Aircooled VW South Africa

Well, perhaps the statement 'working under it' was taking it a bit too far. Elevating it enables one to reach the bolts on the sides, kinda difficult to use an angle grinder working upwards, if the buggy had been jacked up.

Zero, why don't you share some of your projects with us as well?

Pine , the plastic indictor cover , i can get a brand new one from work we mould them , if ou are keen...................BAB

Thanks Bob, I'm interested

Great will get a couple off to you in the post, PM me your address ...............BAB

Bob, actually I only need one, but thanks anyway!

Pine wrote:Well, perhaps the statement 'working under it' was taking it a bit too far. Elevating it enables one to reach the bolts on the sides, kinda difficult to use an angle grinder working upwards, if the buggy had been jacked up.

Well, it makes it a little better. At least you can try and get away(if you see it) when it starts to topple back over... You had me under this impression...


I wish I could give any updates here of what I have on my hands at the moment, but there is no REAL progress Everytime it seems like I am about to make some headway, I get to a dead end.... I am a tight git. I dont want to spend to much on something that can be had for cheaper. That is why, everything that I have going at the moment, is at a standstill, because I have now to take on a new 'project'..... Casting Alu. Yeah, because these assholes (machineshop in town) can't be bothered to call me back with a quote for a 'small item' that I asked. Yeah sure, to set up a machine for a one off part takes time, but this part can be done in lunch time for money under the table.... F***em, I am going to buy my own lathe too once I get 3 Phase installed (hopefully by the new year.... yes, only new year, because the technician for 'EDF' can only come do a survey in 5 weeks time


Rant over

Update 18/11/2008 - bling bling bling, what a shiny thing!

Got the SP (Beetle) steering wheel back from Speedline yesterday, and I am totally blown away! Those guys have done a very professional job in re-covering it. The small stitches are perfect, and the wheel looks brand new, even better than the day it left the factory some 30+ years ago. Interesting how they make the 'grip' part thicker - a glued nylon rope is wound around it, covered with sponge and then with the vinyl. As I said earlier, this is a birthday present (to Pine, from Pine ) and I might have gone a bit overboard with it - but hell, the steering wheel is in your face all the time (while 'behind' the wheel), why not make it looking nice? I assembled it last night, using brand new stainless steel allen-head bolts. The plastic cover was polished with Black Back, and I am sure you'll agree the end result is lovely!





PS the steering wheel is probably the only visible part on the buggy that will carry the VW logo. I'm quite difficult with this principle, I feel Wolfsburg shouldn't get any credit for the whole buggy phenomenon, when they had the opportunity to develop a similar vehicle (fibreglass body, shortened chassis), they swept the concept under the rug. This is the best they could do



The pics below are ACVWSA history in the making - the very first batch of 20 Proudly South African specially manufactured EMPI Sprintstar center caps, also made by Speedline. Chris (van der Heever) from Lichtenburg made the investment to have the die made, and asked Speedline to make a few, as he needed 3 sets. IMPI and I also ordered a set, so these below are all spoken for, but Speedline can make another batch should the demand be there. Take note they are slightly larger than Rostyle caps, so they won't fit their South African cousins..



Compared to an original EMPI cap to the left, you can see that they are as close as bliksem to a swear word, to the real thing..



IMPI have had these EMPI GT decals made, exactly like the originals - they can also be reproduced, should the demand be there..



An of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating - or fitting it to the wheel in this case. Perfect!

WOW that sterring wheel is nice.... I think you have just made me add another item to my list of things to re-do on my car

Glad to see that good workmanship still exists here in SA. That steering wheel is looking better than brand new!!!! I'm going to send that GTI wheel to them as well....

Nice one Pine!

wow that steering wheel is soooooooooooooooooooooo nice.

kudos

Address !!!!

Steering wheel and centre caps really turned out well !

Love the steering wheel......cap's are cool too!

Bad Ass Bob wrote:Address !!!!

Thanks Bob, only saw the PM now - it's on its way

To everyone else as well - thank fo the compliments!

Update 20/11/2008:

Spent the afternoon after work seperating the body from the chassis. The bolts holding it together were badly rusted, so I had to cut them off with the angle grinder - a dirty, noisy and smelly job (after a looooong shower tonight, I can still taste metal in my mouth)




The old chassis is in a terrible state, and will be thrown away ASAP. It was badly welded when shortened, it is rusting at strategic structural areas, and all was covered with about 5mm thick rubber bakkie-lining, making the seperation process even more difficult. This buggy must have spent many years at the coast, and in the salty water as I have found sea sand in many places. It kinda explains the severeness of the rust.



This 'pin' (?) (the thingy between the brake pedal and the master cylinder) is in a terrible state. I dropped it in the caustic soda for a few day, and will clean it afterwards with the wire brush and some penetrating oil to see if it can be saved.



In spite of it all, it still has a fairly new accelerator cable - one of those 'single' ones that looks like a thin, but hard wire - which one of the different types are the best?



I am a bit uncertain what to do next - mostly due to a lack of funds, so there won't be any high-priced purchases till after the George Challenge. The (IRS-to-be) replacement chassis is currently still with IMPI, it still needs shortening but I would like to go through for a weekend before the end of the year to go and help them (and take pics!). Once the chassis is finished, the front and rear suspension can be fitted, and the brake system sorted out. The engine also needs replacement sleeves and cylinders, as well as some work on the heads (nothing funny, just putting in new head studs and a general 'checkup'). Then the tinware will be detailed, and the twin Webers and electroninc ignition fitted to see how everything work together - and if it everything work. I have decided tonight to set the following target dates, hope I will be able to meet them

21 May 2009 (6 months) - chassis completed - suspension, brakes, steering, engine, IRS, wheel bearings etc. I want to go as far to say 'rolling chassis' - one that can be driven around like Webster did a few years ago with his Karmann Ghia chassis.

Saturday, 21 November 2009 (12 months) - buggy fully completed. Running, registered, wiring, carpeting etc. That is 356 days from today, 12 months or 52 weeks. (Only) 52 Saturdays

A year sounds like a long time - but keep in mind that 6 months of that year is gonna be winter time, and we all know how difficult it is to work on a car when it is cold...

Thanks to everyone for their support so far!