The Cal-look Lounge

Thought it was about time I did an update on my race car.

After three years of racing and finishing 4th in the PRO championship in 2012, at the end of that year I started to tinker with it, unfortunately a more powerful engine(& box to go with that) was out of the picture, I figured I’d cut the hell out of it and give the old girl a face lift....... not that it really needed it, but when your business is painting....... :D The original idea was to be racing last year, but the time kinda flew past!!

Anyway I’ll try to keep this short, as at this point most of the work is done, but I’ve......

• Raised the trans – I know people say this does have real life benefits, but TBH I did it purely for cosmetic reasons – I wanted to lower the car and still have a good camber for grip.
• At the same time I’ve changed the rear torsion bars for HD ones, the car used to squat on launch A LOT! So that should help that.
• Sorted a quick release steering wheel
• I’ve added a staging brake, I’ve also added a pressure switch to that line that will also engage launch control on the ECU
• Narrowed the front beam by 1 ½” – just as well I did narrow it because I’ve also changed the front wheels, and with their offset puts it back almost at std!
• I’ve relocated the tank and rad for the charge cooler.
• I also just acquired a Blitz boost controller (another purchase from Andy/Oval )
• Then it was down to getting weight out of it.
• I’ve added wider fibre glass rear wings – not so much to save weight, but to give me a bit more space.
• I’ve cut a load out of the rear engine bay and inner rear wings.
• Cut out the passenger seat runner
• I’ve also cut loads out the doors
• I’ve cut a load out the front end and gone flip front.
• I’ve changed the std fuel tank for a 3gal alloy and alloy swirl pot
• Got a Kirkey race seat going in
• All glass will be marguard
• Cut the dash out and replaced with (real) carbon fibre

For those that don’t know my car a quick review :

1971 1200 beetle, now with a 1914cc Omex 600 turbo motor with nice bits inside ;-) it makes 208 bhp and has got me to a PB of 11.85 over the ¼ at 116 mph calculated 0-60 is 3.23
Gearbox is a built unit from der transaxles, that after a breakage has been fixed/upgraded by John Walklett, it has also been fitted with a spool now (thanks Judgie)
Race weight Ercos at the back and now has Centerline Revolutions up front
Cage was built by Judgie.


Original pics:

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aU1s6Qh4PYc/UIZP7uJVJlI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/PDFM5GPtxgU/s1024/_DSC0358.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TIvZcfoj2wc/T-6_1Mbvi_I/AAAAAAAAAKA/ZWG3B1ojrdw/s912/bruce.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jgiXjQMIE6g/UIZNMJpECpI/AAAAAAAAApo/y_kuLiJ1tZo/s1024/JL4C0390.JPG)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/398231_10151557279390263_901939006_n.jpg)

The work starts....

Strip the car Clyde!
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/737260_2552166139259_591510663_o.jpg)
Cutting the front about
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oJ4F6oNW5cI/UP_gLs9C  LaI/AAAAAAAAAv8/4ETghlsvr9E/s912/IMG_20130123_130337.jpg)
kirkey seat frame made by JC Weldfab
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ceAfxArg6jY/UQPBg0afAiI/AAAAAAAAAw4/LKZ9cXjZrco/s912/IMG_20130126_112152.jpg)
Shell in some primer
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TWWLGenIYDU/UV6V64C99II/AAAAAAAAA1M/vAVV6L7RlsQ/s800/IMG_20130405_093633.jpg)
Raised box
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I0Mh_SYearI/UZjRVrh0YFI/AAAAAAAAA40/BcLCd05U_oM/s912/FB_IMG_13689681356263530.jpg)
Decided to blast the steering parts
 (https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/820695_2697890862286_1875886936_o.jpg)
F/Beam painted
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t31/843020_2712973079332_1672061825_o.jpg)

Charge cooler and water injection tanks re-located
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31/1064967_3057276686707_701911037_o.jpg)
Charge cooler rad re-located
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t31/1064272_3057276886712_397290228_o.jpg)
Tunnel modded to clear selector rod
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31/1063999_3057277766734_1156537928_o.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1064631_3057277326723_1103028008_o.jpg)
New wheels are chevy pattern, Techturn UK machined the new PCD
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1064855_3057279006765_774548195_o.jpg)
Seemed a shame not to paint the calipers
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t31/1052977_3057279206770_630699192_o.jpg)
Hinge for the flip front painted
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t31/1049242_3059504262395_1283557861_o.jpg)
Dash cut out
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t31/1266131_3249058241126_176796940_o.jpg)

Wings and doors primed
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31/1273716_3255951333449_1031000120_o.jpg)
https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31/1270645_3255951653457_919770307_o.jpg[/img]

Flipfront primed
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t31/1278006_3280767193830_757753595_o.jpg)

Uncut carbon for dash made up for me by Zest Motorsport
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31/1265673_3282468916372_587165909_o.jpg)

Dash cut to shape
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/620582_3302617220067_72598810_o.jpg)

Had some carbon cut off’s perfect for internal door handles
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/537262_3324531887920_1766962965_n.jpg)

Decided to tie in the f/beam to the cage, done by JC Weldfab
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1384199_3324532167927_1358782287_n.jpg)

I used to have a plastic clip window net, scrutineering had never pick up on it, but I figured I should get it done properly
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/1384197_3347508742327_1107733377_n.jpg)

Floorpans in primer
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/7994_3364533647939_617582742_n.jpg)

Painted floorpan
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1378138_3379235735482_455428174_n.jpg)

I wanted to ‘future proof’ the inside by keeping it neutral – next time I decide to paint it I won’t have to do the inside lol
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1375639_3382123287669_568342821_n.jpg)

Bit of paint on the tie ins   
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1374339_3364533127926_158885686_n.jpg)

Steering parts I also decided to blast & paint
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1/1382815_3364533927946_1209736301_n.jpg)

Engine bay painted
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1/1381242_3382123527675_1848891287_n.jpg)

Unmasked painted interior  
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1376986_3383594324444_968685408_n.jpg)

Pedals before
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1396050_3384712352394_1367717549_n.jpg)

Blasted
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1/1385666_3384712632401_1072212076_n.jpg)

And painted
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1380593_3384713432421_954531635_n.jpg)

Fitted
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1377126_3386279391569_1475593799_n.jpg)

New fuel tanks mocked
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/1455101_3426532037860_1025799319_n.jpg)

Shell painted
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/734051_3501639235493_1178020884_n.jpg)

Body parts painted
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1003559_3497678776484_1061120376_n.jpg)

In it’s new scheme
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1/1477641_3548304762102_124864342_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1467236_3547413819829_958538783_n.jpg)

F/bulkhead painted
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/564531_3632186579095_2106794211_n.jpg)

R/innerwing painted
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/1545762_3632186699098_365173503_n.jpg)

In the right section now  ::)


I was keeping track of all the weight that it's lost, I'd say it's 50-60+kgs lighter.
I'll get it weighed at Santa Pod next time I'm there, I did weigh it in the last year it was used, so will know for sure how much has gone, It'll be interesting to see what difference it makes to times.
Can't wait to find out!!

Nice to see your car in here Bruce :) is my car done yet you have had it for 4 days  :P

lol NO!