The chop top lives again after 3 years!

[rick m]

Finally, after 3 years out of commission, I got the final drive to get the 66 chop back on the road.  Spent all day Saturday (and deep into the night) bleeding brakes, installing the IDAs, making fuel lines, installing the fenders and black powder-coated Brizio bumpers (aluminum), hooking up lights and generally getting things together.   I decided I would never get it running if I waited on my body work issues.  

I blocked the deck lid and apron one more time, hazed them with some black for final sanding and finishing some minor details, and put this project back in commission.  Paint will become another Saturday project but for now, this beast is alive.  

List of things I changed on the car:

- Installed new drums, brakes and Porsche traditional look alloys (done by Al Reed) 15x4.5 fronts (thanks to the late fronts being narrowed and 15x7's on rear) Using CASTROL Synthetic brake fluid in system
- 155x15 front tires and 215/70x15 Pirelli's on the rear
- Net trans with 3.88 R&P, short 66 axles, super-diff, steel shift forks, close 1.48 third and .95 4th (to act as an overdrive for freeway driving). Mounted with URETHANE Mounts and solid strap over the top of the bell housing. Running synthetic oil in the gearbox.
- Berg Locking Shifter
- Modified 67 pedals with the stamped arms boxed for strength and a custom pivot arm that eliminates the stock hook type cable for the clutch
- 2275 motor
94 Cimas with eyebrows
82 mm CB 4340 crankshaft (lightened stock german flywheel)
Stock length H Beam CB rods
Rick M Highly Ported heads with dual springs (Valve job done by CE of TEMPE)
CB Big Beef manifolds (welded and modified for porting done)
ACE Prepped IDAs (this things idle like a stock motor at 1,000rpms and NO FLAT SPOTS anywhere)
Brand New Brazilian case, full flowed, oiling mods in the lifter bores and the front oil relief, clearanced for stroker
BERG Oil Pump and front cover
BERG Merged header and dual mufflers...(YEAH BABY...Old school look and sound) Wide J pipes that run under the heads so I could build custom cooling tin
BERG Dual Carb Linkage (new style with stainless cross shaft and heim ends, along with barrel stops I put on...idea came from Don Bulitta)
BERG Type 4 oil cooler conversion
Berg Crank Degree Wheel
Alternator with 912 Pulley on fan (welded fan)
DYNOSOAR (vintage valve covers w/welded breather tube outlets)
CB FORGED 1.4 rockers
Chromoly pushrods (Manton)
ACE Copperhead Clutch Disc (love these things for a big motor)
Kennedy Stage 2 clutch disc
Owner build special industrial style tin for bottom of motor to isolate headers from pushrods and bottom of motor
Engle K8 Cam and SLR Lifters
COMPUFIRE Ignition
NGK peanut plugs
KENDALL GT Oil
Lucas ZINC additive for cam break in
INTERIOR CHANGES
NEW ZACH (Cal Look Lounger) biscut door panels and qtr panels
NEW SCAT Seats (Still have to complete my rear package area flat but all is carpeted for now
Early 80's WINK rear view mirror.  Really helps me see out of the whole back area of the chop. No blind spots.
Exterior Changes
Added Brizio aluminum (powdercoated black) front and rear bumpers
Blacked out all the stock chrome...Got the idea from Doug Mische's early GHIA where he did all the trim black
Added a 67 Deck lid and custom fabbed my own apron...no bondo...all metal finish
Added billet aluminum running boards powdercoated black too


I forgot how much fun these cars are.  Put a big smile on my face for the first shake down run. WOW! Time to have some V8s for lunch.  Have a few minor breather issues to work out but overall the car drives smooth, shifts nice and OH BOY...that big motor rush too!

RM

[Mike Maize]

GREAT car, makes me want to chop my 67 though You nailed the stance!

[Donny B.]

Now you have to drive it over here.  Did you get to meet up with Ray like you wanted to?  Sure hope so!

[rick m]

hey Mike...Thanks for the nice comments.  Your car would look like a traditional 70-72 gasser with a chop top along with your flared fenders.  I have always liked what you did with your car.

Rick M

[speedwell]

mike don't have anymore the picture of your car with the choptop 

[TexasTom]

Great news Rick!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Now, when will we see that burnout???

TxT

p.s. Got any motivational secrets? LOL
 

[Mike Maize]

hey Mike...Thanks for the nice comments.  Your car would look like a traditional 70-72 gasser with a chop top along with your flared fenders.  I have always liked what you did with your car.

Rick M

Thanks Rick, that means a lot coming from you! Fabian, I would have to dig for those, but they were very tempting.....

[Cheesepanzer]

How do the IDA's run with those screens in place?

Great to see the car together!  Congrats!

[rick m]

There is not any discernable loss of power with the screens in place.  If I did not know I put them on, I couldn't tell a difference.  I won't run open carbs on the street, especially for road trips.  I hear a lot of opinions but if I did not think they worked,  they would not be on the IDAs.

Rick M

[javabug]

I run the same screens on my DRLAs and can't tell a difference either. They're nice pieces.

[rick m]

Hey Texas Tom,

Ran out of energy for installing my line lock.  Will have to make a project for another weekend.  We probably need to do a new BURNOUT VIDEO, seeing the last one I did is going on 15 years old.  Can you believe it has been that long! Still loving the sound of a high reving VW with IDAs on it!

Rick M

[thehanz DVK]

good to see it used again , i really like this chop....

[Rick Meredith]

Congratulations Rick!

http://youtu.be/W8GRQHsAVjI

[ibg]

Rick, could you please put up a pic of the Berg linkage modifications, barrel nuts?

[rick m]

IBG,

Here is a shot of the BERG Linkage with the barrel nuts holding the crossbar in alignment.  I got the idea from DON BULITTA. You can pick them up through McMaster Carr, a supplier of all types of things.  They are a really clean addition.  This is the only shot I have right now.  I can click off a better close up and post it after I get home from work if you want a closer shot.

Rick M

[Diederick/DVK]

Is it me, or am I not the only one looking for my magnifying glass when you post photos, Rick? 

[Brew 66]

That's how he pretends to share ideas, while keeping his secrets
Little tiny photos!

[rick m]

Very funny Bill!  What size do you guys post them? I seems when I try to make them bigger, the lounge tells me the pictures are too big.

RM

[Rick Meredith]

There's a great thread on sizing pictures for The Lounge here;

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,3632.0.html

[ibg]

Dear Rick
I thought it was 'cos I was looking all the way from Australia that i couldn't see the pictures properly. But i think I've got it, the barrel nuts are on the crossbar and keep it aligned side to side rather than a stack of washers. Very neat.

[rick m]

DKK Rick,

Thanks for the link to the picture sizing thread.

IBG....yes, the barrel nuts help stop the side to side movement that the old BERG washers were for.  However, when I received the new SS crossbar and heim end improvement from the BERGS, the fit was really pretty good and did not absolutely need the barrel nuts.  I got the idea from Don Bulitta and thought it looked really cool.

Rick M

[Nico86]

Congrats Rick 

[rick m]

Thanks Nico.   Having fun breaking in the motor and blasting around.  Have a road trip this weekend with some local VW buddies.

Rick M

[Brew 66]

Road Trip?

I got a VW?

Anywhere you go in the valley you have to pass my part of town!

I wouldn't mind joinging you if I'm not at the Good -Guys

[Donny B.]

Bill I sent you a copy of the notice about the cruises coming up.

[Brew 66]

Thanks Don

[rick m]

Hey Bill,

Will you be going out to the 57th avenue cruise-in on Bell Road this Friday night?  What about Saturday's road trip. Interested?

Rick M

[Brew 66]

Rick, I can't make the Saturday run, but I am in for the 57th Ave Cruise on Friday. Do you know what time they start? I can make it by 5:30 or 6:00.
Let me know if you head over there. We drove by it last week, they had a crowd.

[rick m]

Bill,

Got committed to visiting with the grandkids in Goodyear tonight.  I heard there is another gathering at 67th and Bell on Saturday night.  Are you up for that one?

Rick M

[Brew 66]

Rick, I I ended up getting hom e late and didn't see a reponse from you so I didn't go either.

I am up for tonight. There is usually a group of other VW's at the Saturday one. At this time of year they start to gather eariler just before 5:00pm.

Se you there.