Absolutely, and keep in mind that I don't have ANY special training. I am just a guy in a garage, figuring stuff out (or I've already figured it out) and bring you guys along! I've learned by doing, failing on occasion and learning along the way, not by schooling. Either way, to this point I've built and done every process on a restoration short of building a transmission and actually spraying the paint on my own cars. I do my own body work, color sanding, engine building, etc. You all can do it too!
I can't say it enough but thank you again for your hard work..I'm following these videos and gaining VW knowledge by the minute.. appreciate it very helpful in turn working with my teenage sons on their VW projects is bliss
It is truly my pleasure, I am glad to help and thank you for watching! Enjoy the work with your kids. I'm planning a Baja build for a series with my 12 (soon to be 13) year old son at the moment which will be filmed in my garage at home.
Great series Sam! For the front seat belt buckles in my bug I bought some plastic seat belt sleeves (often advertised for RVs)...they hold the belt up so the buckle can't fall between/under the seats. They work great and IIRC were only like $12 for the pair
Very nice work Sam.. I'd say my seat seams would be half an inch off... Will that be a shop car when completed or up for sale? Very nice daily driver for someone... Thx for bringing us along...
We went over that back in one of the first videos in the series - th-cam.com/video/luZ9eMurpjQ/w-d-xo.html 4.5" wide wheels with 145s in the front. With drop spindles and disc brakes sitting about 5/8" wider than stock, they do rub the fenders just a bit when taking sharp turns with 2 or 3 people in the car. I've got some plans for that, just waiting for clearance from the bosses.
Ha, actually I am (or at least was) 6 foot tall. I'm shrinking as I'm getting closer to 50. I've got short legs though, only a 30" inseam, most of my height is in my torso.
@@Sam_Mebane Makes sense. I've been shrinking, too. Too many ladders and telephone poles. I guess I've never seen myself in my car... I probably look like a stringbean stuffed into a matchbox car. I find the car quite comfortable though. I love almost everything about them except when the alternator brews up. I'd drive nothing else until I needed a pickup.
@@jemcnair76 there are plenty of things I think VW could have done better, the clutch cable access for sure being one of them. Either way, I've way no matter what I do, I can't seem to get away from them for too long!
@@Sam_Mebane Yes, there are some things that are a bit silly, but there is nothing like opening the garage in the morning and starting a Beetle. It's like commuting on a motorcycle, I think. Nothing will be normal about your day. On a bike everyone is trying to kill you, and with a Beetle there is always that little question in the back of the head about if some thing conks out and leaves you up to your elbows in grease on the side of the road. By the way, you video about the bouncing Beetle speedometer needle got me to finally break that thing open. I did the odometer gear a decade ago but I thought the bouncing needle was not worth too much time. It's worth the time. I thank you for everything. Be safe out there.
I think what I like about this series is the episodes show a series of practical restorations that most classic VW owners could emulate.
Absolutely, and keep in mind that I don't have ANY special training. I am just a guy in a garage, figuring stuff out (or I've already figured it out) and bring you guys along! I've learned by doing, failing on occasion and learning along the way, not by schooling. Either way, to this point I've built and done every process on a restoration short of building a transmission and actually spraying the paint on my own cars. I do my own body work, color sanding, engine building, etc. You all can do it too!
@@Sam_Mebane yup this exactly the kind of stuff a lot of us like to watch and what I post on my own channel. Please keeping up.
Sam made this look to easy 😁
It is, I am not special, I've just failed enough times to know how to do it right!
I can't say it enough but thank you again for your hard work..I'm following these videos and gaining VW knowledge by the minute.. appreciate it very helpful in turn working with my teenage sons on their VW projects is bliss
It is truly my pleasure, I am glad to help and thank you for watching! Enjoy the work with your kids. I'm planning a Baja build for a series with my 12 (soon to be 13) year old son at the moment which will be filmed in my garage at home.
A lot of good tips for seat upholstery. Thank you.
Glad to help!
Instead of burlap, I used landscape fabric. Worked great
Great series Sam! For the front seat belt buckles in my bug I bought some plastic seat belt sleeves (often advertised for RVs)...they hold the belt up so the buckle can't fall between/under the seats. They work great and IIRC were only like $12 for the pair
That's a good call, we have some sleeves as well that I might try and fit to the belts from our contoured sleeve belts.
Very nice work Sam.. I'd say my seat seams would be half an inch off...
Will that be a shop car when completed or up for sale? Very nice daily driver for someone... Thx for bringing us along...
The bosses have a few more things planned for this car and then it will be going up for sale, yes.
@@Sam_Mebane Sam thx for all your quick responses.. Have a wonderful day...
Did you keep the bug smell when you reupholstered the seats?
Yes, I don't know what it is but even in cars where I've completely rebuilt everything and even put in new seats, the smell is there.
Love these videos, Sam. What size tires and rims did you end up using on the front with the dropped spindles to avoid rubbing?
We went over that back in one of the first videos in the series - th-cam.com/video/luZ9eMurpjQ/w-d-xo.html
4.5" wide wheels with 145s in the front. With drop spindles and disc brakes sitting about 5/8" wider than stock, they do rub the fenders just a bit when taking sharp turns with 2 or 3 people in the car. I've got some plans for that, just waiting for clearance from the bosses.
I'm 6 foot tall in my socks and barely fit in my Beetle. You must be quite a bit taller.
Ha, actually I am (or at least was) 6 foot tall. I'm shrinking as I'm getting closer to 50. I've got short legs though, only a 30" inseam, most of my height is in my torso.
@@Sam_Mebane Makes sense. I've been shrinking, too. Too many ladders and telephone poles. I guess I've never seen myself in my car... I probably look like a stringbean stuffed into a matchbox car.
I find the car quite comfortable though. I love almost everything about them except when the alternator brews up. I'd drive nothing else until I needed a pickup.
@@jemcnair76 there are plenty of things I think VW could have done better, the clutch cable access for sure being one of them. Either way, I've way no matter what I do, I can't seem to get away from them for too long!
@@Sam_Mebane Yes, there are some things that are a bit silly, but there is nothing like opening the garage in the morning and starting a Beetle. It's like commuting on a motorcycle, I think. Nothing will be normal about your day. On a bike everyone is trying to kill you, and with a Beetle there is always that little question in the back of the head about if some thing conks out and leaves you up to your elbows in grease on the side of the road.
By the way, you video about the bouncing Beetle speedometer needle got me to finally break that thing open. I did the odometer gear a decade ago but I thought the bouncing needle was not worth too much time. It's worth the time.
I thank you for everything. Be safe out there.