Fresh Meat in Grand Rapids

[zeeuwvw]

Hello Volks,

My name is Ben and I recently became an aircooled VW owner. I have a long history with watercooled dubs and have spent a lot of time with the MIVE crew. I thought I'd see what you guys are up to.

I picked up a '63 Rag Top from Indiana in the fall. Since then I've been busy tearing it apart, learning a lot and hopefully making progress to a more reliable and attractive car.

Here she is when I started:




This is where it sits currently





Hope for the future:



There is a build thread on MIVE if anyone wants more details
www.michiganvw.org/forum/showthread.php?t=55065

Anyway, thanks for having me. Hopefully I'll have the Rag together for some shows this summer.

[Ruffuss]

Welcome, I guess "Fresh" is better then rotten? Looks like a good, clean start. Kenn

[VDub63 ( Steven )]

Welcome

[Dustin]

Glad you made a post Ben,

I look forward to seeing this thing in person at some shows.

[rochester73super]

Looked like a clean ride, not much to tear apart ?? What's your plans with the powertrain and are you gonna make / keep rear apron removable ??

Erik

[ghiastein]

Feb 4, 2010 9:59:01 GMT -5 zeeuwvw said:

I had the same stupid trouble light. Mine had a cord on it and was not on a reel. I hated that thing it was loose inside and needed a special technique to turn it on. What a pain in the butt.

Welcome to the forum nice Beetle.

[dansam]

Welcome to the site. I love the 63 rag!! Would make an awsome herbie

[Project13]

Hello,

From the Chicago Volks!!!!!!!
Nice 63"
Troy

[zeeuwvw]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. It's nice to find some like minded individuals in the area.

Feb 4, 2010 14:42:56 GMT -5 rochester73super said:

Looked like a clean ride, not much to tear apart ?? What's your plans with the powertrain and are you gonna make / keep rear apron removable ??

Erik

My plans for the engine began as just replacing the cheesy chrome engine tins and painting the bay. From there things have gotten a little out of control. The rear apron and quarter panels were rusty so I decided to replace those. Then I started pulling the motor apart and found some pretty worn components.

Engine plans as of now (they change all the time)
- New 87mm pistons and cylinders
- Full flow filter
- Lightened flywheel
- Rebuild heads with mild porting
- 1.4:1 ratio rockers
- HD valve springs
- Dual 34 Kadrons

Hopefully this will be enough to have some fun without spending a bunch.

Then I'll have to deal with the body work and a few other little toys.

I'm doing disc brake on all four corners drilled for the 16" Fuchs as well.

Should be a busy winter.
-

[bren]

Welcome to the forum. Car sure looks good in the photos!

Sounds like you need to visit George's Hot VW's!

[drwingtipshoes]

Welcome, Ben. Nice ride. Hope you have it back together by spring so we can all see it in person.

[zeeuwvw]

Hello again. I haven't been updating this like I had hoped to, but I thought I'd share some (nearly) completed pics.

It came out pretty well I think. Still have some details to sort. Oh, and probably need a new trans..sigh...

[teamafx]

Are you going to be at the South Haven show this weekend? I would love to see it. Do you still have the old rims that were on the car in the first pics, those are the rims my son is looking for.

[revho]

Super nice looking.

[zeeuwvw]

Jul 8, 2010 11:28:44 GMT -5 teamafx said:

Are you going to be at the South Haven show this weekend? I would love to see it. Do you still have the old rims that were on the car in the first pics, those are the rims my son is looking for.

No on both parts I'm affraid. I'm heading to a watercooled show in PA this weekend so I can't make it to South Haven. I sold the wheels to a guy with a bay window project.

thanks