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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 13:35:20 GMT -8
Well decided to start a post of my project , a 1963
VW Beetle i purchased over 40 years ago for my wife to drive as her first car
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 13:45:04 GMT -8
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 13:59:08 GMT -8
This was to be my wifes first car to drive locally on the mainland 43 years ago to her first job .
I paid $125.00 for the car and started to fix it up and restore what i could under a tight budget
The car had no motor as the previous owners son had sold it .
I had a 1200 40 hp which i still have however currently the end play made me search out other options.
I allso had a 1600 1970 motor that was taken out of a orange Beetle with plans of a rebuild but again end play made me put the motor on the shelf for over thirty years .
In 2015 when the real-estate went crazy on the main land we decided to make the big move selling our home in tsawwassen
And relocating to Qualicum Beach.
While i was in Tsawwassen for 55 years things had changed and were getting busier and we thought slowing down was a better opportunity.
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 14:01:17 GMT -8
 Thats my daughter at about 5 |
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 14:09:00 GMT -8
Having this car but really no money to fix it up the way i wanted , rust repair of 200,000 mile trips all over by the previous owner the heater Chanel’s still functioned but needed attention.  The one repair i did may make some of you laugh but for a kid with no money i cut up sheet metal from any source i could find , old auto parts , cans … and fixed the rear luggage floor seam , to this day still solid. |
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 14:15:47 GMT -8
So the car functioned perfectly, i rebuilt the 1200 and she drove it ever day until we purchased a 1975 fuel injection beetle - went like a rocket when compared.
At the time I debated selling the 63 but they weren’t worth very much back then .
So I decided to store it in my garage . I would work on it in the evenings trying to keep it as period correct , sourcing the wrecking yards of surrey for the older bugs.
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 14:27:23 GMT -8
So part of the deal New kitchen for her -new garage -shop for me   A small shop 700 square feet not what i wanted but what they would allow . But a place to do the work on the car i had waited for for 40 years. |
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 14:42:41 GMT -8
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 14:50:56 GMT -8
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 15:03:24 GMT -8
    So as the journey sets i after the 2023 VOLKSFEST drive down island I developed a noise , first thought was my 1970 case that i had John at Island Volkswagen rebuild for me had tossed a bearing , so i removed the engine tore it down to find all good    Finding out now that the crank and flywheel were loose with egg shaped holed on the flywheel. I contacted rick at Hoggs and picked up a new crank and flywheel but now i have to find main bearings to fit my line bored case ? So the evolution continues now have to change my starter to 12 v and get bearings which seems to be difficult so the search goes on … I will update the trip as it develops…… |
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Post by autobus on Jul 21, 2023 18:05:05 GMT -8
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Post by Volktales on Jul 21, 2023 21:49:45 GMT -8
Pretty cool story. Didn't know you had that car forever, and have done so much work to it. Thanks for the story!
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Post by autobus on Jul 22, 2023 1:19:27 GMT -8
Originally i had told a friend who was working for a tow truck company that i was looking for a VW beetle. He went to people who phoned for scrap car removal . So i paid him $125.00 for the car , but had no papers for it .
I then got the address from my friend and called the owner who was not to happy the car was going to be driven! . Long story short but he was pissed that the son had first taken the motor out and then sold the car for scrap , he thought his son deserved money for the papers .
I can’t remember how much i gave him to satisfy the request but after i did he softened up to me pulling out a set of snap on black seat covers
The car was driven all over BC , out to Bella Coola . It was purchased from Volkswagen Pacific and the owner lived in Dunbar area of Vancouver . After i got the car back on the road of course at that time all vehicles had to go through the Vehicle inspection station every year in Richmond which it passed yearly .
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Post by autobus on Jul 22, 2023 1:21:38 GMT -8
Volkswagens for me have been a life long love
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Post by Volktales on Jul 22, 2023 7:14:50 GMT -8
Volkswagens for me have been a life long love Same here. My first car was a 1970 Beetle in 1985, and I drove it for the next 17 years. I would still be driving it today if the structural rust had not won. My Granny was the original owner and was t-boned by a motorcycle when the car was near new. The body shop did a very poor repair job, and the rust crept in deep. "Death Foam" has finished it and is now permanent yard art. Always dreamed of restoring it, but much better cars came along and sealed its fate... Bummer. |
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