1981 Mexibug - Conchita - a 10 years love affair... counting

[MikeR@]

Hi folks,

I decided to let you know what kind of projects are cooking here in this part of the world (Romania). My personal project is based on my 1981 Mexibug, bought 10 years ago. Last December I decided to give it a try, taking into consideration the general level of decay and the fact that I did not find any decent body shop so far (few are willing to spend time on an old car, here in Romania an educated public on this topic is hard to find).

I will keep comments to a minimum, pictures are self explanatory. Currently the car is back in my garage, waiting for its engine rebuild and last touches.

Enjoy and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

December 2009








The beginning






















January 2010 - separation





















Almost anything needing replacement was replaced






















A new pan!















The devil is in the details!
















February 2010 - body building!


















Keep the rust away!























Doors and hoods were replaced

Colours of spring & the body-cat!


















More details...



A member of the body shop team



Back to original - the new headliner is in place!





August 2010

The car is getting in shape!









September 2010

Clean sandblasted and powdercoated sport wheels!





Almost there!













Original wheels sandblasted and powdercoated!






October 2010

Back home!

[sideshow]

Myself I really like seeing the subtle differences of that “destine for Mexico” beetle, the only cars I see in the US are “destine for US market” No matter where you are that was a lot of work.
What is that plate on the wall? Looks like my local state of Oregon.

[Stray Catalyst]

Wow! You've done a remarkable job restoring it. I need to borrow your cat, he can work on my 74 any day of the week.

Stray

[MikeR@]

update:

engine rebuild in the works; 34 HP rod bushings are expected to arrive from Holland (parts shops locally are unwilling to supply anymore such an "obsolete" part) in the next couple of days; NOS 1200 P/C set on the shelf to be "slapped in"; new Ernst muffler; refurbished engine tin and heat exchangers; orginal carb and ignition; new generator covers

[MikeR@]

Last night I added some small touches: original Bosch fog lights, in the family for many years and an aftermarket rear fog light. Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. I had only my mobile at hand.

[MikeR@]

More bits and pieces, freshly arrived from Holland: the rod bushings (!!!), the seat bushings, various grommets, the engine gasket kit, the air box switch - the "correct part" never ending story!



rod bushing to be pressed in, drilled for oil passages and reamed today; the heads will be ready tomorrow; most probably the engine will come together by the end of the next week!!!

[Sneaks]

Gorgeous.
Period.

[MikeR@]

Since the car is almost roadworthy, I started the hunt for period correct accesories and documentation. Yesterday I got a Bosch fog light/lamp switch, with warning light and the 1981 dealership glove manuals.

[MikeR@]

The cat is discontented that we transformed the "mice fridge" into a real car... :p



It seems that Santa will bring eventually the red bug...under the Christmas tree!

[MikeR@]

25th of December 2010, Christmas Day, winter (?) - 18 degrees Celsius!!!

Ad hoc photo shooting...









An a Santa supplement from UK - a 2011 calendar!

[Beetle_Bob]

WHAT A LOT OF WORK !!!!!!!
Beautiful Job ! That is something to be PROUD of.

Congrats, Bob

[MikeR@]

it's been almost four months since my last post; winter passed, small additions to the car came one by one; since early April I started to put at least 20 to 50 km each week; a custom hall ignition system, borowed from a T2/Golf2 and modified, replaced the stock one; the 1200cm engine runs at 10 degrees BTDC with a crisp idle of 850-900 rpm, the engine is very responsive, elastic, carburator is very tunable, i can adjust within 150 rpm up or down with a touch of the air screw (the carb is a 30 pict 3), no hesitations during acceleration or transition passages whatsoever.

The car rolls on 195/65/15 tyres, on 5,5 steel sport bug rims front and custom 6 steel sport bug rims ("home made") rear; very stable and good grip as well as brake effective (still drums all around, in the process of rebuilding Girling calipers and switch to front stock discs - along with new original ATE discs and mexican spindles)

some fresh pictures taken today, while we enjoy Easter at home

[MikeR@]

yesterday... today... tomorrow?

[MikeR@]

odometer is reading 2350 km (1420 km since rebuild)

changed oil, changed front brakes -welcome to the world of brake disc safe braking! changed also all of the ball joints - dramatically increase in stiffness of the steering/suspension handling!




the distributor is fluctuating - the shims are worn; I expect a rebuild kit from US (since in Romania is outrageously expensive) to get it into shape.

[MikeR@]

Just now I've noticed that this year happens to mark 10 years since I joined STF... a loooong time indeed!