1965 VW convertible

I picked up this car up this weekend. I had planned to buy it, clean it, and re-sell it, but... I can't do it. I love early convertible VW's , I had a 1963 convertible when I was about 18 and hated selling it.

This car is a real 80's "Cal-Looker"... dechromed, baby turbo mirrors, 3-spoke aftermarket rims, stainless steel running boards, cal-look front turn signals, etc. It even had neon under it at one time! LOL

The car has been sitting (covered) for a few years. It has all of the correct convertible parts (decklid, rearview mirror, etc) intact. There is no front bumper, but that is really all that is missing. There are no obvious signs of crash damage. I hope to have the carbs un-gummed in the next day or so and REALLY wanna drive it to the Dyno Day and to Reynolds this weekend. We will see!

I like this vert you got, it's a 65 or 63. Are you keeping it? Smart choice

Cool project Alex! I'll have to swing by one day and check it out if it doesn't make it to Reynolds.

Glad you are keeping it! Hope to see it this weekend!

Attorney Isaiah Loophole wrote:Glad you are keeping it! Hope to see it this weekend!

X2 I know you are excited about it.

The only thing keeping it from running right now is ONE clogged passage on one of the carbs.

What is it with me and carbs lately? Geez!

Well, I got it running last night, good enough for a quick drive around the block in my neighborhood. Top down, of course!

It was a funny thing about the clogged Kadron/Solex carb, one of those you would NEVER find without the help of the Internet. The air correction jet, which is pressed in (not made to be removed obviously) had separated into two pieces, clogging the passage. No amount of carb cleaner, ultrasonic cleaning, or anything else would have fixed this.

Here's a more detailed write-up with a couple of images:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4444888

Now to fine-tune the carbs and do a little more clean-up so I can drive this weekend.

Early verts are certainly fun, and expensive. Looks like it will be a great project. I wouldnt sell my vert for the world. Its just a solid fun driver.

This is my second early VW convertible and my 3rd vert overall (also had a '66 Mustang convertible back in the day). When I was about 18 or so, I had a '63 VW vert. Primered grey, select-a-drop lowering kit, re-indexed the rear splines, dechromed, baby turbos, wheel adapters with 8-spoke Empi's, and of course, a Thunderbird stinger exhaust.

Funny thing is, this '65 is also an '80's Cal-Looker. Most of those same exact mods. Times have changed, though, and I'm going for a different look. I'm gonna swap a lot of stuff off of my green '63 hardtop eventually.

I am SO ready to drive with the top down again!

Do you need a rain tray for it? I would so love to trade it to someone for an earlier one. The one I have for my 60 is for like a 65 or so. It will probably fit, but just isnt correct I dont think.

I would love to have a rain tray for it. What would you like to get for the one you have?

I havent really thought about it. Im pretty sure it is wrong for my year. I will give it some thought.

A couple of pics from this past weekend... I swapped the wheels and drove it 500 miles SAT and SUN. It only broke down twice (one Kadron float filled w/gas and sank in Senoia, and the fan came loose in Warner Robins). Other than those two things, the rest of weekend it drove great. It could use a new tie-rod end and some brake work, but nothing that is immediate.

ha I saw this there and didnt even recognize it with the new wheels- nice job

zabo wrote:ha I saw this there and didnt even recognize it with the new wheels- nice job

Amazing what a difference just the wheels make, isn't it?

Looking good!
KC

Well, a quick update:

The engine turns out to be a 1641. I pulled the motor to re-torque a loose head and found two stripped head studs. This motor has the 10mm studs still. I am going to attempt to heli-coil them eventually. For now, I used the 1641 from the green '63 with the heads, Kadrons, and exhaust from the convertible's engine. After a LONG week putting it all together, a broken linkage piece kept me from making it to Hooter's. I was SOOOO pissed.

My plan now is to investigate the pan and see if the bolts are too rusty to remove or not. If they will come out w/o too much trouble, I will begin the process of swapping the body to the IRS pan that I have been running under the '63 for all these years. It already has new pans, lowered spindles, and disc brakes up front. Plus, after driving the IRS for so long, the gear ratio of the stock '65 swing axle is driving me crazy!


More pics to come soon!
I'm loving the mild weather and looking forward to warmer days ahead!!

Here is your Tech Tip of the day.

Always cover the positive battery terminal BEFORE sitting in the back seat to use the Shop Vac. This is important, especially if you have a battery that is up too high because it is sitting on a piece of wood because the pan is rotted out beneath it.

Here is what happens if you fail to do this:

Yes, there were flames!


Note the burnt spring. It actually got cherry red and broke. A piece of the red-hot spring fell onto the back floorboard carpet and went right through it! (below)

I always worried about that going to put a cover over mind today wow. That's why I never let anyone ride in the back seat. Then again I sit back there to vac myself damm.

Well, this wasn't as big of a problem in the green '63. The seat is a lot different in the convertible than in the hardtops. It's a lot thinner, actually. That, and the battery being raised up on a piece of wood combined to make a dangerous combo!

I always have a fire extinguisher in my VW's. This incident wasn't very bad at all, but, in all of the excitement, I still didn't think the first thing about the extinguisher. It's funny how your mind works under stress!

Thanks lesson learn I'm going to look at mind just to make sure. Buti never use a fire extingusta before lol I might want to try mind out lol

"Always cover the positive battery terminal BEFORE sitting in the back seat to use the Shop Vac. This is important, especially if you have a battery that is up too high because it is sitting on a piece of wood because the pan is rotted out beneath it."


X2!!

Note on extiguishers (from my own experience)
Make sure you have the extinguisher secured down too- Mine wasn't, got bumped, and went off inside the car..... (didn't know the pin had fallen out)
Unless your anticipating it, you don't want to be in such a small space when that thing goes off! I'm probably still coughing up white stuff. Not good.

Ouch, I can imagine that was nasty!

I have a nice little plastic bracket that came with mine and I secure it to the passenger's side footwell. That way it is not always in MY way, and, if needed, a passenger could grab it quickly. It sounds like a good idea, anyways, right?