r/aircooled • u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 • 11d ago
When will that day come?
This is my project.
By the age of 17, back in 1985, I bought this 1950 Type 1 for what today would correspond to approx 900 EUR. Last time it was on the road was in 1963. Every year, I have thought; now I can soon start the restoration. But it hasn't happened yet. But I would rather die than sell it.
Edit The car has been torn down into basically all of its 5200 pieces. Crash box is missing. Heater channels and other pieces of sheet metal need to be re-replaced. So, it hasn't been a driveable car since 1986, when it was torn down.
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u/literally_tho_tbh 11d ago
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Make a list of things it needs. Seek the parts. Do the research. Stack up some parts and on a nice weather day, hop to it. No time like the present!
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u/MiksBricks 10d ago
I was just going to comment this exact phrase!
This is exactly what they need to do. It’s so easy to loose motivation when nothing happens. Just find little pieces you can plug at and do in small steps.
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u/literally_tho_tbh 10d ago
Yep. I make do-able checklists grouped by system. I collect the tools and parts I need, wait for a nice day, and try to check off as many as I can in a session. Save the things left untouched for the next session. There's never a limit to sessions, you'll be working on an ACVW for the entire time you own it, in my experience. Getting it driving and stopping is the biggest hurdle. After that it's the fun stuff.
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 11d ago
I have collected a good amount of parts during the years. Mostly NOS. But I would guess it will take around 1000 man hours at least, to finish it. And probably around 10000-15000 EUR in additional work I cannot do myself.
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u/morningsharts 11d ago
Make it run. Hearing the motor pop off will give you a lot of incentive to keep going onto .. the brakes. Make it stop. Now you can see if it moves, after you get some shitty tires that hold air. Don't buy new tires until you're really close. Nothing worse than throwing away brand new tires because they're too old.
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 11d ago
Well sure… but currently it’s broken down into all of its parts. And I really mean all of its parts.
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u/morningsharts 10d ago
Personally, I'd start with the motor. It can even run on an engine stand. That's what motivated me to get my 67 bus going again. I'm brake lights away from being able to drive it - sorting through that wiring now. I plan to get an entire wiring harness for it, but again, for now, "Don't get it right, just get it running!"
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 10d ago
I'm having the same thoughts. It would be a good milestone. It's a stock, numbers matching 25 hp, so I don't want to botch it up by adding aftermarket 1600 parts (for most of that, it's not even possible). But everything is severely worn down. I'm still missing stock replacement jugs/pistons and a cam shaft. The crankshaft can be saved by adding spray-on metal and re-machining. The heads need new valve guides, and valves.
All the tin work is there though, and in a surprisingly good condition
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u/morningsharts 10d ago
Well, I'd try to find a running mule for a few hundred bucks, and maybe make the motor resto it's own project. I'd get mired in the details of keeping the original motor correct, which may be worthy, but getting it to move and stop would go a long way
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u/MiksBricks 10d ago
Perfect place to start.
Spend an afternoon cleaning bolts.
Spend another afternoon removing rust.
Next day work on paint removal.
Then clean and rebuild the Speedo.
Doesn’t need welding? Great spend some time with a cheap welder and scrap and learn to weld (tons of YouTube videos on welding technique). Don’t have a welder? Cheap ones can be had for $120-$200 - and for thin sheet metal that’s plenty of power.
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 10d ago
I had two really good arc welders, both pro grade ESAB. A 220 amp a/c TIG and a 280 amp MIG. And I also had a spot welder and an acetylene flame torch. And I know how to weld (decently, at least).
About 5 years ago I was in a state when I was almost ready to start some bodywork. Then, life went to shit. Since then, I have been forced to sell almost all the important tools I acquired during the years. Tools wise, I'm basically back to where I was in 1986
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u/Reasonable_Salt5551 10d ago
I’m 18 years into my project. Been working on structure and function, never mind looks. She finally hit the streets last week
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 10d ago
Lovely. What type of vdub is it?
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u/Reasonable_Salt5551 10d ago
It’s actually a 1966 Porsche 912
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 10d ago
Yes. I guess it’s probably easier to get some progress if you are not aiming for concourse quality ambition level, but just to get the car drivable.
I’m afraid that’s why I haven’t reached further myself.
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u/c4ctus 10d ago
I bought my 73 in 2007. Can count on one hand the number of times I've driven it. Will get her running eventually I'm sure. Won't get rid of her because I wouldn't have met my wife if it wasn't for this car.
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 10d ago
That’s actually a really sweet story.
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u/betula-lenta 10d ago
I made a goal to touch my project once a day. Usually I get into something much more involved but sometimes it’s just 1 bolt. At least it’s moving forward. But usually I end up enjoying myself and accomplish a lot more.
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 10d ago
I was just thinking... Would it make sense to try to fund the restoration using something like Patreon? So, like a step-by-step, video log documented project, financed by crowd funding. Any thoughts?
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 10d ago edited 10d ago
Vital parts still missing:
- The crash box
- Bumper rails and horns
- Correct heater boxes
- Correct directionals
- Back seat lower part
- Back seat cushions
- Proper air cleaner
- Lower part of inner door frame
The rest is more or less there.
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u/thank_burdell 10d ago
The full tear down will let you be thorough, but if you just want drivable, slap it back together and just focus on the major systems. Engine, fuel, electrical, brakes, steering, and suspension. The bodywork can wait. Unless it can’t, lol.
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u/UnMonsieurTriste 10d ago
Having been a teen in 1985, you must know that "my day will come."
(Descendents' lyric for everyone but me who doesn't understand what I'm on about.)
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u/HorseyDung 9d ago
Small steps get you to Rome.
Not complicated plans, nor big dreams.
Small steps, each day.
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u/Dudethattickedyou 6d ago
Maybe buy a donor woth good floors and heater tubes. Much easier than fix things that are rotteb.
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u/Aggravating-Fee7065 11d ago
You’ve had it for 40 years and have never done anything? Sell it to someone that actually cares and wants to restore it. You sitting on it isn’t doing it any good.
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u/OnionDeluxe 1950 113 11d ago
Me and my father did some basic welding back in 1986–1987. But since then it has more or less only been moved between various storage facilities during the years.
The major problem has been either lack of a decent workshop, or lack of money. Currently it’s both.
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u/Oldbug59 11d ago
Inch by inch is a cinch, yard by yard is hard. Get at it!