Restoration Project: '68 VW Beetle (o\ _!_ /o)

[murtaza_murti]

Just start driving the car in whatever condition it is in....ask the electrician to come with his bag of tools and wires, clips and insulation tape to your house and do the wiring there. Don't worry about upholstery ..use an old T-shirt on the back of your seat or a new towel if you are picky...just drive it!

I see the worse happening in things and I fear that by the time the car is painted (if left there) God forbid, you'll find someone has stolen your starter or carb..heck even the complete engine is not entirely impossible. Good luck affixing blame on one person if that happens. Just get the car out of there and start driving. Keep fine tuning things as and when you find time. In a few weeks you'll be 100% sure there is no rattle in the car that cannot be tackled with a nut tightened here or there, a rubber packing placed under something or lubrication in another area. You may need to get something welded or hammered into shape and it is best done BEFORE the painter has a go at the car. The car would look super in grey primer! Try it.

This is what the car currently looks like,

I should get all the windows, hood handle, door handles in place before taking it away. I'll fit the foot boards on, they have surface rust but who cares!

And I'll take all the stuff that I can fit, or else I'll take the stuff that has been leftover the next day.

You're 100% correct, I'll get it back tomorrow. InshAllah

This is the best suggestion you will ever get Murtaza, get the thing rolling, buy a grease gun and oil spout (two items every VW owner should have), lube the thing.

Print out a large copy of the wiring diagram, plastic coat it - get the electrician to fix the wiring correctly and use the diagram as needed.

Owning a VW bug involves getting a little greasy every now and then. Your car likes a driver like that otherwise it shows "nakhray"

Will definitely get those once I have Blue in hand.

Here is the wiring diagram I found on The Samba for the 1968 Type-1 and the other is the diagram for the fuse box. Are these correct or not?

Oh yes, I am ALL up for that. No nakhray on my side for that at all.

[nmshaikh]

This is what the car currently looks like,

She looks beautiful. As soon as you add the windows and the handles she'll look even better. She does not have to be run of the mill, shiny chrome encrusted car. use your imagination! years ago when faced with shortage of funds I stuck maple leaves on the car and sprayed over them. When the leaves were removed , wet sanded with fine grit sandpaper (to smooth out the edges) and clear coated the car looked like a piece of art ..a car very unique and its own. Have you seen the giant leaved Monstera plant? Try pasting leaves of the monstera plant on the sides (using them as stencils) and spraying the car yourself.

..whatever you do...start driving...dont wait for things to happen...the 'shubh ghari' would never arrive. ...Make things happen!

[nmshaikh]

Oh, and do put the bumpers on..in whatever condition..this would be your protection in congested parkings and bumper to bumper traffic.

[murtaza_murti]

Updates:

I thought of giving them one last chance in order to do everything as soon as possible but I made a mistake.

The mechanic tells me that the front suspension which is currently quite stiff is caused because of the front 'repaired' suspension beam. Now, when I bought the beam it was the best out of five other beams I saw. He now says you are going to have to replace it if it keeps on remaining stiff.

WTH? He tells me this after a month, I asked him why didn't you tell me when you drove it? He says, that's because I thought the stiffness would wear off after a while.

Now guys, there isn't any mechanical work left besides the stiff front suspension which he says he'll work on and let me know about by tomorrow.

Once this is hopefully done, the paint-job would initiate.

[murtaza_murti]

Does the accelerator pedal have to be fitted at a certain angle? Or it is fitted onto the rod which is connected to the pedal assembly?

I am asking this because Blue's accelerator pedal keeps on falling back once you let go of it.

[lazeez]

Does the accelerator pedal have to be fitted at a certain angle? Or it is fitted onto the rod which is connected to the pedal assembly?

I am asking this because Blue's accelerator pedal keeps on falling back once you let go of it.

Post a picture. Was the pedal repaired? It may have been welded too close to the rod.

[nmshaikh]

Updates:

I thought of giving them one last chance in order to do everything as soon as possible but I made a mistake.

The mechanic tells me that the front suspension which is currently quite stiff is caused because of the front 'repaired' suspension beam. Now, when I bought the beam it was the best out of five other beams I saw. He now says you are going to have to replace it if it keeps on remaining stiff.

WTH? He tells me this after a month, I asked him why didn't you tell me when you drove it? He says, that's because I thought the stiffness would wear off after a while.

Now guys, there isn't any mechanical work left besides the stiff front suspension which he says he'll work on and let me know about by tomorrow.

Once this is hopefully done, the paint-job would initiate.

for crying out loud...get the car out of there. your mechanic is not only a total nincompoop but a dishonest one too. This is what i meant about driving the car in its present condition. You can only find out if the suspension is stiff if you drive it around. if it is going to loosen up you still need to drive her. (and I don't see how it would 'loosen' up) Has it been greased? Are the leaf springs welded or in original condition? In proper order?

Honestly, I am sitting 1600 km away and ready to pull out my remaining hair. Do you want me to look like Romano? Please get the car out of there and promise never to return to this joker for as long as you own blue.

[murtaza_murti]

Post a picture. Was the pedal repaired? It may have been welded too close to the rod.

I think it was, will post pictures soon.

for crying out loud...get the car out of there. your mechanic is not only a total nincompoop but a dishonest one too. This is what i meant about driving the car in its present condition. You can only find out if the suspension is stiff if you drive it around. if it is going to loosen up you still need to drive her. (and I don't see how it would 'loosen' up) Has it been greased? Are the leaf springs welded or in original condition? In proper order?

Honestly, I am sitting 1600 km away and ready to pull out my remaining hair. Do you want me to look like Romano? Please get the car out of there and promise never to return to this joker for as long as you own blue.

The suspension has no welds it's all original and in proper order.

He said he'd 'give it a proper glance' tomorrow, I am waiting on that. If he makes up stories I'll just tell the painter to start his work.

I just want to wait till Friday, if the painter does not start his work before that then I'll take the car away over the weekend.

Don't worry, lol no I don't want you to look like Romano

[Xulfiqar]

experience says (specially with german steel) is to get the thing in top notch mechanical condition, cosmetics should be sorted later.

You wont like your shiny new finished car being scratched up by, mechanic, denter, suspension, electric ustaad.

[murtaza_murti]

The beam is going to have to be replaced, that is what the mechanic says. what should be done now? Any suggestions?

The problem is that the front-end suspension is quite stiff. There should be some bounce in it. It feels like there aren't any shocks fitted.

[murtaza_murti]

experience says (specially with german steel) is to get the thing in top notch mechanical condition, cosmetics should be sorted later.

You wont like your shiny new finished car being scratched up by, mechanic, denter, suspension, electric ustaad.

That is exactly what I want to do, get all of the mechanical work sorted out then go for the paint-job followed by the electrical work with upholstery and fittings being the last priority.

[Xulfiqar]

The beam is going to have to be replaced, that is what the mechanic says. what should be done now? Any suggestions?

The problem is that the front-end suspension is quite stiff. There should be some bounce in it. It feels like there aren't any shocks fitted.

Is the thing greased? btw no shocks fit would render a very stupid ride, it would be soft but with no controlled jounce, are you explaining this correctly?

I believe you are saying that nothing gives in??

[nmshaikh]

The beam is going to have to be replaced, that is what the mechanic says. what should be done now? Any suggestions?

The problem is that the front-end suspension is quite stiff. There should be some bounce in it. It feels like there aren't any shocks fitted.

No my friend, its your mechanic that needs to be replaced! If you say you have a good straight beam you just need to confirm if the flat metal strips inside are all there, intact and not welded or anything. If that is the case the beam is good. (of course there is the greasing that is important but even if the beam is not packed with grease it should still offer some bounce to the car. If I remember correctly, you had new shock absorbers fitted. Am I correct?

[reezvaan]

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[murtaza_murti]

Is the thing greased? btw no shocks fit would render a very stupid ride, it would be soft but with no controlled jounce, are you explaining this correctly?

I believe you are saying that nothing gives in??

It is

The shocks are fitted but it feels as if they aren't. Can't feel a slight bounce from the front-end when it goes over a speed-breaker or a small bump.

No my friend, its your mechanic that needs to be replaced! If you say you have a good straight beam you just need to confirm if the flat metal strips inside are all there, intact and not welded or anything. If that is the case the beam is good. (of course there is the greasing that is important but even if the beam is not packed with grease it should still offer some bounce to the car. If I remember correctly, you had new shock absorbers fitted. Am I correct?

The metal strips are all there and they aren't welded or anything.

Here are a few pictures from when the beam was test fitted.

[murtaza_murti]

The only thing I didn't replace were the ball joints. They were out of stock at that time.

[nmshaikh]

It is

The shocks are fitted but it feels as if they aren't. Can't feel a slight bounce from the front-end when it goes over a speed-breaker or a small bump.

The metal strips are all there and they aren't welded or anything.

Here are a few pictures from when the beam was test fitted.

the top of the bean where the shock absorber is attached looks strange. It could be the reason for your shocks to be compressed when fitted. can't say for sure till I see another picture. better still drive over to Dr. Asad and show him. he would know if the top of the beam has been tampered.

[reezvaan]

This post was flagged by the community and is temporarily hidden.

[murtaza_murti]

the top of the bean where the shock absorber is attached looks strange. It could be the reason for your shocks to be compressed when fitted. can't say for sure till I see another picture. better still drive over to Dr. Asad and show him. he would know if the top of the beam has been tampered.

Here is a picture after all the bits were fitted.

[nmshaikh]

Here is a picture after all the bits were fitted.

The front shock towers seem fine in this picture but there are no signs the beam has been greased. Can you confirm if the mechanic pumped grease into all four points on the beam till the grease oozed out from the sides?

The boot on the ball joint is shot