Hi, I've been reading the boards for a while now (the Subaru engine swap threads are really insightful!) and thought I might as well post some pic's up of my bug.

Just to see what you Aussie guys make of it (I'm in England!)

Thanks













...........well ....... i like it!

Al B:P

awesome
i like the flamey theme

Ya didnt paint,polish,chrome,flame...the fuel filler cap!
Must of run out of money huh?:cry

Man that looks sweeet man!!!

pretty sweet lookin ride u got yourself there mate. love th flares on the engine lid.

Thats one sweet ride. How did you do the unterior door handle, they look smick.

Tasty ride man whots the specs

nice. no rear louveres? whats cooling the mumbo? looks good on the road.

i read about this on vzi, didn't you win best in show or something at deva?
i used to live in chester, went to the first deva show..... wish i coulda made this year's show tho! there were some spectacular looking rides there from the pics i've seen.

anyway, welcome!!!

kai

p.s. i would also like to know how you did the interior door handles.....care to share some secrets?

thats one sweet bug

Beautiful. I love your car.

congrats = swap for my ghia = check thread

and now write us again and open the engine lid

beeeeautiful!

im not a big fan of flames (brings back chilling memories of seedy movies) but that is done tastefully and i like it. neo classical style all the way. i can only hope my beetle makes an impression like that.

Daniel - Penis... i mean beetle envy

Thanks for all the kind words guys, 'glad ya like it!!!:thumb

To answer a few questions..........

dragbug, you're not the first to comment on the filler cap!! It HAS been painted, but I think you're right, chroming tank here I come!:P

Bone collector & Kai, The interior door handles came from http://www.billetandacrylicfantasies.com  in Florida US, speak to a guy called Tom Hingle there and he'll make anything for you,..... very reasonable too!



He made my bonnet hinges too....



And yes Kia you're right, the bug did do rather well at DEVA ('Cracking day out!):thumb:thumb Best of show on it's first outing!!!

Twoguns, though the rear louvres have been plated over plenty of air still gets to the motor, courtesy of the obvious vents in the deck-lid and the not so obvious bloody great hole through the firewall!



......it goes through to under the luggage area.

Karmen, thanks for the offer but I'll have to pass this time, it's a bit of a drive to Oz from here!

and as for under the deck lid.............



THIS IS THE TEMPORARY MOTOR! (It was sort of free!)

anyway thanks again guys, it's nice to know that others like my bug, 'cos I do!!

Al B

I'll post a few more 'interesting' pics below

Ta

...........Billet running boards, hidden hinges, removed 'A' post seam, 'Aero' mirrors....



...... 'euro' headlight lenses, iridium indicator bulbs.......



......modified rear lights with sunken indicator lens, tapered off rain gutter.....



chassis stuff next

Al B

[Edited on 7-10-2004 by Al B]

.......worms eye view........



.........front end........



.......back end...........



........and a rolling floorpan!



That'll do for now I think!

Here’s a bit of the spec’/resto stuff……..

From the front….

Replaced the frame-head complete, (Due to terminal rot)
New PUMA adjustable beam,
With,
Pair of castor shims,
Long travel ball joints,
Anti-Bump steer kit,
Camber adjusters,
New track rod ends,
New steering damper,
CB Performance 2” dropped spindles,
New front disc conversion, in BMW 5 stud pattern. (Shortly to be changed for a full BMW M3 set up)
New dual circuit master cylinder, (again about to be changed for a Porsche 944T one)
GOODRIDGE braided stainless steel brake hosing,
New cunifer solid brake lines (all bends at 90°)
Pair of AVO Coil-over shock absorbers.
Heavy duty anti-roll bar with Urethane bushes and stainless steel fittings.


The rear end of the chassis has had new brake components and cables throughout, new drums, in BMW 5 stud pattern.
GOODRIDGE braided stainless steel brake hosing,
New cunifer solid brake lines (with all bends at 90°)
Pair of SPAX adjustable shock absorbers,
Heavy duty rear anti-roll bar with urethane bushes and stainless steel fittings.
A pair of ‘Red 9 Design’ zinc coated 2½ inch lowered spring-plates (lowers the rear end but still gives a comfy(ish) ride) with a new set of urethane spring-plate bushings.
Underneath (and not yet plumbed in!) ‘is a MOCAL 15 row oil cooler. This’ll be rectified when the bigger (better!) motor has been sorted…….. one day!

Stainless steel nuts, bolts & washers have been used throughout.
All parts have been detailed by either zinc coating, powder coating or 2 pack paint.

The wheels ……. The wheels are from a manufacturer in Surabaya, Indonesia of all places, MESHINDO 16x7’s on Yokohama 195/45 & 205/45 rubber.

Body Stuff…..

Front….
Complete ‘front clip’ was replaced, (Due to terminal rot)
Front valance replaced with a Pre ’67 valance (Due to terminal rot), with the rubber seal gutter (water trap!) removed all the way up along both the quarter panels.
Bonnet scuttle replaced (Due to terminal rot)
Bottom of quarter panel replaced (Due to terminal rot………’sense a recurring theme here?)
‘A’ pillar de-seamed,
Bottom of ‘A’ pillar replaced (…….guess why?……..hmmm)
Fuel filler flap plated over
LOTS of wing mounting holes repaired!
Bonnet replaced with a ‘50’s item (with no badge plinth) trim mounting holes welded up then fitted with a Mexican seal.

A mirror polished stainless steel sheet has been mounted to the front bulkhead… not that you can see it now!

From the back……

The body was in a bit of a state! The rear of the body has had the bottom of the rear ¼ panels, the rear ¼ shock’ mount reinforcement panels and rear ¼ bumper mounting plates replaced on both sides, both chassis cross members and a pair of genuine heater channels and closing panels.
Then there were the rear wing mounting panels/strips (more rust!)
Add to this little lot a pre ’67 rear valance that’s had the exhaust cutouts filled and the deck-lid seal gutter (read rust-trap!) removed and it starts becoming apparent that there’s more to this resto’ lark than you first think!
Then, just to be a wee bit different again, there’s the rear of the roof rain gutter, as you can see it’s been tapered of to give a nice smooooth clean line.
The original ’68 decklid has been replaced with a rather groovy STEEL ‘W’/Oval number (the ‘eyebrow’ intakes were fab’d in steel courtesy of FBI of South Wales) this now comes complete with popes nose number plate light and a locking ‘T’ handle.

The decklid has then been mounted on a pair of zinc coated hinges and, as the decklid seal gutter has been removed, a seal has now been made by using a new Mexican ‘clip-on’ bonnet seal trimmed down. The ‘catch on the rear valance was made from the mounting plate of a beetle window winder mechanism…. With a bit of filing and drilling!

Then there’s another couple of Day Moulding wings underlined again with a stainless steel blade bumper, that’s had the paint stripped from its rear and then mounted on silver powder coated bumper irons.

The rear lights are a pair of new old stock’55> numbers that have been modified a little…. Inside of them there are a combination of SEAT Ibiza side repeater bulb holders, one for the tail lamp (bottom) and one for the stop lamp (top), and an aftermarket oval motorbike indicator grafted into the middle of the Glass (not plastic) lens, And I think they look rather good if I do say so myself! Sort of subtle. They work and at night they’re plenty bright enough, but for running around during the day I’ve added a ‘third-eye’ high level brake light at the top of the rear window……. Just for Mr Myopia!

The rear under-window air intake has been plated over to give a ‘cleaner smoother’ look (to go with the trimmed & tapered gutters).

Then a new intake (a la Wizard Roadster) made through the firewall in the engine bay through to under the luggage space floor. …. You can see right through to the gearbox and it DOES flow plenty of air ….so much so that I’ve had to put a grill over the firewall opening as stones were ‘flowing’ into the engine bay!



The steering column has been swaped for a 1973/4 item to allow the use of the twin control stalks (Indicators & Washers)


Then came the wiring….Aaarrrgghhhhh!!!
…with all the extra toys that I wanted, Alarms, Electric windows, Central locking, Electric washer, 2 Speed (’74> wipers, Electric bonnet release ….and the stereo…..more of which later! Next came the shiney bits!!

The Flamed Bonnet hinges came from ‘Billet & Acrylic Fantasies’ in Florida.
The Mirrors are ‘AERO’s’ from some firm out of Practical classics Magazine… sorry ‘cant remember who!
The headlamps are US Spec’ ones with some mad Italian ‘Clearvision’ type inserts (mucho mod’s to make them fit!)
Nice iridium blue indicator bulbs and blue sidelights.

The horn grills have more gold anodised grills behind them, and behind them two LOUD FIAMM horns……..how it should have been in the first place!! And just to underline all this there’s a stainless steel blade bumper, on powder coated mounts………… with the comedy number plate…. just ‘cos it looks better!

Phew........... that was a lot of cut'n'pasteing!

Al B

Alright Al!

Its Jay, with 'Mirage'.

Where did you get the front plate made mate?

I'm getting some more mods done over the winter and will need to relocate my rear number plate.

Cheers

Jay

Hi jay! fancy meeting you here!!! 's a small world!!

I got the front 'plate made at DUBFREEZE this year, can't remember the name of the business though, sorry:blush But I'm sure they go to most of the shows......... not that there's any left to go this year!

What's your plans with 'Mirage' then ?? Pray tell!!!

I've just managed to get a full set of M3 discs and calipers for mine....... all for the princley sum of £102!!!!

Don't ya just love ebay!!!!

Take it easy mate and try and keep out of the green kit!!

Al B

I'm in the green kit everyday mate!

I'm getting some targa bumpers made and relocating the rear lights into the bumper for a smooth rear end. Plus some different wheels.

The rear number plate will be removable, under the rear bumper, so I need some new plates.

Jay

wow. it's the little things that really set cars like this apart, nice job!

A Job Well Done....
One Beautiful customised Beetle..
Congratulations....

Lee

wholly shi&!!! Bloody awesome;

Jay from Thump Thump.. Man are we getting some big names on here now..
Welcome bro.

damn....that is one AWSOME beetle.
nice work

Awesome work mate,

I grew up in Runcorn not far from Chester, the bug scene is awesome in Pomgolia, soooo miss Tattan Park and Run to the Sun!!!

Love your ride, I'll be in Chester for christmas so if I see ya, I'll get snapping for the Aussie Folks here!

Skin!

geez weve got alot to step up to thats awesome nice work

Hey Skinnyboy, I`m from Frodsham mate!
How long you been over here?
Might know ya.
Did you ever go to the Curvy Car Club in Warrington??
Small world.
Graham.

dude! I been here since '99. Wasn't in the CCC I had my last bug back in 95 sold it to some prat salesman at Nissan in Warrington when i moved there (Birchwood... shudders....)

What school did ya go mate, i was a Grange lad!! class of 84-89!

I'm from Runcorn too Skinnyboy, went to the Heath until '88. Went back two years ago and realised I'd forgotten how weird looking the people who hung around the Shopping city were.