What did you do for your VW today?

[gokart]

I worked on the Thing. Installed rear fenders, fixed the horn, fixed the map light in the glove box, fixed the license plate light, tried to fix the gas gauge. No success at the gauge, maybe it is the sender.

[krafty]

I installed my shift linkage, pedal cluster, transmission, front brakes and plumbed most of the brake lines. I also started tearing into the engine that I got from MadMike - cleaning it up and checking it over. I'm in need of con rod bearings and rings, but everything else looks peachy.

[gokart]

The pan looks great. Did you convert it to disc brakes, or where they already there?

[krafty]

Oct 12, 2015 8:18:43 GMT -5 gokart said:

The pan looks great. Did you convert it to disc brakes, or where they already there?

They came with the car. The problem is they're Empi, and the hoses aren't long enough. I need to figure out if the stock 440mm or 480mm front Beetle hoses will work with these calipers, or if I'll have to source something else. Empi's solution is to bend the mounting brackets out 45 degrees and stretch your hardlines to accommodate it. I don't like the idea of bending the brackets, so I want a longer hose. The ones on the car appear to be about 360mm or so, so I think the 440s would be perfect if they fit the caliper.

Had a spare five minutes at the end of the day today, so I bolted in the front shocks. Now all I can do is clean the heads, block and cylinders and wait for the engine bits to arrive.

[gokart]

I would think Ghia hoses would work.

[vanapplebomb]

I haven't posted any updates for a long time. Haven't done a whole lot either until recently. Got the carbs (mostly) rebuilt. Just need to make new accelerator pump linkages, and get the fast idle cam linkages set up. Trying to find the cross bar for the linkage has been a pain. I have no idea where it went to. Probably stashed away in some box somewhere from when I moved. I know it's around somewhere.

Been plucking away at the front suspension too. I got the new shock mounts all squared away as well as the spindle gussets.

I ran into a problem with the torsion housing. When the frame was powdercoated, the inside of the torsion housing wasn't masked off. I will have to clean off all the coating off the internal splines so the torsion bars fit. A bottle brush attached to a 1/2in dowel chucked up in a drill perhaps? How knows. I will figure something out to scower the coating off the splines.

[81pumagtc]

Good luck with removing the powder coating...you may need it.

Usually to remove powder coating, you burn it off in an oven. It is very difficult to remove with abrasives or sandpaper. One of the real problems with doing it with a power tool is that can soften, and then harden a few seconds later.

Sometimes you just move the material around.

Powder coating is amazing, but when you have to remove it, it blows.

I now know that I would never use it anywhere where I thought it would have to be re-finished.


Dave Riedle

[krafty]

I was busy this weekend - finished plumbing the rear brakes (hoses and lines), hooked up the e-brake, and welded up most of the holes in the bodywork. Just one or two more to patch and the body will be ready to go back on the chassis.

The bad news is 1) I got a really good look inside the gas tank and it's pretty rusty. Not much in the way of chunks, but I'm going to send it to Grand Rapids and have it boiled (NOT relined). 2) Both cylinder heads ended up being cracked. The good news in that is I have 2 friends with massive hoards of DP heads so I've already got 4 more to pick from.

[vanapplebomb]

Oct 26, 2015 9:26:00 GMT -5 81pumagtc said:

Good luck with removing the powder coating...you may need it.

Usually to remove powder coating, you burn it off in an oven. It is very difficult to remove with abrasives or sandpaper. One of the real problems with doing it with a power tool is that can soften, and then harden a few seconds later.

Sometimes you just move the material around.

Powder coating is amazing, but when you have to remove it, it blows.

I now know that I would never use it anywhere where I thought it would have to be re-finished.


Dave Riedle

Sounds like I may have to pick up an extra drum or two of elbow grease next time I'm out working on the project. Might need it to get the dingus powder coat off the internal splines.

[MadMike]

Hey Krafty, you might want to look into some braided stainless steel flex lines ,make the brake feel like 'power brakes',, almost
keep plunkin Dirk!!!

[dansam]

Im with Mad Mike. The braded lines are cheap and make a much better brake pedal feel.

I was ready to Pull Allys engine and have the short block rebuilt/upgraded when I went on vaca and broke my leg. Sooooo No bug work for me till December or so

[gokart]

The Thing and I are loving this warm sunny weather. I got all the VWs together for a photo.

Attachments:

[krafty]

It was a good mail day. I finally got my '74 project registered and plated. On a side note, how many of you have actually seen a real 1974 plate? They're few and far between, that's for sure. Technically all passenger vehicles were issued '73 plates with a '74 sticker. The plate I have is a transit plate, but since it doesn't specifically say "transit" or "in-transit repair" or anything, they let it go. It's a lot like a manufacturer plate (you can see them here:  shop.madmaxsauthenticplates.com/images/1974-MFR-19M-861-PAIR-60-100.jpg) except instead of M it has a T. Manufacturer plates cannot be registered - although my MGB has a pair on because I had them registered before they changed the rules about 13 years ago. 

[krafty]

Getting closer...

[gokart]

Lookin' good