I'll post again due to the large size pic I started off with originally.

12 months to get to this point! I bought from a Mr Bean so what should I have expected. This bug has cost me a fortune in my wife's IKEA Dollars! (1 VW $ = 1.5 IKEA $s).

I'll give you a quick run down and then expand on the ever enveloping saga later.

1972 Super
Lot's of rust.
Full body off.
Stripped off 4 previous paint jobs.
New heater channels.
Reformed both rear quarters.
2110 with 044s and 40 dellortos about to be assembled.
17 inch Lenso wheels
Shortened struts with adjustable 80mm springs

Still lot's to do.

Stay cool.....aircooled!
:jesus

[Edited on 8-4-2004 by GL1972]

[Edited on 18-7-2004 by GL1972]

[Edited on 24-1-2005 by GL1972]

[Edited on 2-2-2005 by GL1972]

[ Edited on 29-5-06 by GL1972 ]

New Struts.
All the parts came from VForce. Had a local place true them up and weld the bits together.

Lookin Great :thumb

I run the same struts - very purty aint they?!?

What colour you going for? - the electric blue??

Have you a shorter spring?? I am running a King Spring 80mm but dont look like i have the nose down as much as you

Nice work, keep the pics coming :thumb

They are some sriously tough looking wheels.
Steven

Blue74l
Yes they are the king springs. I chopped 95mm from the struts. It looks very low at the front at the moment due to nothing in the back and I had previously raised the back to make the high front look not so bad (before that I use to drive around lookin' at street lights!).

The front disks are cross drilled but I haven't sorted out the callipers yet. I got a set of type 3's only to find the mounting bolt pattern biger and wider. Seems that only a certian model larger bore type 3 calliper will fit so now I have a reco'd set that I'm not sure wether I will install.

I may do a similar setup to Steve Carter's bug. All the rest of the brakes are brand new so she should stop ok.

The color is Tropicana green. I rattle canned a guard below to see what it would look like. Will be the same except for a white base color to brighten it up some.

Stay cool .. aircooled
:jesus

Here's a couple more pictures of the work in progress. A series on replacing a rusted section on the door return that the outer scraper attaches to. I'm preety happy with how it turned out especially since I made tha new section out of a flat piece of steel with snips, pliers and hammer.

Rust is pretty much removed and new oieces welded in now. Also been treated inside an out with POR15.

My pics are 50k and no go on the upload!

Try again

The other three in the series..

Here's one of the dash panel. A piece of 3mm x 150 x 1200 I cut down, holesawed and hand filed till I got the curve right. I have a nice set of VDO guages to fit as well. I still have two more ally panels of the same shape to inlay into the upholstery of the door trims.
:jesus

Here is a pic of the pan complete with new heater channels and finished in POR15. The body and pan were apart 8 months whilst I did this work. No Mig welders here all oxy welded. Does a fantastic job if you have clean and neatly cut surfaces to work with. Note the joining of the pillars to the channels (I'm very proud of this work).
:jesus

Here is the 044 heads work in progress. Not going wild. Opening up and straightening the intakes, smoothing the exhaust ports and unshrouding the valves. Combustion chambers come out at just over 53cc and with 1.5mm spacers will have 9.0:1 compression.
:jesus

The red implement beside the head is my special valve grinding paste.

All of the bits waiting to go together. Long block is now complete except for end float. Will post a completed pic when all nice and shiny.

Awesome!!! Great work, the attenion to detail will definately make it stand out from the crowd.
Cheers Paul

The motor is now together. Just got to fabricate the stainless and ally throttle linkage and rebuild the carbs. I think it could do with a chrome generator backing plate though.

I should be painting in 2 - 3 weeks.

Etch primed and first coat of undercoat, awaiting 600 grit rub back. It's a great feeling when all the major bodywork is done and I'm getting close to squirting paint on it. I'll start putting color on it this weekend.

I don't know whether I'll have it on the road for the nationals. Still lots to do.
:jesus

Well the moment has finally arrived! It get's paint! 2 coats on the interior on Saturday. Was too hot and humid to paint on Sunday though.

One thing that really shows through is the 3 p's of painting. Prepare, Prepare and Prepare.

I can't wait to spray the outside but I must wait for the right conditions... Sunny, Not Too Hot, Low Humidity and NO Surf.
:jesus

oops the pic was too big!

Painting is complete! Bolt it back together! I'm busy insulating the engine bay before I sheet it in ally and also making brackets for the cooler and filter. Also fitted the new L Bug gearbox (had to pull it back out to line up the selector shafts under the yolk). Started on the CV joints tonight (jeez aren't they fun!!).

from the back

Hope to have this bolted in this weekend.

Quick update.
Now fitting up the external cooler and filter. Handmade ally brackets look sweet (will take some photos when the plumbing is finished this weekend).
Electrical:
Have purchased new style fuse boxes (and lots of other bits) and am also currently remaking a new wiring harness (a mix of old and new in a new heatshrink sheath). I am an electrician by trade so I should do a neat job on this part.

I going to fit the motor on Monday:thumb

Have a good Easter, I know I'm going to (Surfing, VW buildup and VW Nationals), maybe some chocolate!

Brendan
:jesus

Lookin good, Keep up the progress and the pics.

I Love the pics.:bounce

OK the engine is in! I sat the carbs on it and had to run to the corner of the garage to take advantage of myself!

Filter and cooler are all plumbed up. Might make some supporting ally brackets to hold the hoses away from the exhaust.

Decided to replace the apron tin with ally sheet attached to the rubber seal groove with little angle brackets.

P.S. How good was the Nationals!

Brendan
:jesus

Hmm that's tight. A Little bit of trimming with the dremel. Lucky I still have paint left over. I'm going to trim a generous amount on both sides as I will be changing to straight shot manifolds at a latter date.

Brendan

goodwork

My spare time consists of the 3 esses "S".
Surfing
Soccer (my kids)
Superbug (this bottomless pit!)

I'm getting there though. I tend to have the attitude "why not try making it yourself". This means it takes longer, cutting filing, cutting filing....

I didn't like the steel breast plate with the heater holes (I don't have heaters anymore). I decided to continue the aluminium from the engine bay to the plate. I used a burnished look as it is too easy to scratch a polished finish. I also needed a new exhaust from the collector back. Bought a muffler and a couple of mandrel bent 180 deg pipes. Hacksaw, oxy set and some swearing (overcooked one angle and had to start again) and here is the result. Pretty pleased with it.

Brendan
:jesus

The new exhaust out sunbaking!