I can't believe I didn't know this Projects and Builds was on this website...DUH!!!!

Okay, I have posted some in the other forums about the little bug that Daryll is building for me. But, since this is the appropriate forum, I should start something here to document as we go. Maybe some pictures can be posted as this build goes along by either Daryll or myself.

I bought a 1968 pan from Daryll that had already been converted to IRS. It has a 1976 sunroof body on it that is silver. The interior of the bug is missing, except for some Cavalier seats. The bug body was originally gold, and the doors were originally a white color. So, I have several different colors on the bug.

I was going to put a flatback fiberglass truck kit on it, but decided against that. Instead, I asked Daryll to put his 3" body lift on it. It needed rewired, which he is doing as well. For the engine, I asked him to build an old 40 hp 1200 he had, but to put a big bore kit on it. It will be a 1385cc engine with 0 miles! Since the engine is small, I am limited on the tire size and the gearing for the Transaxle. I asked Don's Bus Box to buuild me a type 1 transaxle (IRS) with 4.37 gearing instead of the 4.12. I dropped it off last weekend at Darylls.

I picked up some VW Sport Wheels that are ET41. I hope the offset will work. Otherwise I will need to get some spacers. I had them powder coated gloss black and mounted some new General Grabber AT2 225/70r15's on them. This will give me a 27.5" tire which should work well with the gearing and smaller engine. I picked up a roof rack and a towbar as well.

The thoughts are to sand everything down, inside and out. Then to use some tintable bedliner made by UPOL Raptor and to shoot the whole thing with either yellow or Agave Green. I am leaning towards the green. I will eventually put a headliner and carpet in the rig. It is a daily driver that will see light trail use.

Here are the pictures I currently have.

I spoke to Daryll today. He said the wiring is done and he is working on the engine. He also replaced the bearings in the steering column. I hope to be rolling in it by the New Year!

I'm glad you found it. while durable the bedliner paint is very heavy you may want to reconsider it.

I have heard people say it is heavy, but how heavy can a gallon of it actually be?

The good stuff has 50% or more of rubber by volume. Also it goes on 2-4 mm thick.

If a gallon weighs 15-20 lbs., wouldn't it make sense that when applied over the entire body of the car it wouldn't weigh more than 15-20 lbs more? I am spraying it on the metal body, with no fiberglass fenders to worry about.

I searched on Samba for the weight on bedliner. One person wrote that they applied it and that the shipping weight was 18 lbs. He thought it would weigh less than that when dry. Another post the writer said it added a total of 35 lbs to their car. I won't weigh my car but will drive it before and after and see if I can feel a difference. I doubt I can.

Just feel the cans one is about twice as heavy. While 30 lbs won't break the bank the problem is extra pounds build up fast. You probably have 30 lbs or more of repaints, primer and bondo on it already plus heavier rims and tires. Never mind coolers, ice, spare tires and spare parts. Every 100 lbs need a few more ft lbs of toque/hp to make up for it. 28-30" tall tires need a good 10 hp more to make the engine as happy as it was with 26" tall tires. If you tow it to the trails and stay in first and second gear you might not notice it at all. Third and fourth is where you really fell the effect. There is a lot to be said for the durability of bedliner material. Make sure and use the two part ureathane system as if you use tints it will fade less.

Okay, thanks for the tips. I hope to get the bug in the next week or two. I will probably spend a weekend painting it sometime during January. Can't wait!!!!

I was too sick to pick up the bug this weekend. Daryll needed a few more days to tweek the engine still. Plans are to pick it up this coming weekend.

I am leaning towards the olive green that VW used on it's army vehicles, L319. Paint the whole bug in bedliner that is tinted that color. We'll see...

Everything is on track for this weekend!

Sweet! Post pictures when you get it!

yup, pics

Daryll said that the engine runs fine and is quiet! My wife picked up a 30 day permit from DMV and I get the bug on Sunday. I will post some pictures. It will get a makeover in a few weeks.

I should of taken some photos, I was there today and BZ and the guys were working on the Silver Bullet. I left before the engine test You going to keep it silver?