Just bought that old car you have been searching high and low for months or even years. With paper and pencil in hand you make a checklist of items that require attention; interior mirror, outside mirror, radio, bumpers, chrome rings, door latch, & gauges. Here’s the part that drive me crazy about most people who buy an old car and begin the restoration – they remove a ‘battered’ part and toss it into the garbage!!! If you are going to do something as drastic as that then may I ask if you would take a pocket full of $100 bills and burn them? Well, that’s exactly what you are doing when you buy that clunker and start stripping it down and tossing everything into the trash.

Back in the late 70s the head honchos at VWoA went on a parts buyback spree and TRASHED scads of NOS parts. Why? I wish I knew. Because of this thoughtless action we in the enthusiast realm have a scarce supply of replacement parts for the car we wish to restore. You’d like an NOS cat’s eye mirror for your T34 right? So would every other T34 owner, but unless you are willing to mortgage the house and sell one of your children this may not happen. The bottom line is enthusiasts must do research before beginning their restoration.

In the 10-plus years I have been in the auto hobby world I have learned that the only items that can’t be rebuilt on an old car are broken glass, rotted rubber, and worn carpeting. There are a multitude of individuals who can rebuild, refurbish, or darn near reproduce anything. Just because you own a VW doesn’t mean that the fellows at the local Chevy classic parts store can’t rebuild a part. Let me give you some examples:

Radios – Sure would be nice if the radio worked in your car. Get on the Internet, chat with fellow members, and look for people who rebuild radios. It just so happens that there is a fellow in Pennsylvania who can rebuilt, refurbish, and make work, any radio from A to Z. Doesn’t it make sense to pay $150 for him to rebuilt your radio rather than pay $500 for a used, original radio that may peter out after a year of service?

Gauges – Those gauges in your ride sure are nasty. The numbers are faded, the speedo didn’t spin on the way home, and the clock doesn’t work. You sigh and say, “Gee, guess I’ll have to search for original gauges and throw these away.” Bad move. You have original gauges. Again, call around, search the catalogs, or fire up the computer and look for someone who can rebuild gauges. The price you pay to get your 30+ yearold gauges far outweighs searching for originals that may be as bad as the ones you just tossed. Besides, are you restoring a museum correct car?

Mirrors – Ah. You’ve got a cat’s eye mirror but there are dings on the outside and the silver is falling off the back of the glass. *UPDATED March 2011* From the forums we have these two techniques:

I had a glazier make some glass up for my mirrors. They did a very good job, including polishing the edges so that they were round like the originals. The old lenses need to be gently prised out by gradually bending back the metal all around the circumference until the glass can be removed. Fitting is the reverse - simply peen the edges over with a hammer. Patience and a light touch are the key.
www.t-34.co.uk/media/p070720053.jpg
www.t-34.co.uk/index.php?page=my%20project&id=145

and

Another way to do this is to simply break the glass and press fit the new replacement mirror. It should be possible keep any bending of the metal to a minimum. Put some tape over the glass to keep it all together so that it can be used for a pattern (hopefully).

Door latches – Another misunderstood part. Darn thing is loose and won’t open the door, or, the door won’t shut. Take it to a local machine shop and have them take a look at it. These guys LOVE a challenge and have the proper equipment and skill to complete the job.

Chrome Trim – Unless the piece is creased, KEEP IT. Someone, somewhere, has a set of brass hammers, a leather shot bag, and the patience to bring that irreplaceable piece back to life.

Gas tanks – Get that sucker bead blasted or white blasted and then either powdercoat it, use POR15, or Rustoleum. A quick trip to a radiator shop and it will come out of the vat clean as a whistle. After that I would seal it with POR15 fuel tank sealer and there will be no more worries.

Steering Boxes – Yours a little worn? No sweat. Take it in to your local VW parts supplier and I bet $20 you can get it rebuilt. TRW is the best and prominent rebuilder of steering boxes in the world.