Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Cheers, dude. Now that the airbags are on the car and working, I made a start on the body work. Lower A pillars first: Using Hooky's panels and the alignment tool. I found the tool flexed a bit and when trying to get a straight edge along the front of the pillar it wasn't quite lining up. A bit of 6mm bar and a couple of clamps sorted that though. I need to get some 0.6mm wire for my welder and then I can weld it on.
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Nov 15, 2017 13:46:40 GMT
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Just realised I hadn't put any pics of my springplates on this thread. laser cut in 5mm mild steel. 2" drop (I'm going to be changing to a 3" drop soon) and extended by 10mm. In theory as they're raised they shouldn't need extending but I might want to run it very low so thought it would,'t hurt. I welded in the splined bit from some old notched springplates but as I'm using them with air, won't be running torsions. I had always presumed that springplates were made of spring or higher carbon steel. Not because of the name but because they are designed to twist and return to shape and also because they seem to pit and rust differently to normal steel. I had some old notched ones laying around so did a quick spark test and could see no difference between a sheet of mild steel. I've also chatted with a couple of guys from the States who plasma cut their own and they use 3/16" plate so I thought I'd go ahead and make some. I did look into hardox which is available in 3mm or 6mm but it's very expensive to have cut as the guy who does my laser cutting would need to buy in a whole sheet and I'd have to pay for that. I also thought it may be too stiff and resist twisting too much.
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2017 13:54:34 GMT by Stu_B
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Nov 16, 2017 18:10:41 GMT
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Cool. How's the plan to sell kits coming along?
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Nov 17, 2017 10:41:43 GMT
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Cool. How's the plan to sell kits coming along? Might make a couple to sell but it'll by request and understanding of the mods needed, rather than advertising it. Swapped over to some old 17"s last night to see how it sat: Almost there. 3" drop plate instead of the 2" will help it go that little bit lower. Once I know it can fully lay the pan on the floor I will probably switch back to the 2" plates to prevent it from getting grounded if I ever have any problems with the lines etc. Chucked the body back on to check how the new lower A pillars sat and the door gaps etc: All looks to line up ok. Not perfect but no worse than they were before I took it all apart. Will probably look into new hing pins as the doors drop a bit. Quick vid of the air working with the body on http://instagram.com/p/Bbl1HE1lTzc
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Nov 17, 2017 11:23:14 GMT
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Cool project. I assume there are already Beetles out there on air? If so, have you anything planned to make your's unique?
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96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-( 10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily 03 Import Forester STi - Sold 98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-( 99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold 02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX 88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Nov 17, 2017 13:24:30 GMT
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More unique than the fact that I have made every bit on the car that gets it low and not bought it? Custom wheels? etc. There are a small handful of beetles in the UK with this many mods to get them low, It's unique enough.
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Nov 17, 2017 13:34:39 GMT
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great job...I see absolutely no adverse flexing of parts in your vid so that is a great sign. I could hear the tire squeaking a bit as it raised and lowered, so I looked for any stresses that caused warping on the frame and saw none....
well done!
Loving this project. why do these little cars look so great when lowered?
JP
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Nov 17, 2017 13:38:58 GMT
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Thanks, it's only half welded in at the moment. I need to take it all apart, flip the chassis and weld it all in from below. Seems very stiff as it is but a few extra beads won't hurt.
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Nov 17, 2017 15:39:42 GMT
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Love this thread thanks. Fantastic detail and engineering. Keep it up!
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Nov 18, 2017 18:48:24 GMT
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The body really displays the movement range far more than the bare pan did. Does it clear the wings on full drop or ?
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Nov 18, 2017 20:01:54 GMT
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Will the suspension mods affect your car for the 8 point rule and its registration?
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Will the suspension mods affect your car for the 8 point rule and its registration? Without the suspension and axles, I reckon it still retains 10 points 5 for the floorpan 2 for the gearbox 2 for the steering 1 for the engine The back suspension is the same though, with a couple of extras to retain the airbags, a visual check wouldn’t see whether the torsion tubes were fitted (?) The front isn’t the same though I don’t think, looks different as well as operating differently. The suspension is worth 2 points, but is for both. Axles is the other 2 points for front and rear, rear is again the same, front I assume uses standard spindles or possibly drop spindles, does that constitute the axle?
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onlyv8
Part of things
Posts: 27
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Nov 19, 2017 16:52:35 GMT
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Will the suspension mods affect your car for the 8 point rule and its registration? WTF..........!
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Nov 19, 2017 18:50:48 GMT
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Will have to wait and see. It’s a funny one as the gearbox and rear axle are one and the same as it’s a transaxle. The airbags are welded to the chassis so might be a chassis mod, or could be a suspension mod. Front beam is narrowed and has modified shock towers but does this count as axle or suspension, or both? Floorpans have been replaced with aftermarket due to rust but have had the lower hanging part at the back raised up so it’s flush.
I’m not going to worry about it ‘til it happens.
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Nov 20, 2017 12:17:13 GMT
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New toy. Hopefully I'll get some use out of it and it won't just become another dusty item in the corner. Looking to make a press brake for it too, similar to this:
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Nov 21, 2017 21:07:01 GMT
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Not sure if this pic will work: Started drawing up a finger brake to go in the press. Should be fairly simple to make, although the actual fingers will just be flat steel until I can find someone to machine them to a point for me.
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CaptainSlog
Part of things
Posts: 506
Club RR Member Number: 180
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Does nae work
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Ah well, will post up pics when it's done. Now with sensible tyres and 3" drop springplates
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Last Edit: Dec 5, 2017 9:10:30 GMT by Stu_B
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Stu_B
Posted a lot
Investing in rust!
Posts: 1,266
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Jan 12, 2018 12:32:22 GMT
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Interesting development. A guy I know was asking about the bag setup I made for my car so I sorted one out for him, cheap, so he could run it on his bug. A bit of a road test as mine is a long way off being finished. He took it to a VW place in the South West, well known for doing hydraulics and air and turning out some cool buses & bugs. They got his car up on the ramps and fitted the whole kit with the engine, gearbox & shell in place. I'm pretty pleased. Just waiting on a few beam mods and it should be rolling so I can get some pics & vids.
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