Kermit- 1969 Peru Green Beetle

[Kermit]

I think it's time I just start one thread on the random questions I'll be having. As some have seen in another thread, today I picked up a car from the Vallone's in Congers. It's something they worked on a while ago on spec. This is the rare car they didn't paint on their own (which is probably why I can afford it). But they put a re-built 1600 single-port engine inside, as well as a pretty slick new interior.

The paint job is okay (a few tiny imperfections), but overall it's going to be just great for the medium term and certainly no signs of rust that I could tell. Pictures are below. I'm looking for any tips on the following—

1) Radio- The car has a stock speaker mounted into the dash but no radio. Even though I've come to enjoy the door-mounted speakers in Smurf, I'm doing to stick with the stock speakers for now. I'm looking to find a not-ugly radio with an audio-in jack for an MP3 player. CD player not needed, but not a problem. Any recommendations on radios?

2) Keys- Annoyingly, there are separate keys for the doors, ignition, glove box and engine. I'd like to at least get the doors and ignition on the same key (if not the engine too) so I'm not walking around with so many keys. Stupid question, but I've been searching on the Samba trying to figure out what parts would get this done. Any tips?

Following pictures are from Chris V's page:

[volksbugusa]

Very nice bug...

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Eric, nice buy. Car looks great, can't wait to see it in person.

As for keys, I've never had anything but an excellent experience with Gabriel (gabvwkey) on TS he did they keys on Reise, and rekeyed Peabody. He was even able to decode my broken key from a hires photo. He's worth your look.

I'll call you tomorrow re smurf...

[Kermit]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll seek him out. And glad you know you're alive!

FYI I'm not in my office tomorrow, but I'll be checking e-mail so let me know when works for you and I'll make my way to a phone or send you my cell.

[mannys66]

keep the money rolling in the east coast and get your keys from clay and mary smith at das bulli haus in ct. they're very good friends of mine and much like gabriel they know what they're doing too.

[mannys66]

very nice car by the way, congratulations on it, best of luck with it.

[Glenn]

Agreed... Clay and Mary are good people.

[Raj]

keep the money rolling in the east coast and get your keys from clay and mary smith at das bulli haus in ct. they're very good friends of mine and much like gabriel they know what they're doing too.

Manny, you have a contact info for these guys? I didnt see them when I searched via google. I have a 'key' job, I'd like some help with.

Thanks for the tip

[Glenn]

Here's their email address wm971252@earthlink.net

[mannys66]

clay smith 1 860 642 7242

[AoT]

Looks like it ready for some action and it is so clean. Glad you got what you wanted!!

[gotboost79]

good luck with your new bug!

Are Clay and Mary the guys with the highroof splitty?

[Glenn A]

good luck with your new bug!

Are Clay and Mary the guys with the highroof splitty?

yup.

[Kermit]

Thanks for the tips so far! So far I'm running into the usual problem I have, which is my garaging situation. Because the car has to be in operable shape to be in the garage, I can't pop out the locks and ignition to send away. Hmm...

Any favorite radios here?

[Brown]

I just purchased a radio from Best Buy that will fit the bug. If you go to thier website you can find out which radios will fit in a bug. As far as the speakers iy just go with the dash speaker your will n ot be happy. I made a speaker tray for the rear package area for two speakers which came out real nice. Also they sell speaker kick panels for the front next to you feet. I'd look into doing both of those.

I'm away right now but will post some pictues when i get home.

[Kermit]

Cool, looking forward to the recommendation.

Any reason the stock speaker will disappoint? The car is mainly for windows-open summer cruising. Even though Smurf has a great audio system with in-door speakers, I can barely hear anything when I'm on the highway with the windows open. Turns out those flat windows aren't too aerodynamic. So I'm skeptical of plunking down a lot of money for any additional speakers.

Any opinions about those made-to-look-classic things? I like how they look, but I have a feeling they are crappy.

[dubstar]

many period radios have a DIN input in the back that can be connected to an adapter for an ipod...I can't remember the specifics, but you can check my posts:

http://www.dasvolks.com/phpBB3/viewtopi ... dio#p41417
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... 68#4691868

someone also just modified a period radio, but it seems like a lot of work:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... 37#5659437

[Kermit]

Spoke to Tony at GT today to go over a few of the minorish things I'm going to want to get done. I decided to go with the Retrosound radio. Two questions I'd really appreciate some help with:

1) Unless this is a really good delete plate, my dash (Pic 1 and Pic 2) my dash will need some cuts to install the radio.

Tony mentioned a radio install kit, but now I'm not quite sure if he meant a specific kit or just to make sure the radio has parts to mount it (which the Retrosound seems to have).

2) Am I right that those "Dual Voice Coil" speakers are a bit crap?

[Glenn]

Don't cut the dash. Install a "secret" radio (http://www.soundmove.com/secretaudio.htm) instead. They can be mounted under the rear seat and use a remote controller.

[Kermit]

I see your point about not cutting, but that seems like a lot of extra wiring. Plus most of my radio use will be plugged into an iPod Shuffle on short drives, so when using that I would have to run an aux wire from under the back seat up front.

[Glenn]

Put a amp under the rear seat with 2 speakers behind the rear seat. Then run the input wire under the carpet to the glove box and put your ipod there.

[Tom]

Put a amp under the rear seat with 2 speakers behind the rear seat. Then run the input wire under the carpet to the glove box and put your ipod there.

He said it's a "Shuffle" which means it needs a USB connection. I don't think you have to cut the dash with Retrosound.

[Glenn]

I don't think you have to cut the dash with Retrosound.

It's a padded dash, so it has to be cut.

[Kermit]

Indeed, it has to be cut. But I like the stock-ish look (looks sorta funny to me without a radio there).

Plus, I'm pretty dead-set against a big stereo system, both because I'm not a huge audiophile and because it's not where I want to put my money with this car. Plus I actually use that back area for storage/bags sometimes!

Does/has anyone here used the stock speakers? Are they really terrible? I would consider upgrading the stock speaker, but the limited amount I know about audio stuff suggests those dual coil speakers are a gimmick.

[Glenn]

Radio Shack sells a speaker that fits.