Hot Wheels 2 - Pine's new Buggy build thread

[Gusto]

The bug is looking great congrats

[69bug]

Pine, did you ever get the filler cap you wanted? and are you going to fit as this?

[Pine]

That was the plan from the beginning, yes. I got a filler cap from a Triumph Spitfire but it will have to be re-chromed at some stage. The tank also needs to get an additional filler tube, and the original one top right must be blanked off.

[Pine]

Over the weekend I marked out a template to have the alumium cut for the floors. Also fitted the DRLA's, to see if they will work. The linkages needed some adjustement to fit under the bodyshell, but so far so good

[Thumper]

Looks briliant

[Pine]

Been busy with a bunch of small things on HW2 the weekend, most important the wiring. As I said earlier, I am sticking strictly to the original VW wire colours, and I have a few harnesses that are being butchered to donate the wires to the project. After studying the wiring layouts on TheSamba on various models (Type 1, 2, and 3), the bigger picture is starting to take shape in my head, and it is really not that difficult! Once you start knowing the colour codes of VW wires (they are mostly the same over the model range), a lot makes more sense. As I see it, everything on a VW (and basically any car) works in a loop, from positive to negative, as you were told in High school Physics class. So you have a negatively earthed vehicle, and a few wires going through a few switches, connections and the fuse box to complete the circuit - how difficult could it be?

The small difference on a buggy is the fibreglass bodyshell, and as we know, fibreglass does not conduct electricity. So with a negatively earthed chassis, additional wires will have to be laid for the

- headlights
- indicators
- gauge lights
- etc.
(which are mounted on the bodyshell)

....but on a bit of a different note, I am starting to wonder if it is all worth it? The project, although nearing the final phases, is costing me a lot of money. I said from the beginning that I would not keep old invoices, and keep track of expenses, so please don't ever ask how much it cost, because I simply don't know. And I don't want to know.

But is not only the money, it is also the time. Not neccesarily the time spent physically working on it, but also all those sleepless nights working out the next step, addressing problems, issues, you know what I mean! Is it all worth it in the end?

I looked at pics of HW1 (the blue years) again tonight. At the time these were taken, I have just added other wheels, a 1600 engine with blue powder coated plates, 60's tail lights and a few EMPI stickers. The rest was exactly as it was built by the PO under a tree on a farm back in '71 - chassis shortened by a hacksaw, welded by an arc welder, wiring a mess, brakes 'vaguely' there.. but yet, the most fun you can have on (or inbetween) four wheels!

I am worried that, with all the new parts, new bodyshell, shiny bolts and nuts and perfect electrics of HW2, that I am totally missing the true buggy spirit, which was oh so there with HW1?

Anyway... just some Sunday evening blues getting to me, Tuesday is a public holiday and I will continue with the build of HW2 (weather permitting )

[Pine]

Footnote: found an old VHS tape of blue HW1 in action, will try to have it digitised and put it on YouTube - good memories

[Blitzkrieg]

Well, I've asked myself the same question recently. Is it worth it? All the bucks spent, two years of frustration that could have been avoided if only I had a plan. I will never calculate what I spent on the car, I really don't want to know. I hope and pray that when I take my fasty for that first drive, it all makes sense and the question is answered positively.... Looks like the end of the build is nearing, Pine

[karmakoma]

Old Cliche but true, the night is darkest before the dawn. When it starts and drives as well, no better than you hoped, then suddenly it all feels worth it. Hang in there Pine, you are so close now...

[Dirk]

I am worried that, with all the new parts, new bodyshell, shiny bolts and nuts and perfect electrics of HW2, that I am totally missing the true buggy spirit, which was oh so there with HW1?

Pine, I've spent the better part of a year helping a friend sort out his beach buggy... an original Lollet nogal.

That buggy had all it's all electrics stripped out, and we made a new loom by hand.
The things we have done to it to get it back on the road was one mean feat and there is a long way to go before it even
remotely resembles HW1 or HW2. But, when we finally managed to start and run it around the block a few times...

Many times he considered dumping the project.
Many times I had to talk him out of it!
Over the last 3 weeks I've seen him go from po'ed and irritated to smiling and happy.

You should see him drive in that buggy, that smile says it all.

You have the same thing going for you.

And now... as I told Blitz once already, and this is a virbatim quote because I'm sure Blitz has forgotten this conversation:

"Seriously, it's not always a bad thing to abandon a project. Just keep that in mind.
The thing to do is be damd sure you are not just being lazy.
Listen to me... I should be following my own advice.
Also be sure that you arn't giving up hope. When you get to the point where you are giving up hope... that is exactly the
time when you should ignore your feelings and work harder than you ever did before. This is usually the point at which people
say:
"But I tried!"
The truth is, that people get disheartened by finishing a project and end up misinterpreting the feeling as "I'll never get it
done" when it really is "What will I do after I'm done."
So, push through and deal with the true problem when you are really done with your project."

[Chris]

The Buggy looks stunning.Just hang in there.

You KNOW it will all be worth it.

[ZeroAxe]

*hands out a bitch slap*

Drama Queen




























Dont let the blues get to you. Feelings are just an illusion. Keep on working and worry about "gaan dit dieselfde voel soos HW1" to the day you take it for a drive.

[Tony Z]

Come on Pine.... you know it will be worth it in the end.
If its getting too frustratin, step back for a week or so, then go back in once you have the energy again.
It took me 6 weeks after I seized my 2332 on first startup to see what went wrong - ended up being nothing and a R300 fix. But I didnt know that at the time and thought the worst. 6 weeks later I had the guts to get back into it.

You are so close.... and dont forget, its the small stuff that no-one sees that takes the longest. Then suddenly you'll finish a job one night, stand back and think "whats next"? And thats when it'll suddnely dawn on you, the car is completely finished... wash and polish and youre done.

Keep up the faith

[DaveW]

A word of encouragement.

I am a newby on the forum but have been following many projects over time as a guest. I joined because of the fact that although most of the guys on the forum have knowledge way beyond mine, but all are humble ,normal okes happy to pass out advice to guys like myself.

Pine, your project on HW2 is what I follow the most because my goal is to have a buggy of the same quality as yours.

Hang in there as we all wait with baited breath.

Dave

[Pine]

Thanks guys, perhaps my post came out a bit wrong. I'm not having second thoughts about the build, I just remembered last night how much fun HW1 was after I got it, without me spending a lot of money to get it running! The irony of it all s that I am ending up with the HW2 build actually buying stuff I gave away/thrown away in the past