My Puma

[jmvv]

Armand,

That looks amazing. I think this car deserves an official unveiling at a dedicated ACVW event, so we can all drool over your brilliant craftsmanship.

So how about Cars in the Park in August?????

[IMPI]

My Puma seems to take forever but at least something is happening
I finally found a missing wheel and its been restored.
We sanded the NOS dash and painted all the consoles and cubbyholes with satin black 2 k
I still need the radio's face plate

YESSSSS thats a NOS Puma Key!


Now its still the covering of the dash
Armand

[flatfourfan]

damn that dash is looking neat.............

[IMPI]

It has taken ages 10 years to be exact but the end seems to be in sight.
I did a bit more on the Puma, got the carpets in also the windows and the headlight bubbles. Covering the dash was nerve wracking and seriously expensive. I eventually found soft top material that matched the originals exactly. I stuck the windows in using the same Polyurethane as modern cars with bonded windshields. Hopefully it will leak less than normal pumas It was a right royal mess working with the stuff.







Armand

[Bugger]

Sien jy hou jou self besig soos ek met baie werk

Looking gooooooooooooooood

[karmakoma]

Clearly the 356 project is not enough work, you still take on the Puma's last bits as well?! I stand in awe, top work as always, dash looks AMAZING!

With all that practise a type 3 dash or two should be a walk in the park

[IMPI]

Just to resurrect my puma from the dead
This seems to be one of those forever projects. There were two Puma kit engines imported to SA back when these cars were built to test the water. Puma in brazil were basically racing verskrik and you could buy almost anything from dry sump kits to close ratio gears from the factory, there was even a "Spartano' version for racing which had thinner fiberglass and a host of racing features. these were raced with some success at the tracks notably Interlagos in Sao Paulo.
Over the years I found a few bits and eventually had enough to build my own Puma Kit engine.
Nic found the oil tank in a stash of parts.
Rui imported the pump which interestingly seems to be identical to the original dry sump oil pump. He also found a Reslit dizzy as this was also part of the Puma Kit. He also supplied the swivel foots and the cro moly pushrods
A 94mm big bore kit was found (the originals had 92mm but I felt more comfortable with the thicker sleeves)
A WBX 76.4 stroker crank was used instead of the 78.4mm crank as original this had the effect of keeping the displacement of 2.1 liters as original
Bugger found a NOS Brazilian camshaft marked P$ which was the Puma racing cam as used on the track I had to have it.
two NOS twinport heads were sent to SAC for custom 40mmx 35.5 valves and a full port and polish (I wanted to see how the pros does things)




This sticker was added to the Pumas sporting the kits as these were also sold for beetles brazilias etc they were quite the rage at the time

Clearancing the case

Pushrods

swivel Feet

The famous cam

Dual thrust cam bearings bought in 2004 whilst on holiday in Sao Paulo

Resolit dizzy

Okrasa crankshaft

Final assembly
Conrod bolts were replaced with Golf Diesel bolts (supposedly stronger and a direct fit)

Manifolds had to be welded up to be match ported

Intake ports real 70's style

I made custom longer Impi pushrod tubes to cater for the barrel spacers

The manifolds are for 40mm Puma solex carbs which later became Kadron Note the Puma kit number (this technically means that all first run SA Pumas came from the factory Puma Kit equipped as these carbs were an Option in Brazil where the 32/34 solexes were std as used in the SA built SP Beetle. I have never seen the stickers here though.
I also found some original factory blueprints and have taken some photos, these detail the casing, conrod and port modifications (dated 1972/3 and drawn in Brazil)







I apologise for the poor photos but these are very faded.
The engine is essentially complete but the dry sump pump interferes with the exhaust and some plan needs to be made?
Armand

[calooker]

Dude you need to take some leave and get it finished, can't wait to see it in the flesh. Great effort.

[jolas]

Awesome stuff, thanks for the update and all the pics, I learn't a few new things

[Mr9a.fastyowner]

must admit i have never liked the Puma but after this damn im a changed man great work

[vwpumagt]

Outstanding workmanship and perseverance. From what she started out as when you got her, to this point = True dedication and a tribute to Puma and Jack Wijker.

[Dutch_Diver]

Soooo cool.....that's one amazing resto and one car you will get offered on each week!

[sean]

Very nice progress there Armand.

Keep the updates coming.

[Bugger]

The main thing is Progress never the lees how slow but it is there and that is getting things done

[Pine]

Awesome work!

...although I won't give IMPI the tender to build an ark when the floods are coming