Aircooled VW South Africa

Quickly popped into the garage to verify

Chris wrote:AFAIK Beetles use a 630 battery.

which indeed is true with Ol' Betty. She has a powerplant which has 2604 engraved on her by the Midas boyz

how exactly do you find that the accelerator pedal had broken? Surely it broke while you were using it?

Got in the car after the event and found I had no accelaration and my foot felt funny on the pedal. Stopped at the garage at the top of Tableview road where there was some light and found the pedal all skew. On inspection this morning the pedal had lost a "SELF TAPPER" that was holding it to the floor

took the front ball joint off my drag link... hoping to get new one on and take 80% of the play out of my steering

got into my garage at 1900

started making new gaskets for my manifolds. Material I was using was a little thin and just tore. So now I have some thicker material setting onto the manifolds so tomorrow I can cut them while in place.
Packed new front right side wheel bearings with grease. Installed new races and fitted hub.
Found new disc doesnt fit. I convinced it to fit - I just hope I never have to remove it again.
Figured out a way to push calipers back to "zero" position so new disc fits.
Figure out how caliper adapter kit works.
Find that caliper adapter kit and my disc brake mounts dont fit.
Remove front hub again
remove caliper mount and place in vice waiting for tomorrow when I can "make the bits work together"
Got out of garage at 2145

The 58 has a new heart, engine compartment is looking better than ever, decided to do some detailing that is well worth the effort. BTW my spray painting has improved big time
I have to add that even the wife agreed that the engine compartment looks good, she doesn't like my hobby, so the comment was quite fulfilling.
The to do list is still looooong, but it will be done for Fig's. Will now bw working evenings to get it finished. Watch this space.
I timed the fitting of the motor, on my own, 22 min. I kept asking myslef why did it take me 7 months to get to it when so little time did the trick.

made new inlet gaskets
modified my disc brake kit so it fits
mounted both front discs and wheels with new bearings and new grease
cleaned engine bay dress up parts
cleaned nose cone for new gearbox

Almost sold it this time. "Promised being made" that the money should be available in about 2months to take it.

Another offer to buy ...

Fixed the accelarator pedal, sorted the wheel wobble and gave her a good wash after being attacked by the local owl in the night.

Since the interior really annoyed me as it was done to such a bad standard that it made me angry, I've found a decent interior guy and told him to rip it all out and start again.

How any company thinks they can just put a thin marine carpet down over bare metal and not secure it, and call that finished, is beyond me. Have gone for the same carpet used on a BMW 7 series but with loads of sound proofing and under felt to ensure a semi-silent ride.

will post pics when done.

Drove the 58 for the first time in months, twin carbs sound soooooooo shweeeet. And it runs like a dream, strong too. Had to adjust the clutch it was slipping.
Decklid is on, need to fabricate a bracket to aid cooling. Bumper assembly tonight

Got the 59 back and to say i'm impressed with the quality of work is an understatement. I honestly thought good craftsmen in SA were all gone, but Seelan has taken my expectations and made me a happy man.

Went with the same weave found on the high-end mercs and beemers, with sufficient sound proofing underneath. Only a few things left to do like the steering wheel and handbrake, then this bitch is 100% complete.

Got a little more done on the VolkRodster's windscreen. I need another two full days at it......

mocked up and mounted the last of the gearbox bracing to the box.

Box in, box out, box in, box out, box in, box out, box in - finally I get it in properly. The bracing is wider than the frame horns and had to first figure that out, then get the box in with the right combo of bolts below and above the horns...

Shifter attached, I have 5 gears
All gbox mounts attached and locked down - dont forget the ground strap
nosecone mid-mount attached
axles attached to swing plates and shocks attached.

Bearings can wait till tomorrow or some other time
BTW, 5 gears = 4 fwd and 1 reverse