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Ratty 64 Beetle
Van de Blauw - July 11th, 2013 at 03:01 PM

New to our garage, this '64 is the base from which all of my childhood dreams will be brought to life.
Noticed it at a local club member's house while he was servicing my bay window and he explained he picked it up locally at an estate sale and it didn't owe him a great deal. In turn the asking price was (hopefully) a bargain. Snapped it up, and now its too late to turn back: I'm in love!


http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps3625a4d7.jpg


http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps65d419b0.jpg

There's a little bit of rust, and a few obvious repairs (have a look at the bottom of the driver's door)- but all in all its fairly solid.

The main rust concern for me is that both of the doors have rusted through on the bottoms and interior sides. Not sure whether to leave it, try and fix it or just replace the doors. Any ideas at this early stage?? And there's a little bit in the gutter leading down to the decklid area, is that a tough fix???

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps3360d20b.jpg


xerxes - July 11th, 2013 at 09:13 PM

He's very cute - good luck getting him on the road :)


vwvic - July 11th, 2013 at 09:46 PM

Great looking bug:tu:
Mine had rust in the gutter in the same spot. It wasn't too hard to fix.


JER-FAB - July 12th, 2013 at 03:24 AM

Sweet bug!


PHAT BUG - July 12th, 2013 at 10:30 AM

Is nice Dan!
I thought this was Rach's car though?


Van de Blauw - July 12th, 2013 at 01:54 PM

:lol: it is, only i'll be the one working on it, and i'll be the one driving it.


vw40hp - July 12th, 2013 at 09:47 PM

Nice. :tu: What have you got planned for it ?


PHAT BUG - July 14th, 2013 at 12:51 AM

Cut, polish, slam, done.


Van de Blauw - July 14th, 2013 at 07:08 PM

Rhett's not far off the money there!!!

Patch the holes, bang some of the larger dints, overhaul the brakes, treat the pan to some love, 12v conversion, cut and polish and then hopefully get it to a stage where reg (club) is achievable. And some slammage, perhaps.

On the pan point, we went and cleaned her out during the week. This is what we found:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps061bd88e.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zpsa6ccb0e3.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps8c1f8040.jpg

What's the recommended course of action for taking care of that surface rust?

And, what size tyres do people run on stock steelies????


vw40hp - July 14th, 2013 at 09:53 PM

Clean it up a bit more wire brush the pans and coat them with POR15. It will come up a treat.


PHAT BUG - July 17th, 2013 at 04:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Van de BlauwAnd, what size tyres do people run on stock steelies????


135r15's on the front and 165r15 on the rear, if your slamming it of course ;)

When your ready for tyres give me a holla ;)


Van de Blauw - July 17th, 2013 at 07:50 PM

Will do. I need to catch you boys out at the shed for some proper inspiration/direction on this... :tu:


PHAT BUG - July 18th, 2013 at 06:47 AM

You know the time and the place ;)


surfpig - August 8th, 2013 at 10:28 AM

keen to see this unfold


AndrewB - August 8th, 2013 at 07:30 PM

looks like a good project!


Van de Blauw - August 31st, 2013 at 08:42 PM

Time for a little update.

Progress on the car has been severely hampered by my latest batch of teaching rounds, but things are still starting to take shape and a plan is slowly coming together. A light cut and polish revealed some old dodgy repairs, and what could quite possibly be the worst paint matching the world has ever seen. Lots of little things are being done, like replacing brake hoses and cylinders, and putting on some new axle boots. A box full of goodies arrived yesterday, so today saw the next phase of work start to take shape!
Original paint wheels have been located (4 wheels were on 4 different cars out at the 'farm'), and came up perfectly ratty after a wash.
It wasn't all sunshine and happiness though, as with a little bit of prodding and poking we found that the lower section of the driver's side A-Pillar was rooted- so that will make for some welding fun a little down the track.

I'll leave you with the pictures- hopefully there'll be a lot more work done in the next month or two!

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps92c86cb4.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps77b37763.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps0ecbc78b.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zpsc074cbb9.png

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps874f5b36.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps3d2d2201.jpg


And I got these puppies for a steal on eBay-
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zpsd33cf178.png
Should match up pretty well.


PHAT BUG - September 3rd, 2013 at 07:29 AM

Keep it up guys!!


Van de Blauw - September 8th, 2013 at 10:00 PM

Small progress made this weekend- at this rate the car will be on the road come its 75th birthday :lol:
Engine came in from the chook shed yesterday, made its way onto the engine stand and was treated to a brand spanking new 12volt gen and some cleaned up tinware. Bit of p-farting around changing the stand and backing plate, but will be well worth it in the end.

New rear window seal went in as well- probably the funnest job I've completed thus far. What a pita. Result should be well worth it in the end though, with the no leaking and stuff.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zpsd8137e47.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii528/VanDeBlauw/null_zps2e3d6cb8.jpg