Hey, it looks like a VW

It's all coming together quickly now. The dash is fixed and looks real nice. Got the doors all put back together, with Dynamat installed to help deaden the sound. New chrome trim all the way around (sweet repros from WolfsburgWest). Brand new running boards installed (again some nice repros from WW). Hood latch installed and functioning. Glove box, radio block-off plate, and ash tray are in. Need to get some clips for the interior chrome pieces. Etc., etc., etc.

The chrome guy called back, but I was unable to take the call. His message said a rechrome of the bumpers would be around $200. Seems cheap to me, so we'll see. I did find the VW stamp on one of the bumpers. Still searching on the other. Considering rechroming the hubcaps, so long as they are original.

Also got a bid on the headliner job (the parts came in while I was out of town). Another $200. That's reasonable since I'd probably ruin the thing getting it in.

Right now I'm just continuing to install what I can until I run out of parts. Can't do the windows until the headliner is in, and Tyler still has my driver seat. Lots of small miscellaneous things to work on, including the wiring.

Will post pictures soon.

More body work

The bug is back in the body shop to have that hole in the dash fixed and the radio block-off plate painted. Lane towed it in while I was at work, so I'm not sure when it will be done.

Regarding the bumper rechrome idea... the chrome shop never called back, though I left messages with them twice. In the meantime, I checked the bumpers for an official VW stamp and I can't find any trace of one. Now I'm not sure they're originals. If they aren't, I'm going with WW bumpers. Nice, but very expensive. I'm not looking forward to that.

I'm going to get an estimate for a headliner job as well. Was thinking of doing it myself, which would save me a grundle, but I'm not sure I want to tackle that job myself. I'll probably try to schedule it around the body guy... tow it to the upholstery guy on my way from the body guy. We'll see.

Rechromed bumpers?

I've been thinking of replacing my original, but somewhat tweaked, bumpers with repro bumpers from Wolfsburg West. They are high quality and closest to the originals on the market today.... and very expensive. The bottom line is I need bumpers that aren't bent, dented, or rusted, which mine are... to a point.

Just called Salt Lake Chrome to see what it would take to straighten my originals, fix the dings and surface rust, and just rechrome the things. I'm liking the idea more and more because it keeps the factory, German steel, bumpers with the car. I only hesitated going down the rechrome road because of cost, but the WW bumpers may end up costing just as much... and they aren't original. So...

Waiting for them to call back with a quote.