1968 VW Type 3 Squareback
When we set out to find a project car, this is what we were initially looking for when we bought the Dart. We could not find a decent, workable example at a reasonable price. They were all either rust buckets, asking an exorbitant amount of money, or both. Ultimately, thanks to a friend of ours, this showed up for a very reasonable price, roughly 1 hour away! We fortunately were first in line and were able to snatch it up. The goal is to make a nice driver, not necessarily a show quality factory restoration. Megan has decided on Rave Green from our old 2002 GTI that was converted into a race car as the color. Otherwise, it will be mostly stock, although will look to aftermarket wheels.
The Trip Home
In order to get it home I had to install a winch on our flatbed trailer. Although the trailer is almost a year old, this was the first time using it. It performed beautifully!
Rust, rust, and more … wait, is that metal?
Nope, it’s rust. Pans, fenders, inner fenders, rear deck – all need to be replaced. The battery floor is a loose piece of old metal Visa sign! I’m going to attempt the inner and outer fenders, and the pan. We may look to farm out the rear deck.
But it RUNS!!!
More Teardown
Got the front end completely disassembled – as far as we’re taking it at the moment – fenders, hood, all off the car. Started on interior as well – dash cap, gauges, steering wheel/column out, and not surprisingly, finding more rust. Driver’s side A-pillar rusty, but I think salvageable. Dash tin is rotted where it meets the A-pillar – not sure this will need to be repaired, or just cleaned up and rust inhibited. Rot in the driver side left kick panel. Next up, remainder of the passenger compartment.
Deconstruction Continued…
…and more rust found. Not surprisingly, heater channels in the rear will need to be done, passenger side has rust underneath the pop-out window (you can see a line of rust where the water was running down the inside of the fender), and of course the pans.
Rust Identified!
So, I won’t be repairing every minute bit of rot in the car, just what really needs it from an external cosmetic functional perspective. For example, there’s a few pinholes around the water drains in the rear fenders. I’ll put some rust inhibitor on the metal, and that’s it. However, here are the major areas of rust that will be addressed:
We Made a Hole!
Engine’s out! Transmission is going to be a whole other story. I thought I could pull the trans out without removing the rear subframe, by disconnecting the axles, but that only works on the IRS models, not the torsion beam models. Boo. But, I’m thinking I can use the rotisserie to support the rear of the car and pull out all the suspension, and then still be able to move it around.
NEW CONTENT
Trans and Front Beam Removal
Almost done with deconstruction! Trans is out and it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. We also got the front beam removed. I had hoped that we could take it as one whole piece, but ended up having to disconnect the steering arms as the steering box. Last piece is the rear swing arm, then we can start on clean up and repairs (once we get the parts from family in Arizona).
