10 years on, finally aircooled again

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 15 Mar 2013, 1:56 pm

#947697

Well 10 years after moving from a super fun 1970 Beetle to a very safe and boring VW Golf (followed by an even safer and equally boring Passat)... i have finally taken the plunge and bought myself a 1960 beetle. Will be slowly working on it, replacing some of the incorrect parts, and adding accessories. Looks like Day of is on the cards this year 🙂 🙂 🙂

Not sure if the Flash trim is original, but i quite like it anyway.

My daily and my newly aquired weekend warrior

My first fill... am i overdoing it with Optimax?

Cant wait to start accessorising this baby 🙂 🙂 🙂

Non VW, but very very cool. Was getting my Unregistered Vehicle Permit, and bumped into this beauty at Vic Roads 😎

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 15 Mar 2013, 4:43 pm

#947714

Love your bug. Can you post a better pic of the flash.

That van looks insane. Love it.

Futue te ipsum!!!

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 15 Mar 2013, 6:00 pm

#947724

Nice lookin ride man, and welcome back to air-cooled !!!

👍

Dig the look of the Rossi headlights... does it have the 50/50 tail lights up back ???

Love to know what the insured value is on the Airstream....

😂

VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

bitemeoz Officially Full-On Dubber

355 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 15 Mar 2013, 6:14 pm

#947727

I usually use 98 octane, 20c extra over 30 litres is only 6 bucks at the end of the day, about 1 beer at the pub for 300 Klm's of driving. Looks good I've also got a 60.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 15 Mar 2013, 7:10 pm

#947745

Sides wrote:Nice lookin ride man, and welcome back to air-cooled !!!

👍

Dig the look of the Rossi headlights... does it have the 50/50 tail lights up back ???

Love to know what the insured value is on the Airstream....

😂

Ye I'm still in two minds about the Rossis, although they are starting to grow on me. No 50/50s. I'll probably go the glass lenses, also have to change the decklid, hence why i didnt post... yet 😉

The Airstream is HUUGE. Biggest caravan i've ever seen, looks like a rocketship hehe. Must be worth a fair bit.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 15 Mar 2013, 7:23 pm

#947752

Bizarre wrote:Love your bug. Can you post a better pic of the flash.

That van looks insane. Love it.

Hey, i'll take a better pic when I get a chance (this was one of those artsy angle shots).

Ye the van is tough!

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 15 Mar 2013, 7:31 pm

#947754

bitemeoz wrote:I usually use 98 octane, 20c extra over 30 litres is only 6 bucks at the end of the day, about 1 beer at the pub for 300 Klm's of driving. Looks good I've also got a 60.

I agree!

Nickster Officially Full-On Dubber

302 posts · joined Jul 2008 · 16 Mar 2013, 8:11 am

#947799

Welcome back!

Your car looks solid, and I like the flash too, a lot larger than others I have seen. Nice to be different.

1962 Deluxe Beetle
1970 Low Light Microbus

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 17 Mar 2013, 10:52 pm

#948019

Nickster wrote:Welcome back!

Your car looks solid, and I like the flash too, a lot larger than others I have seen. Nice to be different.

Ye it's freakin huuuge, i think it will suit the accessorised look i want to go for.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 24 Mar 2013, 1:34 pm

#948678

Car still not on the road. Fixed up the drums, dropped the beam, took the whole front end apart and now cleaning all the bits n pieces.

Spent hours scrubbing with a wire brush, think i may need to acid dip them to get them back to new, not sure if i want to go chrome, powder coat or just spray them black. I like the idea of chrome on trailer queens, not sure it will really add anything to a weekend warrior.

Heading down to AVWPC this week to talk disc brake kits, suspension and narrowed beams.

Might need to ask some questions re beams on general chit chat. Oh well... while im here, two questions....

1. How narrow can i go with an adjustable beam and still have shocks?

2. Who does these beams? (preferrably in Melbourne)

SunshineKarmann Casual Dubber

34 posts · joined Dec 2008 · 25 Mar 2013, 4:46 pm

#948846

Cool bug. You should be able to run a 4.5 inch beam easily with shocks, just need to find yourself the correct shock towers. Got a mate who can build you a beam. If you want to run low, grab a pair of drop spindles. I run a 4.5 inch narrowed beam with spindles and 145's - handles surprisingly well.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 4 Apr 2013, 1:35 am

#949969

SunshineKarmann wrote:Cool bug. You should be able to run a 4.5 inch beam easily with shocks, just need to find yourself the correct shock towers. Got a mate who can build you a beam. If you want to run low, grab a pair of drop spindles. I run a 4.5 inch narrowed beam with spindles and 145's - handles surprisingly well.

Well, based on your suggestion and after speaking to afew blokes at Bendigo last week, I finally decided upon the 4.5" narrowed beam as I'm slappin some big ol' Empi 5 Spokes on there. So with the wheels, disks and drop spindles i should fill that guard up quite well 🙂 Re sway bar, we'll be cutting the ends, heating the beam and bend it to shape. Makes sense in theory, hopefully we can pull it off.

At the moment im stripping the beam ready for narrowing, couldnt find the safety glasses or dust mask for the life of me so had to resort to sunnies and a rag... all i need is a Molotov Cocktail and im ready for the streets of Dublin.

Should have some pics of the car with the new stance in the next week or so... to be honest i can't wait to move from the front endas its taken me ages to decide how narrow to go. Fingers crossed it all turns out good.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 4 Apr 2013, 3:26 pm

#950017

The beams is ready to get narrowed 🙂 Here we go! 🙂

Fingers crossed the next image i post will be of the new wheels on the car 🙂

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 4 Apr 2013, 7:29 pm

#950051

cool
the lastest hot vw has a story on beams .
.
http://www.hotvws.com/

.

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 5 Apr 2013, 12:00 am

#950084

ian.mezz wrote:cool
the lastest hot vw has a story on beams .
.
http://www.hotvws.com/

.

🙂 Havent seen HOTVWs in ages! (this was my favourite magazine as a teenager) Does anyone know where you can buy these in Melbourne?

Also i recall there was an Australian VW magazine years ago, does that still exists??

poe70 Commited Dubber

56 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 5 Apr 2013, 10:35 am

#950122

Yep, the magazines still exist. Should find Hot VWs and VW Magazine Australia in most decent newsagents as well as a few different Pommie mags as well. You can subscribe to VWMA at www.vwma.net.au.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 5 Apr 2013, 5:54 pm

#950172

poe70 wrote:Yep, the magazines still exist. Should find Hot VWs and VW Magazine Australia in most decent newsagents as well as a few different Pommie mags as well. You can subscribe to VWMA at www.vwma.net.au.

Cheers Poe, might just make my way down to the newsagents see if they have anything in stock... it looks like the internet didnt kill the magazines afterall.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 5 Apr 2013, 5:55 pm

#950173

Mmmmm Shiny 🙂 Cant wait to get em on the car!! Not long now.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 15 Apr 2013, 1:02 pm

#951518

An ingenious new way to move a beetle that has no beam.

Before.

And after.

The shit thing is that after travelling around corners, over speed bumps, all over the place just to get it back home it got damaged in the driveway 🙁

THAT MURPHEY WAS A PIG OF A MAN!

I know the damage is only small, but to be honest i was looking forward to cruising the car for a couple months before i start body work...

Allbones Officially Full-On Dubber

395 posts · joined Jul 2012 · 15 Apr 2013, 1:48 pm

#951520

And after.

The shit thing is that after travelling around corners, over speed bumps, all over the place just to get it back home it got damaged in the driveway 🙁

THAT MURPHEY WAS A PIG OF A MAN!

I know the damage is only small, but to be honest i was looking forward to cruising the car for a couple months before i start body work...

I'd just leave it man, get abit of patina going on, some rust stains, will look sweet in 6 months 😂

Wont make much of a difference to the amount of body work you have to do so enjoy the car for abit first.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 15 Apr 2013, 5:27 pm

#951541

Allbones wrote:

And after.

The shit thing is that after travelling around corners, over speed bumps, all over the place just to get it back home it got damaged in the driveway 🙁

THAT MURPHEY WAS A PIG OF A MAN!

I know the damage is only small, but to be honest i was looking forward to cruising the car for a couple months before i start body work...
I'd just leave it man, get abit of patina going on, some rust stains, will look sweet in 6 months 😂

Wont make much of a difference to the amount of body work you have to do so enjoy the car for abit first.

Ye i suppose, but i am a pedantic bastard and wil probably fix it up before i get the beam back from narrowing... pisses me right off lol

BorisBug Seriously Crusin Dubber

121 posts · joined Jun 2011 · 15 Apr 2013, 5:31 pm

#951544

Love the new wheel where and how much

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 16 Apr 2013, 12:26 am

#951630

BorisBug wrote:Love the new wheel where and how much

Empi chrome 5 spokes 15" x 5.5" (5x205 lug pattern / wide 5) running 145/65 x15" smart car tyres on the front and 205/65 x 15" on the back.

From memory the wheels came in around $950 including shipping to Melbourne. Got them at www.vollks.com.au and they arrived within a couple days.

Luckily my mate owns a tyre shop so got tyres for dirt cheap,

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 27 May 2013, 2:09 am

#957238

Looking at the pics of the car when i bought it, it feels like forever. To be honest i couldnt understand why it would take so long for someone to build a car, but now i can see why!

Anyway after 12 weeks im finally rolling again... I think now i will give it a couple months of cruising before i do any major work.

- 4.5" Narrowed beam w/ shock towers, micarta bushings and needle roller bearings (no nolathane here!) by http://skinnedknuckles.com.au/
- New Disk brakes up front
- 2.5" Drop Spindles
- New King/Link Pins, tie-rod ends
- Chrome Empi 5 spokes all round

Hopefully it rides nice... finally got the correct bolts to attach the calipers so we are putting that all in tomorrow and off i go 🙂

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shaven Insano Dub Head

729 posts · joined Jul 2007 · 27 May 2013, 2:33 am

#957239

^^^ agree. drive that baby

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends"

Canni. Wolfsburg Wizard

471 posts · joined Sep 2003 · 5 Jun 2013, 9:28 pm

#958737

'60s the best year 😉

.. be SO careful with the hood prop! It's so annoying when someone else doesn't know and closes your bonnet without properly unlocking it and creases it 😬

Any pics of inside?

Heidi - 1960 White Beetle
'65 Kiwi Ghia

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 6 Jun 2013, 4:05 pm

#958801

Canni. wrote:'60s the best year 😉

.. be SO careful with the hood prop! It's so annoying when someone else doesn't know and closes your bonnet without properly unlocking it and creases it 😬

Any pics of inside?

I tell ya i think i got pretty close to creasing it myself in the first few weeks haha.

Interior is a work in progress (in other words... it's freakin UGLY). I've purchased the early Porsche 356 seats to replace the highbacks, will be upholstering them in either red or cream leather and rechroming the seat hinges together with a bunch of other bits n pieces.

Here is a more recent pic of the outside... to quote the VW mechanic who had a look at it recently "Thats one hell of a rake" haha. As you can see I'm toying with idea of Eyelids and Rossis, will need a little "convincing" to make it work tho.

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hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 10 Nov 2014, 11:21 pm

#1003284

Ok well its been a while since i updated this thread, so thought i would add some bits n pieces here.
Saw my engine together today, will be goin in tomorrow. Tinwear powdercoated by Jimmy Bitolas and Engine by Volkshome Automotive in Thomastown. Gearbox is a 1600 unit converted to swing axle. Engine is a 1776 dual port with lightened flywheel, counterweighted eight dowel crankshaft, Engle110 Cam and bunch of other bits n bobs to make it run better. Single carb is temporary only while i run it in, then its an upgrade to Dual Weber IDFs and a sidewinder.

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hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 10 Nov 2014, 11:27 pm

#1003285

Looking forward to getting it home, clean up the body a little and kill the big black flash with a simple insert (for now). The plan is to cruise it for a couple months, and then take it off the road next year for body off resto and interior. To be honest i am glad i have done it this way. Because I dont have a second car i can cruise on weekends it would be awful if now i had to take the car off the road for another 6 months for body and interior. This way i can enjoy it on a weekend here and there during the good weather, and concentrate on other bits next year (hopefully have it "complete" by DOTVW 2015 🙂 Also gives me a chance to restore some of the cool accessories i have for the next show and tell hehe.

hrastovica Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 10 Nov 2014, 11:29 pm

#1003286

Also here are a couple trinkets i will be adding to the car as i go...

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