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 PatB
Casual Dubber
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Registered: March 12th, 2003
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 posted on March 12th, 2003 at 11:44 PM |
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Introduction
Hi There Everyone,
Just a quick post to introduce myself. I've been in lurk mode, off and on, for a while, having a passing interest in VWs for some time but not
actually owning one.
However, partly as a result of the obvious enthusiasm and collective knowledge of this group, I've now gone and done something extremely foolish
and bought a scruffy but sound and complete '63 Beetle as a project. Well, it was local, it was affordable and I was bored. I must stop reading
the classifieds when I'm bored  .
Anyway, I'm now spending every spare moment in the shed, crawling over the beastie to find out what I've bought and trying to decide what to
do with it. I'm still not sure but I've more or less ruled out the radical custom/ragtop/baja route for this particular car. It's too
original to take a hacksaw to. (Next time a baja would be nice though )
I'm leaning towards a tidy daily driver with sensible upgrades (12V 'lecky, mild but bulletproof engine etc.) and one or two ideas I'd
like to try out.
Although I've fiddled with assorted vehicles over the years this is my first real VW (but I can just about remember my dad's '55 oval
(30+ years ago) which was cut up when I was about 4  . I was rapt then
though 'cos he built me a cave in the garden using the roof . It was
just a knackered old car back then).
Anyhow, that's me. I look forward to a more active role here now that I'm less of a wannabe.
Cheers
Pat
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SKEWtYpe3
Custom Title Time!
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| posted on March 12th, 2003 at 11:51 PM |
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Welcome to the forum !
Maybe you could post some pics of your dub !
Hope the Guru's can help with the questions you will have.
What style aer u doing your DUb, resto, Cal, Custom..........?
:bounce
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PatB
Casual Dubber
Posts: 32
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| posted on March 13th, 2003 at 01:54 AM |
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Photos? First I'll have to take some, then I'll have to learn how to use this here scanner thingy and post pics :o. Expect a long wait .
Just at the moment I'm becoming more and more keen on the classic simplicity and design purity of the '63. OK so an earlier car would have
more of both but it's what I've got so I'll have to go with it. I've been becoming increasingly disillusioned with the
"sealed for life", "no user serviceable parts inside" nature of modern motor vehicles so I've been on the lookout for
something low tech but with good spares backup and the Beetle fits the bill. It was either this or the "Blacksmith's Revenge" (an old
Land Rover I've had an eye on) and the Beetle got in first. Anyway, a guy at work has just bought an old Skoda so eccentric European vehicles
with rear engines and swing axles rather appeal to me at the moment. But I digress.
Much of the appeal of the '63 for me is its basic simplicity and its lack of pretence to be anything other than what it is, a basic, inexpensive
motor car capable of travel on a wide variety of roads with excellent reliability given adequate maintenance. This is exactly what I'm looking
for in a vehicle so I'm going to keep it somewhere close to stock both mechanically and in appearance. Skinny tyres (radials though), standard
ride height, standard original brightwork (all still there and mostly intact). One possibility though might be a large, roll back sunroof. Not a
convertible chop job but more like the old Webasto type roof from the 60s/70s. It'll take some design work to make it tidy and workable though.
In the meantime, sorting out the couple of rusty areas and the mandatory rear quarter accident damage should keep me out of mischief for a while.
Mechanically I'd be looking at keeping the brakes and suspension stockish but rebuilt where necessary. Decent shockies, maybe sway bars and a
camber compensator but nothing flash.
Enginewise I've got a 40HP with no apparent compression, a 1600SP that's supposedly a runner (but I doubt it) and the engine currently
fitted which the seller claimed to be a 1200 but which appears to have a 1300 number. I'm not sure why but I feel drawn towards a bog stock but
carefully rebuilt and blueprinted 40HP. I guess my BMW bike gives me all the speed kicks I can handle these days . I'm still not sure though. Ultimately I'm after a motor that can be cruised indefinitely flat out
in 40 degree heat without wilting. A big ask for a high output lump but maybe feasible for something standardish with decent cooling.
The wirings pretty dire so that'll get redone, complete with 12V and all the fuses and relays I can cram in. That way, when it all goes up in
smoke I'll recognize which bits are burning .
The interior's mostly there but needs a bit of work so it might not remain entirely standard but I love the simplicity and the "clean it
with a hose" practicality of the vinyl seats and rubber mats. I've got a kid and a dog so anything fancy would last maybe 15 seconds.
If I can turn the hulk in the shed into a tidy and bulletproof daily driver that looks somewhere close to standard I'll be more than happy. Then
we'll see about Project Baja  . Comments and suggestions
gratefully received.
Cheers
PatB
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 Bizarre
Super Moderator
The artist formerly known as blue74l
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| posted on March 13th, 2003 at 07:43 AM |
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First - Gday and welcome.
Ask questions and we will have you in a 1776 - 2007 twin webered lump in no time
Futue te ipsum!!!
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56astro
Custom Title Time!
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| posted on March 13th, 2003 at 08:33 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by blue74l
First - Gday and welcome.
Ask questions and we will have you in a 1776 - 2007 twin webered lump in no time
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Make that a 1916 - 2165 (or even 2332)
Welcome, and enjoy
:thumb
VW car, VW engine ...... keepin it "real"
35MPG on 101.3kPa |
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Quickbug
Officially Full-On Dubber
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| posted on March 13th, 2003 at 08:52 AM |
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2180cc rocks!
lol
Welcome to the forums.
Im liking the standard look more and more these days. Good luck with her and i hope it all comes together well no matter which way you decide to
go.
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SKEWtYpe3
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| posted on March 13th, 2003 at 11:54 AM |
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i think what i am about to say is right.....
If you are looking at a higher speed cruiser it will be worth while getting a 1303 gearbox put in as they have highway gears. the original will max at
80 kmh or so............am i right bug ppl??????
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Unity-28
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TOO LOW? NEVER
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| posted on March 13th, 2003 at 11:59 AM |
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Go completely stock! Except for the stance, which should be about 150mm lower all round! What colour is it? Stock colours always look best!!!
Accesories, and the car will look wicked, and be worth more than anything custom! (only my opinion!!!)
Cheers and welcome! N!
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Quickbug
Officially Full-On Dubber
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| posted on March 13th, 2003 at 01:16 PM |
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Skewy - yes the late model bug box - ie L bug has a higher gear ratio and is better for highway cruising.
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PatB
Casual Dubber
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| posted on March 14th, 2003 at 10:13 PM |
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Thanks for the welcome folks. Unity 28, this beastie's going to be spending at least some of its time on unsealed roads (plenty in WA) so the
ride height's staying where it is. I did enough damage to the belly of a company Commodore I had when I was repping round the Goldfields. The
"in the weeds" look's going to have to wait for a couple of projects down the line when any car I own doesn't have to do
EVERYTHING .
The colour's a sort of washed out pale blue (non standard) and very dull and faded where it's been sitting in the sun for 20 years. The
original colour was a sort of off greenish turquoise. Dunno the name of it. A paint job is on the cards but there's some disagreement on colour.
My daughter wants bright red, I favour something close to original or at least VW standard for the era and my wife wants deep blue or purple metallic.
Looks like we'll have to draw straws .
Quickbug, are you talking standard in general or a particular period of Beetle? For myself there's just something indefinably classy about the
stock pre 67 shape (getting classier the further back you go) with the sloping headlamps, thick (well they look it) pillars, and wide 5s with the moon
discish hubcaps. Dunno why but they just look so much more right to me .
Please don't flame me if your choice happens to be late Mac strut cars though. To each their own I say. They're all true VWs when all is
said and done.
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OvalGlen
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| posted on March 14th, 2003 at 10:25 PM |
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Welcome.
My suggestion is rebuild the 1600.
Any way ask all the questions on this forum and enjoy.
Regards,Glenn>
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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| posted on March 15th, 2003 at 12:08 AM |
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Welcome Pat. I have had hours of fun and pleasure here. I'm sure you will two.
I won't be much use to you unless your planning a baja, a trip in a baja or want to meet someone here who own a baja. The only other thing I can
help with is that people generally meet in the chat room between 7 and 8pm AEST or if you want a AVD sticker for you new ride. Give me a month to get
it to you though.
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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Quickbug
Officially Full-On Dubber
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| posted on March 15th, 2003 at 11:26 AM |
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Pat - thats almost exactly the look i mean.
The older earlier bugs, almost standard, dumped on their guts.
Such as this:
That said i drive a 72super and a 74L, and i love them both - the L more than the super...
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KruizinKombi
A.k.a.: Col
Bishop of Volkswagenism
Seriously Obsessed Cyber Dubber
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 posted on March 15th, 2003 at 12:54 PM |
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Welcome aboard Pat, great intro!
I'm with you on the resto, your plans sound great. I prefer stock colours. In fact, I wouldn't even paint it unless absolutely necessary. I
like the stock look, which fits perfectly on a car that's going to be used. Keep the stock ride height if it suits your driving conditions.
Accessories certainly lift the appearance of any older vehicle. Take a look at Jim Gow's beetle sometime (which was for sale last time I was
online, check the Buying/Selling selling section for pictures).
I was after an earlier beetle for my wife, but came across a nice '68 which I just couldn't go past. It had a few minor dings, but it's
her daily driver, so I'm not concerned about them. Like you, I chose it for its simplicity, economy and versatility, and it hasn't let us
down yet.
Keep on dubbin'.  :thumb
[Edited on 15-3-2003 by KruizinKombi]
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