G'day All
Inspired by dasdubbers project diary ("My 63 beetle project" - Members Rides) plus his encouragement to set up my own, I thought I'd finally add some notes and piccies of how my project is coming along.
NOTE: This post isn't being put up to brag or skylark etc just a post to show how I'm going for anyone interested in a fellow VW's progress.
So here goes.....
My original project started with what looked to be a pretty solid 58' which I purchased from dasdubber. Unfortunately, when the beast was stripped down, the pan was pretty rusty and the body had more filler than metal (didn't find out about the body until pan was just about completed).
Here are a couple of pics of what we started with....
The first thing to do was weld in two new floor pan halves.
At this stage its worth mentioning that the project plan was to restore to stock and have a little putt putt beetle to travel around in style on the weekends.........
I was new to the VW seen at this point and after a show or two plus reading piles and piles of VW magazines, the project changed from that sleepy little beetle to an all out rip snorting angry weekend warrior that will scare the pants of any ricer that is unlucky enough to pull up along side......
So a few mods were made to the pan.
- IRS conversion;
- mods to take dual brake master cylinder;
- shifter location moved back a few inches;
- front braces to stiffen up front beam
- half tranny strap.
(a ball joint front end would probably have been a wise mod but I was too far down this track to go back, hindsights a wonderfull thing)
The pan was then given 2 coats of POR15.
The piccies below also display my fully rebuilt gearbox with close ratio gears. It also has a heavy duty sideplate and superdiff installed
After going through a set of BRMs, then a set of original Sprint stars my wheel choice finally settled on a set of 16" Fuchs. (Brakes had not been purchased as yet, so bolt pattern was a non-issue)
Piccy 1 - Original Wheels
Piccy 2 - Back from polishers
Piccy 3 - Wrapped in rubber
I also tried to clear coat them with a POR15 product but I mustn't have followed directions perfectly.....first coat was perfect second coat went all gluggy.
Back to polishers for Round 2 ($$ Ouch), I didn't clear coat them a second time...
Now give or take a week/month/year it was about now I realise how bad the body of my 58' was. It was that bad there was no point in restoring, I found another 58 shell for $100 that was ina bit better condition and I was going to use this. But then an Oval came up for sale in Adelaide.......well I had it freighted to Brisbane and the rest is history.
I had planned to restore my original seats but then I found an advert for another set of seats on the Porsche Forum that I new my a$$ would find most comfortable...
Seats are from a Porsche 911 SC - 1982, they are still in original leather, and are very comfy and very nice.
First batch of powdercoating was sent away.....
Then a batch of gear was sent away for HPC.....
My goal was to get a rolling pan, but I continued to get distracted buy some bargains on ebay and swap meets....
- Porsche headlight lenses;
- various bits and bobs
- Flat 4 Steering Wheel
- Freaky little antenna ball I got for free with the steering wheel.
Guages (carbon fibre) to monitor the beast...
Welded and balanced fan...
Stereo system...Alpine
Roof rack...
Pop outs...
Carbies - 48 mm Dells ...(more on engine setup later)
Koni adjustables....
Front and rear disc brakes, drop spindles and adjustable front beam...
Body on pan....
Scalloped rear fork...
Front wheel....(Pan finally rolling )
This is how the project is currently looking....
As you can see rear is sitting a little too high, actually set it at 20 degress higher (car to sit lower) than stock setting. It will be lowered substantially....
Colours I am considering:
- Polar Silver; (in bacground of piccy 2)
- Martini Mica (piccy 1)
- Pewter (Piccy 2)
- Dove Blue
OK....thats pretty much all the piccies I have for now. But to fill in a few blanks
Engine Specs:
Capacity: 2110cc
82mm forged scat crank 5.5 inch carillo rods 90.5 mm bore,
lightened flywheel and 8 dowelled, 2300lbs kennedy p.plate, Street eliminator heads, ported/polished, 42 x 37.5 manley valves, duals, 1.5:1 rockers, chromoly pushrods, retainers K8 cam, as21 case, 48mm dellortos, deepsump, fullflowed, external cooler/filter, 30mm oilpump, berg linkage & pulley, 1 3/4 header.
Compression is 8.2:1
Fuel Pump - Holley Blue
Where to from here.......
Engine is currently at shop having some headwork done, should have this back in a week or so......
Pan and body go for Removable Half Cage installation next week. Once this is complete all of the powdercoating will be completed.
Bumpers etc are currently being rechromed (hopefully pick up this week)
Brakelines hooked up etc.
Pending quotes etc body off to paint shop..
blah blah blah....hope to have it ready for Vall if on this year
Hope thes piccies turn out OK, if anyone has any queries feel free to ask away..
WOW
looking great!!
Just had a glance here at work - will look in detail at home.
The spare - did some one make that up for you??
Or is it a factory Porsche spare???
Futue te ipsum!!!
Bout time you posted these pics up here Brad!! It certainly is looking good to have a body finally back on your pan (even if it is a rat looker at the moment). I don't want to hijack your post so I'll let you answer the questions from the peoples, but will chip in if you need any clarification.
Its been fun helping you spend your hard earned cash....and overall I think it is a pretty good deal for me to trade your garage space (for the past year +) for my labour (for the past year + 🙂...all good fun! (except for the numerous skinned knuckles)
alan
Can I be rude and ask where and how much you paid to get the porsche rims polished. Have investigated for a few years and can't find anyone that will do it. Always told it's not possible with those rims. BTW project look bloody unreal.
Blank
Blue 74l - I am told the wheel is from a 912
type_one - no probs, wheels were polished up here in Brisbane "Brisbanes Best Polishing" its just one guy working in a small workshop. He does a great job. Cost was about $150 per wheel but this was from original to fully polished. I think most of the money was in acid dipping them??? To get rid of the original paint or anodising. After I had stuffed up the clear coat he only charged me $25 to remove and repolish.
If you want more details on his phone no. and address U2U me.
looking great......i wish i had the money to do this kinda thing
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
Looking good so far.Your story sounds about the same as mine.I started with a good '66 and fortunately did the pan IRS conversion,trans beef up,4 wheel discs and resto first.I had done some work on the body when I came across a 56 Oval so decided to use that body instead.I am on the last stage now-paint and trim and refit all bits.
1st and 2nd cars
Update:
Couple of piccies of the removable roll cage.
Rear seats and door cards etc went off to the upholsterer today. Hopefully have these back in a couple of weeks.
Brad
[Edited on 9-3-2004 by blup58]
It's turning out to be one great ride.
Colour - Polar Silver is one of the best (if not THE best), but originality accounts for alot. Having said that, generally metalic paints don't suit the early VW shape/style.
Good luck and keep the pics coming
:thumb
VW car, VW engine ...... keepin it "real"
35MPG on 101.3kPa
Lookin good Brad, better get that engine back soon, I'm looking forward to hearing it run post headwork and general freshen up! :thumb
Brad, sorry to cut in and update your post - here is the w-decklid after welding, panel beating, filler and primer. Now comes high build primer more sanding etc etc.
are there any updates on this?!?!?!?!?!
sounded awesome!
nick
