Aircooled VW South Africa

7 years ago I bought my first aircooled. I have had 4 aircooleds in total now. My dad has always helped me fixing them up, but because it was mine he just helped and did things the way I wanted it to look. He built the whole interior for my splitty. So this week as a thanks for all the help I got him his own kombi. During the week Juan(Aircooled culture) phoned me and told me about a crew cab standing in Worcester. We drove through during the week to go and have a look and I bought it.

This morning at 06:00 we left to go and pick up my dads kombi. After a few hours and the usual unforseen like a tow bar thats loose and getting stuck on the lift at Speedy exhaust, we got back home safely. We got a few thumbs up from passing drivers, and people asking what our plans was. Funny to see their faces when you say scrap metal.
Its going to be a bit of a project as we not really that clued up on bays...I dont even know the year of this Its still in original paint with all the original stickers and stuff on it.
I did get the gearbox and an engine(not sure what) and all the lights, grill, handles, catches and the rest with it.Im not sure what we are missing yet except for the windscreen and rear valance.

Model: 268
Serial: 2612030811
Vpo: 2078
Paint: 03

Any input, or advice would be greatly appreciated

Heres some pics








































Dad already getting stuck in.







This one was standing in the same warehouse next to my dad's one.

Nice project, sure your DAD will love it.

Herman

Nice, looks like 1971.

Nice wish the one we bought was a low light

Nice one.... Congrats

Wow that is so nice. If I help ya will ya buy me one?

Good one

looking forward to the resto

Great Nice one. Look forward to the restro. ...

Nice find splitz. I'm not sure if the early and late bay use the same windscreen, but if someone can confirm i can help you with a windscreen. Unfortunately i've only got the screen and not a rubber.
Pm me if u're interested

Arno

Nice one !!!! really good find
I have some carpets I brought in but haven't used if you are interested
As well as the rubber for the front windscreen ??

And so it begins >>>>> good luck with the resto

Thanks to Arno for the windscreen and other bits !

Walked into the garage this morning just after 9am, dad already busy. Removed the rear brakes and started to clean up all around.
Filled a big bucket with rust and Im sure theres a lot more to come. We are still considering whether we want to do the body work ourselves or take it to someone.
There is a lot of badly rotten spots but all on pretty easy to fix spots
If we decide to do the bodywork ourselves first thing will be to make a rotisserie and get a decent welder.
Pics from today...

Noticed something... something happened (in the background), to your panelvan in the meantime. (Just checked your project thread to compare). The trimmings that happened looks nice. Fits in well with the black colour.

Dawie wrote:Noticed something... something happened (in the background), to your panelvan in the meantime. (Just checked your project thread to compare). The trimmings that happened looks nice. Fits in well with the black colour.

Thanks Dawie


Didnt do too much today as starting up the angle grinder on a Sunday does not go down to well with the neighbors. Did manage to remove the rear suspension bits and brake lines.
What would an original engine for this be ? There is an engine with numbers CU123978 could this be the right type of engine. Think its a type 4.

There is also 4 different numbers on the gearbox that came on the back of it.
CE 20034
002 301 103 D
002 301 173 A
*** 301 211

Im also very confused as to how the gearbox is supported ? Any advice or pics would be appreciated

Managed to get the beam off and continued some more stripping.
Also managed to get a full set of 71 Crew seats. Thanks to Niel Janse van Rensburg and Jason Furness
We started building a flip-over rotisserie thingy to make working on the underside a bit easier. If all goes well the Bay will be flipped over this weekend.
Are the front beam mounts and rear springplates mounts the same on Bay and Split ? If it is then the rotesserie will work for both

Nice to see some progress...

About your earlier question. The early bay's gearbox was not supported above the bellhousing. Engine/transmission was only supported by a mounting at front of gearbox, and special bracket at rear of engine.

Early bay type 1, overseas late type 3's, and universal replacement cases have attachment points for this bracket. Beetle engine casings lacks these. In 72, with introduction of the 1700 type 4 kombi engine, the special mounting above bellhousing was first used on the baywindow. The gearbox then also acquired two mounting "ears" on top.

Easiest would be to find a type 1 engine with attachments for the rear bracket. There is an adapter mounting available for the beetle engine that lacks the attachment points. This adaptor bracket mounts to the oil pump studs. Personally i would never use this adapter bracket. Most people agree that hanging the complete engine/transmission from the oil pump is plain silly.

One could also try to fit the above bellhousing mounting from a late bay body to the older body. This will not be easy, as the chassis rails and body tinware differs vastly in this position between early and late bay.

The CU engine you have is from an 80- 82 square shape kombi. It could be modified to fit, if you have to. For a start you will need the flywheel from a 1700 or 1800 engine. Or use bellhousing and starter from 2L. Engine compartment tinware on early bay is different and will have to be cut/modified and new sheet metal sealing tinware made up. Not an easy task to do properly.

As mentioned, easiest by far will be to find the right engine.