Hi,
After 16 years of collecting parts and planning this build it's now long past due to begin assembling and committing to getting my 59 vert back on the road.
I figured that by starting a thread I would get some motivation and I'd have something to look back on when it's done.
So here I go. Post one.
The Beetle is a 1959 original convertible and has been body off panel and painted by the previous owner. It's an OK job, not perfect but good enough as this won't be a show car.
The floor pan has been replaced, power coated and then bolted back to the the body with new rubbers.
The engine isn't original, it's a 1200 from the 60's but goes well enough.
The gearbox was replaced with a rebuilt late model version, according to the previous owner. It drives OK but I'm uncertain how it will hold up to a bigger engine. Time will tell.
The plan in the short term is to get it back on the road as it hasn't been registered since the 80's. I'll keep it as close to the original specs until it's registered, then I begin swapping out the parts I've collected over the past 16 years.
This is the broad list of parts to be added later...
- BRM wheels
- 4 x disc brakes
- Dropped spindles
- Narrowed beam
- Adjustable spring plates
- New engine - 2165
- 42x37 Heads
- Megasquirt EFI
- External oil cooler with fan
- Truss bar
- Fuel gauge
- Plus many other bit and bobs I've collected over the years...
Step 1: I've decided to get the electrics working and fit as many parts as I can to make sure everything fits and I have the right screws, etc. I'm not worried if the parts need chroming. Once everything has been fitted I'll remove the bit that need chroming and refit.
I've already discovered I'm missing parts so the approach seems to be sound.
Will post something about wiring up the headlights next weekend.
craigdeb Learner Dubber
7 posts · joined May 2009 ·
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