72 Beetle build thread

[Hotrod]

Guess I'll go ahead and get this started.... I have not had a chance to take any pics since I picked it up on Friday cause it has been raining almost non-stop, but I will soon. I've done a TON of research and I'm starting to get a good mental picture of what I want.

For starters, I need to get this thing street legal so that I can get it to pass inspections, then I can work on making it a little less street legal

The day after I got it, I worked on getting a the little "bugs" fixed. I replaced all the fuses which all looked more than scary and distorted, this gained me a previously out tail light and got the wipers working. I also tracked down a cut wire behind the engine that went to the rear left backup light. The only other thing stopping me now is the blinkers.

I poked around trying to figure out why they were not working (hazards are OK) and found that the blinker switch was a 71 model and my car is a 72 & there was a redesign between those two years. I *think 72 was the first year for the "lane change" feature where you can blink the blinkers w/o latching it all the way... I ordered a new 72 switch so we will see if this fixes it...

Now for the fun stuff

I just got off the phone with airkewld and placed an order for a full lowering kit. I went with the 4" narrowed front axle w/ adjusters, 2.5" drop spindles, and all the special ball joints and narrowed parts to go with it. This should let me drop it up to 7.5"!!! It's gonna be SLAMMED!!!

[vdub10golf]

Any updates? Need more pics!

[tjohny]

More?? how about some?

[Vman455]

(12-15-2011 02:17 PM)tjohny Wrote:  More?? how about some?

This! 7.5" sounds like a crazy drop.

[Hotrod]

Airkewld is in the process of relocating to a larger shop so my order will be delayed a bit, but still well worth it!

Here is a quick vid of a 56 with the airkewld lowering kit on it.

[Jon Trabbi]

low bugs are to cool, can't wait to see pics

[Hotrod]

Well it's going to be another week before I get it legal at least. I went to get it inspected and it failed due to the seat belts b/c they would not auto-retract & the passenger seat one was a little frayed... I ordered new ones online, but don't know how soon they will come w/ all the holiday packages being sent.

And as usual, once I have a little time to work on it, it is raining again. I'll try to get pics in by the end of this weekend.

[grethi]

Maybe a better video of the lowering kits?

It shouldn't have failed for the seatbelts- OEM seatbelts weren't retractable for years after your car was built.
On the other hand, if that's all that caused your car to fail inspection, you're doing good!

[JohnW94]

I assume you are registering the vehicle with a regular registration and not a classic/historic car registration?

I have a historic registration on mine and you don't have to have the car inspected.

[grethi]

Mine has a regular registration. Unless you want a "rebuilt" title cleared, you don't need an inspection here.