Itinerant Air-Cooled

So, I came about this poor old pound pup of a 1972 type3 (how do they find me??????)....
Stored in a semi-open barn for 15 years after the owner's son decided he didn't like the original Texas Yellow. All the windows removed, and sanded down to bare metal. Then left to sit.

Purportedly the car had 87k original miles, though cloaked in rust and filth. Well what the hell I'll clean off the filth and straw and chunks of mud and mold and see what's under there. Yep it's original, with gorgeous cloth-insert seats and headliner pretty much intact. Hmmm. Original FI seems intact too. The car also came with a couple boxes of parts mixed with filthy junk. I will have to do some scrounging for missing bits, such as carpeting and a windshield, and even fender beading. But it looks like the engine has never been removed, and the suspension is original VW.
The body is pretty close to perfect, but has a deep patina like a Montana '55 Chevy truck left to the elements. Sanding removes the top of the rust but leaves those telltale pits.
It does have a sunroof but it seems seized. Didn't want to break anything...
Pans are great except for a hole under the battery.

So what to do? Cost is the ultimate issue here. I have a small Sears sandblaster on loan, but I'm not sure of the power.

Here's the pickle, the Options:
1. get the engine running and sell as-is
2. POR-15 the entire car (1 gallon? a good idea for an entire car? Will it leave a rough texture?)
3. Sand or wire-wheel the car, treat with XO Rust (the blackening stuff)
4. Pay a sandblasting outfit to do it right (costly????)

The car does have great potential but I don't have bottomless pockets. I think with the rust removed and nice shiny paint it would be a valuable vehicle. But all those missing bits and seals add a lot to the total cost. At the very least I'd like to make up towing costs, but I sure don't want to see the car parted out.
Advice greatly appreciated!!!!!

Apparently Type3 advice is hard to come by around here! Oh well I already got my quota on the type2 section.
Car is now clean. Was able to hand sand a good sized section, removing most of the rust. Looks doable, combined with a disk sander for the big panels. Gonna be a big job though. But the body is really straight! Amazing to slowly remove the years.
After pumping the brake pedal a front caliper is now seized to the rotor, bummer but not a surprise. I also see factory white number stamping on the front end while cleaning spiderwebs.
Hopefully this thing will have some value when I'm done hamboningTM it. (NO it's not that...)
Gonna try for a startup next week.

The only thing I could thing of the other day when reading this was, it all depends on what your up to doing.

In for a pound...at least so it's stable enough so it won't wind up at a crusher.
Save the Volkswagens! Elbow grease is the commerce of the Working Class!
That fuel injection stuff is a lot to digest. I understand what it's doing, but all the little bits are confusing to remember. "Oh that's your freem valve it regulates grapefruit essence into the manifold"

Type 3's are pretty scarce these days, Mr. Bone.
Do you have a place to keep it out of the way while you pick at it for a few years as cash permits?

I hope to work full time on it and get it put back together, possibly sell it. NICE solid metal under that patina...

The stuck caliper may actually be a hose that's collapsed internally. Change the front hoses, flush out *all* the cruddy old moisture-filled brake fluid with new stuff, then see what you've got.

Gonna bring that rig to Maupin this weekend?

Not quite! But if I can get it running it shouldn't take too long to make it complete again. I have most of the glass and new seals. The rust is turning out to be pretty superficial, just lots of elbow grease needed. It would be great to have you on hand at first startup since you're a type3 guy. Maybe next week?
Hey how do you flush old brake fluid out? I figured it would be a good idear. I have one of those power bleeder things. Luckily brake parts are cheap.

If in doubt, flush it out.

hambone wrote:Not quite! But if I can get it running it shouldn't take too long to make it complete again. I have most of the glass and new seals. The rust is turning out to be pretty superficial, just lots of elbow grease needed. It would be great to have you on hand at first startup since you're a type3 guy. Maybe next week?
Hey how do you flush old brake fluid out? I figured it would be a good idear. I have one of those power bleeder things. Luckily brake parts are cheap.

Sorry I'm late to the thread.
I'd love to help you with the D-Jet and some other details.
I have a Squareback

(and some scary bills that mandate that I cram my schedule)

Replaced all front fuel hoses, new filter. Vacuumed many spiders, still creeps me out. It sat in a barn for 15 years and has it's own (rapidly diminishing) ecosystem.

Exhaust etc. is superficially rusty, too bad it sat so long. I don't see any real issues though. Loose exhaust pipe, we'll see what that means...

Adjust the valves next and then it should be good to go. I spent a LONG time up there with the vacuum, webs and those icky white sacks. "HEY!! GETOUTA HERE DIS AINCHA PLACE NO MO!!!!"
poor guys they're such peaceful tenants too.

Here's a weird one: one of the front shock absorbers had the lower loop end popped off the rubber bushing. What the hell would cause that? After much patient tapping with a hammer and socket I was able to re-seat. Only time will tell if it stays but it sure looks secure and took a long time to get it seated. Made in W. Germany, probably original to the car.

Oh, on the brakes: I pulled the flex line on the seized side but it didn't help. Brake fluid came out nice and clear, no rust. If I really reeef on the sucker I can get the wheel to turn. The surface rust on the disk seems pretty heavy, so maybe it's not really seized, but not coopering with the brake pads. It would most likely be a good idea to pull the calipers, repack the bearings, and have the disks turned. But not until I see how/if the engine runs.

Any of you guys in the NW have any advice on getting (cheap) type3 parts? I need at least a front bumper and many other bits. Craigslist is probably the way to go.

hambone wrote:Any of you guys in the NW have any advice on getting (cheap) type3 parts? I need at least a front bumper and many other bits. Craigslist is probably the way to go.

What constitutes "many other bits"? I've got a modest stash of many other Type III bits.

Chrome trim, logo, script, stuff like dat. Unless Kirk's friend finds the mystery lost box as he cleans out the barn. Also need door panels. All panels really, the old ones are shot.

hambone wrote:Any of you guys in the NW have any advice on getting (cheap) type3 parts?

Have you tried these guys?
http://www.averysaircooled.com/
They're just up the road in Woodland so you can save shipping $$$.

hambone wrote:Chrome trim, logo, script, stuff like dat.

Alas, my stash of many of those kinds of bits is languishing in Nebraska.