the swaps, especially suby swaps (same horizontal opposition for the win and space/orientation) are overall more efficient, longer lived and cheaper than a built aircooled vw motor--You can pick up a used suby motor (and tranny if wanted) for about 2.5k--with a turbo and have reliability that the same power output would cost more and last less time.
That said, I want a suby powered vw, and a Supercharged vw (no, not turbo I feel like being difficult and doing the supercharger!), ghia, notchback or squareback. Maybe a type II, or beetle/super beetle if I found one that struck my fancy.
Is Classic VW popularity dying?
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Oldschoolblake
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:57 pm
Re: Is Classic VW popularity dying?
All typed on iPhone, proof read three times but I'm shire there are typo's so just use your imagination please.
I'll share the viewpoints/ story of a young enthusiast who has seen less than 20 operational vws in his lifetime. I have have to agree with all I've read so far. I'm building two baja beetles, one 1971 type 1 play/ hunting toy with reduction trans and then a 69 daily driver with one piece front end. Sadly enough Both are being baja'd out because of rust. I simply don't have the knowledge of how to graft/ repair the aprons and quarter panels, that may sound rediculous to some of y'all but people are not willing to help like they used to be ; which I also think is an economical effect of it costing more to come help people. Gas money is taken more seriously than it used to be.
Aside from those two, I have 6 beetles, two homemade buggies, store bought sandrail and fiber glass pan buggy all of which being scrap yard rescues and I had to pay top $$$ by the pound to talk each person out of it.
The only thing that has allowed me to have knowledge of how to work on the older engines is my step father. Him being an older generation mechanic ( learning on carburetors and adapting to injection/ computers, etc...) I remember calling him at work when I first started out with questions about how to do something on my '82 AMC Eagle or my '66 beetle, he would just laugh and say " son it ain't no step for a stepper but I will have to show you in person". Now I've improved and have a small 7 years experience under my belt and can trouble shoot/ repair/ overhaul myself- excluding transmissions.
I can't speak for all areas but something to consider here where I live families are formed at young ages ( 20-24 years of age commonly) which makes it harder to have recreational hobbies like vw's. I'm 23 and have a family with all the attachments to take care of throughout the year, Santa clause is about to shut my hobbies down until about next February.
I have spent thousands over the past few years stock piling new and used parts and the only "cool" new parts I have purchased are a pair of big valve heads, pistons and cylinders, and lift spindles. Roughly $1300 in value. That's not a lot of murchandise for over $1000.
What most other individuals my age are into would be the 90's street tuners, maybe the occasional 80's Chevy with primer paint job, also the offroad enthusiasts seem to like the square body jeep Cherokee's. Most of those being drive it home, find used tires/wheels, modify the exhaust and drive the crap out of it.
I do get the over my head feeling of I'm never going to be done with this car from time to time with all the body work electrical and mechanical that has to be done but I've always wanted a beetle and my current life's mission is to build one and enjoy the shnit out of. Plus my sons love ridin' in the "boat wagon"
I'll share the viewpoints/ story of a young enthusiast who has seen less than 20 operational vws in his lifetime. I have have to agree with all I've read so far. I'm building two baja beetles, one 1971 type 1 play/ hunting toy with reduction trans and then a 69 daily driver with one piece front end. Sadly enough Both are being baja'd out because of rust. I simply don't have the knowledge of how to graft/ repair the aprons and quarter panels, that may sound rediculous to some of y'all but people are not willing to help like they used to be ; which I also think is an economical effect of it costing more to come help people. Gas money is taken more seriously than it used to be.
Aside from those two, I have 6 beetles, two homemade buggies, store bought sandrail and fiber glass pan buggy all of which being scrap yard rescues and I had to pay top $$$ by the pound to talk each person out of it.
The only thing that has allowed me to have knowledge of how to work on the older engines is my step father. Him being an older generation mechanic ( learning on carburetors and adapting to injection/ computers, etc...) I remember calling him at work when I first started out with questions about how to do something on my '82 AMC Eagle or my '66 beetle, he would just laugh and say " son it ain't no step for a stepper but I will have to show you in person". Now I've improved and have a small 7 years experience under my belt and can trouble shoot/ repair/ overhaul myself- excluding transmissions.
I can't speak for all areas but something to consider here where I live families are formed at young ages ( 20-24 years of age commonly) which makes it harder to have recreational hobbies like vw's. I'm 23 and have a family with all the attachments to take care of throughout the year, Santa clause is about to shut my hobbies down until about next February.
I have spent thousands over the past few years stock piling new and used parts and the only "cool" new parts I have purchased are a pair of big valve heads, pistons and cylinders, and lift spindles. Roughly $1300 in value. That's not a lot of murchandise for over $1000.
What most other individuals my age are into would be the 90's street tuners, maybe the occasional 80's Chevy with primer paint job, also the offroad enthusiasts seem to like the square body jeep Cherokee's. Most of those being drive it home, find used tires/wheels, modify the exhaust and drive the crap out of it.
I do get the over my head feeling of I'm never going to be done with this car from time to time with all the body work electrical and mechanical that has to be done but I've always wanted a beetle and my current life's mission is to build one and enjoy the shnit out of. Plus my sons love ridin' in the "boat wagon"