1976 Beetle: I Wish I Could Quit You

[TheSavoy]

*EDIT: Hopefully these photos links work, changed one of the photos as well..*

Sometimes a specific type of car can haunt you. You make the decision that you’ve had enough but you keep going back to them, like Ike and Tina Turner or Pringles. This is one of my projects, a 1976 Standard Beetle



This car was a purchased in California and brought into Pennsylvania at some point in its life and was part of a small rally race and a 1st and 2nd place winner in the 80s. In the 90s it was purchased by its 2nd owner and then sat for years in Central PA until I bought it.

Unfortunately, I don’t have many photos of the actual build but with the help of my local air-cool shop I was able to:

• Fix the wiring
• Cleaned out the interior
• Battery tray was replaced
• Installed Valley Autowerks’ 4” narrowed beam
• Drop spindles installed
• Disc Brake conversion on the front

After having some summer fun with the car [driving it in this form out to Michigan for Motorstadt 13, and then a 900-mile road trip throughout the northeast and new england], I decided to sell it. While looking through craigslist about 5 months later, I saw that the new owner was trying to flip it. So I bought the car back and this is where we currently stand.

Major goals are to get it up and running again, as it has been sitting since I sold it and I have been trying to decide what direction I want to take this. Lately, the rally-inspired bug [no pun intended] bit me and I thought it would be cool to clean up the car and go for that sort of theme. Just hard to decide if i want to get rid of the super 80s patina:



So please enjoy and hopefully, I will stay on top of this thread.

[Fruttolo]

I love bugs.
Bumpers are awful tho, no offence intended.

Following, not enough aircooled builds nowadays

[TheSavoy]

I love bugs.
Bumpers are awful tho, no offence intended.

Following, not enough aircooled builds nowadays

Thanks! Honestly, I have always been a fan of the pre-74 bumpers but after having mid-late 70s bugs on and off those fat bumpers grow on you.

[nishy]

Ya pics are broken my man. It sounds cool though

[TheSavoy]

Thanks for the heads up! Tried a different photo hosting site.

[cblock406]

That is some pretty awesome patina!

[TheSavoy]

That is some pretty awesome patina!

Thanks!

She needs a bit of patching but may try to keep that patina rolling strong.

Here's one more photo!




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Also included is my to-do list, keeping it here to keep me on target hopefully:

Pans & Body

• Wire brush pans and check for rust
• Patch pin holes in pans
• Paint with Eastwood Rust-Preventer (top & bottom)
• Clean heater channels/sills
• Repair holes in body
• Paint inside of fenders with bed liner &/or Rust-Preventer
• Rubber seals install–fenders
• Bumpers– Install new or used
• Cut aluminum inner door panels & install
• Windows- install with new seals

Front Suspension

• Install 4” shockless narrowed beam
  -COMPLETED
• Install 2" drop spindles
  -COMPLETED
• Replace steering box
• Front disc brake kit (bearings, seals, rotor, caliper, and bracket)
  -COMPLETED

Rear Suspension

• Clean and adjust rear drums
• Spring plates- replace with 2" drop plates
• Replace bump stops
• Replace rear shocks

Engine & Transmission

• Engine swap [eventual EJ22 conversion]
• Gene Berg 5 speed conversion

Other items

• Replace front seats with SCAT Rally seats
• Rear seat delete
• Electrical wiring– Main Harness, ECU, Engine Harness, & Front Harness
• Replace headlights and taillights
• Add fog lights
• Fab Optima Battery support
• Wire & Mount Horn
• Update and upgrade gauges
• Map light– Mount & wire
• Fire bottle– Mount metal brackets
• Fab spare tire mount to fit radiator
• Get Alignment
• Chirco 4 point sedan roll cage
• Install Fire Extinguisher
• Flock Dashboard
• Install Fog light switches
• Replace Carpet
• Install decklid rain guard

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There is probably a bunch of other shit I've forgotten to put down but that's my list.

[Fruttolo]

Shockless? Meaning you have no shock absorbers? Doesn't it bounce AF?

[TheSavoy]

Shockless? Meaning you have no shock absorbers? Doesn't it bounce AF?

Yes, no shocks up front. However, because of how the narrowed beams are set up the beam's narrowed torsion springs act as the front suspension while keeping the ride decently comfortable without any crazy bounce and you can easily take on most road obstacles [depending on how low you are]. It's a pretty common mod with beetles and buses who run beams that are narrower than 3". You can run shocks on a 4 or 5" beam that has towers built in but it def starts getting tight in the wheel wells and eventually some massaging to the actual body would be needed to have the shock mount towers clear.

[TheSavoy]

Like normal, I haven't taken many photos of what I've been doing because I am a jackass.

However, since last post I've gotten the car running after sitting for months, installing a new indicator switch, new steering wheels, pulled the interior for rust repair-sealing floor pans...and for shits and giggles, I decided to see how some old lookin fog lights would look:




I dig it personally.

Other items on the to do list this week are to replace the rotted out running boards, get the electrical locked in, replace fluids and look into some new tires.

[TheSavoy]

Not much has occurred since last post:

new steering wheel and shift knob, as mentioned last time:


Replaced seats with Corbeau Baja suspension seats and installed a Wink 5 Panel mirror:


Just readjusted the fog light, as well as reinstalled decklid rainguard and decided to be lame and post a picture with my bike, because I'm in my 30s and still think I can ride:


Next updates are to be, wider steel wheels, new running boards, mudflaps and other assorted bits and bobs.