Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

Locked Zelda the '73 1303S

3 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit
Log in to reply

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#932275
Noice work on the vid editing 👍

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#934186
Sometimes I forget to update this. As mentioned previously, I needed a new lens, so I got one. Took the following pictures the same day.





The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#934488
Thanks!

So, I took next week off of work to work completely on the bug. I'm hoping to get it ready for paint, so minor welding, sand blasting the bits that need it, fixing rust and hopefully getting my new engine built. Next week is going to be pretty full on and will hopefully see stuff move very quickly for the bug. I guess that is what Summer is for!

On a side note, have to start looking into the interior colours. Need to finalise the colour the dash will be, carpet and seats. I also actually need to finalise what seats I'm going to use as well as making sure we can mount them.

More news next week I guess!
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#934541
Those wheels and tyres look like a great fit. Quite jealous!

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#934642
Yeah, they're not a bad fit, the fronts rub every now and then but only when I go full lock, so I just don't do that.

The wheels will be getting rebuilt very soon, going to surprise and disgust a few people, but I'm building my car for me and to be honest, that's all that counts in my eyes.
If I'm proud and happy with my cars end result, then I don't care what others say.

🙂
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#938852
Hmm, been a while.

Here's some photos from the 31st of December cruise.











Been working hard on the new body. Will share when it is finished.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#938911
Hi

Looks sweet, needs to be a bit lower in the back.

Steve

Doug Sweetman Nil Bastardo Carborundum

2,128 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#938912
Love that song in your vid, nice editing and focus shifts !

TorxKiwi Officially Full-On Dubber

231 posts · joined Jun 2011 ·

#939004
Seb, did you finish putting your modified dash together or still a work in progress?

Dean
"Ownership of a Beetle is not a destination it is a journey."

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#939013
1303Steve wrote:Hi

Looks sweet, needs to be a bit lower in the back.

Steve
Steve,

I agree completely, but a lot of people keep saying chunkier tires. I'd love to lower it a bit at the rear, but it won't be until the new car is finished.

I've been collecting photos of the build of that and will create a new build thread when it is finished.
Doug Sweetman wrote:Love that song in your vid, nice editing and focus shifts !
Thanks Doug!
I made another video with a mate, we went driving through the hills and what not. Check it out below!

http://vimeo.com/56417756


TorxKiwi wrote:Seb, did you finish putting your modified dash together or still a work in progress?

Dean
Hey Dean!
I haven't finished the modified dash, I've been focusing more on getting the new beetle done and painted. Once that is painted, the interior will be getting a lot more attention.

However, in saying that, this is where it currently stands with the dash.







They were taken ages ago, on the 19th of November to be exact.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#940096
Got a new camera the other day, was a late Christmas present to myself I guess.

Went out that night and took some sunset shots of Zelda. You can definitely tell she's driven daily, check out that bird shit on the bonnet.

Not much has been happening with Zelda or the new bug. I had a mishap with the wiring in Zelda the other day under the rear seat, seems it must have got a bit hot and melted and therefore was shorting out and what not, but that was fixed.

I'm planning to call someone to bore out the new engine to the required size so I can start putting that together, so we'll see what happens.

My expected time frame to have the new bug in paint has been pushed out due to some personal issues at home, but hopefully I can pull my finger out and get some it done still.

I guess I just want to have the car finished so I can have something to be proud about and be able to show people what I've been able to accomplish over the past year...









The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#940103
SebastienPeek wrote:
1303Steve wrote:Hi

Looks sweet, needs to be a bit lower in the back.

Steve
Steve,

I agree completely, but a lot of people keep saying chunkier tires. I'd love to lower it a bit at the rear, but it won't be until the new car is finished.
Bigger tyres wouldn't hurt, those ones you are running are over 2" smaller in rolling diameter than stock.

Assuming your gearbox is stock Lbug instead of doing 2950rpm at 100 you'd be at 3300rpm, take that upto 110 on the motorway and you're at 3600rpm.

Still perfectly safe on a vw engine that's in tune but doesnt do your fuel economy or ear drums any favours.

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#943196
Upgraded the rear suspension to Type 3 torsion bars and double spring plates. Also replaced the bushes. Now it probably sits at the same height, maybe a tad lower. Which sucks as I still want it lower.

I should have taken more photos during the day, but I was way too dirty. Had to get hosed off out the back actually.

Only photo I got of the double spring plate really. Shitty iPhone photo is shitty.


Then went and took some photos. Still is not sitting where I want it. About an inch and a half lower, maybe two, and it'll sit where I actually want it to.

















Oh well, doubt anyone is interested but, I am waiting on some new lips and bolts from Germany to come so I can rebuild my RS's for a show next month.
Hopefully by then the new engine will go in, a 1914cc, and the new bushes will wear in so it sits just that little bit lower. The barrels and pistons for the 1914cc arrived today so I just need to get the case bored out for 94's and the heads done. Just using standard heads and what not. I don't want anything with too much grunt currently as I'm still on my P's and Zelda already draws enough attention as it is.

All in good time.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

Scarab Wolfsburg Wizard

646 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#943203
Great update mate, lovin the pics in the Marden car park! 🙂

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#943211
Seb where did you get the BBS wheels from?
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#943213
Scarab wrote:Great update mate, lovin the pics in the Marden car park! 🙂
Thanks!

Yeah, can't believe I've never taken photos there before, great spot that is for sure.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#943216
sander288 wrote:Seb where did you get the BBS wheels from?
I originally purchased them from Japan.

I have since rebuilt them, got them powder coated black and what not. They're about to come off again and get new lips and bolts so they'll look completely different in the next couple of weeks, if the parts come.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#943862
Contacted a couple of people in regards to getting the dash finished off.
I got the basic shape done and all the cracks fixed up, so now it just needs the final shape finished off, a few holes filled and then leather look vinyl wrapped.

In other news, case, heads and a barrel was taken to a machinist. Hopefully have that back Tuesday/Wednesday next week and that start building that as quickly as possible.
1915cc here we come.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#944058
Current plan to be accomplished before the 8th of March for ILV.

1. Rebuild my RS's.
- Stockies will need to have tyres put on.
- RS's off and stockies on, tyres taken off of RS's.
- Split RS's.
- Get centers re-powder coated black. (Have some chips in them that I want removed).
- Install 1.5" lip and 2" lip on two wheels and trial fit.
- If all goes well, build the other two and get the tyres back on.
- Final specifications of the wheels will be the following.
- Front wheels will be 16x8j +17.
- Rear wheels will be 16x8.5j +11.

2. 1915cc needs to be built and installed.
- Need to pick up the case, a barrel and the heads from the machinist next week.
- Rods and crankshaft needs to be bead blasted.
- Make sure all other parts have been cleaned and ready to install.
- Build up the engine to a long block.
- Current engine needs to be removed from Zelda and a replacement needs to go in.
- Get crankshaft, pulley and flywheel balanced for the 1915cc.
- Replace all ancillaries from the current 1600cc and install on the 1915cc.

3. Lower Zelda another 30/40mm in the rear.
- This may or may not happen, but would like to bring her down a bit more.

And that there is my planning for the next three weeks. Going to be a very tight schedule, but, one can try.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#944287
Measured up sides. Here's my research.

Drivers side sags an extra 10mm (roughly).

Which means the following to get the ride height equal to the front.
40mm on the passenger side, 30mm on the drivers side. This will also mean the rear levels out as expected.

From the help from Joel and reading up, this means I'll need to do the following, tonight.

+6 inner splines, -6 outer splines on the drivers side.
+8 inner splines, -8 outer splines on the passenger side.

The above will get me roughly to where I want to get, within mm's anyway. So, will be attempting the above tonight.
Hopefully more photos with the new stance tomorrow and photos of the process will be taken tonight as well.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#944782
Will be posting photos tonight, after finding a place to take them anyway...

The rear is down a bit, but found an issue with the fronts and they're not level after first measurements.
We'll see what happens.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#945280
Current status.



Zelda is sitting where I want her to sit. I have received notification that the parts for the wheels have landed here in from Germany.

Picked up my case, heads and barrel yesterday from the machinist. Now to clean the case some more and start putting it together.

Not long now until the 8th of March. But looks like I'll have everything done if all goes to plan.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#946181
Just thought I might as well keep this thread updated with the changes of Zelda also, this is the build thread after all...

BA Falcon stockies went on.





The tyres came off the RS's and then came the lips and new bolts and nuts. This is where stuff got interesting and my dream started to come true with the direction I wanted to take Zelda.





So that is all well and good, minor poke but nothing much, exactly how I imagined it would look. Now came the rear. This is where I got excited.







And now for the overall effect at the rear, look at that dish!



Test fitting basically went really well in my eyes. Got them all inside again and started building them. With the help of Mum and Phoebe I was able to get all four wheels sealed before packing in for the night. This is how I left them at home.











Then, the day after that I got the tyres wrapped bright and early in the morning and fitted them onto Zelda. There was a decent amount of scrubbing, but if you ain't scrubbin', then you ain't dubbin'!





My favourite photo at the moment is the following one. I found another L bug, pretty sure it was a '73 but regardless, an L nonetheless. It was in bone stock condition. Stock, vs customised by Seb.



Then there was this photo last night.



Today, I got the bonnet painted matte black and refitted. It looks pretty damn good and has completely changed the way Zelda looks that is for sure. I haven't gotten any photos to put in here, but I'll most likely update the Melbourne trip thread before updating this one.
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#946182
Lookin good Seb.

Scrubbin' aint my thing, but it does kinda look tuff.

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#946244
To tell the truth I was sceptical about how this would look but.... THIS LOOKS SHIT HOT 😀😀😀😀😀

Nice work mate!
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#946246
Aha yeah, I think everyone was sceptical with how this would turn out in the end. People still hate it, but I'm happy it came out the way I wanted it too and I'm glad it works.

Thanks for the love!
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl