Have the seats away being recovered,so bought home all the plastic hardware.Cleaned,blasted and sanded out all the nicks and scratches.Gave everything several coats of plastic paint to match the trim.
The body bloke has got back onto my car.Back of cab is almost closed up.Doing the back of the roof down to the drip gutter now.
Your back into the project again
I am always at it Birch-but trying to convince my panel bloke to get as energetic as me-tough ask.
Got some pics of last weekends work
Back of the cabin roof is nearly done.B pillars are finished welding.
Looking Good get the grinding wheels out
I was in contact with a sunroof company in the US several years ago about a rag one for my ute.They only do a full size for a standard Beetle.The Boss was really interested in what I was doing,so decided he would have a go at custom fabricating something for me.He couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't need some body modification for it to work.Well the time arrived yesterday to cut the hole.It was made with a curve to be as close as possible to the VW roof line.After marking the centre lines in both directions on the roof,decided 20mm forward of centre.Cut the hole and it looked like the roof needed some serious massaging to meet both front corners.Drilled all the holes and bolted it down.Perfect fit other than the corners on the front ally cross piece.About 5 hits with a dolly and hammer-perfect.Very relieved that it worked.
While waiting for my Hot Rod to come home,I took on another small job.The owner bought it from pics from a reputable workshop in Melbourne.It was all done mechanically.Needed all the small hardware and glass fitted.It came to him on a Transporter.I believe only about half the stuff has ever arrived.It has a 351 Windsor,C4 auto and a disc brake 9 inch.The rear discs were fitted at a Kindergarten somewhere-will never pass rego here.The 9 inch was all new.Took out one axle,splines had turned about 6mm.It has a Rodtech style front end(US made). The sump pan was wrong way round to fit the crossmember.Sump was full of water-no oil.I took the rear brakes from an ED Falcon to do a conversion on the 9 inch.No way I could make it fit.Bolt spacing is too far out.The rear springs have been moved in 135mm each side for wheel clearance-but they forgot to shorten the diff.Standard 16 inch Falcon wheels won't easily fit past the wheel arches.Got him to organise an FG XR8 ute diff.Already got good brakes and ratio.Will get that one shortened.The rear spring hanger job is also top class.The tube that holds the shackle rubbers is exhaust tubing.I will fabricate a complete rear 4 tubed cross member to locate the spring hangers.Had a bit of free time today-Decided not to waste the ED brakes.Welded up the holes in the caliper brackets and machined them for a VW rear disc set up.I have some blank type 3 rear hubs here,so will drill Ford pattern to suit the discs.
Just picked up my re-upholstered Mitsubishi Starion seats for my Hot Rod.The centre light grey panel is very close to the sunroof canvas colour.
nice looking seats
I reckon also. They are beautiful to sit in. There are plenty of things to adjust to make it fit you better. My fave is bringing in the side wings to fit tighter against your sides
the Japs do some good seats. I put some Honda Prelude seats in my sons bug years ago, the fabric still looks like new and they are as comfortable as the Recaros in my Beetle
I bought a universal power window kit for this a couple of years ago.Wasn't really keen on the fitting set up.The window crank has the splined drive on it which sticks out about 40mm.Recently thought I may be able to make an ally cover which would hold the tweeter speaker for the sound system and hide the window crank.Decided that's the go.Started to fit up the winder motor.Really works well and is very smooth and quick to operate.I had already fitted the one piece window regulator.I have found some door jamb spring loaded contacts to transfer the power across.Don't know yet,because nothing will work with the door open.
I used the same type of electric window mechanisms in my bug
From your ole' mate Jeff
Have you had them in long? Been reliable.I am trying to sort out the door trim now with the plastic gear drive poking through so far.
I used door pockets etc. that I got from the wreckers to cover the winder knob - I think they are out of a Mazda 626 or something - gives me storage pockets in the doors and courtesy lights. I fitted them in 2007 and use the car most days - it is my work car. I think I replaced a switch once, and I may have replaced one winder, but they have been pretty good
From your ole' mate Jeff
What a great idea. Would never had thought about doing that.Did think about trying the later model door handle idea. Thanks for the pic - back to the drawing board for me
The other thing that you may find useful is how to get the wiring into the door. I used rubber hose with a tight grommet holding it into the A pillar, and a larger hole into the door so the hose slides in and out of the door as you open & close it. The wires run in the hoses. I think I also had to slightly tap the A pillar or the door edge (or maybe both) in a little bit so the grommets didn't bind.
From your ole' mate Jeff
Doing the wiring was my greatest concern.I found door jamb contact panels,but reckon they may be too thick for the door gap.Next idea was like you have done. Was wondering why you used 3 tubes - then realised your window switches were on the door.I am only using 2 switches and fitting them in a centre console.I will only need 2 window wires and 2 speaker wires.Should be able to get the 4 into one tube.Did a mock up from some scrap ally this morning.Will weld sides on the final jobs.Decided to use 2 tweeters on each door.Got a big amp to drive it all.Will cover in the same material I use on the door trim.
Got the first one ready to weld up.Took my spare material back to the upholsterer today for him to stitch up for my door trims.Gunna have 2 tone like the seats.
Actually, I have 3 tubes for windows, remote central, and courtesy lights in the doors
From your ole' mate Jeff
Do you have a pic of the courtesy lights.Thought about fitting something like that as well.On the New Beetles I see they are called Puddle Lights.I made some stainless arm rest pieces to go on the outside of the door at the belt line.These were available for early Holdens when you were allowed to rest your arm while driving.Put some on my Oval when I built it.Made these a lot bigger.Polished them just now so I can glue some insertion rubber on the back.
Sorry, I did post the photo of the lights up before, but it doesn't seem to open. Here it is again, as well as a photo of the lights lit up at night, and a photo of the light box and green flouro inside the light box behind the VW emblem
From your ole' mate Jeff
Damn, 2 of the photos don't seem to have opened - they may be too big. I have made them smaller - see if these work
From your ole' mate Jeff
Very strange-I opened your pics yesterday OK,But today no go.Thanks for sharing.Very clever stuff there.Took my new dash panel to the car yesterday and beat it to shape.Sanded,primed and painted finished colour.Hammertone Gunmetal.Another job completed.Also finished the first Tweeter enclosure for the door panel.
Gave the auto shifter cover a resto this morning.Gave it a blast first,a clean,then trim paint.It seems to stick really well if I blast it first.
This is a great project!!
Decided not to have any material on the the door trims.Made one from aluminium for a trial.Will have it painted in one of the body colours.Tidied up the tweeter enclosure.Welded up any of the holes that would have been covered with material.Fitted a door grab handle and marked where I will put 2 stainless mouldings.Happy with it,so better do the other one.
I restored an Oval fuel tank a couple of years ago for this.Fitted 10mm supply fitting and 8mm return as well as a tank unit.Been thinking that the front is getting a bit crowded.Decided to quit the tank and fit an ally flat plate there.Will make a bigger ally tank to fit at the bottom of the tray area.I cut this filler from a wreck yesterday and will fit it on the drivers side of the tray.Found the ally ribbed moulding clipped under the chrome strip.Decided to cut one up for the Hot Rod.Then decided to fit them to my Oval and make another 2.
