Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi all

Here are the first pics of my restoration effort.

So far I am - with the assistance of the team at VDubTech - having the motor taken back to its original state (twin carbs with the right block and distributor) as the current one is a T1 subassembly with a single side draft carb. I have also put 4 new tyres on her as the old ones were a death trap.

I notice some surface rust and started a minor strip of the interior which turned into a full strip of the carpets and sound-proofing. Sadly the rust is a lot worse than I thought and the driver's side floor pan is rusted through; so I will be calling on the help of an expert welder.

Fortunately all the parts I need are available internationally (very little locally due to the import nature of this model - VWSA stopped making the type 3 here in 1969 apparently and I have an import from Rhodesian ex UK)...or am I wrong?

Next steps are:

1. Have the new motor installed with a new clutch and distributor, cleaned-up tin and the right air cleaners. Oh and make sure the heat-exchangers work properly...I enjoy warm feet
2. Get the front steering and suspension sorted; their is excessive play on the wheel end and the general state of the ball joints and tie rod ends is bad
3. Get all the rust sorted out (all the fenders are badly rusted on the inside)
4. Get her resprayed once the rust is sorted
5. Finish up the interior (fix the inner workings of the seats and replace the hood lining); the door panels and seat coverings are excellent still
6. Re-chrome the headlight reflectors and rear bumper

And that should be about it for now

she looks good. Sounds like its going to keep you busy for a while

Let me know if you find ball joints cheap.. Need for my 66

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Hi Evan,
Good idea to have her repainted prior to attempting to do the interior, as you would have to remove the rear windows to do the hood lining and the re-install them.

She looks beautiful.

lovely solid looking car

[quote="brianj"]Let me know if you find ball joints cheap.. Need for my 66

You can import them at a cost of $35.95 each (upper part number 311405361B and lower part number 311405371C; I assume the b/j for the '66 are the same as for the '71). I'm sure you've seen that Volkspares want R792/R741 for the same thing. The problem is that shipping is $80...but I'm willing to entertain splitting the shipping cost with you if you want to order yours with mine The only problem right now is that - with the exchange rate - it works out the same price to buy them from Volkspares

Thanks for the research!

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[quote="brianj"]Thanks for the research!

Let me know if you want...seems I am going to have to order mine after all and Volkspares have no stock (with no idea when they will be getting)

A quick update: Car has been stripped and is in the process of being painted (compliments of VDubTech)...have ordered all the necessary replacement parts and she is waiting bodywork completion before the front suspension gets some attention...one thing I have learned is how expensive a hobby this can be

looking good.... and yea, toys arent cheap

Good to see yet another Fastback coming back to life.

Yes, to fix it right, costs, but the joy in driving her, is priceless.

You doing a magic job there, following the thread with excitement.

Herman

Bump for updates

I don't have faith in that white rust conversion stuff that turns purple/black. The rust always seems to come back. I rather strip all the rust and use red oxide primer.