Aussieveedubbers - Powered by GaiaBB

my 72 super beetle project

jamie1302 - October 19th, 2010 at 01:50 PM

Hey everyone, I thought I'd start a build thread here since a lot of my projects research has been done on this site. I'm in the U.S. but converting my 72 super the RHD. Everyone asks why and i just say why not, it's something different,over here at least. On to the pics.

the car was yellow the first time I had it painted it but I got screwed over on that job and lost interest so it sat until now.

heres the start of disassembly

jamie1302 - October 19th, 2010 at 01:59 PM

new doors because I decided I wanted the vent wings back, I wish I would have priced new seal kits to rebuild the vent wing doors first though..lol.

got all the steering swapped over and mocked the column up.

I planned all aftermarket gauges so to save cash on the metal dash we shaved the stock glove box by cutting out the lip for the lid and welding it up smooth.

got this piece from Vic at Vicsbahn.com

jamie1302 - October 19th, 2010 at 02:02 PM

dash coming together

bodyworked and close to being ready for paint.

and my proposed gauge lay out, not sure yet though, just kinda stuck that design up there quickly.

jamie1302 - October 19th, 2010 at 02:17 PM

The car will be painted 2002 Audi TT Nimbis Gray this time around with all the trim blacked out flat black. Wheels are 18 inch Enki Evo 6's which will also be flat black but with the lip polished. I guess you could call the look i'm after the German look other than the pitiful 1600cc that will be powering it until funds allow more fun in the engine department.

Yogie - October 19th, 2010 at 05:33 PM

Looking good. Don't forget you will need a master cylinder for a RHD car. Steering box is also different but you should be able to find someone on here that can to supply them for you. I am not sure of the tie rods if you can just swap them over or not but someone can probably confirm that.

Yogie

jamie1302 - October 20th, 2010 at 03:00 PM

Yogie,

Thanks for the good words. I have the RHD steering box and idler arm already on the car and the steering is done. tie rod ends and center link are the same parts as a LHD car. The hardest part of swapping the steering over was relocating the column support under the fuel tank. I will have to look into a RHD master cylinder. I mocked up the LHD master and the brake light switches are very close to the frame head but it will work with some brake line rerouting if I cant source a true RHD master.

t_tuffnut - October 21st, 2010 at 05:32 AM

You could always look on an aussie or UK online VW parts site and get something shipped. A master cylinder isn't that heavy so the shipping shouldn't be that great.

Are RHD cars more highly prized in the states? I've heard of a few people seeking them out and paying a premium for them over there.

Rebuild looks great by the way!

jamie1302 - October 21st, 2010 at 07:19 AM

I wouldn't say highly prized. more so just something very uncommon to see and considered different. I've kinda acquired a reputation for none of my vehicle projects being ''normal'' I guess you could say I did it for the wow/shock factor when rolling into shows if that makes any sense. how common are LHD cars over there?

ian.mezz - October 21st, 2010 at 02:29 PM

I don't think that Tacho hole is big enough :lol:

Joel - October 21st, 2010 at 02:31 PM

10 years ago it was only very rare old imported stuff you saw in LHD, now with the amount of splitties and KGs coming over its getting more and more common.

jamie1302 - October 21st, 2010 at 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ian.mezz
I don't think that Tacho hole is big enough :lol:

the tach is just a standard 3 3/8 autometer sport comp. same size as the speedometer will be. I cut the custom mock up gauge out at 4 inches so i had wiggle room once the gauges were installed. I resisted the urge to go with the 5 inch monster tach since the dash is barley 5 inches wide...lol.

ian.mezz - October 21st, 2010 at 07:50 PM

have you seen this vw :blush:

http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=66118

jamie1302 - October 23rd, 2010 at 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ian.mezz
have you seen this vw :blush:

http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=66118

thanks for the link, i had not seen that build yet. I wish funds allowed to take my car to that level. I have a 13b rotory engine that may find it's way into my car way down the road.

bnicho - October 26th, 2010 at 02:02 PM

Nice project there with the RHD conversion.

Like you, I like cars that are a bit unsual and attract attenton.

Quote:

Originally posted by Joel
10 years ago it was only very rare old imported stuff you saw in LHD, now with the amount of splitties and KGs coming over its getting more and more common.

I think it was only 15 years ago or so that most Aussie states allowed LHD cars to be registered. Now anything over 30 years old can be registered LHD and some states 25 years old.

My MR2 started life in California and was converted to RHD when it immigrated to Australia. I wouldn't mind putting it back to LHD someday.

I once watched a girl drive a LHD 66 Mustang into a secure carpark. She had to put it in Park, undo her seat-belt, slide across the seat and roll down the passenger side window to reach the ticket machine. :lol: