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Wish My MG's Would Do That

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tony barnhill

tony barnhill

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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As most of you know, when Jerri's mother died a few years ago, we became the custodians of her '73 VW with about 75,000 original miles...I went through it & did everything to make it mechanically new, had Coker make me a set of the original white wall tires that came on it, blasted & repainted the wheels & slapped new hubcaps on it....& parked it under a shed & car cover (Jerri can't yet after these years bear to drive it - memories)...

Well, today, I went out & removed all the boxes piled on it & the wood stacked alongside it...pulled the car cover off, got in it, patted the accelerator twice, turned the key & listened as the little air cooled engine fired over....after idling rough for a second or two, it smoothed right out! That's after sitting dormant for over a year!

Now, I'm gonna start the disassembly process to get it ready for the bodyshop next week - she'll get new paint, all new weatherstripping, all new chrome & stainless to include bumpers, & new running boards.

...& then it'll go back in the garage under a car cover.

bug5.jpg
 
Cool! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Just came back form a nice shake down run in the little Bug...impressive! No, to disassembly...(at least I won't be putting any strain on my bad foot by climbing a ladder!)
 
Was and still is my favorite car. Wrote a paper on VW bugs in college.
 
Hey I was doing just fine, thanks until you mentioned the ol' bug-- (I sold my '62 bug convertible about 2 months ago that we had as a pet for 11 years) I had saved her from an uncertain fate and cleaned it up considerably! didn't miss it at all until.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
All the trim is off, driver headlight & tirn signal, driver door stripped (glass, vent window, channels), wipers removed...next is washer, front fender & passenger headlight/turn signal...then, I'll call it a day - my foot hurts!
 
I recently wondered; how do those things drive compared to an MG?
 
I was told by a friend that fixed up a Bug for his Daughter,to never buy VW parts that were made in Brazil/Mexico.
He said it didn't hold up very well.

- Doug
 
Wheren't most of the last old style bugs produced in Mexico....I vacation there alot and can verify the fact that the place is littered with old bugs....Millions of `em, and mostly in good solid shape.
 
Heck, I thought they still made them down there... If not, then they made them up until recently.
 
Just got back from two weeks and was thinking of taking time off to recuperate(our home there got caught in flood and had five feet of water in cellar...fun) anyhow, right before we left here a guy dropped a 71 super beetle vert off for floorpans and quickly turned into a body-off total resto. Pan is on a spit and the body is on a cradle ready for the paint booth. Also while gone, had a 74 standard bug trailered in from Okla. for a new engine and tons of oter work...and owner hass called and has decided he wants a total resto. Yesterday a 68 bug was trailered from Big Spring Tx. for a body off resto, engine, brakes...everything. These are all behind a 70 bug resto partilly finished and a 59 Baja project being assembled. I think my MGb projects will be waiting a while. Today I'm calling West Coast Metrics and placing a huge order...I'm a W/D with them so if anyone needs VW parts at a very reduced rate...let me know.
 
By the way...my wife has a cherry 78 Triple White, Champagne Edition bug vert. F/I. elec. ign., fuel injection.Just sold my 60 23 window deluxe bus, have a 68 Baja to sell...with gas prices we cruise in the bug vert and the B roadster...keep the CGT for road trips.
 
Jack - we need to talk - I need all new weatherstripping/rubber, both bumpers, trim set (the little things to affix it), & both running boards - as a start!
 
We rented one in Cabo back in 93. They had a fleet of them and they all had this strange fibreglass body that still looked like a Beetle but the middle part between the windscreen and the engine were this wierd fiberglass moulded piece with no doors and the back seat was a moulded shelf. Not a bad little car considering the clutch slipped like mad and only one headlight barely worked.

In reference to the handling... they handle nothing like a MGB.... all the weight is on the rear (obviously) so steering always feels more like a "suggestion" rather than an "input". Feels kind a like you are pushing a block of wood on a table from the rear and trying to make it go in a different directly by nudging it from the back.
 
Bug is stripped - except for running boards...decided to keep them as they're in great shapr...taking to body shop next week.

& I now know why the FAA considered box cutters a dangerous weapon! Cutting the rubber around the rear window, cutter slipped - about an inch slash in arm, real deep, 3 stitches worth! You & me Jack!
 
Tony - dropping stuff on your feet, slashing your arm with a box cutter... Think you might need a new hobby? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

Careful, Bud!
 
hehehehehe - neither were 'hobby' related...& today was first day foot felt like working on it! Building patio & getting Bug ready for paint were both "honey do's" that interferred with my hobby!
 
Tony,

Don't you remember what the Doctor told you?
"No sharp objects".

- Doug
 
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