Welcome to Pixel Car Art

[Jolteon]

So, people on here who know me, understand my love interest for Volkswagen. And with my driver's license about a month away, my auntie and uncle bought this Bug for me. Well, it's actually for my uncle, who in a few years, will be converting it, via kit, into a Porsche 550 Spider. But in the mean time, it's mine! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile2.gif)

(IMG:https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1157554_10202107429678628_169187956_n.jpg)
(IMG:https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1466200_10202107429398621_287489582_n.jpg)

So she's a 1970, but running a 1600. She's very pretty on the outside, and is largely free of rust, but I keep finding things that make it seem like the previous owner didn't really care about details... it's missing glove box insert, sun visors, assist straps, rear seatbelts; the whole rear seat seems to be from a different year or something... but it's free for me, so I'm not really complaining. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toothygrin.gif)

First proper trip out we took her up a local scenic back road, which is very popular with motorcyclists.

(IMG:https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1484063_10202113888040083_1032666529_o.jpg)

The thing which became most evident from this little excursion is the noise. Yes, it's an old VW; yes, it's never going to be quiet... but this is a special case. I intend to use this as a daily driver for at least a few months, until I can save for my own car, and there's only so much gearbox whine and road noise one can handle.

[uiui]

Shizz man you are back (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Nice little car mate I like it and good pics (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toothygrin.gif) It's cool to see these oldies on road (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile2.gif)

[N.Ozols]

NICE, looks like a very good body to undergo kit car treatment though?

[JoviBlue]

rad bug!

needs those old skool twin pipes to fill those holes, they're sweet

what's the plan after this?

[Myca]

Whoa (IMG:style_emoticons/default/super.gif)

Which car you looking for? This beetle is amazing, very good condition, but where is bumpers?

This post has been edited by Myca: Dec 29 2013, 02:59 PM

[Jolteon]

Step 1: Soundproofing

A little bit of research into soundproofing cars leads to one destination: dynamat. A great product but quite pricey, and a little beyond my budget. A little more digging, and one reads about the cheap wonders of roof insulation flashing tape. A trip to the local hardware yields unpromising results at first, but eventually settle on this stuff, which is basically like aluminium mesh surrounded by some rubbery stuff with bitumen-based adhesive:
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/eatSVGgh.jpg)

Figured that most of the noise was coming from the back of the car, so first job was to remove seats.
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/3ARuInth.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/zxLB1uyh.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/NR0BFYjh.jpg)

Luckily whoever put the carpet down at the back didn't glue it down, and just placed it over some crappy heat insulation, which did nothing for the sound. But removing some of the carpet revealed a big source of the gearbox noise: whatever plate that covered the gear linkage was missing!
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/U1yrDguh.jpg)

I fabricating a new plate to go over it, but I forgot to take a picture. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/xd.gif)

Removing the battery revealed a few little bits and pieces, including some money! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toothygrin.gif)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/kiOZFa1h.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/xHnb8pZh.jpg)

Lots of gunk on the back wall, where the stock insulation was crumbling.
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/K4tcYvMh.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/tO5alWgh.jpg)

Took quite a while, but eventually got off the remaining glue:
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/PlLiTvsh.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/biIEQXTh.jpg)

It was at about this point that the sun started to set, so set up some lights:
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/qJwzNdDh.jpg)

The carpet that was in the back made for a nice template for cutting the flashing tape to shape, then it's simply a matter of bashing it into shape with a rubber hammer
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/HzfYdJah.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/NdctcYbh.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/sdrtjDYh.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/7HOM1xbh.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/gn6KzGeh.jpg)

And so after about 5 hours; the finished result:
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/uePtNXdh.jpg)

[Jolteon]

NICE, looks like a very good body to undergo kit car treatment though?

That's what I thought, too, but the only rust-free floor pans already have good bodies on them.

[Noodles]

Shiit that was a quick update


are you gonna slam it and make it hectic

[Jolteon]

Shiit that was a quick update


are you gonna slam it and make it hectic

It's already been lowered a few inches, and it ain't going no further. At least not yet... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toung.gif)

Thinking of doing something with the wheels... Don't really want to spend much/if anything on new rims, although that would be sexy. Might paint either the steelies or the hubcaps(if I can figure out how to paint the stainless steel?) in checkerboard pattern.

Did anyone ever put Work Equip 03s on a Beetle? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toothygrin.gif)

[N.Ozols]

oh, i love the way the rims look right now already, the color of the body and the cop-like wheel and tire setup looks awwweeesomeee, only thing it needs is a narrowed beam and couple more inch drop in front (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toung.gif) but yeah, work equips sound good, i recently saw a pic of a bug with some jdm rims, gotta look up


//edit/
http://lejup.lv/f/52c1a5e8dbc74lhtivqc1388422632.jpg
http://lejup.lv/f/52c1a5e8dbc74bgblhib1388422632.jpg

This post has been edited by please: Dec 30 2013, 04:57 PM

[prorider]

well i hate post 1967 beetles but yours look good with that color, no bumpers and that rims
just keep it like that

[Noodles]

i also like the eyelid things very cool

[Sir Cub]

oohhh this painted red, dropped, with white walls, re-done interior. = sex

[Daniel.]

NICK! <3

Nice to see you're back!

Congrats with your car mate, it's perfect for you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toothygrin.gif)

[Jolteon]

The paint on one of the wheels was a bit dodgy, with the paint flaking and some metal/some rust was showing through, so decided to repaint it. The black I had is slightly more matte than the others, but you don't really notice unless you put them right next to each other, so I'll probably just leave it at this point.

(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/znldOgH.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/fscVGQc.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/zZW2bnb.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/iuaGTOr.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/eGEiFkM.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/1jGEC3g.jpg)
(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/trNpYVv.jpg)

Next thing I'm planning is to change the steering wheel, as its current one is quite ugly, and probably set up a stereo.

Still not sure if I want the expense of buying new rims, and I suspect I'd need to get a bolt-pattern conversion or something if I wanted to go for JDM wheels... (which I really do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toung.gif) ) If it were actually my car, I'd have already ordered new rims. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

EDIT: Doing some research into wheels, and apparently wheel adapters aren't legal in Australia, so I'd have to get blank brakes and get them drilled with the right pattern. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/gasp.gif)

This post has been edited by Jolteon: Jan 1 2014, 03:18 PM

[EE8Kev]

Don't waste money on the wheels,like you said just save up so you can purchase your own vehicle. As for painting stuff on chrome I think you need a product like adhesion promotor or something like that to make the paint stick even better, oh and sanding/scuffing it up will let the paint grab onto it more.

[duncan]

Nice beetle! It's hard to find a super beetle virtually rust free.
I don't think you can narrow the beam on super beetles, but people have been able to go pretty low without narrowing theirs.
There are also lots of cool VW/ Porsche rims that's are already the right bolt pattern.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=342274
Good reading ^

[N.Ozols]

Nice beetle! It's hard to find a super beetle virtually rust free.
I don't think you can narrow the beam on super beetles, but people have been able to go pretty low without narrowing theirs.

oh, my bad

[duncan]

oh, my bad

I may be wrong tho (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif)

[Jolteon]

I may be wrong tho (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif)

You're not wrong, but this ain't a Super Beetle. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/toung.gif)