1973 super beetle hotrod project

[jordy]

Currently making good progress on modifying every angle of this car ! Pictures to follow

[jordy]

At the moment I'm working on customising the dash to siut the rest of the work I've done - like the rest of the car it's not been easy but it's been interesting doing it ! I'll post more dash pictures tomorrow with the progress

[jordy]

[jordy]

It's really coming along now ! Just need to figure out a way to mount the binnacle so it comes off in one go rather than having to ness around with wires through the holes. I think the fact it's a little wonky, leather is a bit puckered here and there just makes it look aged. Very pleased with it. I'll find an image of an original dash to compare

[jordy]

This is how my dash looked but with horrible fake carbon fibre stuck on any flat bits .

Reason I used leather was because I've added leather seats and it will hopefully go well with them

[fad]

I'm gonna say it.

You need a different exhaust. A pair of cannons poking either side of the decklid would tidy her kaboose up no end.

[VW]

Do you have to undo all those allen bolts and remove the disc to get to the wheel bolts?

[Davey]

Mar 22, 2017 9:07:40 GMT VW said:

Do you have to undo all those allen bolts and remove the disc to get to the wheel bolts?

I hadn't even considered that, imagine that in the rain on the side of the M1.

Good looking thing though.

[jordy]

Mar 22, 2017 9:07:40 GMT VW said:

Do you have to undo all those allen bolts and remove the disc to get to the wheel bolts?

lol unfortunately yes - I tried doing 4 then the rest dummy but the wheel made too much noise when driving 

I have an electric screw driver in the boot - long winded but I don't mind 

[jordy]

Rewired the dash , too short lol - rewired the dash again and remembered another good reason I took the dash out - speedo cable was snapped , so has had the same mileage for the past 20 years no doubt - fortunately it seems virtually impossible to replace this without taking out the dash so jobs a goodun ! Got loadsa stuff coming next week - so all the engine tweaking and maintainence next week once I get the dash back in and finish off the last wheel ! Aiming for the first meet week Tuesday to have it all back together

[jordy]

It's funny you mentioned those cannon exhausts Fad , it was the very first thing I tried to buy but missed out by about 20p on eBay - my mate told me his mate had them on his beetle , he said he actually had 3 sets on his beetle - then finally put the same as mine on because the 3 sets he had were vandalised by his upset neighbours from the noise they make !!!! I had 2 experiences of this before - once was a neighbour screaming like Rambo from his bedroom window at 800pm on a Saturday ( post man ) calling me a c**t , like no build up to it - raging out his window ( I was driving my car into my garage ) , second time was when I caught him cycling home ( yes a cyclist ) when I quizzed him if it was him that shouted at me from his bedroom window - he shat his cycling shorts and said no " well can you tell your wife's boyfriend next time he wants to shout at me like that to come and knock my door and speak to me " I don't live there anymore I'm happy to say - funny thing was his wife had asked me a few times to fix her car when she got stuck !! . So unless there are slightly less noisy ones I'll give them a miss although they look the business

[jordy]

From what I've read - those cannon exhausts are loud and not great quality as they don't last long.

Therefore I'm going to buy some motorbike exhausts and have a custom set made cannon style

[jordy]

[fad]

Mar 26, 2017 10:32:46 GMT jordy said:

From what I've read - those cannon exhausts are loud and not great quality as they don't last long.

Therefore I'm going to buy some motorbike exhausts and have a custom set made cannon style

You get what you pay for, some are better quality than others. You can also fit baffles that reduce noise.

I run a supertrap... BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP, BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!

[07lilredwagon]

I like the progress you are making. this project will have a look all its own...

I think it was smart to use leather for the dash...with all the other bits attached, I don't see the irregularities in the leather much at all....

With the right connectors, wiring looms, and a little extra slack the dash will be ready for easy servicing....good idea.

with the exhaust, even if the exhaust tips were protruding less it would look better...Maybe a tasteful steam punk treatment for a small valence and muffler cover? (copper? brass? aluminum/copper?)

great job so far

JP

[jordy]

Today I wired in a rev counter ..... no problems !! Worked perfectly ...... I'm Deeply suspicious , nothing goes this smoothly on this car lol

Tomorrow finally setting valve clearances and an oil change, also re check static timing, oh and and oil temp gauge

Took it out for a little drive today - drives amazing , showed it the jet and started first time after all these weeks - makes the grooling hard work worth it

[jordy]

Oil temp gaug came - so I was looking for a place for the sensor , nowhere to put it - so I took out the sump nut to drill and rap it .

The sensor thread was a weird one and the tap I have wasn't the right one - so I drilled the sump nut and soldered a bolt that fitted the sensor on top of the sump nut . One rubber grommet and the sensor screwed in perfectly . Took it for a drive no leaks jobs a goodun , just need to wire it up now !

[jordy]

Everything going so well ...... oil light came on and stayed on when I topped the oil up , after an oil change it still stays on - it goes off when in high revs in 3rd and 4th - bad sender or worse ?

[fad]

Sounds like poor pressure to me. Change the sender just in case first.

[johnthesparky]

You've not restricted flow when you put the boss in for the oil temp sensor?

Behind the sump plate is a strainer and the oil pickup tube with a baffle on it


What oil did you refill with after the oil change?

John