47 replies to this topic

[aicadle]

This weekend I finally mangaged to begin what I'm sure is going to be a huge (both time and money wise) project restoring a 1965 VW Type 1. The car has sat in the same place for the past 17 years and not been driven for nearly 32 years! My current aim is to restore this car to its original condition but until I get it down here and assess a proper time scale and budget I won't know for sure how this project will progress!

The car currently resides in Doncaster and my first order of business is to get it down south. So this weekend I have managed to get the wheels freed up (not easy when it was parked less than two inches from a wall on one side!) and roll it out and back into the garage!





It is now ready for its 180mile journey south so I am keen to know if anybody has any contacts with a transporter of some kind for the big move?

I will endeavour to keep this post updated with my progress over the next few months/years/decades!!!

Alex

[paul_k]

Look forward to this.

Did a fair bit of work with my brother on a VW Beach bug once.
Engine is bolted on with 4 bolts so easy to get off Flywheel removal was almost impossible.
We sheared off a 3/4" drive with a scaffolding pole trying to get it off.

Gearbox selection was knackered did they have syncromesh? but you got used to it.

I remember when he first got it it failed the MOT on a loose steering column.
The steering column had been tied with string to a piece of wood jammed under the dash which was falling off!

[Chilli Red]

I am really excited about this project and your reasons for doing it. I can't wait to see all your progress. Well done Alex, good start

[aicadle]

paul_k, on 12 Sep 2011, 13:00, said:

Look forward to this.

Did a fair bit of work with my brother on a VW Beach bug once.
Engine is bolted on with 4 bolts so easy to get off Flywheel removal was almost impossible.
We sheared off a 3/4" drive with a scaffolding pole trying to get it off.

Yeah... I mangaed to free up some critical parts for the strip down on saturday as well which was a bit of a bonus but I knackered a 1/2" drive socket trying to free one of the rear hubs! I won't know how bad the engine internals and gearbox are until I get it shifted but I don't hold out much hope... purely based on the amount of time since it last moved!

[Chilli Red]

That really takes me back. My great aunty and uncle used to have one of those when I was about 8 or 9. He used to drive and she would sit in the passenger seat holding both the handle on the dash and the one over the door, shouting 'slow down Gordy!' and it was blue.

[aicadle]

Right then... A difficult day today on 'Project VW'. After freeing up three of the wheels on my last visit north for its prearation to be moved south, I purchased a set of wheel dollies and got the car out of the garage and set to work trying to free the fourth wheel (offside rear). The hub is absolutely welded on with years of corrosion, so having spent nearly 3 hours trying to free it, disconnecting all the brake lines, and getting through about 2 cans of 3in1 oil, I eventually had to admit defeat and wheel the invalid car back into the garage.

The move will hopefully be happening in January so my next visit north will have to sort this problem. I've just got in touch with a local specialist who has a special tool for precisely this problem so I'm hoping he can help!

I've not had the best of starts on the project but I'm desperate to get the car down here so I can start work properly! On the plus side...upon clearing out some of my Mums garage loft I found many boxes of, as new, original spare parts which my Dad must have collected over the years!

Anyway thanks for reading and hopefully the next post will have some more positive news!!!

Alex

[Chilli Red]

It will get better Alex and be worth every minute. I am really excited for you. Can wait to watch the progression.

[paul_k]

Sounds like a slege hammer may be in order!
Reminds me my old Renault Fuego when I was a lad...
Was off the road for about 2 months over winter and the right rear wheel was locked due to the handbrake siezeing on.
Spent ages trying to release it but could not get the hub off.
In the end did a 2 mile skid driving it and it suddenly released with a bang. Tyre was not looking too good after this but impressive tyre mark down the ring road...

[G5 VAR]

Love the beetle, my first car was a 1200cc 73 when I was 15, had another, a two tone 65 that was slammmed. God luck with the resto, If I had the room i'd definately have another.

[Paul_S]

How is your project progressing mate?

[aicadle]

Paul_S, on 20 January 2012 - 10:14 PM, said:

How is your project progressing mate?

No more progress since my last update Paul, I've been so busy at the start of this year so far! But I'm heading back up north next weekend with reinforcements to try to finally get the last hub freed up. We will not be taking no for an answer this time!!! Then the master plan has us moving it south on the 3rd of March, which is (unfortunately) my next free weekend!

I'll keep you posted!

[aicadle]

Well then finally some positive news from this weekend's endeavours! I've rolled the car out properly for the first time in 17 years!

The problem was that because the last time it was moved, the handbrake was applied when it was put back in the garage, so the brakes were locked on at the rear.

So with a lot of help from Tom at DPS Motors in Doncaster we were able to free them. We had to use brute force to align the inspection hole on the hub with rear brake adjuster and then rotate the cog of the adjuster to free it off as much as possible. Nearside went first and we had it off in two minutes! Very promising! However the offsied adjuster was seized so badly it took 45minutes of hammering and swearing to ease it off enough to be able to force the hub away!


The offending cogs!


Finally out and breathing some fresh air!


Interior


Engine bay in surprisingly good nick!


Tom (who has worked on 3 beetles including a '57 oval ragtop) gave me some positive news that the rest of the car seemed in very good order and I had a good starting point to work from!

So next up is the move which will take place on saturday the 3rd of March! I cant wait!

Thanks for reading

Alex

[Chilli Red]

Great to hear you have her moving now and she looks great. Good luck with the move.

[paul_k]

That looks in very good condition for a 47 year old motor.
Interior is especially good.
Are you going to keep it standard?

[Paul_S]

It's good to see some progress - nearly finished!

[aicadle]

paul_k, on 29 January 2012 - 07:52 PM, said:

That looks in very good condition for a 47 year old motor.
Interior is especially good.
Are you going to keep it standard?

Yeah I was very surprised at the condition of most of the car really but I have my dad to thank for that in the way its been stored dry for so long!

In amongst some old paperwork I found the original sales reciept as well! £495.00 to you sir! I'd be lucky to get two tyres for the 350z for that nowadays!

My current thought is to get it back to A1 original condition but I may be tempted in the future to go for a subtle cal-look, slightly lower and a narrower track on the front end and maybe a two tone paint job!

[G5 VAR]

looks cool, OEM+ would be the way i'd go, that interior has to stay as is

[aicadle]

Well its D-day minus 6days! I've got as much prep done here as I possibly can this weekend, including running new high voltage power cables out to the garage and workshop, two new 5' flourescent tubes in both garage and workshop and painting both floors with garage floor paint!



I know my garage is small but unfortunately I couldn't get planning to get a new double erected in its place so I will have to make do with the worlds smallest single and 12' x 10' workshop! Whoever said size matters anyway?!!

I'll be sure to update you next Saturday after the big move!

[Chilli Red]

Looking forward to the update next weekend Alex. Sounds like you have been a busy boy!

[Paul_S]

Exciting times mate!