The Cal-look Lounge

Will I ever learn " probably not "  ::) will you just take a look at the dog I dragged home  :-\
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4189.jpg)
looks like the overhaul of the 49 is gonna take a bit of a back seat for a while  ;)
Got this little fixer upper "read shit loads of rust cutting out " for her indoors . It's a 68 model , plan is to cut out the rot which is most of the back end , heater channels etc .
Switch it over to RHD , de trim , drop the front a bit , paint it in its original royal red and sit it on some Mahle wheels .
Gonna weld in some bracing tomorrow " lot more than I would put in a saloon" and pull cut and tear the body off the pan , wish me luck  ;)
Got a big list of panels going already
luggage floor
two rear quarters
heater channels
sill strengtheners
two new pan half's
68> rear valence
two rear wings
ETC ETC

 
Oh yeah don't tell the Mrs but its gonna have an turbo in there  ;)

So Glenn,good luck  with the resto,and I like the fact a "vwcab" with a turbo.
Interesting project,I will follow it for sure.  ;)

Utter madness, it can't be done  :P ;D

cool project! :)

Just gone out and got a donor car 1302S with a new luggage panel with it  8)
Looks like the cab my have to go IRS  ;)

Hey we not talking about your car. :P ;D


Also what idiot talked you into a turbo motor for it. :D

Motor for mine is starting to take shape, bottom end is been trial fitted and balanced over xmas, the heads are been tested and then put on a Serdi valve machine centre(just imported into the UK) to check valve angles, length etc so that all 4 chambers are identical.  So in a few months i'll go heads up against your hairdryer.;)

(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh56/beentheredoneit/smilies/thhijack.gif)

Didn't hear you fibreglass boy.  Speak up  :P ;D

Well after 5 hours , six ultra thin cutting discs and a lot of swearing , the donor 1302S is now a collection of parts  ;)
" anyone want a usable 1302 front clip and a pair of mac struts Im your man  ;)"
I can now tick off the luggage panel , rear valance and possibly the rear quarters from the want list  :)
The pan halfs on this donor car are very solid , what with the S gearbox Im going to have to look into grafting on the frame head from the cab pan and transfer the ID
Can't wait now to get stuck into the cab proper now , just need to strip down the donor rear end to see what's useable .

So its not done yet? :)

Where did the 1302 donor come from then?

Lee

Nah not quite yet  ;D
 The 1302 was a chance score , went around Max & AJ's for a brew yesterday lunchtime and got talking , he said he had something i wanted but could'nt have  ::) a luggage panel which he had hand picked from another car , then said that he knew of a car that was for sale age;s ago that had a new one with a load of new panels to boot  8)
He dug out the number gave them a call and to both of our supprise it was still there .
24 hours later it was sat in my drive , and a few hours after that it was parts .
Dont hang about around here you know  ;)

is that what they call a karman skip? ;D

Well I can't see the pictures, but it can't be nay worse than mine! :D
http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,9041.0.html
I've got a load of spare bits (complete set of window winders mechanisms, glass except for screen, pair of really ropy doors and various bits of Karmann metalwork) if you need stuff, and I've found out loads about how Karmanns are put together too! I might be picking your brains for measurements from time to time! ;)

Cheers Neil , I may be up for the winder mech's as both the drivers /right side one's are useless on my cab , drop me a list of spare's especially panels  ;)
Those pix of your heater channels look very similar to the condition of mine  ;)

I'm home and have had a look at the picture - doesn't look too bad! :D Funny how they look better in the pics than in real life... ;D

I'll have a good look for the winder gear next week - I finish school on Friday! ;)

Just read this bit again Glenn - 1302 pan halves are different to torsion bar cars apparently - shame because I've got a really good 1303 pan at the unit too... They're wider at the front, where the heater channels kick in just in front of the doors.

Bugger  :-[ , oh well Ive now got a pan for sale too  ::)

If you've got to replace the pan halves in the cabrio pan, it might be easier to do that and weld in IRS brackets at the same time than to do a frameheads and pan half swap on the 02 pan. All depends on the state of the framehead!

http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=551646

framehead?

Pretty much what i was thinking Neil , got a heater channel kicking about here some place I'll place it on the pan just to see how different they are .
Still on the upside got offered a intercooler today that's just right , thinking about cutting in a type 25 top engine hatch into the luggage floor and dropping the cooler in next to the box  ;)
May even raise the whole floor while I'm at it for a bit more room for go faster bits  :-\

Just cheat & throw away most of the shell like I did, it'll be done in no time.. ;)

Cheers,
Kev

Cutting a hole in the luggage floor is a really good idea, and one I'll certainly do in my cars. Why the factory ever deleted that feature I don't know... ??? I don't think I'd use a T25 hatch though - they're pretty heavy! I think I'll make something out of a donor section of luggage floor, maybe with a simple frame welded round the edge, or just a folded edge like in our split bugs.

Yeah got to look into a bit more yet , type 25 was just an idea , still got to get my head around what Im gonna use In the engine plumbing dept before I crack open the mig  ;)

That's what I would do single skin it put a big motor in it and paint it yellow ;D ;D

Looks like a lot of work 49rag
Ah at least we have another topic to read ;)

Michael

That's what I would do single skin it put a big motor in it and paint it yellow ;D ;D

Michael
[/quote]

LOL  ;D 8)

Michael it Beige not Yellow. :D

Sorry my bad ;D

Michael

The halves are the same for torsion and 1302/irs, 73- 1303 have a deeper area where the seats mount but the profile is the same ;D

Glenn, I may have a spare panel like the one i have fitted, it's from a Brazillian Kombi

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/benssp/DSCF1546.jpg)

Interesting! A mate of mine bought a pair of 1302/03 heater channels and they wouldn't go anywhere near his torsion bar bug pan. I'm going tohave to get the tape measure out on Saturday! ;)

The channels are different, not the pan halves, the channel bottom plate is about 3 inches longer :)

Neil with friends like you who needs enemies , i had a guy on volksmoan interested in the pan , he's pretty pissed now Im gonna keep it  ::) ;)
Ben Im a liking the look of that access hatch we need to talk  ;) can you possibly track me down some OG heater channels like the one's you used on the evolver  8)

Progress report after a week of little activity on the cab and more on the donor , Im hoping to get onto the cab on sunday , get the bracing welded in and lift the body off .
im all geared up to do a frame head transplant now " Igor more power from the lightning rods "  ;D

I will be over on Sunday then to give you a hand. ;D


As you are getting the welder out what we can do is cut the access hatch out of your 49 and at the same time welded the trim holes up. :P :D

Need I say more , with friends like these  ::)

what time sunday are you lifting the skip off the pan, could pop over for an hour to give you a hand 

Prob pm lift  ;)

Oops! :-[ :D You learn something every day! Looks like I'll be able to use the 03 pan I've got too then... It's useful having a BenSSP with access to the fiddly details about what fits what!  :o ;D

I might pop over Sunday too for a quick look to see how many corners you cut to get it finished

I will bring some protective gloves with me to help move the 56' (sorry 49) out of the way.

 ;) ;D

are you driving your 68 over rich!

p.s. i would give you hand as well nordberg but ive got to clear a garage and move a 84 classic hot hatch water pumper before salisbury council cease it lol :o

Got all the bracing in today , bit over the top with 8m of inch steel but i dont want it to fold when it comes free of the pan  :)

Just cut it in half! It'll be fine! :D Going to try to match up the two halves of mine next week! :o

What is this a race Neil  ;D

Busy weekend here at castle bodge  ::) first off welded the bracing in and jumped up and down on the old pan a bit till it fell out   ;D
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4232.jpg)
Then got set about the easiest IRS conversion Ive ever done
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4231.jpg)
The ball joint frame head just slotted into place as the Macpheason pan tunnel is just a tad larger easy peasy , a few measurements to make sure its all square and bingo job done  8)
On the down side managed to knock the cab off the axle stands while bringing the new pan in Dooh ,
no harm done just a couple of dents but it showed the bracing was good coz the doors still open fine  :)

your getting on with it glen ,im impressed ;D

Looking good Glenn, I worked for about 3 hours today then went home cos it was too cold! :D

You managed more than me , still at me day job for a couple more dayz  ::) no time for rustin old buckets  ;D
Next up gonna have to be the heater channels  :-\ there's no getting away from it . Gonna start by seeing whats left after I peel away the nasty stuff , hopefully there's enough of the A and B pillar gussets to work with as i don't relish having to rebuild them too  :-\

Glenn, I've been having a look over on Restowagen at a couple of the cab restos they've got threads on. I know their back suspension is all broken, but the quality is superb.
http://restowagenuk.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=10783&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
http://restowagenuk.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=31&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
One or the other of these threads shows how the gussets were re-made, and if I can get some decent measurements I'll have a go at mine soon. I think I'll do a flat piece folded on the flat sides, and weld a flange on for the curved side. The nice thing is that they're closed in at the back so I can weld them from behind and have very little grinding to do!

trents cab is awesome, and something we all need to aim for in the level of detail that won't even be seen!

Wow there's some proper work going on there , kinda make's me think mine's not too bad now  :)

Progress progress  :D
Ive been cutting more shit out today .
 Took me all of 10 minutes to liberate these long rusty things under the ever watchful eye of my dog Russell  ::)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4240.jpg)
Dropped the body onto the 02 pan for a quick once over , all looks good just needs a bit of joggling about  :)
Now I really need some channels , Ben you have mail  ;)

Oooh oooh anyone need one of these rear luggage shelves coz I just found this one " not my auction "
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260528689264&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
Not to easy to find anymore  ;)

Guess that lot did'nt need much cutting to remove :o
Did it come with the hood frame etc, or was it just a shell you bought?
EBI4?? 8)
Cheers,
Kev

No not too much persuasion was needed Kev  :o , came with the hood frame glass etc got to sort out some new material for it  ;)
As for EBI4 not sure its not going to be a racer and there's only so much fun to be had crusin around with the top down  :)

The $64000 question though - will it have side trim? ;D ;)

No he not. ;D

Side trim Pahh  ::)
ere what do you guys think about this one " its just an idea at the mo "
As im gonna switch it over to RHD Im thinking about keepin the old glove box where it is , grafting in a RHD box to and the graftin in two speedo appatures into where the radio mout would be " mine's been cut anyhow " maybe tilt them towards the drive a bit and mount a couple of porker gauges in there  ???
Its just an idea at the mo  ;)

You've been keeping a low profile matey, hows things??

Two glove boxes? A bit "split window" isn't it? ;)
Wayne Allman had both LHD and RHD drivers side dash sections in his Beetle using a Ghia clock and a stock speedo, and Roland's '68 uses basically two glove box panels with 914 clocks in the drivers side. Up to you mate, but it might get a bit tight! :o

While Ive been waiting for the rest of my panels to turn up ive had my favorite tool out again  ::)
 Front scuttle was toast so this seamed the simplest route .
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4335.jpg)
Was left , now going right  ;)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4336.jpg)
Not going down the twin glove box route now  ;)
Rocket's offered me a 914 speedo and tacho so I think Im gonna loose the old speedo mount , grills , vents , radio hole
 and extra holes and go VDO mad with a temp , preasure and volt gauge where the radio was  8)

hows it going glen done any more?

Hi Fella , Yup plenty  :) Got the dash and scuttle section welded in and lost all the extra holes  ;) now looks a bit 67 ish .
Got pretty much all the panels now , just waiting on some front inner wing panels and need to sort out a pasenger lower rear quarter too .
Engine wise I stumbled over some new Brothers 94 mm heads I forgot I had  ::) so I'll bolt together a little 1914 for now  ;)
Need to find a set of B&P's for it mild cam and a counter weight crank if anyones got one knocking about  ;)
looking at just getting a hood bag for it and letting the girl's smoke about in it this summer and doing the top next year .
Think Im go down the 2 litre porker wheels route  8)

I have some bits for a 1914 that need to be taken out of my engine bay!  Was going to stick them on vzi, but your welcome to haggle.  Case, B and P, engle 120, stock rockers with autocraft shaft, 009 with crane cams ignition, Gene berg standard length pushrods.

Tks for the comments Lids.  As you can see I've started lurking on here... ;)

Nice project Glen.  Look forward to seeing it go forward, hard to beat a Karmann Kab!

Cheers fella and welcome to the lounge . I'll have a steep climb to get this old bucket half as nice as your's  8)

Ohh there's quite a few things there I'd have Mike , PM me with some mate's rate's price's and i'll promice not to rib you anymore bout car's and track time  ;) ;D

will do once i find the time and a dry day to pull the engine out the car.  My garage is full of furniture, as i am about to have the front room plastered.

Thought you were plastered most of the time , what with all that Belgium cherry beer  ::)

If you stop here long enough we might even get you to put the suspension at the right height... ;) The work Gav has done on yours and Andy's cars is superb, and I've been taking lots of notes for my Karmann cab too! :D

Right pretty much got all the panels i need now , was going to have a week on it last but work got in the way  ::)
Having second thoughts on colour now  ::) Im torn between lotus white or deepest darkest black  ???
Been offered some copy burners for it , but .... well you know  ::) got to have the real deal chasing down two sets of magnesium based jobies right now  8)

5 burners on the samba for 1200 right now


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=870587

Had an afternoon spare today to put some time in on the kab . Got both heater channels cut in and positioned with the new rear cross members , believe these are genuine ones as the fit a treat .
Heater channels are supposed to be taken from the original pressings and it showed as they fit well too .
Chopped out the rear luggage floor , boy had that had is fair share of plates in it  ::)
Think my kab's gonna be about 30lbs lighter once Ive lost all the plates and doggy repairs  ;)
Im going to try and get time to cut out and position the rear quarters on Sunday want to try and get as much as i can mocked up it place with clamps etc and double check everything before I crack out the Mig  ;)
Last job of the night was to reposition the doors on the shell , all looked good and gaps are nice and tight  8)
Got some nice sill / channel strengtheners from CSP will put these on last me thinks , so Ive got a bit more flexibility in the body before these strengthen it all up , gonna just tack them in place then put the shell on its side coz Im crap at welding up side down  ::)
Will post some pix soon as ive stated to tack it together  :)

Likewise - I dug out a lump of filler on mine. It went from doorpost to wing line, and about 18 inches up the quarter. It's well over half an inch thick! :o


I got that strengthener off ebay! Went for £100 in the end, so not cheap, but still half brand new price! ;) I'm going to put the strengtheners on last too. Allows for some movement, like you say.

Right, plan is to strip old engine and take all ancillary parts to VoWo show for Jim, do you want me to bring any engine bits you might be interested in?

yup  ;)

Forgive me lord of all that is original for I have sinned .
 I have now welded up all my trim ,  lost my fuel filler hatch , bought a pair of pre 67 rear wings , welded up my  bumper holes in my front wings .
And Im now on the hunt for a 67 engine lid , valence , early front valance & bonnet , front & rear bumper mounts and a pair of mid 60's rear lights .
Oh and a pair of small lucus lamps would be nice too  ::)
Dam my cal look leaning's  :D

Glenn, I've got everything you need... because I'm putting my fake '67 back to '68! :D
Got the engine lid, rear valance (removeable, with centre cut out) and rear lights you're after, plus a 2 vent lid to cabrio the '67 one, the bonnet with handle and latch, I've also got dash knobs and a glovebox lid modified to work with the '68-on dash, a pair of scrap doors to take the handle apertures out of, plus various other bits and pieces like ignition barrel, fuel gauge, steering column, etc. Might even have the front bumper mounts if they come out alright.
Unfortunately the front valance is rotten, and although I've got door handles, the locking one is so worn it can be opened with a teaspoon... And I'm keeping my Lucases! ;)

Well Im seem to have the bits you need too then to go back to 68  ;) we need to talk  :D

We do indeed! ;) Shoot me a pm with a list of exactly what you need and I'll see what I've got. For the back to '68 project I've already got doors, lids, wings, lights, a new front valance, and a rear valance i can use, but I'll probably be after the fuel filler area if you've cut it out, and definately the fuel filler door - the cab needs one and I've only got a later cable release one.

If you're going for major accuracy, then don't forget to narrow the recess for the early steering column... Strictly speaking you should change the hinges on the glovebox door, but that's probably going a bit far! :D

maybe a bit too anal for me there buddy  ;D you sure can have the filler door recess etc , you got a 67 tank too ?

I have, complete with sender and gauge. We made sure we made our car as convincing as possible - we had just finished off the majority of the metalwork when we found a rotten '67 which we stripped for parts, so barring winder handles and door pins, I think I used everything. The irony was that it wasn't as rotten as the '68 had been - if we'd found it six months earlier I'd have a real '67 Cal Looker! :o :D

Anyway dude, let me know what you need and I'll work out what I need and we can work out prices and whene and where to swap parts over - I think a trip to the Volksworld show might be in order! ;)

Today I have mostly been making big hole's
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/DSC00047.jpg)
Then filling them in again  :D
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/DSC00049.jpg)
What a pain that was , with the extra kab strengthener bits .
Used the inner wing from the 1302 I broke , came with a nice Veng panel too , which was nice .
Reattaching the bottom of the hood hinge gusset could be a pain if your not carful ,
Neil beware  ;)

Big holes - I know all about them! Did similar repairs on my old '70/'72 beetle - left the boot floor in though!

I'm using the whole back end off that blue '74, then letting in the Karmann bits, and I was wondering how to get to welding those hood mounts! I've taken of those boxes with the rear seat supports though.

For the time being though, we've put the cab on hold. We're getting my mate's Caddy pick up ready for paint, then going to do a quick tidy up on my '68 - hoping to have that ready for the Avon Park meet on the 17th, not to race but just so Emma has something to drive around in until the cab is done. Then there's the DVLA thing - they want to know if the car is a kit... ::) >:(

 About this, I made it on my 67'
 And now I have a full access

That's brilliant! I've seen that mod in many a type 2 but never a Beetle. Looks like it was made for it!

nice work like that  8)

Cool like that  :) Is that from a type 25 ? kinda got used to my access panel on my split , a must have panel .

Glenn, I have a spare!!!, just got to check with James but there are a few at thw workshop :-)

 Hello.
   I used the spare panel from a wrecked late bay-window (whit a type IV engine) found in a yard.

Today I've been filling in the gap's  ::)

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4391.jpg)

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff84/49-rag/IMG_4390.jpg)

Pleasure to work with proper panel's no fuss or bother  8)

oh well...  :D

[attachment=1]

Congrats Roland!

Good luck with it, another nice callooker in the make in Belgium?

gr
Wout

Already have a cal-looker ;) I have slightly different project than Glenn's..  ;D

Anyway, good luck with the project! I'm sure it will become a very nice ride along with your others!

gr
Wout

 8) 8)

Roland's got a very cool plan ahead for my old cab , but I won't spill the beans here .
 All I'll say is watch hear for updates and keep an eye on the weight saving thread  ;) ;) ;) :o

:o :o ;D ;D

thanks guys!  :)

Started to start to work on the cab today. Put all the parts on a shelf, removed some of the parts left on the body... I might have it sanded before I start welding, we'll see.. Already drawed the cutting lines.. Sorry Glenn  ;D

Also i'm pretty sure now that the cab is a 69 model, but hey, fine by me...

So plans include dechromed body, 1 color clean paintjob, race-trim seats, centerlines, roll cage, big & little tires & a big(ger) engine.. Yet it won't be a cal-look or a race car... mmhh  ???  ;D

From the work we've seen on the yellow '68,this is gonne be a killer car.  :o   .And a great topic to follow.
Go for it!!!!  ;)

And huge negative camber in rear  ;D

I vote for no camber and a huge lift  ;D

993 biturbo brakes and 18 in. porsche rims! ;D

hah! Now we're talking :) guess you've earned yourself a ride when that thing is finished in a few years ;)

 8)

KC Daylighters  :)

Yep, already have a pair of these to build the car around! :)

So today, I did it..

[attachment=1]

[attachment=2]

Also, got the front tires.. As big as a door..  :D

[attachment=3]

[attachment=4]

Will be starting the welder soon!

ok MUD baja cab   ::) or just MUD cab  ;D ;D

All my hard work  :o ::) ;D ;D
Good to see Roland , cant wait to see the suspention mods  8)