New project (hopefully)

[formula]

so around 15 years ago my dad's daily driver was a VW beetle...When we moved from colorado he left it with his brother, and I may have the opportunity to finally go and rescue it over christmas break!

The best part is, my dad brought up the idea, so I already know he likes the idea of a project car. I, for one, am looking forward to bringing back a piece of my past, and hopefully getting a little bit of the P-T treatment in on it too. Plus that way I won't have to tear my car up when I feel like wrenching on something, and I'll be able to try my hand in a lot of areas that I haven't had any experience in yet, as it will probably need new floors and some other body work and will def need a new paint job. woohoo!

Can you guys suggest some sources for beetle parts and stuff? It's going to need a LOT of work...but I think it's salvageable.

What about bodywork how-to info? I know a lot of shops don't do as good of a job as could be, so I'd like to learn how to do it right.

[TonyL]

I can SO help you.

first go to www.germanlook.com GREAT tech articles there. how to graft 944 turbo brakes onto your bug. coil overs, 944 trailing arms will practically bolt on.

these guys Airkewld (http://www.airkewld.com/pages/welcome.php)
make all kinds of great stuff, brake kits, carbon parts etc.

Engines? Massive type 4 (http://www.massivetype4.com/index2.shtml) these guys crank out some of the baddest, highest hp and most reliable engines ever.

oh, here's a pic for insperation.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[TonyL]

what year and type beetle is it? each has its own pros and cons.

here's another one to get your juices flowing. theres alot of great cars on germanlook.com click "general" under galleries on the left hand side.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[formula]

Unfortunately I can't remember the year or type...I havent seen or even thought about the thing in a looooooong time. I'll ask the next time I talk to my dad, though.

I know it wasn't a really early one, and I know it wasn't a super beetle...

thank you, dude, for the sites and pics. you've really got me looking forward to this!

[Matt]

ej20t would be a good choice in motor if you can bring yourself to b*astardize it. Still an h4, but it's a turbo motor, and can make good power with low weight. I don't know bugs, but I know that is a semi common choice, and since I know subies, It was one of the few things about subarus I liked :)

[vintageracer]

There is a good article in VW Magazine this month about a Karmen Ghia convertible that has a Subaru WRX turbo motor in the back. Apparently he is building several more cars with Subaru power. With 240HP it is really fast!

All done in the "Pro-Touring" spirit of course!!!!

[Chevelle LT1]

If you need replacement parts for the pans, aprons, etc., I would look at either California Import Parts, West Coast Metric or Wolfsburg West. As I found out during a recent rebuild of my father in-law's 1959 Convertible, they have some of the best-quality parts, still pretty cheap. I would definitely try to purchase everything you can as Brazil-made parts, because the parts from everywhere else universally seems to be crap. PM me if you need any more info.

[Andrew F]

www.cal-look.com (http://www.cal-look.com)


although not a pro touring place per-say, everyone there is strongly into high performance cars that can tear up the street.


www.shoptalkforums.com (http://www.shoptalkforums.com)


another great resource, everything from engine conversions, turboing, type4 swaps, drag racing, everything. I can be of help too, just got my turbo bug running the other day, getting close to driving it.

www.thesamba.com (http://www.thesamba.com)

vw classifieds

IMO keep with the type 1 (standard vw) engine if you want serious power.