Restoring a 1965 VW Beetle

[nmshaikh]

I cannot see the extent of rot from the pictures you have posted but from what i see, in my humble opinion, you are better off repairing the existing frame head than replacing it. There is more to this repair than just 'beheading' and replacing with new. The part that you use would also be equally old give or take a few years and would have endured pretty much the same rigours. Having said that, you are still better off using a used frame head than the new Brazilian ones. Those are flimsy compared to the original part. Then there is the question of reliability with which the new (or used) frame head is attached to the spine. The procedure has been successfully done before but I have also seen them crack at the joint. It would probably be best to share some more pictures when the body is off the chassis for an accurate assessment.

[VEEeight]

Thankyou for such sound advice and sharing insight. Yes, I intend to proceed with caution as with this am definitely in uncharted territory. My only other resto' of a VW had no such issue so have no experience of this.
Needless to say, pictures will be posted for perusal and analysis when this part gets all opened up
Thanks again!

[VEEeight]

Coming along; this side almost ready for trial fitting. Time to get the beading !

[msabbasi]

Coming along; this side almost ready for trial fitting. Time to get the beading !

Niiicccceeee!

[nmshaikh]

What is the condition of the hinge pins?

[VEEeight]

Quite worn out so they had to be re-machined.

[nmshaikh]

I don't mean to be nitpicky but this is your chance to reverse the wrongs. The side view mirrors on the car should be hinge mounted and NOT door mounted in this year. Appears like someone drilled holes in the doors and attached the mirrors. If you intend to go back to the original setting you would need to instal the pins in the top hinges that have threaded ends to accept the mirrors. No rocket science..a good machinist should easily make those if you provide the chrome nut that tightens at the base of the mirror. If you need a sample of either I'll be glad to help.

[msabbasi]

I don't mean to be nitpicky but this is your chance to reverse the wrongs. The side view mirrors on the car should be hinge mounted and NOT door mounted in this year. Appears like someone drilled holes in the doors and attached the mirrors. If you intend to go back to the original setting you would need to instal the pins in the top hinges that have threaded ends to accept the mirrors. No rocket science..a good machinist should easily make those if you provide the chrome nut that tightens at the base of the mirror. If you need a sample of either I'll be glad to help.

Nasir Sb.,

Nice to see you inputting your valuable comments and allowing me, for one, to learn from you.

Asim Sb.,

I do not know if you two gentlemen have met. Nasir Shaikh is a friend but more importantly he is one of the leading VW authorities in Pakistan if not THE leading authority. He is highly respected in the VW community and has, if memory serves, no less than 40 VW restorations under his belt. My favourite of his projects is the girl called Billo :). She is the with an attitude and a dress to go with it:)!

[nmshaikh]

Nasir Sb.,

Nice to see you inputting your valuable comments and allowing me, for one, to learn from you.

Asim Sb.,

I do not know if you two gentlemen have met. Nasir Shaikh is a friend but more importantly he is one of the leading VW authorities in Pakistan if not THE leading authority. He is highly respected in the VW community and has, if memory serves, no less than 40 VW restorations under his belt. My favourite of his projects is the girl called Billo :). She is the with an attitude and a dress to go with it:)!

Abbasi Sahib,
You are very kind. No, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Asim Sahib but look forward to it. As regards Billo's attitude, when you have a small wall full of trophies and plaques won at shows in the US and Canada the attitude comes automatically.

[VEEeight]

I don't mean to be nitpicky but this is your chance to reverse the wrongs. The side view mirrors on the car should be hinge mounted and NOT door mounted in this year. Appears like someone drilled holes in the doors and attached the mirrors. If you intend to go back to the original setting you would need to instal the pins in the top hinges that have threaded ends to accept the mirrors. No rocket science..a good machinist should easily make those if you provide the chrome nut that tightens at the base of the mirror. If you need a sample of either I'll be glad to help.

Oh please! Be as nitpicky as is required to "reverse the wrongs" as u so aptly put it. In this case I am the one to benefit the most.....or to be more precise, the car! Will look into this and have the needful done. Thankyou so much for pointing this detail. Thankyou ALSO for offering to help. This may well lead to an avalanche of requests for which I may find it hard to be apologetic as am shameless when it comes to the welfare of these old garris! And as for old VWs......ah well, if ANY car can "talk", its this one

cheers!

[VEEeight]

Abbasi Sahib,
You are very kind. No, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Asim Sahib but look forward to it. As regards Billo's attitude, when you have a small wall full of trophies and plaques won at shows in the US and Canada the attitude comes automatically.

We have actually met, albeit briefly at a car show here in Lahore a couple of years ago. Was admiring your 67 convertible and when I mentioned that I had seen one ( a bit down on its luck!) at a house in F/8 in Isb, you confirmed it as being the same one! Am also aware of your involvement with the VW movement or rather "renaissance "

As for "Billo", am sure you have had your fill of smart alecky remarks as in "assaan tey jaana billo dey kurrh", so will refrain As Abbasi sb points out she has the dress to go with the attitude and am sure that when she has to, she can gather her skirts and show a good turn of speed!

[nmshaikh]

Oh please! Be as nitpicky as is required to "reverse the wrongs" as u so aptly put it. In this case I am the one to benefit the most.....or to be more precise, the car! Will look into this and have the needful done. Thankyou so much for pointing this detail. Thankyou ALSO for offering to help. This may well lead to an avalanche of requests for which I may find it hard to be apologetic as am shameless when it comes to the welfare of these old garris! And as for old VWs......ah well, if ANY car can "talk", its this one

cheers!

Always welcome. As for the avalanche...its always a pleasure to be of assistance to a real enthusiast.

[msabbasi]

As Abbasi sb points out she has the dress to go with the attitude and am sure that when she has to, she can gather her skirts and show a good turn of speed!

Oh she sure can:D!! I am an eye witness. Speaking of eyewitnesses; I think I spotted Westfakia rolling down Nazimuddin Road earlier this evening. Not sure if Nasir Sb. was piloting it. It certainly went down the road with a purpose:).

[nmshaikh]

Oh she sure can:D!! I am an eye witness. Speaking of eyewitnesses; I think I spotted Westfakia rolling down Nazimuddin Road earlier this evening. Not sure if Nasir Sb. was piloting it. It certainly went down the road with a purpose:).

You have a keen eye. yes I was out to drop off the Boss and our son to watch a movie at Centaurus. Billo is a 100 mph car. That is all because of the freeway flyer transmission I put in myself
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/engine-transmission-powertrain/151918-transmission-installation-vw-beetle
The 1600cc power plant helps too. Billo originally came with an 1100 cc engine which was junked at some point in its life. The present engine is as built from scratch unit using a NOS casing before we left for Canada.
Westfakia too is propelled by a rebuilt in USA engine and even though I feel she is a bit under powered but I shouldn't complain.

[msabbasi]

You have a keen eye. yes I was out to drop off the Boss and our son to watch a movie at Centaurus. Billo is a 100 mph car. That is all because of the freeway flyer transmission I put in myself
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/engine-transmission-powertrain/151918-transmission-installation-vw-beetle
The 1600cc power plant helps too. Billo originally came with an 1100 cc engine which was junked at some point in its life. The present engine is as built from scratch unit using a NOS casing before we left for Canada.
Westfakia too is propelled by a rebuilt in USA engine and even though I feel she is a bit under powered but I shouldn't complain.

I thought I had read ALL your threads but the one on Billo's transmission had escaped me. As usual it was a very satisfying read.

[VEEeight]

nmshaikh

This is a close up of the left door showing the hole drilled for mounting the mirror as on 68 onwards vehs. I guess a prev owner wanted the upgrade

[VEEeight]

One from the archives!
This is the red '69 from around the mid 70s when it was a full time working vehicle. Note the two tone "color scheme" on the rims

[msabbasi]

One from the archives!
This is the red '69 from around the mid 70s when it was a full time working vehicle. Note the two tone "color scheme" on the rims

Nice vintage picture. The rims might have been red/white or maybe black/white as was fashionable back in the day.

[nmshaikh]

nmshaikh


This is a close up of the left door showing the hole drilled for mounting the mirror as on 68 onwards vehs. I guess a prev owner wanted the upgrade

This can easily be patched up at this stage. It may be a pain to reach in to panel beat after the hole is filled but it has been done before. While you are at it you may want the smaller hole at 11 o'clock filled as well.

[VEEeight]

msabbaśi
They were black and white

nmshaikh
Yes, this will be rectified. Thankyou for pointing this out!