Snowman's 63' Bug

25-06-2009, 11:04 PM

So the story goes:

I picked up the 63' this time last year off a guy who was selling a 68' bay and the 63' bug.

I bought the bug and my house mate bought the 68' bay, the pic is of us on the way back home from the purchase

This is the bug a year ago

I had it on the road about 3 months before I decided to start work on it.

I taped on a taco and wired it up to see how the engine was preforming

Turns out not well for a 1600cc twin port. I was going to do some more testing but then decided just too rebuild it.

the front beam, trailing arms, shocks, drums, etc didn't look to good either so they all got overhauled.

25-06-2009, 11:14 PM

Front beam getting a good seeing to

POR15.... you got to love the stuff

Red 9 kit fitted (2" to 4" drop)

Ran into a problem, it can't turn left

I fixed that problem will post pictures later, I just removed the brackets that move the suspension back 4" and mounted it strait on to the beam. I had to do some grinding on the top trailing arm but it looks sweet

25-06-2009, 11:31 PM

The wings got cleaned and POR15ed to protect the headlight bowls. When I was driving it the tyres would hit the bowls so i'm going to fit a lower profile tyre as the suspension is now lower than before.

I have a hole in one of my bowls

Header and 'J' tubes got wire wheeled and heat warped

header is done just don't have pic, the exhaust had a big hole in it so I need a new one

Quick pic of the engine when it was getting striped down

Its now nearly back together.

It had new rings, honed cylinders, pressure cleaned pistons (like new), acid dipped headers (get off all the carbon), new valves, all new gaskets, new fuel pump, new pulley wheel, alternator, new sump plate, new rocker covers, new clutch and rebuilt twin 34 Webers but I want 40 IDF's.

I will post pics of the engine soon

26-06-2009, 11:38 AM

Your bug looks really cool mate, great stance and colour (and year

)
Good luck with the rest!

13-07-2009, 04:08 PM

Proper nice dude... keep the work pics comin

13-07-2009, 05:53 PM

Great work fella, definately go with some twin choke webers, 36's would be ideal for a 1600 if you can find some.

14-07-2009, 01:05 PM

This is how I got around the suspension problem

I just used a die grinder and removed some of the metal from the top trailing arm so the spring wouldn't hit. The top arm isn't load bearing so it shouldn't be a problem.

More to come just have to get off my ass and take a few pics

On another note I decided to change all the head bolts & studs on my engine, so I ordered a new 10mm CSP head bolt & stud kit from Machine 7 two weeks ago and it still hasn't come, I phoned them and they said it was on it's way but I haven't received it yet so the engine is still not back together.

Hope they come soon I want the engine back in now

26-07-2009, 10:53 AM

I have just finished my 1600cc, here are some pictures of the build.

01-10-2009, 07:43 PM

The bug is now up for sale but though I would just finish off the blog with the final pictures.

For Sale link

1963 Rat Bug (1600cc twin weber 34ICT)

cliom · 03-01-2010, 09:14 PM

great work dude looks good.