The Cal-look Lounge

so ive been collecting parts for a period build for sometime now and i am just about ready to go, but one thing is fighting me, i have a berg linkage with about 97% original paint in the blue, problem im having is i dont want to destroy such an original peice but this is the most complete (all original hardware) linkage i have found

so what should i do, strip it and paint it all beauty like in black of course, or just leave it alone as a display sorta thing?

(http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy145/ont58/car%20parts/lkjh013.jpg)
(http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy145/ont58/car%20parts/lkjh014.jpg)

You can always clear coat it to add some shine to the original paint.... Just an idea.

I love how that looks, wish mine was that nice (it's been chromed :-\).

here's mine , and i will keep it as it was, i am just going to polish her

Yip, just clean it, however if it's a fully detailed car, paint it if you want, it's what it means that counts.....

leave it as is

Try to sell it and buy a different one. I'm sure someone is looking for this. Not me though already have a very, very, very nice one stored in a box somewhere  ;D

Does anyone know how to replicate that blue hammertone?

Looks very similar colour to light blue hammerite paint to me ! Gives a great hammered look !

Here's what I've used.  (light blue)

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=29&sid=7216830

X2

Restore it, call Bergs to see if they remember what they used back then.

Ted

Please pardon my failing to understand the need to preserve a part in it's deteriorated state for use on a "period build". If this part was bought in a rusted and chipped way, back when new, we would all be upset at it's appearance. This whole notion of preservation of the old in the exact way it is found makes me wonder if replacing rings and bearings might be sacrilege to our motor rebuilds. If this was the first linkage Berg ever made, or the very last remaining example in existence, then by all means save it in a museum of antique VW speed parts. But if it is to be a recreation of a time long ago, then make it appear to be of that time. Some hated the blue color it came in and painted the thing way back in the 70's. There is a guy around where I live that bought an old Model A truck that was drug out of a farm shed for an auction. Covered with years of dust and chicken shit, he bought it and hauled it home. His loving wife decided to surprise him by washing it on the trailer as it sat in the driveway while he was at work. He just about divorced her because she had washed off all the original dirt. I think we need to put things in perspective and remember that all this thing is was a means to control a set of fuel metering devices. Not another lost golden ticket to the Wonka factory. By the way, I have in the past been wrong, and will continue to strive to those ends in the future. ;)

I agree with Mark.  This looks like SHIT.
Are you going to try to "preserve" the dirt too?

you know what bruce , i will lick the dust just for you   ::)........ass h##e  >:(

that picture was the one in the "for sale description",  when i 've bought this one , since that time the linkage was cleaned and after all i do what i want with my parts i don't care about your mind

fabs

Grind all the square corners round and paint it. Just an old linkage!

 ;) You either "Get it" or you Don't hey Fabs  ;) :)

WOW! great responce thank you to everyone, i like russel's opinion the best i think! and Mr.goss' in a pm he sent, lets face it the blue is almost as ugly as the linkage itself and to do a legit all the small details correct 70-71 looker build NONE of the big guys running these linkages had the blue still intact, i do infact have another incomplete linkage (if anyone has the center piviot please pm me  ;)) that i may strip and round the tops of the tabs  :) but if i cant complete the other linkage then this one will be painted, besides fabs still will have his blue one

thanks everyone!
Kevin

In the old days of Cal Look, people ran the best, newest parts they could, so I guess to be true to the ideals of the original Cal Look, you should run the best, newest parts you can buy today! :D

I for one would never have a linkage like that anywhere near an engine of mine – it was only ever a very poor copy of the far better Speedwell set-up. Sell it on eBay and buy one of the new Berg linkages! No point in running what was a poor product in its day just because it's old... But that's just my opinion.  :)

I'd still clear it, dirt and all....  ;D

Yip glad it just your opinion as it's wrong...... Having an original period product is way cooler, lets face it throw away the brm's the DDS shifter and the magneto....... And let's go with modern shit that not last......  ;D ;D ;D

Cheers mate.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Zach,
the original hammertone bluepaint that GBE had used for years is no longer made by the manufacturer.Talked to them last year and found out from them that it had been discontinued as part of their reconfiguration of their product line.

Well that is a damn good reason to leave it original paint then. And I guess I'll have mine rechromed :/

if you leave it as is what patina would be correct for the fan shroud and cyl tin?

Since they still make black paint, I don't believe that is an issue.

my goodness what have i started  :P

Hammer-finish paint is still readily available from here, in a wide variety of colours, including blue (paler than shown on the website), and black and white, if you need to mix:
http://www.hammerite.co.uk/products/direct_to_rust_metal_paint_hammered_finish.jsp
(http://www.hammerite.co.uk/web/images/swatches/GLOHAM/hammered/blue.jpg)
(http://www.hammerite.co.uk/web/images/product/med/direct_to_rust_metal_paint_hammered_finish.png)

For what my opinion is worth (not much! ;D) If you want your engine, or car to look like it was built 40 years ago and left in a barn unused for the last 15 years don't restore the linkage.  If you want your car to look like what a new Cal-Look car looked like 40 years ago, restore the linkage the way it was when it was new. It's up to you, it's your car after all. Enjoy it!

The only thing to keep in mind is to make sure the linkage works properly, is safe and won't leave you stranded somewhere far from home.  If you really drive your car I would just make sure that whatever old part you use WORKS.  I personally have no patience with parts (new or old) on my car that don't work properly and ruin the experience of driving it.
Just my 2 cents.

This is a very subjective topic!  My opinion:  Leave it original.  This way you won't have a "bellybutton" linkage like everyone else has and you'll have a story to tell every time you open the decklid. 

I have a blue 019 (kinda the same color) that I left in the original chipped paint, looks cool in my opinion.  Shows that you took the extra effort and spent the money to find original parts.

I like patina that represents years of fast and safe track work.
But the patina on your linkage just looks like it came from years of neglect in a dirty garage.
40 years ago that would of been a very desirable linkage "as is" on a Bug In worst of show entry.
Flat strap just looks so crude.  :-X

some old car parts I'd rather not have on my cars..
but if you get a stuck throttle  :o I'd check your clapped out linkage first.  :-\
(after you cut the motor and coast to the side of the road).

Your advice is worth 50 cents. Best advice stated.

Not the manufacturer of the paint GBE used for many years or same paint.

Thanks HERB, and OC1967.
You know, I appreciate all the different ways that people present or decide to restore or even unrestore air cooled VW's. It gives me more ideas and even more appreciation about where / how the Cal-Look and or Custom VW came from.  The only thing that bothers me is seeing one of our cars broken down on the side of the road, or worse, a part malfuntioning (breaking) and causing something dangerous to happen. When things like that happen it can give a negative impression of our cars and the hobby.

Could look good with a 019 Screamer.

(http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/124207.jpg)

"looks cool in my opinion."


And that about sums it up - if YOU think it looks cool and it works properly then use it  :)

Funny, but I don't actually even recall saying that it was...  ::)

Well said, Jeff.
My point is that if the original type paint is no longer available and thus is impossible for the part to be made look "new", then leave it in it's original finish.
I would like to see how the paint Keith posted compares to the original.

OK --- Just to piss most of you all off --- --- I bet there isn't a one of you with the ORGINAL PAINT on your car and here you are arguing about repainting a freaking linkage -- --

Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do

You are right.

My original paint is under my color change #1 and #2.

UH... my car is mostly original paint.  ;)

Only parts that have been repainted are all the fenders and one 1/4 panel.

Original paint here as well ::)

There is a difference, the cars were not made by Gene Berg.

Ok === I'm sorry 1 person has orginal paint -- -- And you'll have to excuse me, I forgot about the divinity of Gene Berg

My Dodge 2500 has it's original paint and it still looks awesome!

In my opinion, it depends on the "Theme" or the build of the car. If the overall look it original "patina", then clean it and run it as is. If you like detail, like I do, then "restore" it. I think it is a neat piece even though I have never really been a big fan of that linkage. A part of our VW performance history for sure. Unless Gene signed it,..I say re-paint it, JMO.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,..and more importantly the owner.

$0.02 applied.

P-

I thought beauty was in the eye of the beer holder??  ;D

Awwww -- just leave your engine stock -- -- Like I did

(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/Fiatdude/2011-5-31.jpg)