The Cal-look Lounge

Hi Guys,

I have recently bought a 54 already equipped with a Rancho pro street box (standard ratios), a 2276 motor, 42 x 37 044 round ports (soon to be changed - opinions?), webcam 86c, 10.5:1 CR, 48IDF's (may put some IDA's on). Runs a 2" narrowed CB beam up front, Bugpack shocks & CSP discs. SAW short axles out back, CB rear disc setup, AVO coil overs. Car runs really straight and technically is a credit to the prvious owner, but he wasn't much for the car looking pretty ;) just hard!

I intend to basically improve what I have and hopefully reduce its current best et (14.2) into the 13's. I'll be improving the bodywork (which looks better in the pics than it is!) and hopefully reducing the weight along the way with lexan windows, I have some f'glass wings and am going to try to locate or have made c/fibre bonnet & decklid. Interior will also come in for some change too.

If anyone recognises the car I would love to hear any further history on it!

Love the forum !!!! Massive inspiration.

(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c76f2f655.jpg)
(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c76edd36f.jpg)
(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c76ea29e3.jpg)
(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c76e41f1b.jpg)
(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c76e04690.jpg)
(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c73450363.jpg)
(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c73427309.jpg)
(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799c733bd90a.jpg)

oh, and a sneaky shot of my daily 64 bug, all original paint & panels etc. almost stock with the exception of a lowering job, and original empi engine trim kit & the wheels.

(http://www.volkstorque.co.uk/vt/imagehosting/9424799d65971853.jpg)

nice car  :o

Cool! Du you know what kind of header that´s on the car? Love the tight fit against the rear valance!
Is it just me or are the tail lights mounted 3 inches too high on the fenders?

Yeah, I think they are too.... any idea what height they are supposed to be at? I have new f/glass wings for it anyway, so it'll be nice to get them right first time on those!

Thanks for the kind words!

The header and silencer are both from VW Speedshop based in Manchester (UK). Full stainless. Oh and it sounds great too, but I don't think my neighbours are that fond of it!

Wow, its been a long LONG time since I posted on here, but I've not been idle, well not entirely...

The body is coming along nicely, I hope to get some more pics soon, but basically apart from a couple of small bits of welding its nearly ready to go to my bro's paintshop for final prep and paint - although my slot in his diary is not for another 6 weeks.... until then I'll have to content myself with getting the 2276 rebuilt. The engine seized after I think using the wrong oil (too thin) and a lack of sufficient cooling - I was chasing an oil over pressure at the time. Lesson #1 learnt... Anyway, turned out to be the big end on one of the rods.

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=906)

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=905)

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=904)

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=903)

So yesterday the engine parts went off to be checked over and machined/saved if possible by my local engineering chop, along with a full rebalance.

I'm looking frward to see this car on the street and streep again :)

Will You use VWSPEEDSHOP header and muffler? You could ubgrade to 70mm VWSS stainless big flange muffler loks grate and works grate.
I enjoyed to drive that car when Paul had it.
thumbs up for the project.

Thanks Tom,

Actually I'm going down to my local exhaust guy to have a dual queit pack made up, so if anyone out there wants a s/s speedshop turbo muffler drop me a line.

Thanks!

Jamie

ok will remember :) but there is quite a few on he shelwe ;) but I'll remeber.
good luck :) hope to see it on Big Bang ;) or Bug Jam.

Jamie ill ring you later  ;)

Take a tape measure to one of the shows and measure up Neal's oval rag  ;)

Cheers for the offer of... neils car! I think it may take a turn around the block to make sure the lights are at the correct ht before taking measurements alfie!

haha... think he might have something to say about that. Good news though, I have managed to get hold of a diagram with the dims on - if anyone needs a copy drop me a line.

Update on the engine: machinist has let me know that the damage to the items was very light and I'll have it all back in my workshop later this week. I'm just glad the problems occured at tickover and not at 7,000 rpm.

You could measure my car if you like. It's a 61, so Neals would be a better bet  ;)

Cheers. You & car at the Volksworld show?

For sure! Are you getting the beers in then  ;D

What oil did you use during the run the engine seized?

Is that a "Southen Shandy" for you then Alfie? :D ;)

I think he was using some thing fully Synthetic, think it was Lucas oil not sure. :-\

Yup, fully synthetic, forget the brand now. I was oprifgnally running a valvoline mineral oil, but I just kept popping coolers and filters :(.

Engine bits are back now, so I'm on the hunt for some cylinder heads.

Cool.

Well, thought I'd post up some pictures and n update; work has been going on, progressing slowly but surely.

Well, the only rust I could find on the bug was the rear bumper mounts which had been plated over to build up big beefy things - not very nice looking,

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1015)

 and by the time I cut them off I could see why they were so big - because there was very little metal underneath them! :D

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1016)

So the grinder came back out and did this:
(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1018)

Then this happened, which held things up a little (I dropped the grinder!):

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1017)


Wleded in a repair panel ready for the hooky bumper mount itself (just the outer) to go on:

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1023)

Work on the bug will be picking up over the coming weeks as I've rashly committed myself to having it at Big Bang!

Engine parts back from the machinists ready for a rebuild by Lee at Kraftwerk. Spec is going to be more or less the same, 2276cc Scat 82mm crank, 94mm B&P, Webcam 86C, heads are being modded a bit more and it'll now be wearing 48IDA's in place of the IDF's I used last year. I'll be detailing it all though as it looked a bit shabby last year.

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1025)

A little bit more progress, I've got some primer on the car now:

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1176)

And my wheels came back from being sand blasted. Plan is to just give them a clear coat of satin to seal them and leave as is. I like em!:

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1177)

And I must say a big thank you to Sam for sorting me the blasting - I owe you one dude!

Hey Jamie

I think you cant go far wrong using John Abbots (Java) bonnets and decklids,he can have them laid up in whatever weight you want and the quality is really good :) I dont think he can do them in carbon but it's worth checking,anyway I think you will be surprised at the weight of the glass ones.

I have a Java one on the '59 its really nice. It's a single skin so you have to work out a way of mounting it..

I've recently bought a java single skin bonnet, although I haven't actually seen it yet as its due to be delivered this weekend.

Not quite sure how to mount it myself yet, I have a few dzus fasteners knocking around, so thought I might use them. Or duct tape ;) :lol:

Cheers for the input!

Been very busy in the garage and the bug is now nearly ready for some paint, was hoping to have it painted before heading down to sunny Cornwall on holiday this week, but it looks like I'll be missing that deadline. Been having a bitch with the aforementioned 'Java' bonnet. I have a few clues which make me believe it isn't Java, knowing Johns work I doubtn this is one of his. Basically, its not going on my car. May come in for a race car project though, so I'm not too concerned about it really. So, the dzus fastener tabs I've buzzed in place will be coming back off, which is a pita cos I've modified the rubber seal retainer and its basically fucked for normal use now... my four tab bonnet isn't too clever but its what I have to work with, so I've got aa bit more work to on that now, just when I could do with LESS work.

Also, welded where the previous owner trimmed the engine bay lips to clear carbs/air filters, apparently blindfolded. I may end up trimming again, i don't know, but at least it will be a clean sheet to make a neat job of it.

The engine bits have gone away to Lee at KraftWerk VW and he's prepped my case this week, I should have the long block back for my return from holiday...

So, hopefully have it in primer this week, if not then its a coupla weeks away.

How come the bonnet doesn't fit? With ours the top needed gently re-shaping with a linishing wheel so it would sit nice, it definately wouldn't have fit in its from the mould state..

Hi Steve, it too needs a bit taking off the top as it doesn't follow the correct curve as the scuttle panel, it also appears to have much more of a 'raise' in the middle, which has the added effect of drawing in the sides, making it too narrow. One thing I'm going to try it to heat the centre section and weight it down in the midle to try and spread it a little.

Was yorus a Java bonnet? If so, was there evidence of the mould having been taken from a rusty bonnet? up the top where they always go... I had a look at the one on the Java stand and it didn't look the way mine does. Same colour gel coat, but thats about it....

Loved the bug btw, nice one.

Erm I'm not sure to be honest, I offered it up and noticed it needing work so as Chris Isaacs was fitting the dzus fasteners I asked him to make it fit. He never mentioned it but maybe that's all why ours has so many dzus fasteners on it! It definately wouldn't sit right without all the mounting points on it as we have to flex the bonnet even now to so get it dzus'd on. Yeah its a Java bonnet, i'd definately use one again for a race car but for a street car I'd probably just go with a steel bonnet.

Well last night after further playing about with the bonnet I decided I definitely didn't like the fit, so its off... I cut all the tabs for the dzus fasteners and now I need to prep around them again. Also decided I wasn't happy with some aspects of the front end, so I've bare metalled it.

Well, after working my ass off spending every available minute trying to get the car painted and ready in time for DD1 on May 17th I've come to realise that its not going to happen - the choice was fairly simple - paint it, knowingly unhappy with the prep work or throw a coat of primer on the thing and drag its sorry ass to the strip as is. Needless to say, a choice between not racing and racing was a fairly easy one for me to make, so I went ahead and shot some primer on the shell and started building her back up last night. I'll probably run in primer for the rest of the season then teardown at the end of September and finish off the paint and prep work with a bit more time at hand.

Here's a couple of pics:
(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1313)

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1312)

Looking Hard as nails dude, just need some nipple Caps for those 356 Wheels  ;D 8) 8)

after working my ass off.........................................theres plenty of it eh jamie ;D its comin on mate keep at it :)

Hahaha you got me there man.... ;D  ;D  :D It would take a LONG time to work this thing away!

I didn't know you allowed rat lookers in the SAS  ;)

Aaagghh, NOOOOOO!!! Yeah, I'm not really a rat looker kind of person. But I can't not race at the drag Day now can I Alfie?! ;D btw hows the job hunting going? I just got put on short time last week... sucks eh? It's really put the brakes on spending on the car unfortunately... another reason for shelving painting it tbh.

Rather better to run it in primer for a year and have some fun in it than paint it and not be happy with the end result  ;D

Job hunt is, er yeah, bit of a smoking hole where the motor trade is/was. I've a couple of irons in the fire right now, not sure if they'll come off though. I don't think I'll be working for a manufacturer again in a hurry, as they're all laying staff off right now  :-\

Sucks that you've been put on short time, 2 of my friends have had the same lately! Tempted to look at opportunities abroad for a year or so. Go to the middle east, earn a pile of cash and come back home when things are better here!

I could look after the bug for you  ;D ;D ;D

hahahahahaha! No  :-*

If I was to work abroad, the car would be coming with me  ;D

Ill look after it, iv got a bigger garage than jamie  :D ;D ;)

The short block is now together, just waiting on a couple of other bits then I'll be building the rest up next week.

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1332)

And also mounted my rear lights at (I hope) the correct height.

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1331)

Sorry Peach, a) it's a mans car and b) no gingers allowed  ;)

 :D ;D :o :o

Well with the car being in primer I've decided to have a bit of tongue in cheek fun with it - I used to have an awesome cartoon poster, I think a VW trends one, of a slammed type 87 war era bug with Afrika Korps insignia on it, so decided to do something along those lines....

Had a look around the web to find what I was looking for, and while I didn't find the poster itself I did turn up this which gave me an idea of what I wanted to do:

(http://www.geocities.com/swamp001/images/showcase-sherrer-i3.jpg)

Which lead me to do this:

(http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1344)

(http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1347)

(http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1346)

(http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1345)

A bit more to do still, I will be putting a bit of signwriting on there to thank Lee @ Kraftwerk for his help on the bug so far, plus I have an 'SAS RennWagens' script, and possibly even a name...

Any ideas for the name welcome! I was thinking maybe Rommel's racer?

Hey Kaferboy..... Lovin' those heart shaped tail lights ;)       

Cheers! So when are you going to have a project to post up in here Lisa?! ;D

OMG, you never know!  I have been out of it for nearly 25 years but I am quickly finding that it is still in my blood.  We'll see........................ ;)  I'm just having a blast reconnecting with all of my old DKK friends right now and just "remembering" all of those great times.  Going to Bug-In this weekend in Fontana for my own little reunion.  I hope you have as much fun building yours as I did back then. 

So I see you were lucky enough to buy your tail lights on your project.  I had to hunt mine down.  Those were quite difficult to find even back then.    

Lisa

It is looking better every time I watch your topic kaferboy.Top notch.

Do you have any dimensions as where to drill for the taillights?I found a set of housings all I need now is the mounting brackets and the lenses.

Cheers,Michael

more inspiration
(http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Lane/7972/Photo573.jpg)

Hey Michael, thanks for the kind words! Re: the lights, I have a dimensioned picture that I got from thesamba.com , but I have to say I ended up ignoring the dimensions as it just didn't look right to me - they ended up the correct height but too close to the decklid/valance area. I have a book by keith Seume called "Vw Beetle: a Comprehensive Illustrated History" which is a fairly large format book and it has some really good shots of A 53  heart tail light bug square on the rear which I just sort of figurted out the position from.

Here's the picture from thesamba:

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1406)

Thats cool!!! In fact, is that double sided? I'm sure the pictures I'm thinking of is somehow related to that one! Its the same caroonist I think anyway.

Thanks Kaferboy. Yes I heard of a book like that but the autor doesn't ring a bell ;D.
I will have a look at the picture in that book and will try the dimensions from the samba.But first I'll try and get a set of brackets for the taillights tomorrow in Hangover euhh I mean Hannover :D.

Michael

Good luck getting your lights!

One thing I noticed on that cartoon - how cool are the banana-overider style nerf bars?!

Hmmmm, been a long day today and I'm TIRED. Just rolled in from the garage. Finished putting the long block together today with my bro Lee and then got it back to my place this evening. Didn't fancy watching britains got talent (it hasn't!) so went back out and did a trial fit of the tinware and the remainder of the components. Have hit a couple of snags/clearance issues, so I'll be having a look at that tomorrow. Couldn't resist taking a picture before I pulled it all back apart though! And also would like to take the opportunity to recommend Eurcarb for jetting, I ordered a bunch of parts for the DCOE yesterday and here they were this evening waiting for me. If you need weber parts they're very good.

64RCR this setup may seem familiar!

(http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1413)

Now that looks like it could be a whole loada fun ;) ;D 8)

or trouble ;)

OK bit more info, I match ported the excellently tig welded twin port end castings (thanks Deano)

Here's the manifolds part way through:
(http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1414)

Mocking up the install showed that the exhaust manifold fouled the alternator, so this morning I got up and stripped it back down again and give the alt. a bit of judicial clearancing on the outer ring.

tried it all back on again, and went a bit further and everything now fits hunky dory. So now its time to strip down AGAIN and fit the long block to the car, then another trial fit to see what does/doesn't clear the body then hopefully I'll be able to build it up for the last time.
Here's what it looks like right now:

(http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1415)

Looking uber cool JP!! ;D

If I can help out any just let me know dude...

Respect  8)

jamie you never said hairdryer in the plans :o cool mate 8)

Cheers guys...

Barry, the turbo system wasa  bit of a last minute decision as I was putting the long block together with my bro. We were talking about CR's and the turbo system lying around in the garage got brought into the equation, and if anyone knows my brther Lee they know how pursuasive he can be hahaha :D

Anyway, engine is in and I've mocked up the turbo system for (I hope!) the last time - its been together and apart about a dozen times now! - so tonight I'll take it off for the last time so I can finish off the jobs in the engine bay.

Still got to sort out a return fuel line to the tank, the accelerator cable, the oiling system, the ignition system and a bunch of other stuff. When you say it quick like that it doesn't sound too bad - but the detailed list is 2 A4 sheets packed with work. And I'm dragging it to the strip in 11 days time!!!!!!

So what, the copnversation went like this...

Lee ' Why don't you turbo it whilst it's apart?'

Jamie 'Oh go on then....'

 ;)

Yeah, I put up a real fight, just like that!!!!

Alfie,

So as to avoid bench racing Jamie, let me let you into a little background info on this setup.

I sold the turbo kit to me cousin....as you do, Its an old Dave Kawell setup, and not to rub salt into any wound in any way, it ran a 13.2 in a stock weight Oval with a 1914, Engle 110 and unported 041 heads at 8psi of boost.

Therefore, hopefully, with his 2276 runnig 8:1cr it would be nice/probable to see this bug in the 12`s, that is if JP hits the loud pedal properly!! ::)

Failing that, then some mild persuasion may be.......by winding the wastegate open a bit further for some more horses... Happy Days  ;)

Would be good to see a 12 out of it  8)

I'm hoping I'll be able to buy a pro drag and get it fitted before the season's out. Would be nice to see if I can get a 12 out of mine alongside Jamie's  ;D

I have to learn to drive first!!!!

Jamie 'Chunk' Palmer, officially the worse drag racer in the Rennwagens, even managing a launch fail on the street in the Volvo.  :D

As for my goals for the drag racing they're pretty simple:

1. Get the thing to the startline
2. get it across the finish line, in one piece and the right way up

If I manage that I'll be happy.

Thats True!

In the Words of Paul'y B "Jamie that Launch was Shit!"

 :D What a wicked weekend that was  ;D

Well I'm starting to get somewhere now...

Got the MSD system mounted & wired up last night, I just need to plumb the boost line to it, made a carb support and a spacer for the MSD dissy, refitted the turbo for the last time with copper gaskets and about a half million other little niggly jobs too.


I had to take a picture cos (to me) it just looked so cool:

(http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=1418)

Anyway, tonight I'm on the fuel system, running a return back to the tank and modifying the accelerator cable to run to the new carb location.

That is just too cool Jamie.

Shame that mine's a daily driver - wild mods are a bit of a no-no, eveng running repairs can be a pita.

On another note, my 40DRLA rebuild has gone bad, that jammed mixture screw got the better of me, so although I've still got a pair, they're not matched. Looking at a pair of 40IDF's at the weekend, at least I can still use all the harware. I've got a buyer for my single set up, so that should ease the pain a little

where did you get the beige primer from?

is it army 'sand desert' paint???

Cheers guys!

Tom, the paint is actually barcoat and is used to seal old paint.

well, no more progress reports yet mate!! i suppose everyone knows the probs we had on the start line with the msd frying, so, have you done anything else yet????  i am currently in talks  with raceparts-direct to see if they can sort out my msd box, failing that jamies is gonna have to go in for surgery the fifth time and sell another kidney!!! how many has this freak got???!!!!! ;D

later cheeze!

Leeps

Well I've been parts hunting to gradually replace your turbo setup bit by bit... sounds like I have cam, lifters and carb sorted, my ignition setup is all there (not fitted), the fuel system is all sorted now, so all I need is a turbo some heads abd an exhaust manifold (when funds permit).

What about Cream Pie???? Has that got an in da werks thread yet?

Looking like it's getting there.  Bug Jam?  Start AND Finish ;)

Not at bug Jam I'm afraid dude.... I will be going, but I hav to zip out for a couple of hours on the Saturday to pick up my other half, which puts paid to any racing.

:( Ah well.....

Bummer :'(
Tell her to bring a map and compass and wear some stout shoes.  Then you can carry on racing ;D

Hahaha....

She'd love that... she would, of course, kill me.

 :o

Hi Jamie,

As discussed - a pic of the inlet side of my old efi end castings - I can't see that there's much point in porting the head end, unless you do something about the tiny inlet side - especially paying attention to removing the big sharp "step" and then smoothing the transition into the 2 runners to the head...

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q27/jamieandclaire/DSC00262rs.jpg)

Hope everything else goes to plan nicely...
cheers,
James

Thanks for that James, and nice to meet you. I'll break the die grinder out!!

Cheers
Jamie

do it!!! ;D

Just a bit of an update, car's working pretty well, I've raced it at a few events lately and managed a best of 12.52 @112 mph. I'm chuffed to bits with it! Now that the season is over (for me anyway) I'll be updating on here as I finish off the paintwork, redo the turbo pipework and a host of little things that have niggled me about the car for a while  now.....

nice one dude, good times and you know i love your car! look forward to seeing the next phase and to some good racing at york next year! ;)

steve

Bit of a sad update on this topic, as I've had to sell the bug due to recently being made redundant.

I've managed to find a bit of new work though, so a new project 61 bug arrived at my workshop last night. It will be a joint project with my brother, Lee, and will use the same engine as the Oval, which wasn't part of the sale, but other than that its all going to be new.

Its the traditional UK bug, in that it requires the bottom 6" of sheet metal replacing the whole way around the car! Fun & games....