My 356. Now sold.

[Tony Z]

when you left today all of us remaining watched the car and looked at the stance... you DO NOT need to lower the rear, she sits perfectly at the moment.

[acpaterson]

Hey Mr T,

thanks buddy, I didn't think about the fact we aren't in it when I want to lower it, so, makes entire sense, and I shall abort that idea with immediate effect.

Carbs were removed once I got home, stripped and thoroughly cleaned & Remounted. Will try get a slightly smaller belt tomorrow, re fit that and get the Pulley sorted, redo tappets, and then attempt to get the carbs to work properly. Hopefully, I'll get it close to perfect, then a visit to Tony to re-balance them. Then done.

This car's certainly tested my patience and nerves.. eish..

[Blitzkrieg]

This car's certainly tested my patience and nerves.. eish..

...but the end result speaks for itself. Car is absolutely stunning and that colour just pops out in the sun

Well done!

[Mars67]

Absolutely stunning rebuild and a great thread to read. These projects never get quite finished though. After 15 years I have decided to do an adjustable front suspension on my Spyder.

[acpaterson]

Thanks Blitzkrieg, Mars67.

I JUST need to get it to run decently now, and to solve a slight oil spray off this new Empi Pulley. Found a lot of old Dirt in the Carbs when i stripped and cleaned them last night, so now hopefully I can get it to behave better in lower rpm's. Strange issue also, these new Aluminium Pulley's are slightly smaller than the stock, so, I can't tighten the belt up. Will be calling round a few places to try find a slightly smaller belt then the VW standard, which hopefully exists.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the finished result of the car. Irrespective of this whole new "20mm headlight" move issue up-country, I believe it's almost impossible to tell the difference where the headlight position is. (Unless you're a BIGenthusiast and you know yourself), but otherwise, the overall look fo the car is perfect in my opinion. I'm also a safety conscious person, and hope those lowered headlights can be correctly focussed, but seriously, the amount of money and schlep involved to re-position headlights 20mm's lower is out the ballpark. Those who have done it, I applaud your dedication to building an authentic Speedster replica, but, at the end of the day, it's just a plastic replica.

Anyway, moving on.

[flatfourfan]

With the speedster the last safety issue that you have to worry about is the headlights that sit 30mm lower.

As for it being impossible to notice, trust me, you notice............you don't even need the 2 cars next to each other to notice.

You're happy with your plastic replica, that's all that matters.

[Manny]

Hi Alan,

Just to correct you the headlight modification is 30mm lower and not 20mm, furthermore I have done my research and headlight focusing wont be an issue.
There is a notable difference after doing the headlight modification.


Anyway, moving on.

[acpaterson]

All sorted.

[Manny]

Hi Alan,
Misunderstanding , no problem
We are already such a small community of plastic speedster owners in this country, the last thing I wish for is that we develop a deep-seated animosity amongst ourselves.

[acpaterson]

Manny, you have email buddy. it's all good.

[Firebird]

Me? "a psycho enthusiast"?
Absolutely

[acpaterson]

Haha haa haha.. OVERLY ENTHUSIASTIC may be better...

[acpaterson]

In ending, let me add, while the majority of the build has been a shipload of hard work, it's been an education for sure. Considering what I started with and what it is now, it is a completely different car, and certainly for the better IN My Opinion!
While I could spend another 30k or more on my replica to make it even better, I don't want to, and am very pleased with the result. Its my interpretation of an iconic little car, hopefully it'll serve me well for the time I keep it, and whoever else gets to own it should I be tempted to sell it.

That's all folks.

Alan.

[Manny]

All is good

[Stütz]

... and am very pleased with the result.

As you bloody well should be bud! It's an absolute beauty as it is and more than most people could ever dream of owning in their lives.

Now you can get down to enjoying it for what it is ... a drivers car.