Oh Lord, what have I done?

[Evans, Marv]

Let the slippery slope begin!!

[herr_oberst]

This is more fun than a basket of puppies...

I SURE DO HOPE we see some regular progress reports!

[wdfifteen]

^^
There won’t be much progress for a while. I’m going under the knife again Tuesday. Won’t be doing much for a couple of months. I will keep you posted.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

^^
....I’m going under the knife again Tuesday. Won’t be doing much for a couple of months. ....

Nothing too serious, I hope? (Maybe Mrs WD will get the Overhaulin' gang to pimp out her new ride while you're on the mend!)

[Racerbvd]

Congratulations, I too have had many over the years, including a 64 baja, that was the most fun per dollar of any car I have ever owned. 1st car was a 67 Bus, and yes, I too go laid in my various VWs. Like others, I'd like another bug

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Nothing too serious, I hope? (Maybe Mrs WD will get the Overhaulin' gang to pimp out her new ride while you're on the mend!)

Shame he’s not on the west coast.... a well coordinated flock of pelicans could sort a bug in a long weekend....

[SpyderMike]

I have a 66 I will be selling soon. There are a few things I want to take care of before selling it, but if anyone is interested let me know. It was a So Cal car that is now in So Oregon. The wife and I have had it at least 10 years I think. We just don't use it.

[ckissick]

My first bug was a '66. Then a '64, then a '63, and now a '50. I don't think I'll go any further back in time.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Nothing too serious, I hope? (Maybe Mrs WD will get the Overhaulin' gang to pimp out her new ride while you're on the mend!)

Thanks. Same thing as in October, on the other foot. Three months in my left foot feels great. I can fit in size 10 1/2 shoes again that I haven't been able to get into in 2 years. Pain is WAY down and I'm learning to walk properly again.

Bored to death here

[wdfifteen]

I've been going through the car's records. It came with a pile of receipts going back to 1967. They aren't complete, but tell a little of the car's history.
Bought used in 1967 from VW dealer Everly Motors in Salem, Oregon for $1295.
Same owner had it until 1988 - sold it for $850
Car was sold again in 1990 for $1500
Sold again in 2012 for $5000
In 1977 at 85k miles a piston broke. The shop put a used piston in - $450
In 1984 the owner had the 40 hp engine rebuild - new everything
In 2003 the 40hp was replaced with a 1500 H block with 85.5mm pistons (1600cc)
Lots of brake work over the years. Looks like the entire brake system, all 5 cylinders and lines, was replaced in 2012 and the rear wheel cylinders were replaced again in 2013.

[wdfifteen]

Is there a Pelican Parts type place for old VW?

[BK911]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/

[DaveE]

I hate this thread. I want another beetle. Thanks

[Jeff Higgins]

Awesome, Patrick - congratulations. I do have to point out, however, that I was finding strength through your resistance to this temptation. Your weakness has similarly weakened me. At least that's my story. It will be nice to have someone to blame that my wife doesn't know...

[wdfifteen]

sorry Guys. I had to do it.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

sorry Guys. I had to do it.

What is there to be sorry about, anyone of us would have done the same thing.

[Jeff Higgins]

That's fine. You'll make a good scapegoat.

"Honest honey, I found true strength and inspiration in this guy on the internet. And then he weakened and fell... he failed us... he didn't just let me down, he let us all down... I had to buy it..."

[wdfifteen]

The Unpimping has begun!

In another moment of weakness I could not resist getting started on the VW. I was supposed to drain some water off the pool and bring in firewood, etc etc in anticipation of being out of commission for a few weeks. Nope - I unpimped our new VW.



The PO had pimped out the poor car in the latest California style, lowered with tiny tires - stupid looking and undrivable.



He had lowered the front end in the redneck method of taking out 8 of the torsion bars. It lowered the car, and raised the steering rod right into the gas tank. A few more miles of grinding against the bottom of the tank and he would have been driving a Molotov Cocktail. That assumes he didn't crash into something first due to the car's horrible handling characteristics.



I still had a set of torsion bars from a 1962 356 that I parted out many, many moons ago. The dimensions were exactly like the VW's but the indents for the locating set screws were on the wrong side. I drilled some new indents and they fit fine.



Got to use some tools I haven't used in many, many years. It's a miracle i still have them.



After I raise the back end to its normal height and put the other 5 1/2 inch 356 wheels on the back, it will look like a real car again.
I gotta say, after all the years that have passed since I worked on VWs on a daily basis, this is so much fun. My memory is so exact, I find don't need to see what I'm doing. I know every nook and cranny of these cars like I knew the backside of my 20 year old girlfriend (make something of that Dr. Freud).

[Baz]

Big improvement already, Patrick! The 356 wheels are way cool!

[A930Rocket]

Any more pictures of the torsion bars? I assumed there were four total, like our 911’s and was surprised that you said 8 were removed.