Hi
This is my first volkswagen its a 1974 L bug. I have named 'him' Mr Basil. He needs work and that is happening slowly - at the moment just concentrating on getting him up to daily driver (only needs new tyres and different steering box put in). then will see what happens and where the vw 'disease' takes us. We are hoping to get him painted and I want to get a new interior etc.


Any ideas welcomed, and any suggestions on how to do things more cheaply especially welcomed!

Very nice

The only suggestion is a set of lowered struts to take the gap away from the top of the wheel.
A simple job and it makes them look tough

barry

reminds me of Boris before his makeover. Good luck with your ride

Thanks I will look into lowering him - depends how much I think I can spend just on that (LOL). Hopefully i can find someone in the ACT experienced in it who can help

Yay, another L bug!

Welcome Bugluv and Mr Basil! Barry is right, the lowered struts do look good, but can come at a price, unless u can manage to get a second hand pair, and you dont want to go putting big wheels on like me.

Ash x

so I'm guessin finding a 2nd hand pair is v. difficult Will have to do a bit more research on how they change handling + comfort

Well its been a while. Have recently installed a purple steering wheel in Mr Basil and upgraded the stereo. We have hopefully lined up a painter and will be hopefully installing new front suspension. In the interim he has had flower stickers placed on him, which won us an encouragement award at the ACT autofest in 07 (yay!). I will post some pictures as progress begins

how about this instead...

Glad to see your still in there.

You have a great car there.
Excellent work on the award

Hi Sarah,
Your 1303S or "L" Beetle looks great....

You could try polishing him or Buffing His paintwork to a nice shine....

You would need to use a product like Meguirs or mothers polishes...
there is one for dull paintwork
then another
then another for the shine....
and even another for really shiney finishes....

don't forget to polish the bumpers and hubcaps to stop them from becoming rusted...

You might find a useable dash mat if you keep looking around....
keep an eye on ebay....

best wishes

Lee

http://www.superbeetles.com/index.htm 

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

nice bug
i think that paint is well beyond buffing
looks exactly like mine did when i bought it
and mine was in canberra with the original owner till 93 to and had very similar rego.
they seem to stay very solid there for some reason
mine didnt have a spec of rust in the body which is very unusual for an Lbug

the cheapest and easiest way to lower would be get some empi adjustable struts
george at classic has them $200 the pair from memory and another $200 for the insert
a good idea cos i would bet ur old struts are getting pretty worn and they fully adjustable too so u can go lower or raise fairly easily

Thanks everyone,

We have tried cut & polishing the paint but I think it is beyond it No matter as we bought the bug with the intention of painting

We are actually having V-force struts installed, along with some other suspension work, so that should lower the car & make for a much more comfortable ride! Figured there wasnt much point paying for a shiney new paint job before we get the mechanicals up to scratch (or should I say down to scratch, as he will be lowered )

Today & yesterday involved a spending spree at some Sydney vw shops... we bought:
- Pop-out windows
- Doorcards
- Rooflining
- Carpet
- Trunk Liner
- Dynamat
- Parcel shelf (vinyl)
- Indicator stalk


And various other little bits and bobs that we needed. Seems like its all coming together at last!

Well Basil is being prepped for paint now that most of the mechanical work has been done Here are some photos:

Gee you're not messing around, are you! Sweet!

This is gunna be one sweet L
The body is near rust free and the wheel /suspension package............

Cant wait till its finished

Hi Sarah

I met your mum & dad the other day at the bug in, they are as keen about the car as you, and your dad beat me at eBay the other day, grumble grumble.

It looks much more GL now, you will have to put a post on Germanlook.

Steve

I guess all the VW excitement is contagious.
Gotta be quick on ebay

Well done on the build! Looking sweet, love the cup wheels.

Any secrets regarding engine??

I'm still thinking on that one. In the interim the engine is remaining stock with the teeny additions of a 009 dizzy, electronic ignition and extractors. I'd love to put a type 4 engine in or even just a 1776. Depends what I can find and afford really. I'm considering an overseas trip at the end of the year before I start uni, but theres also the possibility of taking a trip at the end of my course and putting a new engine in now

Nice ride. Cant wait to see it finished.

Neither can I !!!

(aka Bugluv's dad!)....

Getting ready for paint, inspecting rust etc.... poor Basil looks naked without his flowers but will look very handsome soon
You can see the struts installed more easily in these photos... old wheels on for painting so new ones dont get damaged.

HI,
You have spent some serious money on Your 1303S beetle.
make sure You insure with Shannons or similar
so You can insure it for what its worth...

also
where the rust is under the bonnet and engine lid
-the metal strip that holds the rubbers in...

You can take those metal strips off as they do attract rust
and then You fit Mexican type rubbers
which just push onto the edge of the engine lid and bonnet...

this is what i have done

plus many others I've seen..

cheers

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

Shannons dont insure drivers under the age of 25 though...

Hi Sarah

The cars looking good.

I have 2 bugs insured with Shannons, one on laid up cover and the daily driver. While my sons is on his Ls he's covered by my insurance with Shannons but with a higher excess if he's driving. When he gets his Ps in November the car will still need to be in name with him as a nominated driver, he's under threat of being cut out of the will if he so much as puts a mark on the car. Maybe you could get your dad to insure your car with the same setup.

Steve

thats odd, i'm insured with Shannons and im 24.

I was also insured with them on my first bug (third party though) at 19 years old.

I might ring them again - it was at a stall at a show that they told me I couldn't be insured. I have a quote from NRMA which seems very reasonable (compared to other places). They will insure the car for an agreed value which is nice. I tried 'justcars' but they wont insure the car for more than $3000 with a premium of 2k The NRMA premium would be less AND an agreed value so seems the way to go at the moment.

The thing I like about shannons though is the way you can get your car back if it is written off. I dont think NRMA would do that. Im hoping never to write off the car though

As far as having it in dads name with me as a nominated driver - I will be moving out to go to uni next year so don't know if that can work. Living about 10hrs apart might be stretching the 'designatd driver' option

Hi Sarah

I don't think the NRMA will allow lowered or even slightly modified cars. Living away from home should be no hassle with Shannons, where are you going to uni at?

Steve

Armidale (University of New England) or Uni of Sydney........ probably Armidale because rent is cheaper