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Auto Talk => The Fast Lane => Topic started by: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 11:25:45 AM

Title: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 11:25:45 AM
The big reveal!

My dad bought this from SoCal (had a friend look at it and check it out and ship it here for him)

'72 VW Bug, 1900 motor with cam, dual carbs, big stereo, Recaro-type seats (no backseat), filled in dash, ugly front bumper that will be removed I assume. Candy apple red paint. Bought for $5400

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/30/qydahymu.jpg)

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/30/qejumare.jpg)

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/30/6eru7ege.jpg)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Gotta-Qik-C7 on June 29, 2014, 11:43:00 AM
 Nice!!!
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CJ on June 29, 2014, 11:56:22 AM
I like that front bumper.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Soup DeVille on June 29, 2014, 02:04:31 PM
Nice.

Is Super Beetle. With earlier front fenders.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 02:13:40 PM
Yeah it's a Super Beetle which I normally find ugly but this one has been modified in most of the right ways to look nice.

The rear bumper bars are the style that he likes so I assume he'll get some for the front. Not sure if he'll lower it more. Maybe a roof rack too.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Soup DeVille on June 29, 2014, 02:24:36 PM
Quote from: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 02:13:40 PM
Yeah it's a Super Beetle which I normally find ugly but this one has been modified in most of the right ways to look nice.

The rear bumper bars are the style that he likes so I assume he'll get some for the front. Not sure if he'll lower it more. Maybe a roof rack too.

The flat glass Supers always looked better to me anyways than the curved glass ones. Only old coots like me are going to notice the longer hood most of the time anyways though.

Here in the rust belt, the supers have serious problems with the mounting points for the strut and control arm rusting through. Its known as the "explor-o-matic option."
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 03:17:57 PM
Yay for California cars.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 04:24:25 PM
Here's the front

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/30/ahezeber.jpg)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Soup DeVille on June 29, 2014, 04:29:33 PM
Did he find  it on the Samba?

I lurk there still from time to time, and that looks familiar.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 04:39:52 PM
Yep
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CJ on June 29, 2014, 07:38:06 PM
I see that your neighbors are lesbians.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: cawimmer430 on June 29, 2014, 08:03:47 PM
Quote from: hotrodalex on June 29, 2014, 11:25:45 AM
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/30/qydahymu.jpg)


Congrats!  :ohyeah:

And a beautiful Lincoln Town Car in the background.  :mrcool:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: MrH on June 29, 2014, 08:26:27 PM
Nice car.



...but why is this in the Fast Lane?  This might be the slowest car on the Spin :lol:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Soup DeVille on June 29, 2014, 08:31:56 PM
Quote from: MrH on June 29, 2014, 08:26:27 PM
Nice car.



...but why is this in the Fast Lane?  This might be the slowest car on the Spin :lol:

Its a 1900, if its tuned right it'll surprise you. My '74, once stripped down of pretty much everything and running a 1915 could pick the front tires off the ground off the line.

And, I jealously guard that title.
Title: Re: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 30, 2014, 02:49:18 AM
Quote from: MrH on June 29, 2014, 08:26:27 PM
Nice car.



...but why is this in the Fast Lane?  This might be the slowest car on the Spin :lol:

It's basically a Porsche!
Title: Re: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Byteme on June 30, 2014, 11:16:59 AM
Quote from: hotrodalex on June 30, 2014, 02:49:18 AM
It's basically a Porsche!

That sound you hear is Porsche drivers gnashing their teeth.    :lol:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CJ on June 30, 2014, 11:55:32 AM
(http://www.ausmotive.com/images2011/Porsche-991-911-04.jpg)

What a great looking car, Alex.  Found this picture online.
Title: Re: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 12:09:26 PM
Quote from: CLKid on June 30, 2014, 11:16:59 AM
That sound you hear is Porsche drivers gnashing their teeth.    :lol:

It is, though. A few mods, and a Bug will be about as good as just about any Porsche into the '70s.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 30, 2014, 03:23:32 PM
Just went for a ride and drive. This thing belongs in the fast lane. :lol:

I'd get a lot of tickets in it - easy to go fast. And non power brakes so less easy to stop! Didn't help that I was barefoot. Going into a turn a bit hot with non power steering is also fun. :lol:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Soup DeVille on June 30, 2014, 03:56:18 PM
Quote from: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 12:09:26 PM
It is, though. A few mods, and a Bug will be about as good as just about any Porsche into the '70s.

The 356 was exactly that: a stripped down, lightweight Beetle. The 911 was the continuation of that idea: and there are lots of old VWs running around using earlier Porsche engines.

Not that the Porschefiles exactly like these facts: but facts they are.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 04:17:05 PM
Yep, precisely. The 911SC was probably the start of the 911 being a really different car from a Bug, but even then, it wasn't until the 964 that the two were really separate, IMO.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 30, 2014, 04:33:10 PM
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/01/ujeru7yb.jpg)

http://youtu.be/QhpuCQLtQSc
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Madman on June 30, 2014, 05:39:53 PM
Quote from: CJ on June 29, 2014, 11:56:22 AM
I like that front bumper.


I like the front bumper, too.  Needs a rear one to match.

I'd forever be terrified of backing into something with practically no protection whatsoever back there.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: JWC on June 30, 2014, 07:03:21 PM
Ahhh....my favorite car. Once air-cooled is in your blood, you can never escape it.

As to the Porsche reference....don't forget the 912 that came out along with the 911.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on June 30, 2014, 07:34:21 PM
Coolness > practicality

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/CalLookVolkswagenKurtVanPerre.jpg/800px-CalLookVolkswagenKurtVanPerre.jpg)

(http://image.hotrod.com/f/incoming/10302060+w799+h499+cr1+ar0/113_0708_12_z%2B1966_vw_beetle%2Bside_view.jpg)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 07:37:00 PM
Quote from: JWC on June 30, 2014, 07:03:21 PM
Ahhh....my favorite car. Once air-cooled is in your blood, you can never escape it.

As to the Porsche reference....don't forget the 912 that came out along with the 911.

Heh, and the 997 (or whichever the number is now) is the closest thing there is to a modern Bug, not the actual New Beetle.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: 68_427 on June 30, 2014, 08:17:33 PM
Quote from: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 07:37:00 PM
Heh, and the 997 (or whichever the number is now) is the closest thing there is to a modern Bug, not the actual New Beetle.

991.








fool
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 08:44:09 PM
Yeah, that one. Whatever, it should be the 998, dammit.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Raza on June 30, 2014, 10:38:14 PM
Quote from: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 08:44:09 PM
Yeah, that one. Whatever, it should be the 998, dammit.

It makes perfect sense.  964, 993, 996, 997, 991.  Can't you see the pattern?

:lol:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: MrH on June 30, 2014, 10:43:06 PM
Quote from: Raza  on June 30, 2014, 10:38:14 PM
It makes perfect sense.  964, 993, 996, 997, 991.  Can't you see the pattern?

:lol:

You can totally fit an equation to it.  Based on this, I can predict the next 911 model code :lol:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 11:19:55 PM
910
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Rich on June 30, 2014, 11:21:59 PM
64.2
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Rupert on June 30, 2014, 11:27:01 PM
42

Are we just posting numbers now?
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on July 01, 2014, 03:19:52 AM
6.02*1023
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: veeman on July 01, 2014, 10:18:05 AM
beautiful car.  love the red paint.  i don't think you can get that shade of red on a car from a dealer outside of an exotic.  i like the front bumper that's on the car right now.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on July 01, 2014, 12:38:20 PM
Yeah a candy color isn't something carmakers are willing to put up with.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on August 09, 2014, 04:39:39 PM
New headlights with turn signals on the bottom (1/4 halo) and the bumper is gone. Since it's a super beetle, it definitely needs something there. I think he's still deciding if he wants the Cali style bars to match the rear or something else.

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/10/avetaqy4.jpg)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Galaxy on August 09, 2014, 05:45:44 PM
Beautiful bug. I preferred it with the front bumper though.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on December 19, 2014, 06:24:55 PM
In case anyone was wondering, the propped open boot lid is not waterproof. Grocery bags over the carbs are necessary when parked. :lol:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Eye of the Tiger on December 19, 2014, 08:45:19 PM
Fuck yeah
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on January 17, 2015, 09:45:13 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/hbF9QAs.jpg)

Boot lid closed. No more grocery bags necessary, hopefully won't overheat in the summer.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Eye of the Tiger on January 18, 2015, 12:03:49 AM
Awesome, my screen is covered in hash mist
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on January 18, 2015, 10:51:30 AM
Hash mist?...
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on March 06, 2015, 01:41:40 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/Qyj1is9.jpg)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on March 06, 2015, 02:06:37 PM
Here are a bunch of pics of the actual car, from way back on New Years

I used an old P&S camera from like 2004, but they turned out decent.

(http://i.imgur.com/Za9cY0O.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/KrxrRGw.jpg?1)

(http://i.imgur.com/McKNVBo.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/XLDkr91.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/nro00re.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/8aTQoqB.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/AQBUhkw.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Q3lghL5.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/XwBJlZ0.jpg)

Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: shp4man on March 06, 2015, 03:24:20 PM
Nice car- like the color.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: MexicoCityM3 on March 06, 2015, 03:48:35 PM
Hey hice!

These used to be super-common here but rapidly they've become somewhat rare by now.

VW Mexico did a las run of these with "classic" colours and wheels. Those are collector items now.

I drove a dark blue "Vocho" for a few months back around 93 or so. Basically every Mexican my age has driven one at some point.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: hotrodalex on March 06, 2015, 04:37:14 PM
My dad got it to relive his teenage days in Colombia. Except this one is a lot nicer and faster than most of the ones down there. :lol:
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: r0tor on March 07, 2015, 10:56:59 AM
Paint job looks fantastic
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CaminoRacer on May 05, 2016, 08:34:55 PM
Update: absolutely nothing has changed in a year. We do have an Optima battery to install, but who knows when that'll happen. The steering is quite sloppy at this point, so I've ordered a new drag link which will hopefully sort it out. Lowered Bugs love to wear out suspension bushings.

Next weekend I'll take it to Nashville and race it. Another red Bug should be coming along so we'll have a little gang.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CaminoRacer on May 18, 2016, 06:55:19 PM
I installed the OCAP steering link last week and it got rid of all the steering slop. It's insanely direct now, still kind of wanders but I think it may have a bit of toe-out to blame that on.

It did pretty well in the autox. It needs a rear sway bar (and upgraded front bar to match) and some sticky tires to be competitive with the big boys, but I'm impressed as-is.

http://youtu.be/ESUAeiKn7LI (http://youtu.be/ESUAeiKn7LI)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CaminoRacer on December 11, 2016, 03:56:50 PM
The old muffler is gone now, replaced by nicer dual chrome tips. A little quieter and much cleaner looking.

I'm gonna get a 3/4" rear sway bar + 7/8" front sway bar as a Christmas gift for my dad. Currently it just has a 3/4" front bar. I'm not sure if it's made for lowered cars either, while the new one will be longer and have caster-correcting bushings. Topline also sells camber bolts to get another degree of camber. I'm not sure if that's necessary, might do the sway bar and check the alignment before ordering those.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CaminoRacer on December 20, 2016, 11:23:26 AM
Rear sway bar is sitting under the Christmas tree.

Here's a pic of the new exhaust.

(http://i.imgur.com/0O4jKJY.jpg?1)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CaminoRacer on December 22, 2016, 04:15:13 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riMtOS5Vtn4
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Soup DeVille on December 22, 2016, 04:28:45 PM
I'll have to check that out.
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CaminoRacer on December 26, 2016, 01:09:34 PM
DRIFT BUG.

3/4" rear sway bar installed. Pretty easy job, and it feels more planted and doesn't understeer. :rockon:

(http://i.imgur.com/EysoODX.jpg?1)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: CaminoRacer on October 05, 2017, 08:24:08 PM
Made it into the Goodguys Gazette. :praise: I'm surprised at how composed it looks. I was flinging it around like a maniac.

(https://i.imgur.com/4LxLd0v.jpg)
Title: Re: Bug Life
Post by: Raza on October 06, 2017, 03:51:55 AM
Quote from: CaminoRacer on October 05, 2017, 08:24:08 PM
Made it into the Goodguys Gazette. :praise: I'm surprised at how composed it looks. I was flinging it around like a maniac.

(https://i.imgur.com/4LxLd0v.jpg)

:golfclap: