Slow Progress

Posted on July 16, 2023 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

Here is how my car sits currently. Safely in the garage, waiting to get back on the road. I have been very busy with working, and remodeling our kitchen as well as family and church responsibilities.

But, I did find a little time to get a few things done.

Bumpers

I found time to disassemble the bumpers, treat the rust, and get some painting done. Hopefully I can get the bumpers reassembled soon.

I have purchased Euro style bumper guards and will be eliminating the overriders.

Wheels and Tires

I wasn’t loving the 135 wheels up front, because they look so narrow, so I replaced them with 165/45 15’s. I’m going to have to raise the front beam a bit due to the smaller tires.

Gas Tank

Tank has already been painted, but needs the inside treated.

Dash Face

I removed the plastic dash face and sadly found some rust underneath it. I had been considering just paining the dash, but that is not a good option at this point. Removed and treated the rust, and then POR-15’s most of the dash face and dash top. I will be installing the black plastic dash face soon.

Before and after photos of the dash top. (Still need the dash pad installed)

Moving Blankets

I purchased some moving blankets to protect the paint while working on the Ghia. $5 at Harbor Freight.

Motor Time

I purchased a good 1600 dual port motor, ready to be installed.

Indicator lights and tail lights

I have installed new rubber seals and the housing and lenses for both. The amber indicator lenses will be replaced with clear lenses and amber bulbs.

Parts and more parts

I have quite a bit of parts waiting in line for completion.

Next…..

Hopefully install headliner, dash face and pad. Install Windows with new rubber and window chrome. Treat Gas tank…..

Posted in Uncategorized

24 and counting…

Posted on July 3, 2023 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

I am often asked how many VW’s I have owned in my life. Well, it is quite a few. I have decided to make an itemized list with photos, when available. Early on, I didn’t have a phone that I carried everywhere I went with a built in camera. If available, I will post before and after photos of the cars.

#1 My very first car, 1966 VW Beetle (1987 – 1991)

#2 1972 VW Type 3 Fastback (1991 – 1995)

#3 1971 VW Type 3 Squareback (1994 – 1995)

#4 1960 VW Beetle (1995)

#5 1972 VW Bus (1995)

#6 1963 VW Single Cab Pickup (1995 – 1997)

#7 1971 VW Beetle (1997 – 1999)

#8 1965 VW Ghia (1998 – 1999)

#9 1965 VW Squareback (1999)

#10 1967 VW Ghia (1999 – 2002)

#11 1967 VW Ghia – Parts Car (1999)

#12 1964 VW Beetle (2000)

#13 1970 VW Beetle (2000)

#14 1966 VW Riviera Camper Bus (2000 – 2002)

#15 1978 VW Westfalia Camper Bus

#16 – 1968 VW Type 3 Fastback (2004 – 2010)

#17 1970 VW Squareback (2004 – 2005)

#18 1966 VW Karmann Ghia (2004 – 2006)

#19 1972 VW Convertible Karmann Ghia (2006 – 2016)

#20 1970 VW Karmann Ghia (2008 – 2012)

#21 1970 VW Karmann Ghia (2012 – 2013)

#22 1966 VW Beetle (2018 – 2021)

#23 1964 VW Beetle (2021 – 2023)

#24 1968 VW Karmann Ghia (2023)

Final Tally

Beetles – 7

Type 3’s – 5

Buses/Pickups – 4

Karmann Ghia’s – 8

#MyVWLife

Tagged with: Bus, Karmann Ghia, Single Cab, Type 3, VW, VW project
Posted in Uncategorized

My new 1968 Ghia

Posted on July 1, 2023 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

I have not been updating my blog consistently, so it has been a couple of years since my last post.

As I may have mentioned in a previous blog post, my favorite air cooled VW is a Karmann Ghia. When I have been without one for long enough I start to feel the “itch”. So, a month or so ago, I decided to put my 64 Bug up for sale or trade for a Karmann Ghia. After a month or so, I was able to find a willing trade partner (Thanks John).

I rented a vehicle hauler from U-Haul and loaded up my Bug.

My friend Jeremy (he’s in the Coast Guard and stationed in Port Angeles from Alabama/Louisiana) and I made a short road trip to Bonney Lake where we met john and completed the trade.

I am so happy to be a Ghia owner again. And what a beautiful car!

I had planned to take my time and have it ready to drive next summer, but I don’t know if I can wait that long.

I am prepping it install the headliner.

After the headliner is installed I will begin getting everything put together. I am also in the process of finding a good running motor to install, with plans to rebuild the original motor as I have time over the next year or so. I still have a lot of spare parts from previous Ghia projects, so I shouldn’t have to buy too much. I will try and post the progress as I work on my Ghia.

Here are a few more photos of my new Ghia.

#VWLife

Tagged with: 68, air-cooled, Karmann Ghia, Restoration, Volkswagen, VW, VW project
Posted in Uncategorized

New Wheels and Tires

Posted on April 3, 2021 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

When I purchased my 64 Beetle, it was rolling some stock chrome smoothies with some low profile tires. I am not a big fan of these low profile tires. My preference is for tires closer to the stock size. One of my first priorities was to swap out for one of 2 options.

Option 1: A nice set of early stock wheels, with nice paint or powder coat

Option 2: Some nice aftermarket wheels, preferably BRM’s

Here are the stock chrome smoothies after removing from the 64.

Well, wheels and tires aren’t free, so my initial plan was to use the stock wheels and tires that I currently already have. They are nice wheels, but mismatched colors and old fading paint. I was going to remove the tires from the wheels, fix any broken hub cap clamps, and then have them media blasted and powder coated. This was going to cost $100 per wheel, for a total of $400 plus tax.

This image shows the 4 stock wheels after the tires were removed. Also shown is a stock ruby red wheel with an old bias tire.

In order to get the $400 I needed, I decided to sell some parts from my stash. Once I had done this, I was ready to move forward with the wheels. The one thing I had to do before dropping them off was to repair the few missing hub cap clamps. However, before I got a chance to do that, I came across some listings on Facebook Marketplace that changed my plans and essentially took care of both of my options, all for $400!

First, in PT, I came across a set of 4 stock wheels with very nice tires. 145’s in front & 165’s in back.

Here are a couple shots of the 64 with the new stock wheels and new tires.

And finally, right in Sequim, I was able to pickup a brand new, unused, still in the box, BRM’s.

Time will tell, and help me decide exactly what combination I like and looks best.

#VWlife @My_VW_Life

Tagged with: 64, Beetle, BRM's, Bug, Lowrider, Smoothies, stock, Volkswagen, VW
Posted in VW life

My new 1964 Beetle

Posted on March 25, 2021 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

Last week, I decided it was time for a new VW in my life. So, the 66 went up for sale and I purchased this sweet 64. I’ll give more updates as I move forward with my new ride.

#VWlife @My_VW_Life

Tagged with: 64 Bug, Bahama Blue, Beetle, Volkswagen, VW
Posted in My VW's

Completing my 1966 Beetle

Posted on March 25, 2021 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

Well, I haven’t updated this blog in awhile, so I will share some pictures of my 66 Beetle

Here is the 66, but with a running motor. This car had been sitting for about 30 years, but with a little work and love, the engine purred to life. Even with the surface rust on the fan shroud and engine tin, it was a strong running engine.

My grandson Jack helping to adjust the steering.

Here is jack testing out the roof rack. Works perfect.

Back on the road. Testing out the effectiveness of the front fog light….

Found a stock ruby red smoothie for my spare, and vintage plates to register the bug as an “antique auto”.

Enjoying the beauty of my small town in the Pacific North West.

#VWlife @My_VW_Life

Tagged with: 66 bug, Beetle, Patina, PNW, Port Angeles WA, stock
Posted in My VW's

Vintage Meet 2018

Posted on July 22, 2018 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

Today, was the 37th Annual Vintage Meet, sponsored by Cascade Kombi’s Vintage VW Club, held at Shoreline Community College, just north of Seattle.

http://www.cascadekombis.org/vintage-meet

I left home at 5:30 in the morning with a mental list of the things I needed for my 66 Bug. It is about 2 hour drive plus a 30 minute ferry crossing to get there. I had a nice view on the ferry.

I arrived just before 8:00 am, about an hour before the show started. But, lucky for me, for an extra $5 I got early entry, so I hurried in and down to the swap area. The whole track was surrounded and overflowing out into the parking lot with swap booths. I wish I could have gotten a photo from above, it was pretty impressive.

During my time at the meet, I probably made 6 complete trips through the swap area and had to make 3 trips back to put my stash into my truck. Unfortunately, I only had my backpack, which didn’t hold much. Next year, I will bring a collapsible wagon, like many of the other experienced swappers did.

Anyway, here is a photo of my haul that I took when I got home.

A rear decklid

3 205m distributors

2 fog lights

seat belt

a battery ground strap

exterior rear view mirrors

2 different interior rear view mirrors

gas cap

pair of arm rests

4 early hub caps

some patches

bumper guards

a shift knob

horn ring and button

an early bus visor(it looked cool)

I was happy with what I found, and with the prices.

As for the car show, it was amazing, as usual. Again, I wish I could get a photo from above that showed just how many cars were there. Definitely hundreds.

Of course, there were a lot of bugs. There were 4 split window bugs.

There were about a half dozen or so oval window bugs.

And then there were hundreds of other bugs.

There was a camping bug

And a camper bug

There were lots of early split window buses and both single and double cab pickups.

And of course there were camper buses…..many

There were Type 3’s

There were Ghia’s and a Type 3 Ghia.

There were Things

And some dune buggies

Then, there was some pretty cool rare stuff…..like a Kubelwagen (but no Schwimmers this year)

There was this tracked snow vehicle circa 1961

I found a twinner for my car.

After about 4 hours, I was all walked out and decided to head home. After a much longer trip home thanks to Lavender Festival traffic, I spent a little bit of time installing a few of my new goodies.

Here you can see my new exterior rear view mirror, one of my new hubcaps and the shift knob.

And this is my new interior mirror and visors.

I had a great day at the Vintage meet and already looking forward to next year.

#VWlife @My_VW_Life

Tagged with: Cascade Kombi's, Seattle, Shoreline Community College, Swap, Vintage Meet, Volkswagen
Posted in VW life

June 28, 1986 – The best day of my life

Posted on July 16, 2018 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

Just over 32 years ago, I fell in love twice on the same day. I guess that this would make this the single most eventful day in my life.

Sometime in the afternoon, I went for a test drive of a Sea Blue 1966 Volkswagen Bug. I loved it, put down $800 dollars, and purchased my first car. Thus began my love affair with air-cooled Volkswagens.

Later that evening, I was introduced to my future wife, and thus began my relationship with the love of my life (even more than VW’s).

It is pretty mind blowing that both of these significant events just happen to have occurred on the same day in my life.

#VWlife @My_VW_Life

Tagged with: 1966, air-cooled, Bug, Volkswagen, VW
Posted in VW life

Home at last!

Posted on July 10, 2018 by murdlem65 — 2 Comments

Well, it has been about a month and a half since I put a down payment on the 66 bug and today was the long awaited day when I brought it home.

In preparation for this day I had to gather a few items.

4 early bug rims. The tires that were on the 66 were pretty rotten and needed to be replaced. Additionally, I prefer the earlier “smoothie” VW wheel rather than the stock “slotted” wheel that came with the 66.
4 new tires. I had 4 new tires installed on the early bug wheels so that the bug could be safely towed home.
VW tow bar. I picked up a tow bar off of Craigslist to bring the 66 home.
Tow lights. I bought a set of tow lights so that the trip home was safe and legal.
(I should add that I have purchased many VW tow bars and tow lights in the past, but I keep giving them away when I sell my cars. Maybe I will be smart and keep them this time…..)

I met with the previous owner, Penee, and we went down to the local licensing office at the courthouse and completed all of the paperwork to have the car title transferred into my name. Once that was completed, it was just a matter of a couple hours work to get the 66 ready to be towed home.

I am still trying to determine what exactly the next step will be, but probably I will focus on getting the engine running, then on the brakes and other mechanicals and then the cosmetics.

#VWlife @My_VW_Life

Tagged with: 1966, air-cooled, Bug, Project, Volkswagen, VW
Posted in My VW's

Project 66 Beetle

Posted on June 22, 2018 by murdlem65 — Leave a comment

It has been just over 2 years since I sold my last VW to fund the down payment on my home. As is usual for me, I can only go for so long without a VW before I start getting the itch. Once I get the itch, I start to look. By that time, it’s all over. Inevitably, I will convince myself that I have the time to bring a car (usually a project) into my busy life.

Needless to say, I put a down payment on a Ruby Red 66 bug a few weeks ago which I will be bringing home in a couple more weeks. All at the same time that I am working to build my new business, selling our lake home in Belfair WA, and moving back to Port Angeles, WA.

I am really pleased with the car that I found, especially since the previous owner, Penee, has the same love for VW’s that I do. Additionally, this will also be a labor of love since I will be picking up the pieces of a project that she and her brother started many years ago, but were never able to finish. I plan to share my experiences as I work on this project and hopefully share a bit of the car’s history.

#VWlife @MyVWLife

Tagged with: 1966, air-cooled, Bug, Patina, Project, Volkswagen, VW
Posted in My VW's