Planning
I'm really not sure when I was bitten by the bug, but I do recall a friend of my mom's super beetle.  We went for a ride one time, and I remember the back seat and looking out the window.  I was maybe 7 or 8 but something stuck.  Anyway, I was looking for my first car.  The options were;  MGB GT or 1968 Bug.
    It was difficult to decide, but the bug was it.  Unfortunately, the bug was a rust bucket.  Rockers, quarter panel, footwell, shock mounts, you name it.  Fortunately, the pan was pretty primo.  Shortly after that I bought the 1960.  Both were bought for $800 Canadian.
     So, then there was the stripping down.  To metal, that is.  The pan was totally parted and I sandblasted everything.  It all came back to my dad's barn and then the fun began.  I built a paintbooth.  It consisted of heavy plastic hung from the rafters in a big square.  I put 2x4s on the ground on top of the plastic to keep it down.  I cut a square out on opposite sides of the square, one with cheese cloth taped in and the other taped to a regular house fan.  So, when the fan was on, it would suck in air through the cheesecloth, keeping out the dust, and the wood would keep the plastic from sucking into the square.
     I wasn't so smart back then, so I didn't use a respirator.  Instead it was a dust mask, with the added protection of a t-shirt.  NOT A GOOD IDEA.  Right after one late night spray session, I proceeded to do some speaker installs in my then ride, a 71 Mercury Comet.  I was installing 6" coax's and cut 8" hole with a reciprocating saw.  Again, NOT A GOOD IDEA.  So, kids, ALWAYS use a respirator.  My memory has never been the same since.
     So, back to the spraying.  Before a session, I would spray the entire area down with a hose.  It would keep the dust down, and after going over the items with a beeswax cheesecloth, it turn out that NOTHING I painted had a singe speck of dust.  I have had lots of paintwork done by so-called professional painters and there is always crap in the paint somewere when they are done.  So, to all you do-it-yourselfers, you can do an incredible job yourself with the proper precautions.
     With everything painted, except the body, all the pieces of the pan and motor were assembled.  I rented a MIG welder and welded all the body holes in, de-handled front and back, filled in the license plate holes,  exhaust cut outs,  installed new window bottom corner pieces (the originals were rusted out quite badly), built a frenched in antenna pod in the right fender, and welded in the bracket that housed a '68 front hood latch in the rear apron.  I was pretty impressed with myself back then, considering I was only 17 and had never done any MIG welding.  Looking back now, I am still very impressed, but now I notice how I warped metal filling in the body holes and how some welded areas weren't totally filled, allowing tiny rust bubbles to start.  So, to you first timers, read up on welding and then do some practicing on some scrap metal, you'll appreciate the results.
   The body was then left at a guys house who did body work on the side.  It wasn't great, but I have to say, for the money, he did a pretty good job.  I then trucked the body over to the paintshop I trusted and they layed down many coats of white.  All of this was done on a very small budget, and, ten years later, it still looks pretty good.
  Currenlty, the sound system is my priority.  I want to get everything installed just right, then finish the interior.  Of course, my motor is making itself the priority, but with it repaired, I should be good.
   I'm working with Todd at
www.boltson.com with building a street version of his independant double A-arm front suspension with coilovers.  In the future, a turbo VR6 motor and tranny will be grafted into the rear end along with more of Todd's handiwork in the way of a custom double A-arm rear suspension.  Tires will be 17's up front, 18's or 19's in the rear with slightly widened fenders.  Actross the pond a guy has the same idea.  Check his bug out at www.centralvwaudi.com.  Places I go to are HPAMotorsports, Seqshift, and RicolaRacing. Stay tuned!