I promised the minister for finance and war I would build her a nice reliable beetle if she sold her troublesome Exa.

Started by buying an original 1970 beetle from an old lady who had owned it for 25 years, bodywork needs a new paint job but the interior is fine and the rust is not too bad. Had rego as well.
The thing ran OK but the rera main seal was stuffed, it had spun a main bearing and the tinware was rattling everywhere. In short, a heap of shit......$1600 on ebay.

Took the car to a place in Moorebank called SKH motors, they specialise in VW's and do very little else.
Because the car was due for rego, it was going to need a few things done in addition to the donk.

The base price he charges for a head to head rebuild and reco is $1350, add to that all the other worn out stuff and the bill started climbing significantly.

I got:

Brand new cases, bearings, pistons cylinders etc.
Full balance from pulley to pressure plate
Lightened flywheel, new clutch, and a few other little bits.
New carby, dizzy, some tinware, mild cam,a brand new bosh alternator kit fitted, some rubbers, gearbox oil leak fixed, heaters connected, all new everything basically.

The front suspension needed all new tie rods, ball joints and steering damper.

I gave him some of the parts so the price dropped a bit but it would have added up to about $4500 drive in drive out and he did it all in a week.

The car drives amazingly well now, so smooth and civilised and the torque is unlike anything I ever expected. The run in proceedure will be hard as the car wants to climb above 80 before you know it. 3rd gear or fourth, it really runs strongly now.

The suspension work is the biggest revelation, the car actually steers and handles now.

Maybe i paid a lot but the quality of the work is evident, the attention to detail and end result is well worth it.
Anything that was worn was replaced with consultation, if new stuff was unaffordable, used or recoed was an option.
I just went with new everything as I wanted something the Mrs could do big miles on and not worry about.

The motor is a lot quieter, it feels almost...eh modern. BIG difference.

Now I need to find a good painter.

Le donk:




Car:




[Edited on 4-9-2004 by sax]

[Edited on 4-9-2004 by sax]

[Edited on 4-9-2004 by sax]

[Edited on 4-9-2004 by sax]

[Edited on 4-9-2004 by sax]

i know someone ,but he's down in melbourne ,where are you ?

We are in the Hills district of Sydney

Nice one Sax! Aren't you just the bestest gem - looking afta ya mrs like that! That engine sounds like its gonna last you another 30 years now! Whats the displacement? 1600 single port?

[Edited on 5-9-2004 by oval TOFU]

good to see you got one mate ill take your name off the interested list on the blue one

Always interested mate, always. This is her car so now I need one too. The number of good buys available here is unreal.

But the wallet still aches. :o

[Edited on 5-9-2004 by sax]

well the blue 1500 and yellow sbug is still avalible

Hey Sax,
try Tony's Body Shop on sunnyholt rd Blacktown.
They did my buggy body and were great.
The guy who runs the shop is called chris.
They do rust work as well.

badabump

Thats money well spent, she should keep on going for years to come!

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Look what else I just picked up.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2489151409&ssPa...

yeh!, you lucky dog, are you gonna leave it ratty?

Not sure, but I am seriously thinking of a satin black or very dark gray.

It's hard, having only one beetle to do up and having a hundred different ideas for it.
The most modded car in the world is the beetle, has anything not been done yet?

I'm guessing a full stripdown and maybe even bare metal if the metal is as good as it seems. Not really interested in a stock looking paintjob but I do want it to stick out like dog's balls in a carpark full of beetles....
Now how hard can that be?

paint it in fluro yellow like counsil worker yellow or even green |??

That was an option, would suit me as I'm always wearing those god awful hi visibility safety vests in the yellow.

Green beetles are great (but not if you're a fruit grower)

satin black then flame it

Now we're gettin warmer!

I want it to look like this narrowed beam and all:

what are those wheels? they look awesome!

I found that on the samba.com, the whole car is just exactly what I want.

The wheels look pretty standard? Or sort of?
I'd like a set myself.

might be hard to look like that, especially with a 1970 fat chick hehe thats an ovan and a different body shape, but the idea is pretty sweet great looking car sofar looks like your on the right track with paint aswell

Well, looks like the 70 fat chick has had it...

Was rear-ended on thursday afternoon while stopped and was pushed into the car in front. The guy who hit me left skid marks for 5 metres and pushed me forward about a car length while I had my foot on the brake.

Was unable to get the car out of gear and after it being towed to the mechanic and him having a quick look at the donk yesterday looks like the brand new alternator and stand are toast. it will start and run once he repalced the dizzy but is making noise. Will need to be removed from the car to find out if it is OK.

The car will more than likely be written off so looks like I am in the market for a new Dub of some description.

Not happy Jan.......

Oh no! That's awful news. Good to hear you're ok though. Lucky you didn't keep the 914s afterall, looks like the bank balance might be taking a turn for the worse

Not wrong about the bank balance.

I'm OK, just very very sore from the feet up. He hit me so hard the drivers seat broke so ended up spending the night in hospital and have had 2 sets of spinal Xrays, Chest, and complete right side of the body as well. The tech took over 50 in total. I now glow in the dark.

hope it all works out. Good luck