Ok, no laughing, but we picked up Karen’s car.  1960 VW Beetle.

How did we get from a Camaro to a Bug?  I was looking for parts cars on Craigslist, to get one for a lawn ornament.  A couple years ago, our daughter-in-law said, remember me if you find an old blue convertible Bug.  I found this one and sent the link to Karen at work, somewhat as look what I found for Kirstin.  Come to find out, Karen liked the car I found.

It came with:

2 motors, era correct

2 front fenders

2 rear fenders

2 sets of doors

3 sets of rims/tires

2 complete set of glass

2 front hoods

New front sheet metal nose piece

New patch panel for the floor where the battery is

And many other parts.

I plan on taking it all the way down and building it back up.  Looking at converting it to disc brakes, 12v alternator and some other modern items.

Good for you!
No such thing as too many spare parts.
Life is about the "hunt" and the next project.

Bought a bunch of 56 chev parts last week, don't have a car, hunting now

Karl

Put a newer Subaru motor in it, that will wake it up. Look up mighty car mods on YouTube and see the one they put a wrx motor in.

Cool new project!!

(I have to say... some of those pics look like the car sneezed and blew itself apart! )

Some assembly required.  

At least the parts are small, light, and can be moved around by yourself.  

https://www.kennedyeng.com/

Per Carl's request, here are some updated pics.

Just needs a little "dingin" here and there.

Looks like a VW carry-on suitcase.

Before I could continue doing any work on the VW, I needed to buy a welder.  Found this one.  It was 3 years old and barely used.  It still had the original spool of wire in it.  I had to buy a helmet, gloves and the gas/tank.

Worked on the VW today.  Removed the rotted floor plan, fitted the patch and started welding it in.

Sorry, I forgot to get a picture when I removed the floor panel.

Flipped over the chassis and welded the floor panels on the back side and welded in the seat belt mounts.

Blasted and then powder coated, along with some suspension parts.

That will be nice to work with for assembly.

Looks good Hank

Parts are back from powder coating.  Bob W. is looking over the trans axle.  He says that is looking good.  I know the case looks great.  Hopefully I will be able to start some assembly this weekend.  Still have some other parts that I need to clean and paint and get some new nuts and bolts.

Looking good Hank!   Karen excited yet?

Here are some picture of the trans.

Did not find any worn bearing or syncrows, no grinding on the sliding clutches or gears (except reveres, normal). Hank just brought the diff side covers, I,ll assemble the diff into the case and check the pattern.

Saturday morning, ran and got some supplies.  In the afternoon, sealed the seams on the floor pan, cleaned some parts and started to paint them.  On Sunday, mounted the front beam, installed the torsion leaves and torsion arms.   Had to clean the powder coating off on some of the parts.

Mounted the spindles and shocks

Installed steering, front disc brake conversion, rear suspension, transaxle, and rear disc brake conversion.  I have to get some misc parts so I can put the dust caps on the front spindles.  Was surprised to find that the rear disc mounted on the back of the axle, instead of the front.

Gorgeous!!!

Dual Master cyl. an upgrade as part of disc setup right?

Pretty neat!

Karl

It's not just the brakes that are way better than original. Everything on there is...

A lot easier to move around as a rolling chassis now too.

It has been a bit since I posted on the VW, but here is the latest.

I have done as much welding on the body that I am comfortable, or have the skill doing.  Will leave the rest to the body shop.

I have changed out the doors to the better set that came with the car.

In January/February, the body will be media blasted and primered.

I am on the scheduled of the guy that did the body/paint on the Chevelle.  It will be spring before he can get to it.

I have the new wiring harness and Dakota Digital Dash, https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=235/category_id=414/mode=prod/prd235.htm.  I have made the minor mods to accommodate the Digital Dash

Will be starting on the motor.  I got most of the sheet metal stripped off of it and on the stand.

Nice work!

I especially like the use of the 4 post lift as an engine lifter.  

SShink wrote:

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Nice work!

I especially like the use of the 4 post lift as an engine lifter.  

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 I've used mine as a loading dock, back the pickup tailgate up to it to load and unload. It also works well to put things in the loft, simply put things in the pickup bed, park the pickup on the lift and raise it up.

Looks like progress...

I will caution you about media blasting the body. You have some large panel areas there and the 2 times I have had this done, panels were warped. I won't ever have a large panel blasted again.

The ONLY media I use in my cabinet now is crushed glass. It won't remove metal, like sand.

DANG nice trailer too...

On 2/9 dropped off the bug for some light sandblasting.  It is now at the body shop and the body work will slowly start

Thanks for the update.
Was wondering about current status.
Does it have a couple extra wrinkles from a previous altercation in the right front?

Still wish these old cars could talk.
Maybe though everything i did in some of mine i am not very proud of.
Still remind myself of some of the dumb things i did as a "youngin"

Great project, size does matter!
Karl

New motor arrived today.  Woohoo!  Some assembly required

Received pictures today from the body man.  He test fitted the hood, truck and fenders when installing the new panels.  Progress is being made.