This wee beastie is my latest project. I must say the purchase was absolutely painless, thanks to the Finn. An absolute gentleman.
I got BUFOS back to my yard today on a transporter. The idea is to re-assemble it basically "as is" for registration. The old EA82 plumbing and wiring will be removed and it will be powered with a rebuilt 1916 (built by Dave Becker last year). Then fix up the cockpit a bit. Put some new wheels on. Make an appearance at the Nats before we do a bit more "cosmetic work" over the winter months ready for Summer 2007/8!
The basic setup was a prototype ute design attempted by Bufori motors. The workmanship and engineering is first class. The project is really more a re-assembly and tidy up than a resto..
I'll post more pictures as the work continues but couldn't resist putting up these few..
Before
[ Edited on 19-2-07 by StenGuns ]
StenGuns ·
Now
twoguns ·
that looks like a good project. was very tempted... but like most, too many other projects. cant wait ot see how this ends up.
StenGuns ·
OK.. Used an excuse to get out of the office for the day..
1st Stop.. Rob Penrose Wheel Emporium, Kembla Grange
Passed a couple of hours with Rodney talking over my project.. Viewed his wheel collection and walked with a decent set of Empi 15 inch rims.. Also picked up a performance clutch plate combo.. Thanks for your time and advice Rod..
2nd Stop.. Chris, Heathcote (panel guy) to talk over the basic work required to get BUFOS looking presentable.. Decided on a matt black blow over just to tidy her up.. No need for any restorative work really so any future Mods can wait..
3rd Stop.. Powder Coater, Padstow.. Dropped the Empi's off and picked a nice pearl grey (Precious Silver Pearl) for the coating..
4th Stop.. Grippy Rubber, Rydalmere.. Collected some sample rubber T-pieces for an idea I have to cap the window channel (more later).. Also grabbed some ute tray rubber for BUFOS as well as a few other bits'n'pieces..
Last stop.. My yard in Waterloo.. Time to get the old clothes on, get BUFOS up on stands and take a look!!!
StenGuns ·
Right then..
Ist thing is to get BUFOS up on stands and strip her down to see what we're playing with..
StenGuns ·
I noticed straight away that the engineering and build quality that had gone into this was 1st class..!!
If you look closely, you can see an airflow dam to pass more air into the rear engine bay
The undercarriage was beautiful.. A complet boxframe welded onto the pan to retaing strength after the top was chopped..
Nice fabrication.. Those wheels must have been a tight fit..
StenGuns ·
Here is a few shots of the 1916 that will power BUFOS
The front wiring was a work of art
But there is a shitload of wires, relays and doovalackies I've got no idea what they are for!!
StenGuns ·
Finally.. As the car has no roof for the moment, I was going to remove all the glass and just run it as a roadster.. That is still the plan but when I removed the front qtr glass housing, I felt the door looked out of shape and the top of the frame fairly weak..
[ Edited on 14-2-07 by StenGuns ]
StenGuns ·
So I'll probably keep the quarter glass.. NEED TWO QUARTER GLASS ASSEMBLIES PLEASE!!!!!
And remove the main window glass and fill the channel with a "T-Piece" rubber that will fill the cavity and leave a smooth finish.. That way I can quickly change back to glass (BUFOS has electric windows) when I get a hard top made over winter..
StenGuns ·
Thats about it.. I'll do bits through Tursday and Friday.. This weekend, I'll start the rub down and hopefully get a primer coat on..
I'm seriously going to need someme to re-wire and set all the guages.. I have no idea..
XXX-1.8T ·
congrats mate!
This will be very interesting but u have good taste so im sure you will pull this off!
HotRodMatt ·
Looks better than most of the P.O.S. utes around.
Would look even better if it wasn't a strut bug.
Good luck Rob.
Contact me when you are going to do a roof, been doing a few with hotrods lately.
StenGuns ·
Quick update..
Couldn't stay away today so went down around 4:30 and stripped the cockpit.. Fishoiled the heater channels and basically every piece of metal in site.. I'll let that soak in.. May use "metal ready" and "por15" on the inside of the pan.. Pretty good already but if I have some time on my hands. I'll do that.. I've got the stufff in the paint locker and have been dying to use it
Then started the rubdown of the panels.. Got about half the car done with 600 grit W&D.. The original colour seems to be jet black with a couple of clear coats.. I was going to do the whole car in BRG but now I've decided to stick to the black.. Point it out with powder coated front blade and a few other bits in the same colour as the empi wheels are being coated in "Precious Silver Pearl" which is a Dulux brand.. Precious® Silver Pearl 57225 Satin..
So Jet Black with Silver Pearl hilights!! Sounds like a bloody hairdresser..
Bit of a ramble.. and no pix.. Sorry..
Spellbound ·
This is gonna be awesome! I remember seeing that car for sale and wishing that I could get a dig at it....potential plus!!
Keep the updates coming....would love to see what you do with it.
StenGuns ·
Quick Update..
Sanded back two guards today.. Had a go at the hood lid.. The white paint is crap and it will be need to be stripped.. I'll do that this wekend and finish the rubdown.. With any luck (and good weather) I'll get the primer coat on and maybe start on the topcoat..
The Empi's are ready at the powder coater.. Pick up at 0700 tomorrow and fit them out with Sumitomo 205/65 15's.. This is about as fat as I can go on the 5.5 inch rims.. I think it will look wicked..
NOTE: ANY ONE KNOW OF A MOBILE AUTO ELECTRICIAN THAT CAN WIRE UP THE CAR LATE NEXT WEEK OR WEEKEND?/.
StenGuns ·
A marathon session over the weekend on the Ute.. No real dramas but plenty of progress made..
The ute will need another coat and some buffing but basically what you see in these shots is it..
Engine and re-wiring happens this week.. I am chasing down the original engineers cert to get the blue slip.. Hopefully this weekend, I'll have it registered and running..
StenGuns ·
ang3lsholocaust ·
absolute love this project..
good luck with it..its turning out great
good job 👍👍👍👍
StenGuns ·
Thanks.. I'm real happy with progress to date..
I may have an issue fitting the upright fan housing under the back tray.. The ute was design to run with an EA82.. When we measured the type 1 engine up, we are over by about 60mm..
Work arounds for this will be to either change the dog house shroud for something with a lower profile (type IV?) or raise the back half of the deck up.. (not happy with this option)
StenGuns ·
Re-wiring of the whole car started today..
baybuscamperkid ·
type 3 motor or shrouding should definitely deal with the height issues. fascinating looking beast, looks great with the rollbar out.
StenGuns ·
Just spoke to the engineer that originally certified the modifications.. He has a copy (from 1994!) and for $33.00 he will send it to me.. That is a stroke of luck and saves time and $$..
Bizarre ·
best $33.00 you will ever spend!
StenGuns ·
Couple of Shots of the Re-wiring stage.. Engine goes in on saturday.. I have found a smaller shroud which we'll try
StenGuns ·
Saturday
Engine In
As expected the height is going to involve some modification of the deck..
Also the heater pipes removed
The only other issue will be designing and fitting a new exhaust.. Trying to keep this cheap so I'm guessing an "off the shelf" item will be the go.. Anyone have any ideas?
Also missing the backlights from the instruments.. They are "Elan GT" guages from "Classic Instruments" but I'm guessing (again) that the light will be a common fitting to many instruments.. Any ideas where I can go?
Also need a headlight switch 211941531E and a hazrad switch 211953235A.. I'll probably cannabilise from somewhere
Here are some shots from this morning
[ Edited on 25-2-07 by StenGuns ]
StenGuns ·
Sunday..
Need to remove the external oil cooler under the yellow dual cab (disconnected when the 1835 blew up)
Need to refashion the rear valance to make room for the exhaust system..
In this shot, the valance "tucks in" where the radiator used to be for the EA82.. We will need to cut this out..\
StenGuns ·
StenGuns ·
Tried to work on the bonnet lid but the amount of time to get it right would be better spent on other things..
So I'll drop it into the local panel shop.,.. For the $$ it cost, it will be worth it.. It needs to be straight as..
pete wood ·
good stuff mate. nice to see you're wearing your chinese safety sandals too...😀
StenGuns ·
Thanks Pete.. Actually the young fella is a mate.. I'm the fat old bastard in the earlier shots..
chickenfillet ·
Hey Mate, she is coming along great! Finn was my local booze supplier before he took off down south and told me about this ute project, can't wait to see it on the street. Good to see your not the only one who uses comedy safety gearhttp://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/images/smilies/shocked.gif
StenGuns ·
Just got back in the country after a few days away..
Went down to the shop to check out the progress..
Oh lordy lordy.. I cannot wait.. The new exhaust note is cool.. The dials light up..
pete wood ·
pics pics pics!!!:bounce
StenGuns ·
Big final weekend coming up.. finish the painting, trim the cockpit, new seats etc.. install qtr vents, setup the rear deack.. Then next week we register on the road!!
one4 ·
Its looking sweet dude.
Keep the pictures coming.
Richard
StenGuns ·
Well the "final" weekend came and went.. The paint is on and its getting a buffing tomorrow.. Not a lot of work done in the cockpit except for sorting out the seat adapters.. back on it again this weekend.. Here's a few shots of how she is at the moment..
By the way.. The poser in these shots is a mate.. It aint me!!
kroozzn63 ·
man i allmost bought that , looking good ashame your not keeping it original bufori it looked sweet in its hay day with chrome centreline dragways metallic dark blue
StenGuns ·
If the Centrelines came with it, they'd still be on it..
The ute was in stripped and missing a lot of parts when I got.. As for paint, well I'm doing a budget job which doesn't stretch to metallic's. Maybe in a year or so when I've got more time and $$.. Thanks for the feedback
StenGuns ·
Another day spent.. Progress was to intsall the quarter vents, handles, seats and cockpit fittings (mats, seatbelts, glove box etc..)
Getting close now.. Looks cool on the road.. Hope to finish the wiring this week and get her registered!!
StenGuns ·
Still looking for a couple of late bug door cards.. also a fuel filler lid..
I'm thinking of putting an early bug front bumper on (the blade type).. Does anyone know if they fit to the same bracket holes? Anyone have a decent one for sale?
Bizarre ·
THAT IS BRILLIANT!!
How does the motor go??
needs struts or at least lowered cups on the stocks
As for the bumpers - if you want blade you need late 75 - 76 type with the rubber on top.
these are universal and will fit both blade and girder.
I have a set - but they are on my esky.
For this thing - i will swap you for a stock set if yo have them
Give us a call
StenGuns ·
The engine splutters a bit as its not tuned yet.. The carbs need bigger jets.. But it feels tight.. Should fly when its all sorted..
Re blades.. I really want an early bug blade on the front.. failing that I guess a re-chromed late model bumper wiould do..
pete wood ·
nice, very nice. 😏
StenGuns ·
Ute registered and on the road yesterday.. Some bits and pieces still to do (inc installing a basic sound system).. The engine is running rough but still quite a bit of fun on the road..
A new Boss wheel to replace the old wheel and a rear vision mirror set low on the windscreen set the interior off well.. I have carpeted or rubber covered all the exposed bits in the cockpit.. the only bit I will need to fork out $$ for is the front bulkhead..
Thats pretty well the project over with folks.. The paint is shite and when I feel like it, I'll get it professionally painted.. But it will do for now.. Back to other projects..See you all at the Nats.. Rob
silver ·
i appreciate people who finish things
well done
Silver
Octa ·
In such short time. Looks great, well done. 👍
StenGuns ·
Here is a finishing touch.. Can anyone pick it? Check the earlier cabin shot..
plebs ·
Nice Wolfsburg emblem on the wheel 😀
koolkarmakombi ·
radio blank plate...
sweet work fella!
StenGuns ·
Yeah.. I had an early horn button.. Took a bit of reaming out of the BOSS centre, then the wolfsburg fitted in nice and tight..
[ Edited on 25-3-07 by StenGuns ]
greedy53 ·
dam bloody nice
StenGuns ·
Quick update..
The 1916 is out.. Small matter of the flywheel coming loose and needs to be re-dowelled..
So I've put a refreshed 1835 in.. Needs a bit mre revving but still kicks arse..
This arvo my son was getting a driving lesson (not with me) and he pulled into the carport too quickly and hit the side of the house.. So, its already got battle scars.. No worries.. The paint will get done properly in a few months.. Not sure what colour yet..
nbturbo ·
Very nice indeed-given me some ideas how to do the body for my Beetle ute drag car.
speedster356 ·
Came across the ute today outside the Galloping Greens club. Looks very cool. The rain gods stayed away for your trip home I hope? :thumb
StenGuns ·
Yes.. A few spits as I was pulling into the driveway... Thanks
VWCOOL ·
Top ute!
pete wood ·
good stuff mate. good to see it back on the road and being enjoyed like it should be. 👍