project budget 66 'looker! NOW PAINTED!

[beetletom]

picked up this original uk car just before christmas, planning on keeping it stock

but was bored after a few weeks, so decided to cal look it, but nothing too much, so i can easily change it back to stock.

it had never been welded, except the rear bumper mounts! not bad for a uk car  original channels, 1/4's! wings! interior and carpet etc... best of all, it has no repro parts on it so far...!

but it needed a little, bonnet corners repaired, a post gutters cleaned up, seat runner welded,front lower 1/4's cleaned up (even has the original seams! )
which i've just had done this week.

it needs rear bumper mounts changing back to the correct ones (hookeys) and the bottom lip of the doors repairing too.














i have already fitted a header and twin quietpack , which cost £3! but needed a flange welding on
simpson harnesses, and a csp shifter which i got for cheap! 

and my friend repaired the front seats

picking up a new lowered beam next week for it, to prevent from cutting the original one

plan is to stick on some bbt sprints, and return the outside back to the original ruby red.

[Matty c]

looking good tom. 66s are way cool, never had one myself but my bro jay had a sea blue one a few years ago. it was a bit tatty, faded paint ect, totally stock (apart from the 1600cc motor), ive always loved harvey rosenthal's 66 too

[beetletom]

thanks 65-66 bugs are my favorite years 

yeah, thats a cool car! 

[fredy66]

thanks 65-66 bugs are my favorite years 

yeah, thats a cool car! 

*2

nic car

[beetletom]

hope to finally pick up the beam this week, then the front end can be dropped!

then have the door bottem seal lips repaired, the guy who's doing the welding is perfect, you couldn't tell if the areas had ever been repaired!
and thats without filler too!

anyone know if its worth fitting lowered ball joints?

[beetletom]

picked up the beam, didn't realise how heavy it would be, had to carry it back on the underground 

picking up some hookeys bumper mounts at dubfreeze

then the beam, and mounts should be fitted next week! 

still umming and arring over wheels though, silver 66 steels, 5.5's out back, or a set of bbt sprints??

[beetletom]

lowered beam being fitted tomorrow 

ordered the pair of wide 66 steels today for the rear.

wheels are silver and will be running without caps.

[beetletom]

took off and fitted new beam yesterday by myself, still totally knackered!
got to fit the arms today though, as had new ball joints pressed in

got to get some front tyres today too....

[jamiep_jamiep]

Look forward to seeing some pictures whwn it has the right 'attitude' Tom!

[JSL]

Hey Tom,

Good to see you again on Friday!

Did you get the bug done in time to move it?

Hows it looking? Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! 

Cheers,

J

[beetletom]

yep! managed to sort it
but once it was on the floor, i realised i had lowered the back too much (1 outer spline) so decided to throw on my roofrack for now
not how i wanted it to be (more nose down)





might raise the rear after volksworld show

[JSL]

Looking good dude!

Awesome that you got it done in time!!

See you at the VWorld show!

J

[Neil Davies]

yep! managed to sort it
but once it was on the floor, i realised i had lowered the back too much (1 outer spline) so decided to throw on my roofrack for now
not how i wanted it to be (more nose down)





might raise the rear after volksworld show

Bin the roofrack and just claim late '70s influence! Looking good though!

[beetletom]

thanks guys! yep, rack is just temporary  till the back end is raised

i think i might get a set of bbt sprints at volksworld anyway
and some smaller front tyres!

[benssp]

or you could put some suitcases & horse brasses on that rack

[beetletom]

this ain't no buckaroo ride 

[Matty c]

lookin good tom, glad you gat the beam home safely

[beetletom]

thanks!!

passed my theory test today, finally   

now on to the practical!

[beetletom]

might aswell raise the rear tomorrow, as going down to change the track rods...

hopefully getting the spare pair of 66 steels back from blasting tomorrow too

[beetletom]

quite a bit been happening, also been driving it about pretty much every day for the last 2 weeks

fitted a worn out kadron, so very loud  but have a single quietpack with kadron flange, so tha might go on at some point...
harnesses too.

the set of steels have now been painted, fitted the 5.5 rears today, looks very pre cal look!
but the rear height needs to be raised stiil!!!
just need to get some more ££ for some front tyres, but have sold the rack, so fronts should be fitted next week

fitted pop outs too from the 65

[beetletom]

sorry, forgot to take pics today  refitted stock exhaust with taper tips, the worn out kadron was just ridiculous 
fitted a flat 4 eliminator shifter, is awesome! probably the best aftermarket shifter i've owned (so far) fitted it in, and it required no adjustment!
due to no silly base plate

a tiny repair to one of the bulkhead corners, and correct rear bumper mounts, have the original wings repaired
then a respray on the outside

[beetletom]

much better.
i think thats stock height at the rear??  but looking at the pic at the top, it needs to go a bit higher?
but it looks good anyway...

just need to get some lower profile front tyres, then i can fit the front wheels.

[71CALRIPPER]

Good work El Tom

[Zach Gomulka]

Looks a little low to me, Love those widened 66-67 wheels, though, Just raise it til it's at zero camber

[beetletom]

thanks!

yep, its hard to tell once the car is in the air.
i had to raise up one side twice!

[beetletom]

at the volksworld show i bought an RX exhaust that looked like if it had been ran over 

i bought it, thinking i could be fixed, it could be, but not worth it...
so i had my friend cut off the end and weld a 3 bolt flange to it, while still keeing the 'rx' look to it

just need to get a 4 into 1 header

silver front steels are on now with 135's!

[fredy66]

nic man

[beetletom]

thanks!
pics finally, fitted a nice unused berg shifter today, best shifter ever made! need to get an early polished rhd handle though

and i thought my flat 4 eliminator was good!
t bars upfront too.

[beetletom]

picked up a trekker fanshroud today from andy jewell, he said which actually came from an aircraft, which is cool!

even has a few cool tags on it, which i'll probably keep on it.

need to get a bracket made up for my empi pulley kit
and some decent single barrel twin carbs, then i pretty much have all my engine bits.

any idea if going for a 1679 slip in kit is worth it?
or just go for a 1641?

[GreenTom]

Looking good Tom

Some people put those 88mm cylinder/piston kits but some say that they are aliitle bit too thin on the case point. I had few kits in my hands and must say that 87 looks ok, but I wouldn'tgo for 88mm. Try to get 74 or 76 stroake crank and go with Youre 85,5mm stuff (but try to use new set of barrels and pistons 85,5 or 87 -those are a bit mor expensive), clerance the case nad there You go.
good luck mate

cheers Tom.