I have been meaning to post the progress of my Spider for a long time, but in between flying and building I never had enough time. I started the project in 2003, just to keep me busy while the girfriend was at sea (being in the navy). It then became my security for a R25 000 loan from the girfriend to help pay for my PPL course. (As if I would sell the car....) The first year I built quite frequently (like daily), but year two and three became slow with me working as a cadet at 43 Air School in Port Alfred. The last two years I had put in a LOT of time and yes, al LOT of money into the project, but it was definately worth the while! Here is some specs, fotos will follow soon:
Based on a shortened beetle chassis. I made the following changes/ upgrades:
* Super Beetle Front suspension- No link Pins- with Ball-joints and brake disks
* Super Beetle Rear suspension - IRS and trailing arms (which I had to weld in place...what a mission!)
* Type 3 Rear brake assembly
The Flat Four (1600)
* TOTALLY rebuilt Type 3 Notchback engine
* Couter-weighted/ balanced crankshaft
* 1/ 1.25 ratio valve rocker arms
* Reemed & polished valve ports
* Full electronic ignition
* Dual 36 IDF Webers
* Carman Ghia Transmission (*Rhino casing)
The body/ Interior
* Glass fibre body kit (dunno who moulded it, but I am of opinion it came from KCC- before the tragedy)
* Cast allu California slotted dish mags
* The instrument panel reminds me of an aircraft, enough guages to confuse the ignorant. All VDO including CHT
* All-leather interior
* The windscreen is glass, and believe it or not, it is actually a Type 3 Notchback's rear window I borrowed! (Which I don't intend giving back).
That, 1.2 gizillion hours of building, and approximately R120 000 later it has passed roadworthy on 23 May 2008, 5 years and 3 months later, she is alive! Driving her is better than I could ever imagine! Wheel alignment was easy and very accurate thanks to the adjustable camber of the ball jointed front suspension. I was surprised to see that the rear wheels' camber and toe was virtually the the same left and right (judging on all the mods I did, cutting and welding IRS suspension and once more cutting 'cause the wheels would'nt clear the arches!) Running 0.5deg toe out and 1.5 neg camber on the rear. At the front it is 0.1 toe out and neg 0.5 camber, with 3 deg caster.
Loads of torque, and NO sqeecks or rattles! 120 Km/h on the clock takes just over 3000 RPM thanks to the Ghia transmission and final drive. Gets a bit sensitive on steering beyond 140km/h, but more than handleable....keeps you awake! With the front disks and larger type3 rear brakes she stops on a dime and still gives a few cents change! With 26 Km on the clock, I need to do a bit more driving to give more results, but all I can say is AMAZING, THRILLING and F@%cing LEKKER! Dunno what fuel consunption will be, but what the heck, money can't buy the thrill she gives!
So, that is it in a nutshell. I will soon post fotos and more tech info, just as soon as I can get all the polish from beneath my finger nails! By the way, Polishing the body took me a staggering 140 hours!! But I think it paid divident. Not too bad for a first try!
Cheers
Frikkie
