Current restoration work: '54 Oval-Beetle Sliding-Ragtop, '59 Beetle Sedan, '60-'59 KG Cabrio, '60 KG Coupe, '63 Notchback, '64 KG Cabrio '64 Notchback, '65 Beetle Sedan, '65 13-Window Bus, '66 21-Window Bus, '69 KG Cabrio, '70 Bus, '71 Bus, '71 KG Cabrio, '74 412, '74 1303 Cabrio, '74 1303 Sedan,
" Big Dog "
~ 1974 Beetle Sedan ~
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1974 Beetle Sedan - 'Big Dog'
This restoration by reVOLKS is well underway.
'Big Dog' hails from the capital city of Texas and has been a companion around the reVOLKS shop for about a year now. The owner has been a Vdub fan since back in her European days when her first car was a Notchback no less! :) She found this lovely Beetle back in Texas a few years later and decided that even though Big Dog was an almost perfect stock example, a custom future was in order...
~ The Project Plan ~

The final colors for this lovely Beetle have changed a few times since the project began and at this point they seem to have been narrowed down to one specific PPG code that is a metalic green shade.
There are other mods on this Beetle that are going to be very custom such as shaved front fender signal lights, new! 3 function headlight bulbs that incorporate hi/lo, driving & signal into one "normal" sized bulb :) the rear tail lenses are new-aged, low-profile, smoked lenses with 3 color bulbs. Also in the works are a 'Continental' hood and deck kit too. The owner has also decided to have the original hood and deck completed to match the finished project so she can change the car's looks easily.
Big Dog is going to be motivated by a stout 1776cc with appropriate detailing and even an I.C.E. A/C unit for those hot Austin City nights.


The Gang's all here :) 		This picture was taken about a year ago when Big Dog joined the ranks of some other lovely Vdubs here at reVOLKS.com :)
And so....it begins Later that afternoon...Engine removal. Later that evening....Engine is out.




This block of pics shows Big Dog coming into the shop to begin dismantling.
The engine was first removed and a general inspection of the chassis was performed to scope out the level of work needed.
Fortunately, Big Dog has lead a seemingly sheltered life as it is nearly perfect in almost every respect. Even the pans were excellent as were all the major mechanicals.
The last pic shows the engine having been removed and sitting on the shop floor directly behind it. Later, the engine was completely dismantled and sent off for machining, while the cooling tins were all sandblasted and repainted. Eventually all the tins are boxed-up awaiting to be reassembled as a new engine once again :)
Original Paint removal.... Original Paint removal.... Original Paint removal.... Original Paint removal.... 		These pics show Big Dog after some extensive elbo grease had been applied to the second paint job it had received some years ago.
It was a nice paint job, but unfortunately, the paint-preparation was not sufficient and it began to peel-off in large flakes. This meant the paint had to be completely removed down to a stable layer which in many places ended up being back to the steel. Lot's of hand sanding went on here.... The second paint job this Beetle had was a dual-stage paint but the same color as the original stock, single-stage paint....
Shave the signal lights Shave the signal lights 		While the failing paint job was being sanded off other work was going on.....
The front fenders had to be shaved of their turn signal pods and here you see the larger holes being filled with a steel blank and getting welded into place.... This was done because the owner opted for some very cool, new headlight units which incorporate the signal light function into the bulb. Also incorporated into the same bulb is Hi/Lo and also a driving (or fog) light function too.... :)
Chalked up in primer... Chalked up in primer... Chalked up in primer... Chalked up in primer... 		Here you see the body after it was given a coat of primer. This was just the first coat to stabilize the sanded surfaces which had just had the paint removed from them. Further coats were applied after some block sanding was done to check the skins for level.
The other pics show the "Continental" and stock front hood and rear deck lids also during block sanding after the initial primer coats.
First stage of paint Second stage of paint Awesome color - hard to photo Reassembly begins :) 		Well, it's been a while since the primer pics, but BigDog has come a long way!
These pictures show the paint job process. This color is actually a PPG paint called Forest Green Metalic, but it has a pearlized effect also. Very beautiful and really tough to photograph well. Kinda' like the other beetle "Angel" this paint changes dramatically when in the sunshine.
At this time, the body has been assembled, shy of doors which help with interior installation when left off. The headliner is also now in and very shortly the interior will be completed in a very tasteful combo using beige and fawn brown colors along with complimentary piping and seat inserts.
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