I figured I might as well document it somewhere, and here seems like the place to do it I guess.
At 11:30pm on the 9th of March I will be leaving from Adelaide to Melbourne for the ILV show on the 10th of March.
I have a few things that need to be done before this trip can be made. The major one being the wheels are done. The second is hoping that the engine can be done, but I am not 100% sure that will be the case.
Regardless, the trip will be made and I will be documenting it on here. I will also be documenting the leading up to the trip over the next week and a bit before leaving. I have a lot to do and not much time, so let's see how it goes.
SebastienPeek ·
First thing is first, RS's are off and stockies are on. Fit nice as well, all inside the guards.
Lined up the RS's on the back wall and ready to get the tires off tomorrow.
Case being started on tomorrow night hopefully. Wheels will also be split tomorrow night getting ready for the lips and new bolts to arrive.
donn ·
Seb, I see you haven't fixed the roof yet, what's the go there?
SebastienPeek ·
Not sure yet Donn, I'd like to fix it, just haven't had the time to get around to it.
Want to sort out the suspension and drivetrain, then focus on the body.
SebastienPeek ·
Tyres are off ready to split the wheels tonight.
Sorry for the shitty iPhone picture.
Ollie ·
Keep that roof :p ratter
SebastienPeek ·
Will be kept for now Ollie, maybe one day it'll be fixed 😉
SebastienPeek ·
Quick update.
Engine is back to the machinist. No way it will be going into Zelda before the trip to Melbourne. Better to run an engine that I already know as well.
But, wheels have been split and all ready for the new lips and bolts to come. Praying they get here today, tomorrow at the latest.
SebastienPeek ·
Just received word that my parcel from Germany has arrived.
Unboxing tonight and dry fit/test hopefully. Going to be intense.
Photos to come that is for sure.
SebastienPeek ·
Well, a lot got done last night/tonight. It is now quarter to one in the morning on the 1st of March.
So I dry fitted two wheels, one front and one rear. This is how the front came out.
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!
So after all the fitting and being happy with how they sit, and with the natural camber at the rear, how they'll pull in, I was ready to torque them all up and get them sealed. With the help of Mum and Phoebe, I was able to get all four wheels done, as well as sealed before heading off. Looks like we'll be getting tyres on tomorrow night hopefully and then I can put them back on!
So I left them like this at home.
Now to get some sleep and get even more done tomorrow.
SebastienPeek ·
I won't be getting tyres on them until Monday. Want to make sure the Sikaflex seals and what not.
Will get some more photos of them with the caps on and what not tonight.
waltermitty ·
lovely rims.
Are you planning to fit widened guards?
Looks like lots of grief with that over hang.
Mitchell
SebastienPeek ·
Thanks Mitchell!
Not planning on widening the guards at all. From my calculations and tyre choice, the wheels themselves will stick out but the tyre will still be inside the guard.
Looking at doing something that isn't usually done on bugs. So stepping out of the normal.
The rear has a decent amount of natural camber when settled, so the rears will come in a bit more than they currently do. Only time will tell.
Monday there will be an update.
vwo60 ·
hi, what are the ET and size of the wheels and the tyre size you plan to run, i think you might have a few problems running those rims.
ragged ·
Speechless!
SebastienPeek ·
vwo60, sizes are insane, offset is crazy, tyres have been sorted, wheels will be intense.
Dave, tyres on tomorrow morning, will have the wheels on for ParkPlatz hopefully.
Got the engine back, all looks good. Will bring it tomorrow with me.
SebastienPeek ·
So last night the wheels were all ready to be wrapped in tyres and looking shmick. The small things count, right?
Then this morning I got the tyres fitted on the wheels and then fitted onto the bug. This is how they came up.
Then, I headed to one of the local car parks and found the exact same model bug as Zelda, but completely stock. Here's a comparison photo.
Then an impromptue photo taken in another car park.
Oh well, something different for a bug I guess! Going to do some other stuff tomorrow to neaten her up. Some disappointing news today as well, but life goes on.
benny_acko ·
Nice fitment...a stanced Bug looking good!
1916baja ·
Cool! I must admit I couldn't see how that was going to work but it looks good! Different.
essex ·
Yep, looks good.
SebastienPeek ·
Thanks guys!
I'm tempted to get some widened rear guards, maybe just an inch, or half an inch if they come in steps like that from somewhere. I just don't really want fibreglass ones.
Got to do more work today on her. Going to just clean up the bonnet, front bumper and some interior work. Maybe install a strut brace I have lying around, not sure yet.
donn ·
I've always prefered stock, just changed my mind. 👍
waltermitty ·
very NOICEE !
Mitchell
SebastienPeek ·
Glad I changed your mind Donn! 🙂
Thanks Mitchell, appreciate it!
bugzla ·
mate awesome stuff love it about time people started taking things from other looks andputing them forward into their VWs top stuff
SebastienPeek ·
Yep, that's the whole point of Zelda.
Doing something out of the ordinary. Breaking the boundaries, changing it up really.
Anyway, thanks for the love guys. Need to get a new photo, the bonnet colour has changed. Finally.
One last thing needs to be done and I'll be ready for the drive over to Melbourne.
Plan is to meet up with the T3C boys and roll to ILV with them, but might see what the S|W boys are doing as well.
benny_acko ·
Those rear wheels and that pffset look great!
I wouldnt change the guards unless you have too...Looks the goods
SebastienPeek ·
Thanks Benny!
If I leave the guards as is, I'm going to have to try and get more camber at the rear. Will speak to those at my local TyrePower and see what they can do.
BiX ·
Have you thought about pushing the guards out 10 to 15mm? Go the clarks rubber and get some 15mm by 15mm high desnity rubber and replace your guard beeding with it. GIves you a slight increase in clearance.
SebastienPeek ·
That's not a bad idea, might just do it to the rear however. Will head down to the local clark rubber and see if I can find what you're talking about!
Thanks for that!
kaiisons ·
That fitment is nice Seb. Loving the stance as well.
SebastienPeek ·
Thanks!
Hoping to be able to find a bit more rear camber somehow. Without bending anything that is.
I've heard of other people swapping the trailing arms around and rotating the shock mounts, but that seems like a decent amount of work.
There is minimal camber adjustment as it is with the rear of an IRS bug.
SebastienPeek ·
There's less than a week to go and I have the following to accomplish.
1. Strip front bumper of paint and polish.
2. Fix passenger side window winder.
3. Fix passenger side carpet in footwell.
4. Install drivers side door card. Need to find it first though.
5. Wheel alignment.
6. Change oil in engine.
7. Adjust tappets.
Then comes the drive over Saturday night!
dragsters for life ·
seb i must say that i love the stance and wheels, looks bang on, would rolling the gaurds help? i had to roll mine on miss vivie
i like that your doing ya own thing with zelda and as you know im a fattie fan to start with
keep up the good work and we will see you and zelda on sunday morning, hope the drive goes well
matberry ·
SebastienPeek wrote:vwo60, sizes are insane, offset is crazy, tyres have been sorted, wheels will be intense.
lol 😂😂
Not engineering terms....but f@#k'n cool
Awesome look Seb. Well done.
SebastienPeek ·
Thanks for the kind words! I rolled the guards already so no scrubbing issues. Just need a bit more camber in the rear.
Can't wait to meet everyone on Sunday!
Now to quickly update on here.
As you can see, the bonnet is painted and the front bumper has been stripped. Need to polish tomorrow night after installing black strip like the rear has.
Fixed the window winder in the passenger side for good. Fixed the footwell carpet and wiring on the passenger side also. Oh, and fixed the interior light finally.
Couldn't find my drivers side door card, so a bit annoyed about that but I will live.
Have to go and get some high tensile bolts tomorrow morning to replace the ones I currently have holding the spring plates on.
Then a wheel alignment during my lunch break hopefully.
Need to get an oil change kit before changing the oil and hopefully I can adjust my tappets Friday night. Not much else to do!
beetleboyjeff ·
That black bonnet is much easier on the eyes. 👍👍👍
SebastienPeek ·
matberry wrote:lol 😂😂
Not engineering terms....but f@#k'n cool
Awesome look Seb. Well done.
I've posted the sizes and offsets somewhere already, if people want to know they'll go looking.
Thanks Mat!
SebastienPeek ·
beetleboyjeff wrote:That black bonnet is much easier on the eyes. 👍👍👍
I agree completely Jeff!
Now to just get a new front bumper and we'll be laughing.
Just have to make sure it gets here in time.
sander288 ·
Thinking of a black engine lid too?
SebastienPeek ·
Have been told I should do it, but going to leave it as is for now.
Just want to get the Euro bumper on (indicators in it) and then roll it as is.
I might install some elephant feet taillights if I can get some guards and taillights in the next day or so.
Also need double spring plate bolts. Badly.
vwo60 ·
Any decent bolt supply shop will have 12MM grade 8,8 bolts in metric fine, just use high tensile flat washers and nyloc nuts.
SebastienPeek ·
Just need the specs, can't seem to find anything that details the actual bolt specs so I can find them.
vwo60 ·
Take one out of the car and take it to the bolt shop or just work out the length and ask for a metric fine 12MM bolt in the length required
Turbo54 ·
Looking cool Sebastian, black bonnet is much better!
A set of mirrors on the front guards maybe?
Hows the reading going?
T54
SebastienPeek ·
Turbo54 wrote:Looking cool Sebastian, black bonnet is much better!
A set of mirrors on the front guards maybe?
Hows the reading going?
T54
Thanks Heath!
Aha no front guard mirrors 😉
Reading is going good, went through a couple of them and they have a few, different builds in there. I guess that's what I am doing, being different with Zelda, but some of the shit in the 80's was damn weird.
Thanks again!
SebastienPeek ·
Mum has been able to get her hands on some new bolts for the double spring plate covers.
I'm waiting on something to come from interstate for the front of Zelda.
Tonight will be getting some parts and some oil change kits. Drain the oil tonight, put new oil in, then go and deliver some parts to a mate.
Tomorrow morning will be wheel alignment and adjusting of the tappets tomorrow night.
kaiisons ·
oooo I know what's coming from interstate!! 😂
SebastienPeek ·
Plan has taken a new course, but for the good!
Will now be leaving Adelaide at 8am Saturday morning, spending Saturday and Sunday night in Melbourne and heading back to Adelaide around 2pm Monday.
This means more time for activities, less time for the shit I need to get done before leaving.
Got a lot to do and not a lot of time. But, we should be all good.
peter87 ·
if you are looking for elephant feet guards i have a set sitting in the shed along with tail light assembly
SebastienPeek ·
Are they white Peter?
Oil change has been successfully accomplished. Another thing ticked off my list.
Have a feeling I'm not going to have time to do the tappets before leaving Saturday morning.
Wheel alignment tomorrow morning.
SebastienPeek ·
Wheel alignment ticked off.
Now to see if my front bumper comes today at some point.
Definitely not enough time to install it, or do the tappets unfortunately.
Leaving tomorrow morning at 4am.
The further I get before it starts getting above 30 tomorrow the better. I reckon I'll get to Bordertown around 8:30am all being well.
lovinbronx ·
Hi Seb
Looking forward to meeting on Sunday morning in Brighton and checking out Zelda, looks like you have been a busy boy!
Dan
peter87 ·
na mate the body work has been done just need undercoat and paint. If you are keen let me know need them gone
SebastienPeek ·
Definitely keen Peter, I'll hit you up in the coming week or two.
Currently in Bordertown getting some breakfast. Zelda is traveling fine, oil check has been done and no top up needed.
Petroleum wise, going well so far. Got to Tailem Bend and filled up 14l, now in Bordertown and about half a tank of petroleum is still available. Will top up and hopefully make it to Horsham.
peter87 ·
No worries 🙂
SebastienPeek ·
Made it safe and sound to Melbourne!
Zelda did good. One tank of petroleum from Bordertown to Ballarat!
Will do the calculations later, but pretty damn good fuel economy if you ask me.
Anyway. Out for dinner tonight, car wash later and then to ILV tomorrow all going well.
Then back home on Monday.
smithy68 ·
Love what you have done with the wheels Seb, very nice indeed.
SebastienPeek ·
Thanks mate!
Today went well. Got to the type three coffee meet with Phoebe and had a nice breakfast interrupted by a wasp.
Zelda also got sticker bombed by Eccles with a t3c sticker!
Cruised with the guys down to the meet. Fashionably late as always.
Was an awesome turnout. Lots of nice water cooled cars and a very sweet looking splitty also showed up. One a prize too!
Stayed around for trophies. Was hoping to win most travelled, but alas that went to someone that came down from the central coast of NSW.
Went back to the hotel. Had a long awaited shower after sweating so much during the show.
Then went down Brighton way and did something for work. Went out for dinner and a stroll down the beach.
Then came back to the hotel and went for a walk to a dessert bar we found last night.
Now back in the hotel room and getting ready for bed. Long trip tomorrow!
SebastienPeek ·
Got home safe and sound.
Took our time today as it was bloody hot.
Now to unpack and relax a bit.
rickp ·
well done! the beetle looks planted!.. looks stuck to the ground. 👍👍
SebastienPeek ·
So, one thing is for sure, Zelda needs air bags.
Rolling around that close to the guards when making a long trip like that, it definitely took it's toll on the rear drivers side tyre wall.
I'm not sure what is happening with the other body at the moment, but I'm thinking of going a completely different route after the last weekend.
I guess only time will tell.