Starting my Speedster from a beetle.

Hello members,

I will be posting pictures of my transformation from my 73 Beetle to new Speedster. My question, "Is there a website or book or instructions available which will guide me trough the removal of the stock beetle parts (interior, shell, mechanical etc...) in order to be left with just the pan?". My car has not been running for several years, but has been stored in a barn. I love this site (its the best one for Speedsters) and I look forward to any response. Thanks.
Peter

Peter, I've run across several websites created by individuals who have completly restored their VW bugs and have chronicled the whole process (sometimes taking over a year to complete.
If I run across any of theese sites, I'll pass the address on to you.
In the meantime you may want to try a Google search for "restoring VW beetle".

Dave

Thanks David,

My "bug" will actually be transformed into a "butterfly", actually a Speedster. I have seen members' files start their projects with beetles. I appreciate any help you can provide me.

Hey Peter,
VW Trends magazine released a "How to Restore your VW" soft cover book last year. It's readily available at nationwide bookstores such as Borders & Barnes & Noble. Price is $24.95
On the same subject, it's very easy to remove the Beetle body from it's pan. Engine, seats, shifter, fuel tank, steering column & about 24 bolts under the car & 4 bolts under the rear seat. Have 4 friends lift from the bumpers and that's it.

You Need to look at the CMC kit manual in the files here it could be very helpful. It may have got renamed during the move.
Drop a line to the propritior of the site .
(Message Edited 10/3/2003 2:52:02 PM)

Peter,

Where are you located? There may be a Speedster owner or two near you who could provide help/guidance.

Hi Peter.

I started my project about a year ago and have tried to take lots of pictures along the way and start to document things. Some of these pictures are in my files area here but tons more are on my home webpage.

You can take a look at my site to see what I have done.

www.chriskate.net/speedster

What I ended up doing was taking apart just about every nut and bolt I could find in order to get the old body off, then just chopped it up with a sawzall and took the pieces back to the junk yard. You should probably keep any and all nuts and bolts you remove, you need the gas tank, steering column...and maybe a few more things.

You should be able to get a build manual from JPS or Vintage (they are both the same), which tells you the steps of the kit.

Also, make sure your '73 is not a super beetle. The kits won't work on the Macpherson strut front end.

Thanks guys for all the replies.

Especially Chris, your pictures and adjoining comments was just what I was looking for. Your site is now my reference point. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the car. If you pay as much attention to details on the frame, the rest of the car will be amazing.
Keep me posted.

Regards,
Peter

Chris Sutton.....two things..#1 the feature " will e-mail you when new pictures are abvailable" doesn't work. Whe I enter my e-mail address, it has a error message. #2 where are you located ?

The "email me when new pictures show up" feature on my photo album is broken but should be fixed soon.

I live in Seattle.

Right now there are lots of pictures of my buildup, but not much text, other than the initial tear down. I plan on writing up much more about the process when I get some free time.

The path I'm taking is a flared speedster, disk brakes (5 bolt porche pattern) with a 2056 Type 4, and DTM, and powdercoat lots of stuff. My friend owns a powdercoating business so it's ...free! I did build him a video game (see chriskate.net/mame) though.

Nice looking project Chris. Where are you getting your speedster body from?

Seattle & built a video game for a friend... you work at Microsoft?

www.356speedster.fsnet.co.uk

Another cool project. Cheers Mate!

Plan on getting the body from either Vintage or JPS, which will probably be Vintage, because if I just want the body, and JPS gets the body from Vintage, why get it from JPS...don't know yet. But I want the flared body, and not the CMC flare.

Don't work at Microsoft, I'm a linux guy, who likes to dink and make projects in his garage.

Chris , did you cut out portions of your chassis pan were the seats were and replace them with flat plate?
Joe S

Yup, cut out the rusted "sunken" area behind the seats and figured I would take the chance that a flat plate, with a little bit of additional support (the additional flat bars) would work in place. Since there is really no back seat, it seems it's just a matter of the carpet fitting.

Hopefully I haven't screwed myself, but won't really know until I do the interior way down the line, but I'll make it work. Plus if I was to create the "sunken area" I would have to fix it with a standard pan section, THEN shorten the whole thing. Didn't make a lot of sense.

Gary,

Fixed the "notify me" email. Should work now.

Thanks Chris. I'm a little ahead of you in my speedster project. It was kinda deja Vu looking at yout photos. We basically did all the same stuff, I'm up to carpet/windsheild rubbibg out the paint job.

Gclarke

I documented my build at www.hambly.org.uk/chesil

Hello Chris,

I hope I haven't caused too much "traffic" to your site but other members seem to agree with my comments. You are doing great work.
I noticed that you cut the frame diagonally instead of a perpendicular cut? Was this because of the rust or to gain torsional stiffness when rewelding?
Thanks again and let's see that flared beast soon!
Regards,
Peter

Hello Simon,

Just visited your site. All those wonderful pictures of painted parts and the fit and finish, definitely inspiring! I will aim to finish my car to this type of standard! I dont have to look further than you and Chris for guidance.
Your car is beautiful!
Regards,
Peter

If your a very Tall fella, you may concider lowering the rear floor sections so you will fit in better

Peter,

The diagonal cut of the frame is specified in the CMC build manual, and when you lay it out it is really the only way to take out the 10 or 11 inches needed and have everything go back together right.

I think the whole build manual is on the site now under Library somewhere and one of the pages should give you the exact measurements.

Good luck and let is know if you have questions as you proceed (and take lots of pictures!)
(Message Edited 10/7/2003 5:48:00 PM)