The Cal-look Lounge

Finished the car up this past week, screwed in the grab handles and rear seatback rubber strap Thursday night. I'd call it done. Oh except the clutch or release fork died yesterday on a Sunday morning drive.

It came out great! Shame about the clutch fork, though.

How you YOU feel about it?

Jim your car looks great. Its crappy you have to pull it apart after its all done, but you have nothing better to do right ?
Call me when you get a chance. Hope to see you soon on your mind clearing road trip.

Aside from the clutch failure, I'm happy with it. I never pictured this car ever getting a cosmetic refresh, as most of my time with it has revolved around getting mechanically where I want it. It's weird to see the car this color now, as it had been the Adriatic since Dec '89. All those crazy stories and years were spent with the car in that old color. What's weird too is when I get to the pieces and parts of the car you don't see/touch/deal with often, like under the floorboard tar mats, or the luggage area when it's stripped of all its orig carpet/soundboard..... these things are basically "untouched" since Oct '66 when the car was built. In all the time I've bolted things on and taken things off, rattle-canned stuff, bunred wires, popped fuses, flattened lobes, broken transaxles, this stuff was just there, unseen. Just weird to see the unmolested stuff. When I was cutting the orig headliner out back in March, the fuzzy old padding was falling on my head and getting in my eyes and I stopped, wondering if I really should be undoing somebody else's work that had been done 47 years ago. (I kept ripping, but saved all that old crap). Anyway, it's by no means a concours restoration, but it does look good in the morning light and it gets me right where it counts.

The car is looking great, Jim!

Tobi

Looks awesome Jim.

How about a engine picture?

sure......  8)
or should I post a pic when it's on the floor later tonight?  ::)

Congrats Jim.
Very beautiful  car.
Enjoy !

Nice.. Classic look.

Love the 010 ;)

Jim, it's beautiful. It takes balls to change the look of a car that you've had for so long, but I think you've nailed it. It looks enough like tho old colour to still be yours but different enough to really grab attention. Fantastic.

Jim, your car came out beautiful, nice detail bud, hope to see it soon!

Ted

Hey Jim... it's not done until you sell it... until then, it's a work in progress.  ;D

That being said, it looks outstanding! Can't wait to see it.

Congratulations Jim, your car is very nice :)

Looks much better on your car than the Porsche!

Thanks for the kind words from everybody. Glenn, yeah the car just runs so well with the 010, especially over the MSD that was in it. Looking for good Bosch points for 010 if you have them (pm me). The Bremis seem to float pretty early on in the rev range, so I've been filing Bosch sets I can scare up and hope the rubbing blocks last.
So turns out my 15 yr old KEP stage 2 went south. No biggie. It lived a good long life. Hope to have the motor back in and buttoned up by this weekend.

Looks real good Jim. Bummer about the clutch
Seams just like a few week ago we were checking it out fresh from the paint shop, drinking beers. It'll be nice to see ya & your lump around again.  Maybe this weekend. 

Thanks Ben, that was a fun day. High time for another 12'er of Modelo. I hope to hav the car buttoned up Saturday in time to get some local miles on it and then see ya this weekend. I hope.     
Clutch is on UPS Truck headed to my place as I type. Nice thing- I was planning on screwing new plugs in the motor, much easier now that it's on the floor. And since everything was clean, it was pretty painless. Hopefully reassembly is the same. Yeah right.....
see ya

Figment...

 I really like the color and the car looks great, congratulations on a well done job. Mike McCarthy

Good morning Jim,

I like this! ;D 8)

What parts did you use to cap the fresh air outlets on your fanshroud, and what breather tank is that?

Thankyou in advance :),
Martin.

Jim

Great to see a car taken apart and redone within a short time and not a lifetime project, looks great, and if the only teething problem is the clutch, that's a result.

Great Job.

Cheers

Russell

Thanks guys. Martin I got those caps in the plumbing department of a mom and pop hardware store I worked at in the early 1990's. They're ugly, but I've run that fan housing since 1992 and since it just works without a hassle, I can't bring myself to put an aftermarket or non doghouse shroud on. I get attached to parts that work without exception. The breather came from my friend John Holleran that had made it for somebody that never picked it up from his shop, so I ended up with it.
Russell thanks for the kind words, I couldn't let the car sit undone for a long period of time. I enjoy driving it too much to let it sit idle.

Motor went back in late last night, fired it up this morning, got it dialed in and cleaned up and hopefully I can put the tools away for awhile.

73 Type 181 (aka Thing) shroud is a dog house with no fresh air.

I know all about having parts forever but sometimes you need to make a change ;)

Jim, you have a very beautiful car.
Kinda reminds me on "Berglar"...  ;)

I'm with McCarthy on the color, Jim.  Tell me about the engine.

Looks great Jim! Can't wait to see it in person...I know the feeling of gremlins after "completing" the car. Had 2 faulty throwout bearings back to back...Motor in and out 4 times in one month. Tranny gets stuck in third gear as the hockey stick drops out of the shift forks...Pull the tranny fix it, stuck in 3rd gear again after first shift...total mileage since May = 500. Trying to get the tranny out this weekend to send it back to Rancho..Can't wait to get it back on the road without any issues.

Thanks Jim.
it's a 94 x 78, VW rods, 44 x 37 Clyde berg heads, Pauter 306 x .530" cam, 9.8:1, 48IDA Webers. Nothing extreme. Runs good to 7000.

thanks Brian
it was frustrating, but in the big picture it was no big deal. That pressure plate had 15 years on it, including runs @ Carlsbad, Sac and Sears Point on MH's. And 55,000 street miles on it. Got the car back together last Saturday and drove the car to Fullerton and back, via the 210 and 57 freeways (not the short way), no more problems. Hoping this weekend to go get some "Hwy 33" time in it.  8)
Good luck with your car.

Heh Jim, if you're going to do Hwy. 33 are you going to stop at the Reyes Creek Bar and Grill?  Kool place, been there for over 100 years.  It's off Lockwood Valley Road.

Saw it last Sunday and it does look way cool!  8)[attachment=1]

I hope you were there on official magazine business! Jim's car needs to be seen by the wider world...

Thanks Keith. I like that picture, it is closer to the color in real life than the ones I posted above. Naw.... it's not a magazine car. Just a driver with a fresh coat of paint and a bad attitude towards me. You guys ever get caught cussing your car out? People think I'm mental.  ::)

thanks guys

I think it's a magazine car.

It's what is needed in the magazines it's Iconic for one.  Most importantly it's as REAL as it gets and it's a driver.....boy is it a driver.

I second the motion Jason.  I admire both the car and the driver. 

D

very nice...love the color

Looks great Jim.  Congrats on getting that it done(ish).
Needs slicks and skinny fronts though  ;)

and you forgot to mention T-bars  ;D

my older son took his first legal ride today

Looks like he had a good time.

Great fun!   ;D

Thats great, he looks like he loves it.  That color looks spectacular.

Thanks Dave. Lucas has taken a real interest in the car this year. He actually picked the color 3AWF1 Zenitblau (originally I wanted 5707 Auquamarine Blue, but now I'm happy I was vetoed). Turned a few wrenches in helping me reassemble the car, helped me string harnesses. Best of all-  he (and his younger brother) keep me motivated to keep it going... "Dad you gonna drive the Bug to work today?"  8)

Car turned out real good Jim! Your '67 has been a favorite of mine for years..
Another thing- you will never regret involving the boys in your projects.
Look forward to seeing it in person!
-DR

     

Thank you Dave! Was hoping I'd see you @ the DKP toy drive. Been a long time. I appreciate your praise dude.
Here's a picture from DKP Santa's Lil Helper... as I counted every car on the cruise go by. I was the sheepherder this year.  :)

have a good holiday,

Now your out cruzin does this mean there is a pair of bumper ready to go  ??? ;) :)

yep. Where to?

California Shipping Stanton....

C/O NORTHSTAR TRADING/SVIEN ERIK COLLINS/NORWAY

Just let me know what you need for shipping/delivery  :)

Thanks once again buddy...... Now I can tell EVERYONE "Those are Ex-Jim Ratto Bumper you know!!!" :D ;) :)

I planned on attending the cruise in my ratty old Baja but I simply got the dates mixed up! I could not believe it when I checked the calendar the Monday after and realized I had missed it!!
Oh well, nobody said getting old was easy  ;)
Again- your car sure looks good..

Wow Jim,

Love that last picture of your car. At that time of night it really shows off bad ass.
Hope to see you soon.

Hi Glenn,
Finally found my unicorn. Last month a good friend of mine found a nice 181 shroud. It needs some finish work, but in time it'll look ok and I'll get in on the engine sometime this year.

That's awesome Jim. I knew one would pop up sooner or later

Again Lookin good dude.....

Just wondered  ::) ;) :)

Jim,
Your car looks great! Could you tell me what size tires you are running? I have started a new peoject and I like the way yours sits and looks. How is your front end lowered and how much? Your front end is stock width correct?
Thank you for your help.

Larry

Hi Larry, front tire is Continental 175/55/15 (Smart rear tire). Rear is Pirelli P4 205/65/15. Wish I had gone with 215/60. Front beam has Sway a Way adjusters in both tubes. It's not that low (makes car too squirrely and screws with steering box to spindle geometry). Rear axles are short swingaxle (not '67). Thanks for your kind words on my car, nice to hear.