Here are some pics I took back in July. I have since got some 5.5 x 15 wheels for the rear which gives it a bit better look.
It is also off the road and being pulled apart for the respray and transplant onto a BJ/IRS pan.
[Edited on 1-11-2002 by 56astro]
[Edited on 12-6-2003 by 56astro]
[Edited on 18-9-2003 by 56astro]
[Edited on 27-6-2004 by 56astro]nn[ Edited on 8-9-2005 by 56astro ]
[ Edited on 29-3-2006 by 56astro ]
Grey 57 ·
Oval looks good. What colour are you going to respray it in?
Wish I had a shed like that. You can't even swing a cat in mine!!
56astro ·
I was tossing up a few different colours (no, not all together) including a limited edition falcon brown, holden "tungsten".
However, me and the panel beater/spray painter have settled on a 2-tone scheme using "gunyah grey" and a really clean white. A fella had the same job done on a '67 a few years back (Brendan Leyshon was his name I think). We've decided on those colours cause the car was originally gunyah grey with a type of white stripe down each side.
The shed is beginning to get smaller and smaller as the guards, bumpers, wheels, etc are all coming off at the moment. Probably have to find somewhere else for all the kids toys!
Grey 57 ·
Thats why you were asking about the Gunyah Grey. Iv'e never heard of that colour before. Grey and white sounds like a good combo.
Thats the problem with Big Kids Toys they always take up heaps of room!!:thumb
VWFOOL ·
hey astro,
nice oval. my oval is also BJ/IRS but using my original 56 pan.
what condition is ur pan in, is it stock? wide 5 brakes? what are u doing with it after you hav taken off the shell?
let me know thanks
good luck with the paint, sounds like a nice combination:thumb
sam
56astro ·
The new pan is a 1970 semi auto pan that was previously converted. I got stung a bit when I bought it, I was desperate to get one though.
Std 4 stud, discs (f) and T3 wgn drums (r). I have a VW mechanic near home here who is going to do the brake work for me. He is using T2 calipers on the discs, not sure of the full details, all in his capable hands.
New half pans have been welded on, and if all the holes line up it will be straight off to the panel shop. I will be POR-15'ing the pan and suspension stuff myself.
The main headache I think will be getting all the new gromets, window rubbers, etc.
The old pan and all other parts I won't be wanting will be for sale:
camber compensator
floor pan
wide 5 wheels
4.5 x 15 4 stud wheels
etc
etc
[Edited on 16-10-2002 by 56astro]
bugboymatt ·
I just got myself an oval. Just pulled it all to bits. Unsure to keep original floorpan or substitute it for a later one with irs and ball joint front !!!
Gonna need some body panels and heater channels for mine. You recommend anywhere for them ???
Looks great. Mine I think will be black when I finish it. Got to leave it for now off back to the UK for a couple of months them full into resto when return !!!
56astro ·
Sorry Matt, not sure of anywhere locally, but I have a good catalogue from VW Heritage Parts Centre www.vwheritage.com
Email them and ask them for a catalogue.
Keep looking for a later pan, but don't be too desperate!
56astro ·
Added the latest pics at the top.
Doors are off and all windows are out. Hood lining is about to be removed along with all the other trimmings.
The Bug Shops a great site, spent a couple of hours going thru it yesterday.
bugboymatt ·
Pics look good mate.
Kinda makes me wanna rush back to Oz and get on with my Oval !!!
Mine is stripped out !
No windoes, headlining removed.
Unbolted from chassis, engine removed.
All old wiring removed as going to replace it all with a new loom.
Need to do the heater channels then ready for putting onto a new floor pan.
So I'm going to be busy when get back just before chrissy !!
Ya can guess what's on my Chrissy list !!!
56astro ·
Probably the same things as on my wish list:
sway bars, new bushes all round, new tie rod ends, new ball joints, extra camber adjusters, caster shims, new rubbers all round, a day at the auto sparkies, several days at the auto upolsterer, blah, blah
I've had the doors apart and realised I can move the locking handle to the drivers side, and even going to attempt to do my own door trims.
Really looking forward to putting things back together.
OvalGlen ·
Hows the progress Steve ?
Love those pics,
I kept mine on standard floor pan because it was in so Good condition.
You'll leave me on the corners though.
56astro ·
Back to the top again, wow!
Supposed to be working on the car today, but instead I'm at work. Can't complain too much (on overtime).
Hopefully tomorrow the body & guards & some other stuff will be off to the panel beaters.
Got myself a camera (just for the re-build) so heaps of photos will appear here soon.
Also sorted out a few concerns with the engineer.
56astro ·
Stock, lowered but not extreme.
Hardly any exterior add-ons.
Interior will all be new (got a CD/MP3 player couple of weeks ago - $399)
VWFOOL ·
hey steve
is your old pan 5 stud? how does a oval with original suspension handle?
wat condition was ur original pan in?
was removing body from pan and replacing much work? wats involved?
thanks
sam
[Edited on 16-3-2003 by VWFOOL]
56astro ·
G'day Sam
The old pan was a 5 stud one, original setup when I inherited the car, but the new pan is a 4 stud setup. I still have all the old 5 stud wheels with el cheapo tyres if you're after some (4.5" x 15").
The old pan is not much chop, there's a fair bit of rust in one half pan and the frame head was welded on crooked after one of my earlier smashes. That's why I was scrubbing front right tyre on guard. It's not much good for anything as I have stripped nearly everything off it that I can use.
The body came off really easily. Took about a day in total to drop engine and pull all the wiring and cables out, glass out, doors off, all the bolts around the pan seal and hey presto.
Replacing it is another story. I had new half pans welded in to my BJ/IRS pan so not all holes lined up exactly. One threaded plate in the front of the body came loose so I haven't been able to bolt that section up yet. Before the body goes to the spray painter I made sure everything lines up. There are gaps around the pan seal area but when all the bolts are in the body and the pan pull together nicely.
And the bit about the handling;
she wasn't standard Oval setup, so wasn't too bad. With the dropped stub axles up front and the rear lowered to match it certainly improved it. Also had a camber compensator on the rear and that made a big difference. No hints of that dreadful over steer that swingers are reknowned for.
[Edited on 18-3-2003 by 56astro]
kombi_kid ·
man of money arnt ya them new ball joints and stuff are gonna cost abit!!!! just got 2 new b/j done for my kombi and it cost my 200!!!!
hows the progress??? ever need a hand just give us a call even though im always bloody working!!! (bloody woolies dont expect me too have a life but hey who's complaining it goes to my vw's!!)
cheers
rhys
p.s. ill undo that rear wheel nut one day 😉
56astro ·
Thanks for the offer Rhys
The body is finally at the panel shop, the shell went yesterday and almost everything else went today.
I took some photos of her sitting on the box trailer, and the (panel beater) spray painter said he'd let me know when it was ready for more photos.
He was really surprised by the condition of all the guards and bonet etc. Really straight.
Back at home I put the T3 torsion bars in and put in the gearbox and engine. Thinking I should drive it around like that (Wes did!!). Mainly just to check the clutch and throttle cable situation after fiddling with the pedal assembly.
kombi_kid ·
hey
thats sweet!!!!! who you getting to do all your front end work ie b/j tie rods etc??
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Almost everything will be through Pete Richards. He does good deals for Hastings VW club members.
As for the actual work - hopefully I'll be able to do most of it, anything too difficult will be left to Pete.
56astro ·
Here are some progress shots
56astro ·
and
56astro ·
and now at the shop!
56astro ·
and
moonlite6t6beetle ·
A truly Sensational oval, just curoius if it has allreaddy been resprayed, if it will be re-sprayed and what clolour it will be?
moonlite6t6beetle ·
A truly Sensational oval, just curoius if it has allreaddy been resprayed, if it will be re-sprayed and what clolour it will be?
56astro ·
Nah, not yet.
Should be in a week or so. Still working on the new seat belt anchors, smoothing over the dash for new gauges, and a few other things.
The colour: Gunyah Grey over the top and a clean white between the guards. The grey was an Aussie dulux colour that Dave Birchall got the formula for. That was my dads original colour when he had the car.
More pics when she's closer to being finished. Not by Valla though, bugger.
56astro ·
Here's the latest ...
56astro ·
With a new dash ....
56astro ·
Some seat belt anchor points ....
56astro ·
and ....
56astro ·
Taking photos to engineer tomorrow morning. Once he gives the OK to go ahead then the body should be home by late next week.
Some parts have already been sprayed (fuel tank, ashtray lid, gear lever, etc.)
Couldn't get "Gunyah Grey" cause dulux (PPG) don't make the paints any more that were in the original formula. Plus my spray painter uses Standox paints anyway. We ended up using Mausgrau (LH7N - mouse grey). It's as close as I could get without being too much of a nightmare for the spray painter!
Craig Torrens ·
Looking good Astro, what about the pan, anything happening there ??
56astro ·
Ahh yes, the pan 😀
I've just had new ball joints pressed in, new tie rod ends also. BTW about half of the BJs and TR ends were sh1t quality and had to be sent straight back to where they came from - too sloppy out-of-the-box.
New gear selector bush and coupler.
Early peddle assembly is in and adapted to a kombi master cylinder but the clutch tube doesn't line up with the hook on the peddle tube. So I guess the easiest way to fix it is to weld on a new hook on the peddle tube in line with the clutch tube.
New cv joints, new Konis, new steering damper, new window rubbers and associated bits.
I'll put down a full run down when it's all back together.
56astro ·
Got her home a few weeks ago, but just got the digital cemera yesterday!
56astro ·
Cardboard cut-out for the gauges at this stage - just to work out where everything will go.
56astro ·
.
56astro ·
The dash will be covered with vinyl, along with the door sills, A-pillars, and above the windscreen.
56astro ·
Mmmm.
Where will the stereo/MP3 player go??
56astro ·
New dual-tone horns.
No more "BEEP BEEP"!
56astro ·
.
56astro ·
.
56astro ·
This will make some people freak-out.
56astro ·
.
56astro ·
.
pyr0 ·
great work she's coming up a beauty cant wait for the next set of pic's:thumb
56astro ·
Me and my brother got the body back on today.
The floor pan had the tranny and engine already in, so we were daring and just dropped the body straight on. You wouldn't believe how easy it was. Heaps easier than dropping the engine and putting it back in when the body is on.
We did hit a snag though. :cry
I need to get about 6-8 grade 8 bolts to replace a few we snapped.
Bloody front seems too high still. Even after I took about 4" out of the centre of one of the middle torsion leaves. I guess we'll just have to wait until the fuel tank, spare tyre etc is back in.
Rear guards are on, doors on and a few rubbers in place. Everything coming along smoothly (sort of!).
bugboymatt ·
Looking good mate :thumb😀
Grey 57 ·
Looking good Steve. I really like that colour combo on an oval.
Is that a real convert engine lid or di you get the holes punched or something. Its a good idea for a larger motor.
56astro ·
Nah, it's my original engine lid with the vents off a later lid grafted in. My panel beater did a great job.
No more stand-offs, hopefully.
Getting closer :bounce
nbturbo ·
Great job so far.I may have missed it somewhere but what are you going to use to power this gem?In one of the pics we can see your wiper motor-but it doesn't look like the original set up-what have you done there?
56astro ·
Thanks for the interest.
The engine was one of the first things I spent $ on when I acquired the car a few years ago. It is a Pobjoy Stage I 1916. A little head work to follow, maybe. 😀
The wiper motor is from a later model 12V 2-speed unit. It has been grafted onto the "carry frame" of the Oval's. I had to have 2-speed wipers to satisfy the RTA cause it's now on a 1970 floor pan.
Boozer ·
Nice Job!😀:thumb That's s##t hot! good work mate!
56astro ·
Some front suspension work today ...
By the time I shrink the pics they look sh1t, so follow the link;
Looks like it's comming together very nicely, did you weld a complete new turret to it after the roll over?
Rob.....
byronbus ·
😀 Sweet, keep the pics coming
56astro ·
Robo
Nah, Dad got another Oval body (through Pells at Nambucca I think). I think it had also been in a prang but not as bad.
Robo ·
OK that explains it! I thought ya must have been a Master with a hammer and dolly how did ya roll it?....😀
Rob.......
56astro ·
young
in-experienced
swing axle
flatish rear left tyre
right hand corner
UP SIDE DOWN
:cry
lil bug ·
How are you planning on finnishing up the interior, what colour???
The grey on white is sweet I reckon thats the way I'm gunna in a few weeks.
56astro ·
Light grey and a light grey/black carpet. Vinyl over dash, a-pillars and around windscreen - not sure what colour yet.
Door panels will more-than-likely be grey velour (maybe red vinyl like it originally was?).
lil bug ·
Nice ... My 65 is running red and grey interior... it was the best part of Vernon when I bought him so its gotta stay.
Now that u have sprayed your oval do u think the grey is spot on or would a lighter grey suit it better???
56astro ·
To be honest I would prefer it to be slightly darker, as per the original Gunyah Grey. But hey, it's a veedub wearing a veedub paint, that's as happy as I can be short of having the original grey! :thumb
kombi_kid ·
that looks sweet steve i will have to come for a L plate drive in my fasty down to your place and check it out!!!!!
cheers
rhys
p.s. or we can bring the 411 for u to drool over while i drool over ur oval!:P
56astro ·
Ya know you're always welcome Rhys
Drive whatever ya want ....
so long as it's a VW
😀
kombi_kid ·
so is it almost together know???
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Yep
body's on
got to get it to the local brake fella to put the pipes and hoses in,
then off to the auto elec
then upolsterer
THEN THE AUTO ENGINEER :bounce
kombi_kid ·
hey steve
give brakepoint a call at coffs there in marcia street they are VW nuts and help me out and do it for good prices!!!
cheers
rhys
p.s. i might have a surprise VW to show off in a month or two!
56astro ·
ANOTHER ONE?!?!?!
Where on gods earth do you find them all.
Where on gods earth are you going to keep it?
kombi_kid ·
how does a 6 car garage bigger then our house sound??? this one is coming from bendigo!!!
ill get some pics of the garage me and dad are building!!!
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Some pics of the dash with the guages in
Reverse light - I love the look! 😎
Front and rear ride heights - to be fine tuned when everything is back on
[Edited on 27-6-2004 by 56astro]
Craig Torrens ·
Cool,an oval with a lift kit, great for offroading 😀
VWFOOL ·
lookin great steve
ur right
some rivieras would really set that off!:thumb😀
56astro ·
Finally worked out the demister dilema!
Got a fan off a Kombi, not sure what it did on the "brick on wheels" but it now blows air onto my windscreen.
:bounce
Just have to hook up some flexi hose from both outlets and connect them to the heater channels.
[Edited on 27-6-2004 by 56astro]
Golde60 ·
what year kombi did u get the fan off?
i assume its one each side...
i wonder if i can do the same thing for my 60 (will be running 2L t4)
any more pics or details would be much appreciated.
looks like its ready for the road.
u and dean (grey57) will almost match, apart from the white panels!🙂
56astro ·
One fan, cantral inlet, left and right outlet.
Flap on each outlet.
Not sure of year model but can find out easily enough.
Ready for the road - just the windscreen washer bottle, washers, front blinkers and brake fluid reservoir to go then off to the auto elecs.
Craig Torrens ·
long time at the Auto electrics :P !!!
Peter Leonard ·
still electricking?:alien
lookin good :thumb
haven't forgotten I'm dropping by sometime 😉 better get a move on steve..
.
...
.
.
....
.
..
56astro ·
It's home and it lives.
Got it home this morning (with a ding in the rear left guard that I didn't order :cry ).
Put some fuel in the fuel line and started her up. I love that sound, I've been missing it heaps.
Now just have to pull my finger out and hopefully have it on the road for the Spectacular.
[Edited on 6-7-2004 by 56astro]
nbturbo ·
When you get the heaters with the Kombi fan finished,can you show some pics? Am interested in how you do it.
VWFOOL ·
will be good to see it finally at valla steve. send me some finshed pics wen ur done and ill hav them up asap to the site
Craig Paton ·
Hi Steve
Your bugs lookin great!! I really like the 2 tone paint scheme.
What rims are going on it?
Don't ya just love Ovals!!
I wonder if I could stick an oval window on my '68!!!
Nahh just wouldn't be the same!
Craig P. :bounce
[Edited on 7-7-2004 by Craig Paton]
56astro ·
nbturbo: yep, sure will
Sam: yep, sure will
Craig: rims are 5.5" stockies for the time being with 205/65/15 and 195/60/15. Eventually will put discs all round but will wait and see what happens with Glen T's "adventure" at the moment. Would like to go back to wide-5 pattern if possible.
kombi_kid ·
wide 5 definately steve but ya cant disc brakes (just got back from driving the drum brake type 3) boy its scary!!!! i might come for a drive down when will u be around??
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Wide-5 disc kits are big $$, but ya can get them. I just like the look if chromies like on the blue beetle on the front cover of ULTRA VW #9.
I'll be here most of tomorrow, and Sat morning (golfing Sat arvo and work Sun Mon)
:beer
kombi_kid ·
ok sweet might come morrow morning or today:P
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Put 80% of the doors back together in the last coupe of days.
Got the doors closing properly, window winders in.
Just the glass, scappers and panels to go.
Also put front and reat swaybars in (cheers Craig)
(Should that be 50% then??)
Resto64 ·
love it mate great job !!!
can you put up some more pics of the oval as it is now?
great to see a start to finish resto !!!:beer
Peter Leonard ·
come on stop slackin off. where are the pics, ya bugger.... :P:bounce:thumb
56astro ·
[Edited on 10-9-2004 by 56astro]
Peter Leonard ·
lllaaaaahhvely
nice to see how the wiring should look when you start from scratch, too 😉 i currently subscribe to the 'spaghetti system' where once the bonnet is open it's possible you may have to cut your way back out with hedge shears if you plan on seeing the light of day again...
so, reckon you'll be finished in time for valla 2004 :P
keep the photos coming, we're suckers for this 5hit 😉
HotRodMatt ·
Love the dash. Simple but all there!
56astro ·
Thanks Matt,
It took a while to figure out where everything was going to go. I had cardboard cut-outs stuck all over the place at one stage.
From the drivers position I can see all the guages and warning lights, that was a must!
Turbo54 ·
Hi Astro,
Did you get the body dipped or blasted or just rubbed down?
It looks good just a bit ahead of my 54 I'm doing. Mine has been completely dipped and goes to the panel shop in March cause I want to make sure that the turbo / intercoolers fuel system and IRS fit before it goes. Can you post a pic of how you did the rear chassis mount (the one in the rear wheel arch)? I was thinking of unpicking mine and then fabricating a new one, sitting the body on the pan and then tacking it on then. I dont really want to cut the 54 one incase I take the car back to original one day. Nice two tone colour scheme, I'm still looking for a flash trim if you here of one.
Keep going,
Turbo54
56astro ·
G'day H
I drilled out the spot welds before the body went to the panel shop.
Then when it was at home and my brother and I had the body on,
he welded the brackets back in place.
The body was blasted.
56astro ·
Swapped front beams today ....
old 1 out
56astro ·
new 1 in .....
56astro ·
brings the ride height somewhere around "respectable"
big difference from earlier pics
56astro ·
got the seats fitted a few weeks ago as well
gayanne ·
Looking ok astro good to see one of locals producing nice cars pop in one day have a beer.JVLRacing Valla
56astro ·
where at dude?
:beer
gayanne ·
Astro ,eastwest road alway to the end turn right first house on right.JVLRacing
56astro ·
got it
😉
hellbugged ·
been wondering what was happening steve, good to see some more pics and progress. g'day gayanne. check ya, damien
gayanne ·
Hey Dumone,happy with carbon decklid? one of those would look good on back of Astros as well!JVLRacing
hellbugged ·
hey steve, those seats are the same as my old ones, i wont give away what theyre out of , but mine served me well. the way theyre cut around the shoulders give the car a more open feel and the kids will just climb straight thru to the front without even tilting them......hmm. did you get them engineered, if you did i had better check em out because evil kenevil checked my car out during a R.B.T the other day and that was all he could find to winge about, after asking if the back tyres rubbed because of the camber and poking at the bullet hole stickers that cover where the front indicators used to be- he had been checking me out all week and when he had his chance, he waved the cars in front of me on pulled me right in- w.o.f.t.a.m see ya
BLUE_62 ·
Loving that dash layout. Looks awesome. :thumb
56astro ·
dumone wrote:hey steve, those seats are the same as my old ones, i wont give away what theyre out of , but mine served me well.
dumone wrote:did you get them engineered, if you did i had better check em out
Honda integra (I bought these off CT). They have had the VW seat base welded to the bottom and now slide straight into the VW floor pan. The Engineer wanted it that way. Pop in in ya wanna look. Should be home most of today and Sat morning.
dumone wrote:the way theyre cut around the shoulders give the car a more open feel and the kids will just climb straight thru to the front without even tilting them......hmm.
Thanks :cry
56astro ·
or look at these
[Edited on 14-1-2005 by 56astro]
Craig Paton ·
Hi Steve
Bugs coming together very nicely! When do you think It'll be back on the road? I hate asking that question!
But you must be looking foward to that! Any other mods that we should know about? 😉
56astro ·
Craig Paton wrote:Hi Steve
Bugs coming together very nicely! When do you think It'll be back on the road? I hate asking that question!
The way things are going it will be a stretch to have it finished by the Nats. Not that it's going to be a show car or anything, I'll be there but it'd be nice to be there in a dub!
Craig Paton wrote:But you must be looking foward to that! Any other mods that we should know about? 😉
I can't wait to hand the bombadore to the Mrs and start driving the dub, 200kms each day.
I'm contemplating EFI, but we'll wait to see how the twin plugs go first - may not need it! :thumb
Turbo54 ·
I have a set of those seats squeezed into my Dato 1200 ute. Only of the only seats narrow enough to fit in. Car is looking good, will look really good when you put your side mouldings on, pitty you dont have the orig. flash kit. Sorry Astro but not a fan of high back seats in beetles unless there full on race seats. I would've gone for a set of classic racing low backs or something but each to their own I suppose!
Keep up the good work,
T54
56astro ·
No worries T54
What would the world be like if we were all the same!
Although, ....... if I couldn't get a decent set of seats at a good price, some low-back Pro Car seats would have been the other option.
How's your rig comin along?
Turbo54 ·
Slowly, I'll be updating my link soon as the underneath of the pan is almost finished. All spot welds are removed and smoothed over with the high fill going on in 2 weeks and then paint 2 weeks after that. I am waiting for my cam and gears to arrive from the states and hopefull the 2165 engine will be put together early Feb with the gearbox. Then things will start moving a little quicker as it goes off to have the GT25/35 Turbo and manifolds + intercooler built and fitted. I'm doing mine the other way around to you though, build it first, strip it down, paint it and then put it all back together again.
I must say about your seats, There really comfortable!
[Edited on 17-1-2005 by Turbo54]
Doug Sweetman ·
Looking good - its fun when it starts to look like a car again isnt it ?
Also one of the best moments when you start the engine again. Gives a feeling that you are accomplishing somthing.
56astro ·
Yeah Doug, one o the first things I did when I got the pan home was fit the tranny and engine and fire her up. I grinned like a school kid skippin class!
Since I fitted the compu-fire though, it doesn't run real smooth so I need to get a timing light and check the timing.
T54, If it was to be a show-quality car I probably would of done it your way, but it was never going to be a show car. It will be my primary car, so the odd blemish or ill-fitting panel was never a worry.
Doug Sweetman ·
This build has been going on for so long I have forgotten what your engine is !
Nothing like the anticipation of the first kick and splutter either..... 🙂
56astro ·
Upholsterer started getting stuck in today, should be finished by the weeks end
kombi_kid ·
long time no hear!!! good to know its nearly there!! i have a surprise for you i will drive it to your house sometime soon!
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
turbo'd dub??
The Frid??
A turbo'd Frid???????????????
kombi_kid ·
na not yet but just a nice car!
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Some more shots of the progress, on the home stretch now.
Octa ·
Is that grey leather or vinil you used? Looks great.
56astro ·
Octa wrote:Is that grey leather or vinil you used? Looks great.
Thanks
It's vinyl. Door panels will be 2-toned (above and below the chrome strip) to split the grey up a bit.
bugboymatt ·
Looking very good mate.
56astro ·
Thanks Matt,
Did ya notice all the extra sound deadener / insulation. That droning / drumming sound used to be annoying.
barls ·
hey astro what product did you use to sound deaden the bug
56astro ·
Inside the cabin area isjust normal padded under-felt foam stuff.
The engine bay will get insulated with thermal insulation as well.
barls ·
cool im about to do the same to my bug when i get the chance
56astro ·
There was an article in a recent VW TRends mag concerning the insulation of a bug. They used stuff called "DYNAMAX" (something like that anyways). I showed the article to my trimmer and he said he can get stuff that does the same thing - a heat shield, foil-backed insulation for the engine bay.
Doing yours youself Barls?
Craig Paton ·
Hey Steve
Bug's lookin Great!
Wish you'd hurry up though!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P
No more Golf until it's done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumb
Craig
56astro ·
Craig Paton wrote:No more Golf until it's done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumb
Craig
No way.
Golf every Saturday (when I'm not on day-shift) rain, hail or shine.
Hailed a coupleof weeks ago when we're on the 17th green/18th tee. 1st time for everything.
Craig Paton ·
Yep know the feeling! 😉
S/thing only golfers know!
Mind Games! Battle with the Dark Side! :vader
May the force be with you, Steve
barls ·
yeah astro i will be putting down the sound dampener myself and i think i have that article somewhere, it shouldnt be that hard its one of the few things ive got to do before it goes to the upholster
hellbugged ·
kombi_kid wrote:long time no hear!!! i have a surprise for you i will drive it to your house sometime soon!
cheers
rhys
my bet is that it's a schweeet gold beetle wearing empis. i've been looking for ya and that frid too
56astro ·
Driver's side door panel
Passenger's side door panel
Luggage compartment
Driver's side rear panel
kombi_kid ·
ahahahahahahaa dumone damn you !!!! sssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh the progress is looking awesome steve!! when ya planning for her to be rego'd?
cheers
rhys
BLUE_62 ·
Is there an advantage to having your solernoid/module in next to battery, as opposed to onto of generator or on fan shroud where they are usually found?
The intereor looks very nice too. The 2 tone looks great especially with the chrome moulding. 😉
[Edited on 23-5-2005 by BLUE_62]
56astro ·
BLUE_62 wrote:Is there an advantage to having your solernoid/module in next to battery,
[Edited on 23-5-2005 by BLUE_62]
I don't know why the auto electrician put the voltage regulator there. I read an article in VW Trends on converting a generator to an alternator and I thought that was the spot for the regulator.
hellbugged ·
yeah nothing new to run regulator under seat
56astro ·
Some more progress shots
driver's foot-well
driver's door sill
luggage compartment (a bit dark)
under front seats
luggage compartment again
squizy ·
Looking good Steve...coming together well.
56astro ·
Thanks Squiz
Starting to look and feel like a car again.
Can't wait to join-in in a few cruises like the one in your sig line
:beer
PrettyBlueBug ·
Very nice interior!! Two-tone looks a treat, and love the door panels. 😀
BLUE_62 ·
MMM, looking mighty fine. Top it off, on ya side sill some nice chrome sill covers. 😉
Whats with the accelerator pedal having a roller on it?
Sorry for being a dumb arse and asking the question :duh
56astro ·
BLUE_62 wrote:MMM, looking mighty fine. Top it off, on ya side sill some nice chrome sill covers. 😉
We were thinking about that when we got to the sills. Do you know where I could get some?
BLUE_62 wrote:Whats with the accelerator pedal having a roller on it?
Sorry for being a dumb arse and asking the question :duh
The pedal assembly is off the old '56 floor pan, they have a wheel on the go-pedal.
56astro ·
Engine bay sans insulation:
Front foot wells finished:
Passenger door with plastic moisture membrane in place:
Drivers door panel finished:
Insulation in engine bay:
Craig Paton ·
Lookin good Steve!!
Looks like it'll be finished in about 5 rounds! 😉
[Edited on 1/6/2005 by Craig Paton]
56astro ·
LOL 😀
56astro ·
Things are nearly finished and hopefully will see the engineer in a week or so.
Just finished fitting the demister (kombi fan) under the rear seat and connecting the ducting.
nn[ Edited on 12-8-2005 by 56astro ]
Dasdubber ·
Was it difficult wiring up the kombi fan - I was thinking of doing something similar on mine - I have the fan but didn't know what all the terminals were for!! Any tips?
56astro ·
I'll try and get the relay details for ya Al
Dasdubber ·
Cheers mate - lookin great by the way!!
56astro ·
Al,
The diagram on the relay is on the front and I can't get a pic of it, nor can I see it well enough to be able to understand it. 🙁
white = ignition circuit
1 brown from motor to relay beside red
other brown from motor to relay mated with black (pretty sure the black is earth as I had to relocate where it terminated in relation to the isolation switch)
On the switch,
pink is earth I'm pretty sure
purple comes from tuner/MP3 player (don't ask me why)
white = ignitionnn[ Edited on 12-8-2005 by 56astro ]nn[ Edited on 12-8-2005 by 56astro ]
Peter Leonard ·
hey steve. lookin great! the relay (if it's standard) should have some numbers embossed on it or next to each spade connector, like 85, 86, 87, 87a, and 30, which are standard numbers defining what each terminal does 😀 from there, even a hamfisted noob like me can wire one up 😀 one goes to the batt, one is a trigger, (goes to the switch via fusebox) etc etc. some are single pole and some are double pole, for multiple connections, like in your headlight circuit, where it's convenient to have the extra terminal. no more fried fuses or melty wires 😀
Craig Paton ·
Hey Steve
From my quick calculations, I believe your about 2 rounds past your Bug being finished!! Too much Golf, and not enough time in the shed!!!!😁
kombi_kid ·
u better be finished for the sawtell weekend coming up steve or im gonna kick ur ass im gonna cruise in my bro's beetle and u better be cruising in ur beetle!
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Rhys, that's the plan. Hope to see ya there.
Craig, I wouldn't mind if the handicap was comin down, but was 11 now blown out to 12 (and not looking real pretty!!)
kombi_kid ·
and steve we can chat together with stan out at his workshop ahahahahahahahahahah wonder how long we will be there for?? ahahahahahahahha good to see it if ya make the deadline!!
got any recent pics of where ya are upto?
cheers
rhys
56astro ·
Hey Rhys,
I try and keep the "diary" pages on my site up-to-date
can i ask you why u are using later beetle tail lights steve? your nearly there mate just get it done!
cheers
rhys😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
56astro ·
I had to have blinkers (at least 400mm from GL) and thought that although they are not model-correct, they are VW and I didn't have to get aftermarket or bike ones that everyone else seem to use.
I was nearly going to use some LED units that look a bit like the late bug elephant's foot lights, but they were a bit $$-y.
Golde60 ·
great work steve
now that al's 'das-resto' is engineered and roadied, looks like the battle is gonna be between you and me!
now if only i could get those spindles tested.....
i think i might follow you down the kombi fan route too. i m gonna need some heaters eventually, so i will be checking out all the options once its on the road.
i love the custom work you have done on the dash
56astro ·
Cheers
Thanks for the comments
56astro ·
BTW
Me and a mate fitted the windscreen, pop-outs and rear glass today.
She just got her first wash in about 2yrs.
I had a new laminated screen cut from the original tempered one.
Guess what?
We cracked it.
We should've checked the size before we fitted it, but when we cracked it we took it out and compared it with the tempered one, and the laminated one was slightly bigger around the top corners.
It would never have gone in.
BUGGER
😬
Anyway, we put the original back in.
56astro ·
Today was the day.
Got to Port Macquarie this morning and found the engineer in a good mood. That was a good start.
Handed over a file with heaps of pics showing stuff we had discussed about the mods.
A few hours later off to the insurance broker to get a CTP green slip.
Off to the RTA to pic up the rego and new plates.
YAHOO
:beer
I'm stoked!
Comprehensive isurance is with SHANNONS again, they are great to deal with.
Craig Paton ·
Well done Steve! :bounce
Now you can go and enjoy the golf a little more now! 😁
So Steve, what Engine Mods are in the pipeline..???😉
56astro ·
None at the moment.
I'm just going to enjoy driving the thing for a while. But as you know, the planning rarely stops 👍
Doug Sweetman ·
Congrats, another of the most beautiful beetle models hits the roads again....
Ovals are great, the best of the bunch I reckon.
nbturbo ·
Yeah-what he said-you can never have enuff Ovals on the road.
pete wood ·
Congrats, feels like you got one past the authorities when it's finally done...👍
Golde60 ·
damn
you win
great work steve, congrats. how about some pics
Turbo54 ·
Good work steve, go and have some fun!
T54
hellbugged ·
come on steve!! the "boycot" on pictures of beetles containing motors of a certain specific size built by a particular individual doesn't extend to inlude owners as well..............or does it??😵💫 break the voodoo, post some bloody pics! i've only had a glimpse of it, but heard about this new grey and white beetle in town from several people.i'm carrying the digi with me now and when i hunt ya down, i'm gonna post the pics before you, ha!
56astro ·
LOL
Damo, we're in the process of shifting house ATM, so getting on here is restricted to when Kylie's work 'puter is free.
I was at the Bottlo the other day and saw your beast parked in the carport.
I haven't got the twin plugged heads on yet. Can't keep out of the car long enough to get the work done.
I'll try and get some shots here ASAP. 👍
56astro ·
The before
The afters
Turbo54 ·
Very cool b4 and after. Is that the family home? I really love the mural, can we have a pic of just that also. did you do it?
Thought of getting the older style wheels and hubbies?
Nice.
T54
Midlife crisis ·
Very nice beetle
Marc
56astro ·
Not sure what to do with the wheels.
I'd like a nice set of sprintstars, but they won't fit when I get one of VWCOOL's disc brake kits.
That is the family home. We are back there for about 6 months while we build on our old site. We are about 300m from the beach, and over look it. Awesome.
Golde60 ·
how about some more finished pics?
56astro ·
The beetle went in for a service last week.
It's been about 20000km since I got it back on the road after the rebuild, so I thought it was about time the tappets etc were done. Afterall it is an old mag case. The new al. cases don't suffer the same old "adjustment" issues as the older cases do.
Anyways, as part of the service I had the twin ignition installed.
This system is awesome. On start-up from cold it idles at 600RPM with no surging or the noticable rough-idle that even mild cams have. It was rock solid.
Then I noticed how much improvement it had in the lower RPM range. The transition from "off-cam" through to "on-cam" was virtually non existant (if ya get my meaning). That's because it now feels like it's never "off-cam".
On the way back to Coffs from Nana Glen with the 3 kids in with me I only needed to use 3rd gear once - that was on a 35km/h up-hill, hair-pin. Otherwise I could have kept it in 4th all the way back. For those that don't know the road it has a lot of 80km/h up-hill sections. With 4 people in the car an tall 4th gearing I would normally have had to knock it back to 3rd a few times. Not any more.
Another noticable improvement is when in lower gears and about 1500RPM, and the right boot was floored, it was noticable that it was "off-cam". Well not anymore. It now just picks up and pulls all the way through to redline.
I will be keeping an eye on oil temps and fuel consumption over the coming months to try and get some sort of comparison.
Oh, and the infamous run-on has been fixed, so if anyone wants some 40 IDFs that I never used, they are for sale.
pete wood ·
nice, I've driven that road. sounds like you had a lot of fun.
Craig Torrens ·
So Steve, I take it you're happy with the conversion?
About time you joined the twin plug club😀
56astro ·
"Happy" ?? Yeah
Ecstatic ?? Not until I get a steroids version with about 2000 more RPM to play with.
:P
56astro ·
No mate,
just relocated the muffler to the LHS.
Eventually the old chromie will look like a matt black one
hehe
hellbugged ·
yeah the ol switcheroony on the muffler. thought thats what it was.
any decision on the wheels yet?
[ Edited on 29-3-06 by dumone ]
56astro ·
Nope
got any suggestions?
hellbugged ·
want some cookie cutters- recently stream cleaned?
needs sumthin. i'd say either black or very shiney.
56astro ·
Nearly every time I see Cookie Cutters, black with shiny outers, I reckon they look sweet.
Trouble is the stud pattern is different 🙁
hellbugged ·
manage to shoot of any pics of the twin ignition?
what was your set up before the install?
i liked the look of it when i was at stan's. good value too!
[ Edited on 29-3-06 by dumone ]
56astro ·
Yeah, sure.
Here's one
hellbugged ·
ha ha. lurve the detail on the dizzy-is it powdercoated or just painted.o.k so thats the ignition.
what about some shots of the mods on the heads-less intrusive than what most would first imagine.
what about some pics of the dizzy cap and rotor button "plate"- the sight of that was almost enough for me to sign right on up for my very own twin plug
"people just don't understand"-quote
Craig Paton ·
NOt Bloody fair! I still haven't seen the 2 plug for real yet!
Steve can you send the unaltered pic to my email address,
so I can see what I've bought?
Craig
56astro ·
U2U me your e-mail address, they don't show up in the profiles any more.
56astro ·
Well, there is movement at the station ......................
Last week on the way home from work the generator light came on, suddenly and bright (not flickering).
I pulled over and checked a few wires and nothing seemed loose, I couldn't find anything wrong. So I kept driving the 20km or so left to get home.
A couple of days later I borrowed a mates multi-meter to try and diagnose what was wrong. As it turns out it is the generator.
So I tried to get the damn geny, stand and fan off but was having all sorts of troubles. In the end I decided to just dump the whole engine.
I have an alternator, stand and fan that I bought of Dave Becker so I will be converting to alt over the next few weeks or months (things are busy at the mo).
While it's out though I will probably start on the EFI conversion. I already have a HP fuel pump and TB off a VL commadore. The TB is probably a little large so might have to get one with a diameter of 45mm or so, rather than the 55mm VL one.
I can also start organising the fabrication of the inlet system as well.
As far as the brain goes, well not sure yet. I really like the Autronic stuff, but the Megasquirt, SDS, Wolf and other cheaper systems are probably just as good.
I may start a new thread when the work starts.
Hooroo
VWCOOL ·
Use a Camira TB and Delco management. Really good thread on here by... I forgotten!
PS: My vented front brakes fit inside V-Force's 15x6-inch wheels, if you are still looking for suggestions...
56astro ·
Thanks GT, I like the V-Force black spider wheel. If the offset allows them to fit under the guards I would be almost "sold" on them.
Delco - that was another system that I suppose is just as good as the top-line stuff. Ratty has some good threads going on the Delco stuff.
56astro ·
Who can photoshop my car with V-Force's wheels .................
VWCOOL ·
56astro wrote:Thanks GT, I like the V-Force black spider wheel. If the offset allows them to fit under the guards I would be almost "sold" on them.
Delco - that was another system that I suppose is just as good as the top-line stuff. Ratty has some good threads going on the Delco stuff.
Ratty - that's him!
I like the Delco stuff; easy to 'retune' as long as you access to the software. I have an ex-Camira/Pulsar system sitting here that I will play with one day
You might have read in my 'big brakes' thread that I am re-engineering the front hub to use a std VW brake machined down to suit the disc. This will shave about $800 from the price of the brakes (no need for billet machined hubs) but increases track by approx 5mm each side. I am hoping it all still fits under standard front guards with V-Forces 38P wheel and a 205/60x15 tyre... will know as soon as I get the new hubs; they are at the machinist now. I prefer a 195/60 or 195/50 tyre anyways...
[ Edited on 10-10-2006 by VWCOOL ]
56astro ·
I got 195/60/15 on the front, 205/65/15 on the rear. 👍
Craig Torrens ·
Just leave the Kadrons on it.
56astro ·
🙅
too noisy
old tech
I drive the beetle every day, over 200km. I need something I can live with for a lot longer.
Craig Torrens ·
webers!
VWCOOL ·
56astro wrote:I got 195/60/15 on the front, 205/65/15 on the rear. 👍
If there's 5-8mm between the plane/edge of the wheel and the inner edge of the guard, I reckon we'll be okay
56astro ·
Here are some shots taken now that the EFI conversion project is going ahead.
This is the alt I got off Dave Becker.
They served me well *sob*
Not cluttered now, but soon it'll be a different story!
Turbo54 ·
Astro, cant wait to here how it is goes. You can do it neatly, just take your time and think about it. I am running the coil packs on the inside of the guards and looping the cord under to the spark plugs.
I am also running hard fuel rails and using a 180 out the end to run all the fuel line back from where they came from out the frame horns. It has taken loads of planning but will be really neat and easy to get to everything in the long run. Dont just rush in or you will be doing it twice. Keep up the good work.
What Kafer cup brace is that. Can you take a shot of where it goes through the body (top of shock towers). I am trying to find one the moment that I dont have to cut any more hole in the body.
T54
56astro ·
Got it through Serranos (selling on the Samba). I'll get some (smaller) photos and post them here.
Thanks for the tip on the fuel lines. I've sourced a wreck and getting all the EFI parts off it. The advice from the Kalmaker-crowd is that if the vehicle it came off and my vehicle have roughly the same engine size it should fire straight up. But I would still need to get the real-time board for tuning.
One thing still confusing me is how to get the twin ignition sorted.
Turbo54 ·
Not sure about twin iignition, ask your builder or supplier. as for kalmaker, they do the ignition for commodores I am pretty sure so you might be able to run one of the haltech MS-8 or MT-8 (not sure if that is the right seriel no's) piggy back style computers they build. They are always on ebay. If you could post those pics that would be great.
T54
56astro ·
The Delco can fire the twin ignition, just not completely sure how they do it. :thumb
56astro ·
LHS
LHS
LHS
RHS
RHS
56astro ·
For those that are interested, here is the link to the EFI conversion thread:
Thanks mate for the pics. This is the one I have ordered.
Did you have to cut out more around the hole in the body it goes through?
T54
56astro ·
Yeah mate, but not much.
You can see in the pics that the "factory" hole to access the shock absorber bolt has been enlarged. Just make it bigger with a cutting disc or air-operated hacksaw etc.