The Cal-look Lounge

I finally, after months of swapping my old trans for a new street gearbox, with all new drums, brakes, etc, finally have my 4.5" (custom made by Eric Vaugh from 6's) and my 7" rear FUCHS Alloys on my chop top. Still waiting on all the new alloy/anodized lug nuts.

I am currently making a custom rear 67 apron and EMPI style deck lid for the car. Will post shots when I have them in primer and prior to paint. Once the body mods are done the driver motor will go back in for awhile.  Need more time to break in the trans, brakes and get the new 2275 motor done. Thought I would post what is done for now. The alloys really change the look of the car from the old EMPI 5s.

Rick Mortensen

Perfect !  8)

Thanks. Been working hard to get that early Cal Look appearance more refined. My first actual cal looker was in 1977, while I owned other VWs prior to that in the early 70's.  Have always wanted to have a refined chop driver for the street and I am getting closer to it.

Rick M

Wow, those alloys really make the paint pop. Looking good!

--louis

Thanks Louis.  Progressive refinements...the little things that keep upgrading the look. Can't wait to get my 2275 IDA motor in it. It will really help finish the project off.

Rick M

Awesome, Rick!
Can't wait to a video of you boiling those rear hides in 2nd gear & thru the lights!

Tom Funnell

Nice to start seeing cars going back to there Roots CAL LOOK and getting away from the Resto stuff

Damn Rick that came out SWEET!  Good Job

Yeah...I am pretty pleased with the way it is shaping up. I was seriously considering flat aluminum wheels for the I/Gas look but I am partial to the FUCHS wheels. I have always loved how 7's fill the back fender running 66 axles. It is coming together. Finally!

Rick M

looks great Rick !
  :)

What color is the paint ?

yellow ;D

Thank you Capt. Obvious  ;D

That's a very nice ride  :)
Wheels fit perfectly.

Looks good, Rick.  I think the 7" and late 6" (style) are a good combo for that car.

Very nice,especially those 7" at the back!!  :o

i love 7s! well done.

Nice work Rick.  The chop is very subtle but looks great.  The wheels look just right.  Can't wait to see finished pictures.

By the way, I'm the guy who bought a set of ACE IDA's and Berg CNC / ported 870 style heads with Berg intakes from you about 6 1/2 years ago.  Also bought a Berg header and pulley from you as well.  I got the motor together earlier this year and I'm driving it now.  Awesome set of heads, intakes and carbs!  Jeff R.

Wheels look perfect Rick!

Personally, I've never liked the looks of the factory Fuchs 4.5" wheels... at least on my own cars.

Your custom 4.5's & 7's really do the trick.

~DR.

Turn signals.......... why?

The turn signals are different and have an early Oval Look. I've owned a ton of VWs and this was just something different that actually came on the fenders and I left them on it.  It makes it different from the pack.

Rick M

Hey Rick, The Chop Looks Just Right with the Alloys! Good Choice. Will you be attending the Jerome Jamboree this Weekend?
Chris

Hey Rick, what did it run to get those rims narrowed. Alloys look so good on your car you have gotten me to thinking about putting them on mine. (And yes that will be the fourth set of rims for the car and its not even built yet. )

Thanks,

--louis

Eric charged AssHull $150 to narrow his spare 6" cookie down to 4.5". He did a great job, the wheel balanced out nicely and it still holds air! :D

Giving it some more thought I would probably just go with flat 4 repos.

---louis

Hey Chris,

I probably won't make it this weekend. I have 4 cars to relocate.  I moved father out of town to get out of a rediculous home owners association. There is no such thing as private property ownership in one of these little NAZI run subdivisions.  Difficult to have projects and not get hassled.

So, I will miss Jerome but hook up with you somewhere in the future.

On another note, my 4.5s balanced unbelievable and hold air too. One of my wheels and tire did not even require a weight. Go figure.  Eric Vaughn is the best. The reason I went with Real Alloys is because of the incredible weight savings over an aftermarket FUCHS wheel.  Less reciprocating weight means it runs smoother. I've felt the difference between an aftermarket Alloy and a real one.

Rick M

Did he cut the wheel on the back side, Looks good you can't tell

Danny,

Yes.  The cut was made on the back side. It is really a precision process too, since the FUCHS wheels are not that thick.  He took the maximum he could cut from the wheel and still get a weld that was high quality.

His work is second to none and the wheels probably run truer than some aftermarket castings when he is done. Great work done by a true craftsman. Eric Vaughn in Monrovia, California is the man when it comes to any type of wheel widening or narrowing. Even Al Reed, long-time Anaheim wheel polisher said the wheels Eric does are the best he's seen.

Rick M

Rick, I have to agree that EV does some incredible work. He has narrowed several wheels for me. My favs are the early aluminium D spokes. Car looks great. Can't believe I almost bought it, but was too late on the trigger pulling thing. Keep up the good progress.

Thanks Patrick. Stay in touch.

Rick M

Say Rick, your car looks awesome with that set-up of Alloys, Ya happen to have the Phone# to Eric? Whats you front end set-up? Beam, drop spindles, etc?

Here is Eric Vaughn's web address:   http://www.ericvaughnmachine.com/

Other contact information includes:

Located on the West Coast in Southern California
111 N. Myrtle Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016

For more specific info, call Eric at Vaughn Machine:

(626) 358-6413

You will not be unhappy with his work.  It is the best I've seen.  He meets his commitments and delivers in accordance with what he tells you.  Let him know you saw my wheels on my car.  He will be happy to have the referral.

Rick Mortensen

looking great with those new wheels Rick.......love the car.

Yeah ....Great job on your chop Rick...!...I love it !...Looks Perfect !!...the yellow kicks ass !

Hey Rick, thanks for the info, will be calling on him soon, again, very cool car.  ;D

Glad to help.  You planning on doing some narrow wheels?  He also widens them.  Incredible talent he has.

Rick M

bet you get a discount next time given the number of people you're referring ;)
the wheels look very cool though!!

What I'm planning on doing is narrowing my front set, I'm running a full set of late 6x15 Alloys, want to do what you did, narrow the fronts to 4 1/2". If I run an early set of 4 1/2", running a 2" narrow beam with those will bring in the wheels alot, thats NOT the look I'm looking for, unless I run a stock width beam.

WOW that fits very nice! Really love those 7`s in the back.

Ive owned several sets of the early 4.5s and I just did not like the look of the spokes sticking out past the wheel rim. Just did not seem to match the look I was going for. I first saw Mike Lawless's ghia with narrowed alloys and he turned me on to Eric Vaughn. It was well worth it.

Rick M

looking awesome ;D

Thanks 58VW!

Rick M

Looks nice Rick! Jerome was a blast, you missed out!

Can I get your email address?? I've got a few questions that only an event promoter can answer ;)

Rick, You were in Surprise. How much farther out can you go, Blythe ;)
We still need to hook up at the Safeway cruise some Saturday.
Bill

Rick,
Becoming a bit repetitive, but those 7's look awsome on the back of that car.  The 7's seem to be a cool forgotten touch from the late 70's /early 80's Cal-Look.

make sure to give me a ring if you come to Ohio this winter.

Zak,

You can reach me at rick@teammpi.com

RM

Hey Cornpanzer!

I am visiting OHIO soon. My son is attending OHIO STATE and my daughter Shanna is at PURDUE.  Would love to hook up with you on one of my visits.  Email me with your contact information, phone, etc., and I will call to let you know the next time I am in town.  Both will be in school back there for the next 4 years doing their graduate studies so I will have lots of chances to meet up with you.

Rick M
rick@teammpi.com

Bill,

Yeah....moving is a drag but then again my hobby was being hampered by the HOME OWNERS NAZI'S.  So, we got a 1.25 acre plot and house to support my VW madness and fabricating efforts.  I will have the chop done in about 4-6 weeks and start attending the SAFEWAY cruise nights again.  Would love to hook up with you.

Rick M

Zak,

Does Chris still have some of those EMPI novelties he made?

Rick M

I'm sure he does, racebug57@yahoo.com ;)

Thanks for the contact info Zak.  You getting any better at your interiors? I may have a bay window in need of some upholstery work for the front seats.

Rick M

I can hold my own ;)

Zak,

One of these days I will hook up with you in Chris.  When I get the motor back in the chop I will be making a few weekend road trips with my wife to Prescott and other areas. I will keep in touch.

Rick M