Spring 2013 - Inspiration!

Well, it's been a while since the last update (not an understatement!!! :-) ) The polar winter is slowly loosing its grip on us and with spring comes VW-inspiration - Great stuff!! The ´59 is currently subject for some tweaks - Joining the Cal-look family... Cosmetically the bumpers are gone - replaced by old-school style T-bars. It went thru an ass-lift the other day to achieve the right stance.

Earlier today I prepped new headlight assemblies - Replacing the cover glass with tinted (20%) 3mm lexan - This in order to get a "gasser" influenced look up front!  (the degree of tinting does not come thru in the picture - pictures will come ones mounted on the car).

DRIVE TRAIN MODS/UPDATES:
Ready to install is a new tranny from Rancho Performance  . Gusssuted Rhino case with internals from Weddle - Good stuff!

 

Fresh out of the box

Dressed in "Bahia Red" (L30E)

'62 - Front end "face lifted"

This week end's project is done - Front apron and newly painted new fenders in place - Cleaned the front end up considerably!...next in turn is finding and painting new rear fenders and some metal work with constructing the removable rear clip...
Anyone got a set of rear fenders?!?

Spring time - Time to get busy....

The white '62 is due for a minor "face lift":
- New fenders up front
- Removable rear clip (including new fenders)
- Partial re-paint
- Engine swap
- T&T -> GO!!!!!!!!

A Fat Chick Ghia Cal Looker in the making

A quick update from where Cal Lookers are born :-)! = WWW.DBRVW.SE

Later this week it's off to paint - Despite being a "Fat Chick" I have to confess that it has potential :-)

Before


On the ground trying out new "shoes"

They are still out there....

...The BARN FINDS that is!

Todays find - a pristine 1956 Oval.

- A single owner car stored in a barn (DRY and WELL protected from the elements)!!!
- 70000 km on the odometer.
- Mechanically in wonderful condition
- Body/chassie in very good condition (no rust...only minor blemishes on the outer front wings)
- Interior like "new" (the rats never got to this one!!)

'56 Oval - Another project

Another VW will live to see the roads again - This one being a 1956 Oval!

It's a complete and straight car.It has been "a sleep" in this barn since 1973 - perhaps lacking some "beauty sleep" :-)...

Updates will follow as the "resurrection" starts!

1960 KarmannGhia saved from the crusher

A week or so ago I went to check this 60 Ghia out - Today I went to save it from the crusher! :-) The future of this car is still uncertain - it is however now in good hands :-)! It will not move in to my garage permanently, but rather be transferred to another "VW-caretaker" :-)! Feels good!!

Ghia road trip

Today it was time to head west to pick up a 1973 Ghia. Very solid and with potential - A set of repro chromed/detailed Fuchs' will be a perfect fit in combination with an adjustment of rake :-)!

Heading west early this morning - Empty trailer


Trailer loaded - Heading east

"Treasure Hunt" - 1950 Split Window

They are still out there! - Solid early (stalled) projects waiting to be brought back to life :-)!!
Below are pictures of a solid survivor that I went to look at yesterday - A late 1950 Split Window with "croth coolers". What's pictured below is what is actually there - Very solid, complete and straight(a restoration project that stalled sometime in the early nineties).
Hmmm...exciting!!!!!!

Saving a Ghia???

YESTERDAY:
While filling up at the local gas station a guy pulled up. He came over and asked a few questions on the car and said: "I recently picked up my old uncle's Karmann Ghia. It's a 1961 and has been stored in a garage since the mid seventies. It's never been tampered with and is straight and complete. We have no interest in it, would you perhaps be interested in buying it?"

TODAY:
Needless to say, I was certainly interested :-)! (perhaps this was one of those "barn finds" you read about every once in a while?...)
Called the guy and headed over (excited!!) to his house. Accompanied by "detroit irons" (Ford Fairlanes and early Camaros) there it was!! As we got closer I realized that it was perhaps not the "immaculate barn find" :-)...
After going over the car I left letting him know that I'd be back.
My heart says "save it!". My brain says: "let it go!"...Not sure what to do!!?!!

This is what i found...

Project '59 - Fall cruise...

The days left where a cruise might be tempting are scarce this time of the year. Today was an exception - Clear blue skies, sunshine BUT coooooooold! (2 Celsius/ 35 Fahrenheit).

The stock 36 hp purrs like a kitten - I hate to admit it, but cruising with a well tuned stock engine/tranny is actually pretty nice for a change...

Project '59 - A small "milestone"...

Another "milestone" was passed the other day - Passed the Government Inspection - Nice to get some crusing before the winter hits and it's time to get some needed :-) upgrades in place...

Ordered a new tranny the other day for this car - As follows:

From Rancho Performance (www.ranchotransaxles.com)

• Their new Gusseted/Welded RHINO case (magnesium)
  
• 4.12 R/P
• Superbeetle 1st & 2nd
• Welded 3rd/4th
• SuperDiff, steel forks
  
• Sidecovers
• Early type2 nose cone (to fit pre-60 floor pan)

Later,
Nick

Oh, just a few random shots taken today...

Project '59 - Wind shield!

Finally got the wind shield in place!

New glass from www.veterania.se - top notch and fair price!
New rubber and molding from www.wolfsburgwest.com - simply the best!

Luck struck me last week when doing a quick search of one of the local scrap yards - In the far back was a 82 Volvo station wagon lurking - It had seen better days :-)! I carefully tore the inside cover off the tail gate and discovered a mint condition wiper motor (12V, SWF) - A direct swap with the existing/original 6V, SWF unit - Great stuff!

Where we live...

This is where it (supposedly :-)!) is happening. Plenty of space (3 large ports).
Work continues on the '59 project while preparing for the trip to SCC (www.sccevent.com) next week end!

Project '59 - Down on all four!

Mounted tires on back rims today and lowered it down on the ground for a quick "stance check" - Need to raise it an inch in the front to get the "perfect stance"...

Tires and rims (EMPI BRM repops):

• Front - 5" rims, 145/15
• Rear - 5"rims, 205/70/15