... Guys..

:thumb

that concourse comment was below the belt
and btw monza 4 tip exhausts are showy and sound fun but otherwise are not an extractor/hi po muffler.