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Yep, drive it around for a few weeks before you hop it up at all, unless let's say your exhaust has a big hole in it... then upgrade it. I wish I would have waited before I just got right into my bug, I wasted a lot of money! Go pick up a few magazines, and get stuff from swap meets.. Just take your time. I didn't and right now if I took my time and was a bit wiser about my car I'd be much quicker than rice. Oh well...

Scott

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tanbug:

Do to YOUR VW what YOU want to do, and enjoy!!!!

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's all a PERSONAL thing. That's the great thing about VWs. But don't forget safety, Safety, SAFETY!

In the immortal words of Genee (Aladan's Lamp) "Bee-ee-ee-eee yourself!"

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Volkswagens don't leak oil, they just mark their spot.
http://community.webshots.com/user/66fasty

[This message has been edited by 66fasty (edited 09-21-2002).]

BRAKES CHECKED OUT


Especally depending on the year


Firs car had NO brakes did not check it before going down the drive, BAng, CRAP , there went 300.$


BBut for a beat up 60 ghia that the nose was junk before hand? 16 years ago 300. was a lot of cash, Now 300. is half of what you kneed just to get some good body parts


Chris

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56 Oval (yes some day IT WILL BE RESTORED)

For a bently manuel go to

www.rb.com

And get it there cheaper then I could sell it to you at the dealership

Chris

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56 Oval (yes some day IT WILL BE RESTORED)

continuing on the "wait and see" road...

first item to buy: a notebook
second: a digital camera
third: a subscription to hotVWs and VWtrends and all of the back issues you can find at swap meets. all of em.
fourth: the bentley manual (after you've bought the car -- so you know the year), the "idiot guide" (how to keep your VW alive... by john muir) and every VW picture book you can lay your hands on...

in the end, you need a plan first. the notebook and digicam will help you document what you see at swat meets and shows and what upgrades you do to your car along the way.... the magazines and books are so that you can see what other folks have done (with -- and without -- success).

i've just re-bought my bug 2 years ago (71 was my high school ride -- then a string of vintage fords ending with a pickup that lost its brakes on san francisco's steepest hill) and i already have 2 extra generators, 2 intake manifolds, fan shrouds and engine tins, mufflers, judson coils, distributors... the list goes on.

in short, i did not have a plan when i started and picked up everything i thought was neet and cool. i thought i wanted a stocker, then a upgraded (later engine) stocker, then a resto custom, now somewhere in between...

what i should have done was wait a year before buying anything other than what it would take to keep the car safely on the road... go to shows, read books, look at mags, ask questions and make a plan... oh well, there's always bug #3.

I could tell you what you should do. I'll tell you what I did. Pulled a car outta the junkyard, and rebuilt it. Turned out pretty well dont ya think?

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Volkswagen Factor
http://j.bandy.home.attbi.com

Throw a stone in the bush and see.........

How about getting it as close as possible to the original showroom condition?

Kobus

I would go with the following:

1) Repair Manual
2) Tools
3) Spare Maintenance Parts
4) Spare running VW to use while you are waiting for parts to come in.
5) a second spare VW incase the first two are out of commission
6) Update the brakes to disc.
7) Bigger Sway Bars
New ties rods etc.
9) Then I would get the Large Motor.

John

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Air-Cooled Head:
<B>No. The FIRST thing to get is the Bentley manual for your year.
It will help you with everything except the insurance!</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is the best advice here so far... if ya want to work on the vehicle, you need to have a manual. There are TONS of them for VWs, available dirt cheap on eBay, so even if you can't afford a Bentley, you can afford SOMETHING.


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-Craig

http://www.teamyikes.com

just something to keep in mind. The more you do to make it go fast the more important it is make it stop and handle better. It does not matter how fast your bug can travel if you can't stop it. That is why when you get the little things taken care of, be sure to place your brake system somewhere around the top of the list.
good luck on your vw adventures.

I hear you on that one.
I just wanna find a good condition bug and blow a whole lotta money into it.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JUSTINVDUB:
<B>I hear you on that one.
I just wanna find a good condition bug and blow a whole lotta money into it.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Now you're talking!!! You will deffinitly blow a whole lot of money. But the finished product is worth EVERY PENNIE..

Jason

2276

hi folks,
yes a good common sense approach.....brakes,steering,handling,fix all those annoying rattles etc...then get out and drive it and try to keep the smile off your face...
cheers
craig.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JUSTINVDUB:
<B>I hear you on that one.
I just wanna find a good condition bug and blow a whole lotta money into it.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Okay, start with a top-of-the-line Raby T4 conversion with Nics. There's about $11,000 spent. Then a good tranny at $1000, then a real suspension package, brakes... another $1,200. Then great paint: $4000. see, you could have had a Corvette... and insured it.