Parker Beene Deluxe

[parker beene]

Hey Parker Welcome as others have said do the essentials and enjoy it for awhile. Once you are ready to put some metal into it give me a shout check out my metal at http://www.eastcoastcornerstore.com

Your stuff looks great, but pretty expensive too i don't know if i can afford that haha

[slayer]

Shit, Son. That's an easy fix

If you can make it road worthy, like .......go, stop, electrical yes, ok let say 20 mile radius, it would be fun. Body work is a long process and lets face it, .. we want to drive our buses!!!

[Six Volt]

Hey Parker Welcome as others have said do the essentials and enjoy it for awhile. Once you are ready to put some metal into it give me a shout check out my metal at http://www.eastcoastcornerstore.com

Your stuff looks great, but pretty expensive too i don't know if i can afford that haha

It is expensive, but I've seen that Autocraft stuff up close and it's real high quality. It's as good as Gerson or better. It took me a long time to learn "you get what you pay for," but I've always felt that saying was even more true when dealing with old VW's. Even when I can't afford something I'll now wait 'till I can rather than settling for the "cheaper" alternative. Cheaper often means it doesn't fit right or I have to "redo" it again before it should normally be required.

I certainly understand that money is tight when you're in school. So its understandable you're going to have to make some tough choices and probably compromise on some stuff. Nevertheless, I think your bus is going to be awesome!

[blue71]

Definitely heed Sean's advice. I've experienced it as well, save your money for the quality part and only cry once. Or you can watch for a bus being parted out and get the metal bits shipped via Greyhound. If you have doubts about a company or a vendor for anything, somebody here has probably bought something from them at one time or another.

Your student budget will definitely help you prioritize your needs both for yourself and for the bus. I know all about that after working on my bug in high school and my early bay buses in college and now grad school.

[parker beene]

update: I am scheduled to transport my bus to a local shop in New Cumberland (like 10 min away) to start mechanical upgrades at the end of this month! So any advice of what to do with my engine? I am stuck just keeping the original engine and possibly rebuilding that myself or with the shop to a 1600cc for less money, or a 1776/1915cc for more money, they estimated about $6k for the 1915, the pros for that is that i would be able to drive on the highway and stuff, but the cons are that it is more money
What do you think, if i do get the new engine i could easily keep the og one, rebuild that, and keep it as a back up or anything really. I would like to be able to drive on the highway. Also, rules in PA for inspection are very tight from what i have been told

[parker beene]

btw the shop is ACME, they specialize in dune buggies, and other miscellaneous VW stuff, more beetles than buses though. Pretty good shop overall though

[WideFive]

No way you'll be able to drive it as-is in PA. I lived there for a few years. That state is very anti-old car. No rust holes bigger than a quarter, plus lots of other stupid crap that has to pass inspection.

Screw the $6K for a 1915. You can get the body work done for that and throw in a good 1600. Those are easy enough to find. Hell, I've got 3 of them here if you need one

You don't "need" a big engine. Besides, for a Bus engine you want stroke, not bore

[WideFive]

they specialize in dune buggies

That's enough to scare me. Dune Buggies and Buses are worlds apart.

[Six Volt]

they specialize in dune buggies

That's enough to scare me. Dune Buggies and Buses are worlds apart.

X2

I'd just grab a used motor from someone like Widefive or someone else, but that's your choice. If not, do you have time with your school schedule to put together your own engine? It may be a way to save costs. Perhaps settle for a simple stock engine to start out just to drive it for a while? You'll also learn a whole lot getting it together. Perhaps you've addressed this in other threads on the samba, but do you have any mechanical ability? Any automotive tools? Costs can add up quickly and it's a good idea to figure out what you can realistically do and what you can't do. Have the pros take care of the stuff that you know nothing about, especially if it involves your safety, but if you have the ability to do some of it yourself, then "have at it". Unless you're independently wealthy, you're going to have to do some of this yourself to make it economically feasable. It's great you found a local shop, but have a serious and honest discussion with them, and yourself, about what it's going to cost. You've gotten a great little split bus project that a lot of people would love to have, especially at your age, but you must be REALISTIC and approach some decisions about it without any love or passion. What can you realistically get done yourself, and what can't you do? Think this through. It will be awesome when its done, but Rome wasn't built in a day. Be realistic. Don't ruin your passion by getting in over your head economically. It's a great bus! I really want you to enjoy it!

Listen to what Wide Five is telling you. I know. I've been there and done that!

[parker beene]

they specialize in dune buggies

That's enough to scare me. Dune Buggies and Buses are worlds apart.

X2

Do you have time with your school schedule to put together your own engine? It may be a way to save costs. Perhaps settle for a simple stock engine to start out just to drive it for a while? You'll also learn a whole lot getting it together. Perhaps you've addressed this in other threads on the samba, but do you have any mechanical ability? Any automotive tools? Costs can add up quickly and it's a good idea to figure out what you can realistically do and what you can't do. Have the pros take care of the stuff that you know nothing about, especially if it involves your safety, but if you have the ability to do some of it yourself, then "have at it". Unless you're independently wealthy, you're going to have to do some of this yourself to make it economically feasable. It's great you found a local shop, but have a serious and honest discussion with them, and yourself, about what it's going to cost. You've gotten a great little split bus project that a lot of people would love to have, especially at your age, but you must be REALISTIC and approach some decisions about it without any love or passion. What can you realistically get done yourself, and what can't you do? Think this through. It will be awesome when its done, but Rome wasn't built in a day. Be realistic. Don't ruin your passion by getting in over your head economically. It's a great bus! I really want you to enjoy it!

I can see that you guys are really nervous about the dune buggy stuff but my local air cooled club has events there and a few buds of mine with splits (they way older than me btw) have used this place. THey are very professional and very well regarded. I think i may be able to use the stock 1500cc for now and i would like to rebuild it, i have the book How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive i got as a gift, as far as tools go i am kinda limited and i won't have school over the summer as of now. But that's why i am here asking you wiser guys for advice so i don't make the mistake of being unrealistic in certain terms.