Build Thread of Roach my 1959 Volkswagen Double Cab

[VWGuy]

Ok, so this is going to be a very long drug out thread. I am restoring a 1959 VW Double Cab, one of about 100 or so estimated to still exist. Roach was found in an orchard in California, pulled out, paid for, and shipped to Utah. I am now in the extremely slow process of restoring Roach which requires a lot of metal repairs that ended up being beyond my capabilities. Roach recently headed down to a VW specialist to fabricate the parts in needs. Roach will be there for at least the winter. So most likely there will not be many updates until then, but rest assured fellow audiojunkies, this is not a complete rebuild thread and I will spend most of this thread detailing the audio components. I'll update this again soon.

Here are some pictures of when Roach was up on the truck and delivered to my house.





As soon as Roach was in the garage, I started going to town. Rebuilt the engine and carbs, rebuilt the entire brake system and installed new wheel bearings.






Here is a video my wife took3 days later.
1960 VW Double Cab - YouTube

[south east customz]

Awesome!

[GRIFTER9931]

Nice

[sinister-kustoms]

Sweet! Love me some commercial VW action! I had to sell my '59 RHD single cab recently to clear some bills. Was a sad day
Look forward to watching the build!

[DAT]

Sub'd this should be a interesting Build

[BowDown]

Defiantly sub'd this thread! Cool vehicle.

[GavGT]

Very nice find! Good luck, i think you need it.

Gav

[chefhow]

Subd, Love me some old VW Vans.

[trojan fan]

Back in the 80's I had a 57 oval window that I restored, talk about a lot of work but in the end it was well worth it....Good luck with your project

[dogsbark26]

That is the greatest! Very cool.

Subscribed.

[jriggs]

really looking forward to this.

subscribed.

[PPI-ART COLLECTOR]

Honestly, I just love these.
I have always been impressed on how the VW engineers of old came up with such unique solutions to basic tasks like cab venting, windshield washers, pop out windows....etc.
They are just so different than anything made in the USA or Japan at that time.
Kudos for you to pull it out of a field and save it from patina hell.
I look forward to your posts with great interest.

Please don't hold back on the pics.
This is your thread.

Bret
PPI-ART COLLECTOR

[eviling]

i love these guys, and ive never even heard of a double, thats crazy, loving it! i'll be waiting for the updates

[Mrnurse]

VERY COOL!!!!

[don_chuwish]

Very interested, in all of it not just the audio. "Roach" eh, no idea what you could possibly be referring to with an old VW as a project... ;-)

[screamatamonkey]

That's an awesome little truck, I can't wait to see what you do with it.

[AccordUno]

BTW, you grass looks really green what do you use?

definitely looking forward to this.. Something about old School VWs (Buses in general that peak my interest).

[MagDizzle]

Sweet! Looking forward to the build...and not just the audio

[VWGuy]

Originally Posted by sinister-kustoms

Sweet! Love me some commercial VW action! I had to sell my '59 RHD single cab recently to clear some bills. Was a sad day
Look forward to watching the build!

Shoot man, that really sucks. I sold my 66 Deluxe in 2009 for the same reason, but I bet that RHD hurt a lot more when it left your driveway.

[req]

sweet man! glad to see it returning to glory!

[VWGuy]

More updates:

I decided that in no way, shape, or form will I use a head unit or cut into my unmolested dash. So the entire build will run off of an iPod. As far as equipment, this is what I have:

Alumapro ALC 5-1/4 Component system
Alumapro BP-12 wired for 2 Ohms
Kicker ZX750.1 5 channel amp
audiocontrol Three.2
Tsunami battery terminals
Tsunami 4 gauge amp kit
Tsunami 8 gauge Kit
stinger 6 channel RCA
Alpha Damp sheets (Thanks Ant!)
2 Optima Red top batteries
70 amp alternator

I know that this may not be particularly amazing to any of you but this should sound awesome in my DC.

[VWGuy]

Originally Posted by trojan fan

Back in the 80's I had a 57 oval window that I restored, talk about a lot of work but in the end it was well worth it....Good luck with your project

Love the ovals, hopefully you hung onto it. They're fetching a nice price these days.

[bginvestor]

I'm so jealous....

If I had time (meaning if I was single), I would be restoring some VW's..

In high school, some of my most memorial customized bugs was a 61 rag.. Pitch black w/ white rag..

I loved my 67 as well..

Good luck w/ the build.. going to take some $$ and lots of time..

[jaikai]

Too cool. I'm in.

[FLYONWALL9]

OH I'M DEF IN FOR THIS BUILD!

I could REALLY use your mechanicing skills. My valves are in need
of adjustment in a BIG way.