Regarding the flat paint do you own a buffer ? I would pick one spot and wash/clean it good . Good means either wet sand with like 2000 grit or use a clay bar . Once clean start with a cleaning compound then a finishing compound . You will know fairly quickly if you can get the amount of gloss you desire . And anytime you are wet sanding or using a polisher go easy/lightly as you have no idea how thick the paint is .

^^
I did some research last night and it seems the flat effect is due to a clear coat on top of gloss paint. It appears the “cure” to get rid of the clear coat is exactly what you suggest, including the caution about the thickness of the paint.

The unpimping continues
 

The car sat for six weeks while I recovered from my bionic toe installation. Finally, about 10 days ago I got back on it. The first order of business was to change out the fuel pump and change the oil.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551034555.jpg

The old, apparently leaking, fuel pump had been replaced with this no-name $16 cheapie, probably from Jbugs, the hotrod VW parts place. The fuel lines had been "expertly" installed with 3/8 or 1/2 inch screw clamps. I didn't trust the pump, and especially didn't like the installation.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551034555.jpg

I bought a Brazilian Brosol pump from Wolfsburg West - a great place to do business with. The original style pumps are quite pricey if you can find one. I'll leave them to the purists.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551034555.jpg

I used to hate coming across these Oetinger clamps until I got the proper tool for them. Now I love them. Just clamp them on and snip them off. They are seamless so they create equal pressure all around the hose - no pinched places.
I changed the oil and got about 4 quarts of oil/gasoline out of the crankcase. I put the proper 2 3/4 quarts of 10w-30 in it, and the engine sounded much better.

Next was to restore the rear ride height to its correct position. The PO had "decambered" the car by repositioning the trailing spring plate on the torsion bars, lowering it and making it look cool, and drive like crap. The plate is splined to the torsion bar, and the PO had rotated the the plate one spline counter clockwise.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551035147.jpg

I had to take out the shock absorber and remove the spring plate and reposition it on the torsion bar. This was the most worn-out shock absorber I have ever seen. It took NO force to move the piston. Turn it upside down and it would extend or compress just by the force of gravity.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551035147.jpg

One of the first things I noticed was that it had new axle boots and they were installed wrong, and they were already leaking. The seam (the line of bolts) is supposed to be facing back, not up. The PO had tried to take care of the car, but just didn't know what he was doing.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551035147.jpg

This Craftsman level/protractor that I bought 5 years ago is probably the last tool I ever bought (or will buy) from Sears. It is used to make sure the spring plate is engaged in the correct splines.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551035147.jpg

A set of new tires and some polish on the 5.5" Porsche rims and the old girl is looking better. I've decided to bite the bullet and go for a complete repaint. I'll probably drive it all summer, sorting it out and making sure it's mechanically up to snuff, then take it apart and have it painted next winter.

Thanks for the update, Patrick.....great job getting things sorted out. Much respect to you for looking after one of the survivors.

That design is still way better than any of the cars made today.

People think as a society & civilisation we have advanced.

LOL.....

Awesome thread. Glad to see the progress. I have a collection of old 1200 bits in my shop from racing FV in vintage for several years. I have always thought I'd buy another some day.

My first car, 63 Bug, not a real FV, just had the sticker

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551056427.jpg

My first race car, a real FV :-)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551056512.jpg

I would like to do vintage FV someday. I was thinking about it recently, and wondering what you do for front suspension. Obviously not coil-overs, but the stock torsion bars don’t seem to be appropriate for such a light car.

I have a project car in my shop :-) Nice RCA with log books and docs, needs sorting

The bars are cut in the front to soften it up. I can't remember how many, 2 maybe?

Quick update on the '65 VW.

I tore the front end apart and installed new link pins and bushings. I saw that they were worn when I put the torsion bars in, but I was afraid of mission creep. You know how that goes, take it apart for one thing, discover something else, order parts for the something else, the car sits for a week, something in life happens, the car sits for another week , month, year ...
I'm fixing one thing at a time and keeping it on the road as much as possible.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553282833.jpg

I finally found a use for an 18mm socket - pounding out VW link pin bushings.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553282833.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553282833.jpg

Ya think they needed to be replaced?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553282833.jpg


Squeezing the new bushings in with the vice.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553282833.jpg

NO, I did not leave the backing plate hanging from the brake hose. I just had to move the 2x4 it was sitting on for a sec. I put in new front shocks at the same time I did the link pins. Hopefull I won't have the front end apart again for a long time.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553282833.jpg

Speaking of mission creep. I ordered new rear shocks. Jacked the car up and took it apart before I looked at then new ones. One of them wasn't welded together. :eek::mad: The car sat on jackstands for 6 days waiting for the new shock absorber to show up.

You need to buy an Audi. You’ll get LOTS of use out of your 18mm socket!

Awesome!
So how do you like them bug part prices?
It's like every day is a sale!
Plus so easy to work on.
Please keep updating.
Always enjoy watching someone else work.

Old VW's are awesome. Congrats. :-)

Thats funny. I order parts sometimes and do a double take. I'm so used to $$ orders when I see cheap parts it stands out. I cant remember the car but recently brakes all around were sub 100. Havent seen that in a while.

My friends twisted idea of a car for his wife
 

I've posted this picture before of my '65 bug (stolen). It was one of my all time favorites. If it hadn't gotten stolen, I'd probably still have it. The car I bought afterwards was my first Porsche - '67 912, Another all time favorite. Before my VW got stolen, I'd had it painted, new rims & tires, new interior, carpets, etc., etc. I had a new 1776 to put in it, but ended up selling it later on.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553295779.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553295869.jpg

So, so, soooo flippin' cool.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553297574.jpg
* borrowed pic from steering wheel thread, cuz it's cool ;) )

And I agree with your approach completely. It's what I wanted to do with my LR 109, but not be. The engine is seized, and way too much frame rot to ignore.

Update:
I've spend a lot of time on the car, but not much to show for it. I've mostly been cleaning - gosh it was a mess.

I did some maintenance things to the engine, put new points in the 009 distributor, replaced the pressure side fuel lines and put in a new fuel filter, adjusted the valves, and safety wired the fuel line.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553633714.jpg

Safety wiring the fuel line to the carb is a thing with old VWs. The brass nipple that is either pressed or cast (not sure which) into the white metal carb casting comes out and lets the fuel pump pump mass quantities onto the engine - until the fire stops it. While I was at it I safety wired the new fuel filter because it didn't have a "bump" at the end of the nipples and the hose could just slide off.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553633714.jpg

I cleaned up and repainted the headlight units, put in new gaskets, and fixed the parking light sockets. Some idiot put 1157 bulbs in the sockets that are made for a single filament, 5 watt bulb. They shorted out and melted one of the wires clear back to the fuse box. I fixed the sockets, put in a new wire, and installed the proper bulbs. The 60/55 watt Hella H4s had plastic sockets that hadn't yet melted so i replaced them with ceramic sockets. This is the GOOD one. The other light was rusted all to hell.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553633714.jpg

The chrome rims are new. The reflection off the trees makes it look like it is still rusty!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553634394.jpg


The indicator lights in the speedometer were bleached out from 60 years of use and were basically clear. I took the speedo apart and glued in new gels.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553633714.jpg

There was apparently a leaking rear window seal at some point. The only serious rust in the car was the package shelf and the area under the rear seat. I wire brushed the loose stuff off and coated it with Rust Reformer.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553633914.jpg

When I wasn't working on the VW I was taking out head studs and cleaning parts for the 911. I'll have it on the road before the summer's out!

Keep posting, love the progress!

I had the '68 version of that 912. I'll scan some pics.

Following your progress!

Soo, I had to make a quick trip to Boise this weekend, and I happened to drive down Emerald Street. The building is still there, with all the signage, but sadly, empty. I wonder what it will become...

Hopefully someone'll repurpose the building and the spirit of past good times will remain....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1565553772.jpg

Thanks for reviving the thread Mike.
I haven't done anything to the VW this summer except drive it on errands in the morning before it gets hot out. I also taught my grandson how to drive a manual transmission car and how to do handbrake turns. Now every time he comes over he wants to drive the VW. He loves it, as any gearhead would.