Hi guys, I have just purchased a 73 Beetle Cabriolet, no MOT, not driven for 4 years, tonnes of rust! HELP!!!

Bought the car with my heart, got it home on the back of a trailer and now my head has taken over. Would appreciate any help I can get with regards to repairing/replacing rusted panels, where to source new interior, how to start it gently (hasnt been started for 4 years) etc. I have very basic knowledge of mechanics but I'm assured Beetles are like mechano....if you have a Haynes manual, a hot cup of tea and patience then a total rebuild is possible. Have lots of pictures and would love to strike up a realtionship with enthusiasts who can point me in the right direction.

Cheers guys

JamsieHi guys, I have just purchased a 73 Beetle Cabriolet, no MOT, not driven for 4 years, tonnes of rust! HELP!!!
i own a 72, some call it a junker but i say different. you really need to get a book called "How to keep your vw alive for ever" By john Muir i read it like a book and you should too before starting the project. my car is a running project which i drive and when i can add new parts. if you wont to do it right e mail me and i will help as much as i can. try these sites, cip1.com, mamotorworks.com, jcwhitney.com, thesamba.com, and eBay.com will have some part cars you

could buy so you can have replacement parts. this is a start any more Q's just e- mail me

to turn the motor before starting it find the right size socket to fit the bolt head in the crank pulley and turn it feel for pressure when you turn it and listen for a blowing noise this means that it has compression and may run and is OK to try to start (if it does turn with the ratchet and has oil)





owner and lover of all pre 98 beetles, things and buses
Sorry but if it was in such bad condition... why buy it?Hi guys, I have just purchased a 73 Beetle Cabriolet, no MOT, not driven for 4 years, tonnes of rust! HELP!!!
go to your local grocery store and buy some magazines, they contain lots of resources and how-to's.
You are gonna need body filler. A MiG welder, lots of tin plate, nuts and bolts most likely old imperial sizes and a whole lot of time and money, not to mention skill.

Your best bet if it is such a state is to strip the car back to the bare chassis, cleaning, repairing or replacing as you go. Tackle one system at a time. I would start by first turning the engine using a spanner on the bolt on the end of the crankshaft. If that turns you are winning. Strip the engine down to the bare bones and inspect everything for wear. That would be my starting point. You have taken on a mammoth task mate. Say goodbye to your social life if you are serious about this.

Take plenty of pictures. Im sure there will be an enthusiast magazine that will be interested in your project.



Edit: Oh yeah! oops!Hi guys, I have just purchased a 73 Beetle Cabriolet, no MOT, not driven for 4 years, tonnes of rust! HELP!!!
I hope you have a lot of time and tea.

Go and buy a copy of Volks Word magazine from your newsagents, there will be lots of help, specilists in there.

Bigg Kidd it wont be imperial sized nuts and bolts cos its a German car.

You will probably find that you will replace most of the car with different parts but remember to take your time and have fun



Edit, Bigg Kid must have done old british cars as they are imperial , European and jap are Metric (Mm) I bet he did a Mini. I did....
i have done numerous campers and beetles over the years and in my 18 years as a car painter i would'nt want to do any more,but don't let that put you off just be prepaired for alot of work. you will find as you start cutting away panels that more rust appears from beneath.you can buy most panels and repair panels so it need not be a problem.i hav'nt got any suppliers to hand but there are plenty about they are normaly very helpful for people in your position and can offer alot of advice for people starting out with these kind of projects .the only real good advice i can give you is buy a good mig welder no lower than 180 any smaller and they tend not to weld as well and a welding mask that you find comfortable .
I have owned a 66 and 73 super beetle. Congrats on your purchase. These cars are a joy to own and drive.



The first thing I would suggest is to get a copy of "How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" and read it from cover to cover. This is a very entertaining read which will get you familiar with virtually every aspects of the mechanics and history of your car. This book is available and cheap from eBay-



http://search.ebay.com/how-to-keep-your-鈥?/a>



Thanx to the WWW parts for your car are readily available and not too expensive. Used parts can be found in many places and new parts can be obtained from places like J. C. Whitney-

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stor鈥?/a>



and Bug Pack-

http://www.bugpack.com/



A key in sucessfully rebuilding a car is knowing what you cann and cannot do yourself. A Beetle engine is a marvel in mechanical simplicity and a person with decent mechanical skills, a metric tool kit and a copy of the above mentioned book can do a complete rebuild with parts obtained from the above mentioned sites. Interior work can be done by the average person also but you may want to have the body done by a professional.



Ignore the nay-sayers, you made a great purchase.



GOOD LUCK!!
It will be a lovely motor when finished but you could be too old to enjoy the driving experience.
you may need to junk it