Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
mmm probably not, they are great on highbeam but the projectors cause too many shadows on lowbeam
74 Germanlook SUBAbeetle
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
I made good use of being stuck at home thanks to another rainy day
I know, rainy day?? around here???...... GTFO
Can anyone guess?
Excuse the messy shed.
Well it's only been a whole year but I finally got that left rear guard I resprayed in feb last year on to replace the crumpled guard of doom.
Whenever I had guests over they were quite amused by the beetle guard sitting in my spare room.
Was the only place I could keep it where it wouldnt get scratched to shit.
I know, rainy day?? around here???...... GTFO
Can anyone guess?
Excuse the messy shed.
Well it's only been a whole year but I finally got that left rear guard I resprayed in feb last year on to replace the crumpled guard of doom.
Whenever I had guests over they were quite amused by the beetle guard sitting in my spare room.
Was the only place I could keep it where it wouldnt get scratched to shit.
annosL Officially Full-On Dubber
378 posts · joined Dec 2008 ·
good work, love the upright white toolbox with stickers!
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
You mean my beer fridge? 😂
You're right it is actually a toolbox these days, my real beer fridge is hiding on the other side of the bug.
You're right it is actually a toolbox these days, my real beer fridge is hiding on the other side of the bug.
Ollie Yeah Buddy
840 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
looking real good joel! Love the single exhaust and 67 (I think) Decklid!
Follow the Photo Fun:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238
- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238
- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)
STIDUB Over it.
1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·
about time, coming to dubs by the pubpiefish dent free?
feeling the urge to roll your guards to lessen the scrubbing issues yet? 😀
and was the pic made too look wallpaper worthy on purpose or just happened that way?
feeling the urge to roll your guards to lessen the scrubbing issues yet? 😀
and was the pic made too look wallpaper worthy on purpose or just happened that way?
Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard
635 posts · joined May 2008 ·
Ditto, that lighting is either very flukey, or you had the big silver umbrellas and some lights shining into them.STIDUB wrote:was the pic made to look wallpaper worthy on purpose or just happened that way?
Great shot either way though.
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita
Boozo Back in the bug
359 posts · joined Sep 2007 ·
wow youve done alot to this thing over the yrs. looking good man, hope ta seeya at dubs.
ill be in my girls new(ish) 68 🙂
ill be in my girls new(ish) 68 🙂
'59 or Kombi?....feeling confused
'59 bug
'68 bug
'82 import T3 BUS. aircooled
'59 bug
'68 bug
'82 import T3 BUS. aircooled
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
I thought it was a pretty shitty pic actually.
maybe with a better back ground.
It was a pic you took and posted a while back of that green subi bug that made me swap to the fibreglass valance and single tip.
I got the fibreglass valance 2 years ago when I started the conversion but I wasnt sure if I would like the look so I never fitted it.
After seeing that pic you took I thought I'd give it a go when I built my new exhaust last year.
Really happy with how it turned out
maybe with a better back ground.
Whoa that's wierd that your the one that mentioned it.OMClarke wrote:looking real good joel! Love the single exhaust and 67 (I think) Decklid!
It was a pic you took and posted a while back of that green subi bug that made me swap to the fibreglass valance and single tip.
I got the fibreglass valance 2 years ago when I started the conversion but I wasnt sure if I would like the look so I never fitted it.
After seeing that pic you took I thought I'd give it a go when I built my new exhaust last year.
Really happy with how it turned out
colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good
2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·
valance changed hands a bit too....
Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard
635 posts · joined May 2008 ·
mustard is alive!!!!
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita
Ollie Yeah Buddy
840 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
Craig S wrote:mustard is alive!!!!
hah x2
Yeah I think it looks 100 time better with a big single out the back. My mate's 2276T has a similar looking set-up and it just ads a little bit of mystery to whats hidden underneath.
Also, IMO I think it just cleans the whole rear of the Elephant-light models up.
p.s. What year decklid is that?
Follow the Photo Fun:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238
- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238
- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)
colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good
2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·
hellllllo!!!
that be a 68/69 lid. 🙂
that be a 68/69 lid. 🙂
Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l
12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Who??Craig S wrote:mustard is alive!!!!
Never heard of him 🙅
🤪
😂
Futue te ipsum!!!
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
It only takes hearing my car for 2 secs to know whats in it 😂OMClarke wrote:Yeah I think it looks 100 time better with a big single out the back. My mate's 2276T has a similar looking set-up and it just ads a little bit of mystery to whats hidden underneath.
Also, IMO I think it just cleans the whole rear of the Elephant-light models up.
I love the bulgy EFI valance and single tip exhaust on late cars, like you said really cleans it up
Just wasn't sure if it was gonna work on mine but turned out fine
It's the way all the last fuel injected bugs in the US and japan were.
cam070 Custom Title Time!
1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·
Joel, you haven't changed wheels again have you? Those don't look like your Lite-7's
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
That pic was taken a few weeks back, I just had to chuck the Boost-R's on for the pinky.
Front tyres on the lite-7s aren't worn to the wear blocks yet but not the most roadworthy tyres either
Front tyres on the lite-7s aren't worn to the wear blocks yet but not the most roadworthy tyres either
monkney Learner Dubber
16 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·
Very nice bud, makes me wanna go 🤪
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
I better win some frigging trophies tomorrow at dubs by the pub cos I've put in SO much effort
yes... I spent 10 mins washing it 🤪
I'd forgotten what it looked like clean
I 'ave come to clean ze bug.....
Well it is actually a huge effort, I don't normally wash my cars this time of year, it's just an exercise in futility.
Living out in sticks during summer means my cars all constantly look like I've driven through a locust swarm
damn bug guts sets like superglue 🤪
ANyway I'd be happy to receive the most number of stone chips award
Or; best polish job applied by a cat
[end/ random post]
yes... I spent 10 mins washing it 🤪
I'd forgotten what it looked like clean
I 'ave come to clean ze bug.....
Well it is actually a huge effort, I don't normally wash my cars this time of year, it's just an exercise in futility.
Living out in sticks during summer means my cars all constantly look like I've driven through a locust swarm
damn bug guts sets like superglue 🤪
ANyway I'd be happy to receive the most number of stone chips award
Or; best polish job applied by a cat
[end/ random post]
STIDUB Over it.
1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·
guess ill be seeing ya tomorrow then 👍
Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
lou0060 Wolfsburg Wizard
568 posts · joined Dec 2010 ·
nice work Joel. you need an old school bug screen!
1971 karmann ghia Cabrio - Cruising 👍
1963 beetle Sunroof - gathering dust 🥲
1968 race beetle - twin turbo Subaru - stress relief 😁
1960 beetle - old school low & slow 😏
1963 beetle Sunroof - gathering dust 🥲
1968 race beetle - twin turbo Subaru - stress relief 😁
1960 beetle - old school low & slow 😏
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
While I mope about the house with some painful holes in my head where my wisdom teeth used to reside heres some other stuff I can crap on about that I've done to the bug I havent really bothered bringing up.
A few people have spotted I have yet another new set another new set of headlights, this makes set number 5 or 6
So let there be light.....
I think I mentioned a while back one of the LOL projectors copped a rock and once the glass breaks on sealed beam style mount lights the retainers have nothing to hold them in with.
I just shoved the lucas inserts that came with the mounts in which worked ok but they're almost 20 years older than what the bug is and looked like shit.
Plus the old curved shape lenses look rediculous on a Germanlook bug, makes it look like those people that can pop their eyeballs out of there sockets.
So I did some shopping around for new lights.
I wanted to stay with the clear lense, prism reflector style lights.
Look around car parks, every car built in the last 10 years has this style of light, they just look really clean on the front of a modified bug, out of place on a stocker though.
There is 100s of them availble on EBay, most look pretty as in pictures but are absolute rubbish in reality.
99% of them are plastic polycarbonate lenses that go yellow after 5 mins in the sun like modern cars that live outside, and also have plastic polycarbonate reflectors which mean running UV cut bulbs or they melt and go yellow.
I ended up finding these ones from Autopal.
They have nice thick glass lenses with metal reflectors so I can run my 130/90w bulbs without melting them, a parker light fitting (most don't) that actually uses modern T10 wedge bulbs not those crappy B9S bayonette bulbs like VW headlights
and they are proper RHD E-code headlights.
E-code has been around since stock VW headlights in the 60s, its that trapezoid shape on the right, it throws a beam up and to left to light up reflective signs on the side of the road.
All the cheap nasty plastic ones don't have this and don't meet ADRs.
I was also getting the shits with not having a glovebox light, the I-bus connection for my Ipod is in my glovebox and is hard to find in the dark so I stuck one of those LED strips in there.
I've got the switch from the subi glovebox I need to wire in so it only comes on when its opened.
I also wanted to do something about the crappy inadequate dash lighting.
I've always hated how poorly lit VW speedos are at night.
I tried BA7s LEDs in there but they lit it up worse than stock bulbs as LEDs are too directional.
I did keep all the bulbs out of the subi dash cluster which have these green frangers on them for an alien like green glow, and these seem to fit nicely on BA7S bulbs
Still hopeless but atleast it had a cool green tinge.
Those that have speco gauges will know the backlighting bulb is moulded into a rubber plug and cant be replaced or swapped for an LED, but the green frangers also fit those bulbs to, so they got the same treatment
Before and after lol
I decided a different approach to improve the speedo lighting was needed.
This is the dash cluster of my Laser, you can see why modern car clusters light up well, its because the numbers are translucent and the light shines through them instead of just relying on the light reflecting around from 2 crappy 2w bulbs like a VW speedo does.
So I had Brent that made my old white face gauge make a new black one with white translucent numbers
And stuck one of those LED strips in the speedo
That's better
I also had him make it without the white ring around the center, just tidys it up abit.
A few people have spotted I have yet another new set another new set of headlights, this makes set number 5 or 6
So let there be light.....
I think I mentioned a while back one of the LOL projectors copped a rock and once the glass breaks on sealed beam style mount lights the retainers have nothing to hold them in with.
I just shoved the lucas inserts that came with the mounts in which worked ok but they're almost 20 years older than what the bug is and looked like shit.
Plus the old curved shape lenses look rediculous on a Germanlook bug, makes it look like those people that can pop their eyeballs out of there sockets.
So I did some shopping around for new lights.
I wanted to stay with the clear lense, prism reflector style lights.
Look around car parks, every car built in the last 10 years has this style of light, they just look really clean on the front of a modified bug, out of place on a stocker though.
There is 100s of them availble on EBay, most look pretty as in pictures but are absolute rubbish in reality.
99% of them are plastic polycarbonate lenses that go yellow after 5 mins in the sun like modern cars that live outside, and also have plastic polycarbonate reflectors which mean running UV cut bulbs or they melt and go yellow.
I ended up finding these ones from Autopal.
They have nice thick glass lenses with metal reflectors so I can run my 130/90w bulbs without melting them, a parker light fitting (most don't) that actually uses modern T10 wedge bulbs not those crappy B9S bayonette bulbs like VW headlights
and they are proper RHD E-code headlights.
E-code has been around since stock VW headlights in the 60s, its that trapezoid shape on the right, it throws a beam up and to left to light up reflective signs on the side of the road.
All the cheap nasty plastic ones don't have this and don't meet ADRs.
I was also getting the shits with not having a glovebox light, the I-bus connection for my Ipod is in my glovebox and is hard to find in the dark so I stuck one of those LED strips in there.
I've got the switch from the subi glovebox I need to wire in so it only comes on when its opened.
I also wanted to do something about the crappy inadequate dash lighting.
I've always hated how poorly lit VW speedos are at night.
I tried BA7s LEDs in there but they lit it up worse than stock bulbs as LEDs are too directional.
I did keep all the bulbs out of the subi dash cluster which have these green frangers on them for an alien like green glow, and these seem to fit nicely on BA7S bulbs
Still hopeless but atleast it had a cool green tinge.
Those that have speco gauges will know the backlighting bulb is moulded into a rubber plug and cant be replaced or swapped for an LED, but the green frangers also fit those bulbs to, so they got the same treatment
Before and after lol
I decided a different approach to improve the speedo lighting was needed.
This is the dash cluster of my Laser, you can see why modern car clusters light up well, its because the numbers are translucent and the light shines through them instead of just relying on the light reflecting around from 2 crappy 2w bulbs like a VW speedo does.
So I had Brent that made my old white face gauge make a new black one with white translucent numbers
And stuck one of those LED strips in the speedo
That's better
I also had him make it without the white ring around the center, just tidys it up abit.
cam070 Custom Title Time!
1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·
Joel, always the innovator. Can you tell us where you got those headlights from?
Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard
635 posts · joined May 2008 ·
Yep, link for the headlights please.
Gauges look the goods as well.
Gauges look the goods as well.
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Cheers guys,
I got the lights through Ringwood auto parts on ebay
this would be them
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CRYSTAL-VISION-HALOGEN-HEADLIGHT-INSERT-KIT-BRAND-NEW-/280230457730?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item413f097182
He also sells an original looking version as well that has fluted lenses like stock.
To fit them to a VW needs some sealed beam mounts out of some other car but they're easy to get as pretty much everything with 7" round headlights uses them.
I got the lights through Ringwood auto parts on ebay
this would be them
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CRYSTAL-VISION-HALOGEN-HEADLIGHT-INSERT-KIT-BRAND-NEW-/280230457730?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item413f097182
He also sells an original looking version as well that has fluted lenses like stock.
To fit them to a VW needs some sealed beam mounts out of some other car but they're easy to get as pretty much everything with 7" round headlights uses them.
Smiley Veteran Volks Folk
2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·
Great work as always Joel. I always enjoy reading your little tech improvements.
This comes at a good time as the 'el Cheapo generic Narva headlights in my Baja have started to die. The chrome is peeling off the inside because they have been full of water too many times while offroading.
Have been looking around to see what to get to replace them, I think these are the go 👍
Smiley 😎
This comes at a good time as the 'el Cheapo generic Narva headlights in my Baja have started to die. The chrome is peeling off the inside because they have been full of water too many times while offroading.
Have been looking around to see what to get to replace them, I think these are the go 👍
Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Cheers Smiley,
These may do the same given time, hard to say but the quality seems pretty good especially for the price, I was actually pleasantly surprised by them given the low cost.
I've done plenty of wet weather driving since they went in and no dramas or visible moisture inside yet.
the bulbs they come with could be junk, I didn't use them but normally a pair of 100/90w H4s are atleast $30 alone.
The only thing I would do with them is on the back there is a rubber boot that sits over the bulb more for dust proofing than water proofing but there is 2 holes where the bulb shield/deflector thing clips in place.
It's under the the rubber boot but wouldn't hurt to smear some silicon over them just to prevent moisture getting in.
Hard to see the hole in pics as it's not that big.
water drops are all on the outside.
These may do the same given time, hard to say but the quality seems pretty good especially for the price, I was actually pleasantly surprised by them given the low cost.
I've done plenty of wet weather driving since they went in and no dramas or visible moisture inside yet.
the bulbs they come with could be junk, I didn't use them but normally a pair of 100/90w H4s are atleast $30 alone.
The only thing I would do with them is on the back there is a rubber boot that sits over the bulb more for dust proofing than water proofing but there is 2 holes where the bulb shield/deflector thing clips in place.
It's under the the rubber boot but wouldn't hurt to smear some silicon over them just to prevent moisture getting in.
Hard to see the hole in pics as it's not that big.
water drops are all on the outside.
Smiley Veteran Volks Folk
2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·
Yeah, I think I would go to the effort to seal them better than the ones I have currently. And mine don't get wet from wet weather driving. I mean they literally fill up with water while fording and the water level is over the headlights. 😂😂😂Joel wrote:Cheers Smiley,
These may do the same given time, hard to say but the quality seems pretty good especially for the price, I was actually pleasantly surprised by them given the low cost.
I've done plenty of wet weather driving since they went in and no dramas or visible moisture inside yet.
the bulbs they come with could be junk, I didn't use them but normally a pair of 100/90w H4s are atleast $30 alone.
The only thing I would do with them is on the back there is a rubber boot that sits over the bulb more for dust proofing than water proofing but there is 2 holes where the bulb shield/deflector thing clips in place.
It's under the the rubber boot but wouldn't hurt to smear some silicon over them just to prevent moisture getting in.
Hard to see the hole in pics as it's not that big.
water drops are all on the outside.
Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
MMM, just be liberal with the silicone and you should be right.
Smiley Veteran Volks Folk
2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·
Just another quick question.
What do you get the LED strip lighting from? Jaycar or Old Dick Smith??
Smiley 😎
What do you get the LED strip lighting from? Jaycar or Old Dick Smith??
Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.