My 3 has a new playmate

[GimmeA3S]

(cabpatch)

 

[Protege52003]

punch-buggy orange........

nice.

-R

 

[MP3Architect]

put some huge tires on that mofo and go off roadin with it!!!

 

[GimmeA3S]

put some huge tires on that mofo and go off roadin with it!!!

Ohhhhhh no...this baby will live the same pampered life that my 3 does (except it will now serve duty as my daily driver, and unfortunately won't have a spot in the garage). I intended to buy a 2nd car so the 3 could stop accumulating miles and sitting out in the weather at work - I was looking at older Accords, Preludes, Civics and even found a 92 Protege that I almost bought.....then I remembered how long and how much I've wanted a Beetle since I was a kid. I got on ebay and found this jewel, even in the exact color I want. I was originally going to have to drive to Oklahoma to get it, but the owner is coming down thru Texas on his vacation, and offered to drop it off on June 25th. I'm so excited! Can't wait to start the slow restoration process. I'm sure it will need carpet and other interior pieces, and I want to add an oil filter adapter and convert it to a larger oilpan so it can tolerate the scorching Texas summers. It's going to love its life with me...

 

[MP3Architect]

sweet deal. congrats!

 

[peepsalot]

Ohhhhhh no...this baby will live the same pampered life that my 3 does (except it will now serve duty as my daily driver, and unfortunately won't have a spot in the garage). I intended to buy a 2nd car so the 3 could stop accumulating miles and sitting out in the weather at work - I was looking at older Accords, Preludes, Civics and even found a 92 Protege that I almost bought.....then I remembered how long and how much I've wanted a Beetle since I was a kid. I got on ebay and found this jewel, even in the exact color I want. I was originally going to have to drive to Oklahoma to get it, but the owner is coming down thru Texas on his vacation, and offered to drop it off on June 25th. I'm so excited! Can't wait to start the slow restoration process. I'm sure it will need carpet and other interior pieces, and I want to add an oil filter adapter and convert it to a larger oilpan so it can tolerate the scorching Texas summers. It's going to love its life with me...

Spicy Orange. Nice.

I always liked the idea of fixing up an old bug. I was wondering the other day how fast you could make one of these while still keeping the same engine.

Don't they not even use a coolant system? (boom02)
How many cylinders do they have? I really should know more about them (headshake)

My parents used to have an old rusted out powder blue bug when I was a wee lad. There was a hole in the floor of it in the back seat, you could watch the road go by and drop things out of it. Good times. They say it was sold for $1 when they finally trashed it.

 

[GimmeA3S]

Bugs don't have radiators or coolant - they have a large fan inside a shroud up by the firewall to circulate air and dissipate heat. I've been reading that they have a hard time staying cool enough in 100 degree climates, especially in traffic or when idling. I want to increase the oil capacity, as oil is very important as coolant in these engines. Engine sizes have changed over the years, I THINK maxing out to 1600cc like on mine, from the factory anyway. There are a lot of bugs that people 'show' or put on websites that have a lot larger engine - apparently there are companies that make engines specifically for Bugs....and then there are those that cram old Porsche flat 4s in them and show / race. I'm just beginning to learn, but there seems to be a LOT of customizing possibilities out there. I've read about Bugs on the road now that will smoke a Mustang GT. Scary, and definitely not what I have in mind.

 

[tsunami]

that bug looks modified... suspension at leas... either that or it just sat in that one spot for a really long time...?? good luck on the bug, they are hella easy to work on compared to your 3... to do engine work most people just find it easier to pull the engine out of the bug and put it on a work bench... ah now that would be nice with the 3...

 

[Mr. 4500 RPM]

drop in a porsche engine....

 

[pb4ugoout]

i had a 74 super beetle in canary yellow. i loved the car. there are soooo many parts out there and all are relatively cheap. i swapped the motor in mine twice just for the hell of it. it's 4 bolts! puts some blocks under it, take out the bolts and lift the body up and over. it's great! i loved mine, i really wish i hadn't sold it so many years ago. congrats on the purchase!

 

[peepsalot]

i had a 74 super beetle in canary yellow. i loved the car. there are soooo many parts out there and all are relatively cheap. i swapped the motor in mine twice just for the hell of it. it's 4 bolts! puts some blocks under it, take out the bolts and lift the body up and over. it's great! i loved mine, i really wish i hadn't sold it so many years ago. congrats on the purchase!

LOL, 4 bolts. Damn maybe I should have started my modding hobby with a car like that.
Sometimes I think my car must be the most difficult damn thing to work on.

 

[peepsalot]

they are RWD too, right? Damn this keeps sounding sweeter and sweeter.

 

[mp3moose]

You should totally put a mazdaspeed badge on the back.

 

[GimmeA3S]

You should totally put a mazdaspeed badge on the back.

Good idea...will it add 5 hp to the Bug too?

 

[GimmeA3S]

I feel like I haven't been on Mazdaiii.com in forever....I have literally spent the last month working on the Beetle. A real hack (or hacks) owned it before me and it needed some TLC. I've replaced the muffler (no easy task, I promise), headlight switch, complete brake job all around with new cylinders and hoses up front, got the new carburetor adjusted and had to remove it to tighten it down to it's adapter plate (damn I wish this thing was F.I.), did a complete tune-up from the coil down to the spark plugs (damn I hate points), installed an aftermarket tachometer and oil temp guage, put on a new sump drain plate with magnetic plug, added rear coil-over shocks to raise the back about 2 inches, (the wide tires were hitting the fender lips when I corner too fast) replaced the fuel tank sender, fuel filler neck hoses, driver side mirror, engine lid seal, hood latch, passenger window handle and just ordered some new H4 headlights. Did a valve adjustment last weekend, and am putting on a new master cylinder this weekend. God I'm tired (and broke). I think my 3 is sitting in the garage laughing at me. It's a really simple car to work on, but it feels simple when you drive it too. It's a blast, really now that it's running good, and I always get compliments when people walk by in parking lots. On the rare occasion I drive the 3, I feel like I'm in a Ferarri. So smooth, so fast, so COOL compared to the VW. The two couldn't be more different. To anyone considering the adoption of a VW into your family, they're a lot of fun, but prepare yourself and your wallet for repairs and maintenance.

 

[ZoomVT]

dude it sounds like a lot of fun though. i would love to see some pictures of it, do you have any?
how much did it cost you? i have been thinking about geting a second car, the weather here in Vermont is brutal and i hate that i already put 21k miles in one year.

 

[goldwing2000]

I really don't think you want a car with an air-cooled engine in VT. You'd freeze your ass off in the winter!

Get a little beater Civic.

 

[ZoomVT]

it doesnt get that cold. i actually cant stand civics so that is a now. i will though have a neon or a corolla or a jetta or a golf.

 

[GimmeA3S]

Well, just carry a stick lighter with you to defrost the windows....It's pretty brutal in TX too with no A/C, but I live with it.

I have taken some pics but gotta get them developed. There are a couple of pics of it in my original post, in front of the previous owner's trailer.

 

[ZoomVT]

yeah i saw those pics but i want to se how it looks now. just make sure you post the pics when you get them.