The Cal-look Lounge
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 05:57:51 am

Login with username, password and session length
Thank you for your support!
Search:     Advanced search
350646 Posts in 28563 Topics by 6811 Members
Latest Member: Bren
* Home This Year's European Top 20 lists All Time European Top 20 lists Search Login Register
+  The Cal-look Lounge
|-+  Cal-look/High Performance
| |-+  In Da Werks
| | |-+  I'm back after 30 years in a 1969 KG coupe
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 Print
Author Topic: I'm back after 30 years in a 1969 KG coupe  (Read 8353 times)
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« on: October 06, 2021, 23:39:02 pm »

Life goes full circle I guess.  After 30 years playing with Porsche, Ferrari and BMW, I am back in a 1969 KG coupe.  Got it a couple months ago and spent the last couple months getting it drivable and safe.  I added some euro lenses and Cibie H4 replicas.

Second step is putting it down with Fuch 2L alloys on a 2" narrowed beam with adjusters.  Everything is on its way and will keep the post updated.  

A couple pics of the initial car and ongoing progress.
« Last Edit: October 06, 2021, 23:41:24 pm by Joe Hullett » Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
danny gabbard
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2909


gabfab


« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2021, 03:16:55 am »

Look badd ass brother !
Logged

A poor craftsman, Blame's it on poor tools.  GAB-FAB shop # 775 246-3069
Glauco
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 497



« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2021, 06:45:50 am »

Glad you got back in the game and with a KG. I really love your old car and was truly one of the reasons I bought one 15 years ago to callook it..!

Glauco.
Logged
bedjo78
Full Member
***
Posts: 249


« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2021, 14:41:16 pm »

Cool ..
Logged
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2021, 16:06:00 pm »

Got a few items for the dropped chassis transformation.  My 2" narrowed beam with torsions and tie rods arrived along with my fully polished Fuchs 2L alloys, NOS caps and chromed lugs but still waiting on the Michelin XZX tires from Coker Tire so the drop is on hold for now.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2021, 16:27:01 pm by Joe Hullett » Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2021, 16:07:42 pm »

Stanley stocker.  LOL

Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2021, 18:26:07 pm »

Put the narrowed lowered beam in this weekend before heading to Daytona for a week. It came out nice but what a PITA.

The EMPI beam is an absolute POS. If this had been a show car or chassis up restoration, I would have been pissed and returned it.

Everything is a compromise with these Chinesium parts. In the end, it all went together but not before some serious words I didn't even know were in my vocabulary.

I am happy with the stance and the 2" narrow, it looks good to me. The lowered shocks are too short as they are topped out with no droop and rode like a tank, and the stock length shocks are bottomed out at ride height. I need something in between.

The Fuchs alloys are at the paint shop color matching the background and still waiting on the Michelins. For now, it makes me smile but still a lot to go...

Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Larry S
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 384



« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2021, 14:35:57 pm »

Very nice car Joe! Plan on reworking almost every part you buy, even the good parts are not ready to go for the most part....

Larry
Logged

Plan your work, work your plan, with precision and excellence.
Bryan67
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1133



« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2021, 22:33:53 pm »

What were the beam issues?
Logged

If you`re going to do something, do it right.
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2021, 02:30:26 am »

It fit with no modifications to the body.  1/4" clearance each side.  Good.

The beam came with torsions so it should be a simple swap.  Not.  Hours getting the arms on and lined up.

The steering box cap nubs on the beam were not straight, it took some grinding on the cap notches to get it right.

The pitman arm leg that contacts the right turn steering stop wouldn't even swing through the bracket.  Had to break out the cutting wheel and shorten the leg.

Lower ball joint boots tore immediately with the new arm angle.  Old joints and boots, not the EMPI beam fault.  New lower ball joints are in my shopping cart.

First guess at the position of the adjusters was way too low, glad I had chosen the adjusters.  Another hour getting it just right

2 days of crawling around on the floor, covered in dirt and grease, every muscle in my body hurts.

Other than that, how was the play Mr. Lincoln?   Cheesy
Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
speedwell
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 14701


the archivist


WWW
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2021, 18:27:00 pm »

welcome back in the vw world Joe
nice to have you here , your old ghia was badass
could be cool to see some unseen photo of this one back in the days
RGD
Fabs
Logged

http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
Bryan67
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1133



« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2021, 23:50:15 pm »

It fit with no modifications to the body.  1/4" clearance each side.  Good.

The beam came with torsions so it should be a simple swap.  Not.  Hours getting the arms on and lined up.

The steering box cap nubs on the beam were not straight, it took some grinding on the cap notches to get it right.

The pitman arm leg that contacts the right turn steering stop wouldn't even swing through the bracket.  Had to break out the cutting wheel and shorten the leg.

Lower ball joint boots tore immediately with the new arm angle.  Old joints and boots, not the EMPI beam fault.  New lower ball joints are in my shopping cart.

First guess at the position of the adjusters was way too low, glad I had chosen the adjusters.  Another hour getting it just right

2 days of crawling around on the floor, covered in dirt and grease, every muscle in my body hurts.

Other than that, how was the play Mr. Lincoln?   Cheesy

Yeah... that`s no good. I`ve worked for an EMPI dealer in the past. And have always wondered about their beams. Especially the one with the adjusters positioned with the use of dropped spindles in mind. I say that because I`ve installed many of CB Performance`s narrowed ball joints with good luck. Except that when used with dropped spindles, the car sits pretty low. Too low for my tastes at least. One other thing is that EMPI lists the narrowed leaves priced as a single pack. But their price of one pack is as much as a pair from CB.
Logged

If you`re going to do something, do it right.
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2021, 21:53:01 pm »

welcome back in the vw world Joe
nice to have you here , your old ghia was badass
could be cool to see some unseen photo of this one back in the days
RGD
Fabs
I don't have much but digging around, I found a few...

Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
speedwell
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 14701


the archivist


WWW
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2021, 10:59:42 am »

thx
Logged

http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2021, 01:10:45 am »

Turbo motor is currently in the machining process and IRS Pro Street transmission ordered from Rick Stanchfield.  While I wait for everything, the stock tweeter pipe exhaust just wasn't working for me.  Installed a merge, into a stinger, into a Dynomax 17676 can and a dump out the same side.  So much nicer looking and sounding than the pea shooters.   Cool
Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #15 on: December 06, 2021, 01:42:10 am »

Added the Autometer Monster, Vintage Speed Black Mamba II shifter and the Grant Performance GT wheel.  Getting ready for the power.
Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Larry S
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 384



« Reply #16 on: December 06, 2021, 18:55:48 pm »

Turbo motor is currently in the machining process and IRS Pro Street transmission ordered from Rick Stanchfield.  While I wait for everything, the stock tweeter pipe exhaust just wasn't working for me.  Installed a merge, into a stinger, into a Dynomax 17676 can and a dump out the same side.  So much nicer looking and sounding than the pea shooters.   Cool

Joe, did you buy this system complete or did you fab some of it? nice looking unit. reminds me of the turbo muffler setups we use to make years ago in the early 80's.
Logged

Plan your work, work your plan, with precision and excellence.
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #17 on: December 06, 2021, 22:39:54 pm »

Turbo motor is currently in the machining process and IRS Pro Street transmission ordered from Rick Stanchfield.  While I wait for everything, the stock tweeter pipe exhaust just wasn't working for me.  Installed a merge, into a stinger, into a Dynomax 17676 can and a dump out the same side.  So much nicer looking and sounding than the pea shooters.   Cool

Joe, did you buy this system complete or did you fab some of it? nice looking unit. reminds me of the turbo muffler setups we use to make years ago in the early 80's.
Yes Larry, it is fabbed by my design with the muffler shop.  The merge is off the shelf but the muffler design is directly how I did things in the 80's except for the Dynomax 17676 in/out on the same side.  In the old days, we had to route the exit on the opposite end with axle interference.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2021, 22:42:35 pm by Joe Hullett » Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Bill Schwimmer
DKK
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 562



« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2021, 17:25:31 pm »

Car looks awesome!! I hope to make it to some NC events next year, it would be great to catch up.  Keep the Ghia updates coming..
Logged

" don't buy upgrades    ride up grades"
    Eddy Merckx
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #19 on: December 07, 2021, 17:43:00 pm »

Car looks awesome!! I hope to make it to some NC events next year, it would be great to catch up.  Keep the Ghia updates coming..
Yeah I missed you at Farmington.  First Bug event I had been to in over 30 years.  Had a blast!
Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #20 on: December 07, 2021, 22:50:09 pm »

Wheels are finally back from paint.  On a mission this week to get them mounted.  Can't wait to see how she looks.

Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #21 on: December 08, 2021, 23:54:20 pm »

Fuchs are on.  Loving the color matched look.  Happy dance this week.   Grin
Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Glauco
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 497



« Reply #22 on: December 09, 2021, 08:16:46 am »

wheels look amazing on the car! Shocked
Logged
Peter
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1300



« Reply #23 on: December 10, 2021, 17:12:37 pm »

Joe,
did you used dropped spindles or not?
how's the ride now?

I have a lowered/narrowed beam beam but with dropped spindles it sits too low

Peter
Logged
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #24 on: December 10, 2021, 21:12:47 pm »

Joe,
did you used dropped spindles or not?
how's the ride now?

I have a lowered/narrowed beam beam but with dropped spindles it sits too low

Peter
No lowered spindles Peter, the ball joints so close to the inside of the wheel drum kinda freaks me out and I'm not even sure if the Fuchs would rub on the lower ball joint. (Some have said they rub)  I can get low enough with just the adjusters on the beam, I have actually gone up twice since first putting it in.

The ride is not bad but I think I at at the limit of stock ball joint travel, I want to try some clearanced ball joints from EMPI designed for additional travel.  At first I had gone with lowered shocks but at the height I wanted, the lowered shocks were topped out and the stock shocks were bottomed out.  I cut the dust sleeves off the stock shocks and cut down the bump rubbers to 1" from 3".  Now I have extra travel of 1" but still not much in compression on the front end pushing by hand.  

It's not a bad ride but I want to be able to compress the front end by pressing down on the fenders to know I have a proper ride.  Remember, factory length beams have torsion leaves that were designed to twist or flex at the stock length.  Shorter leaves in a narrowed beam will not have the same twist or flex due to the shorter length.  Mechanically, it should be a stiffer ride but by how much I can't say.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2021, 21:22:33 pm by Joe Hullett » Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #25 on: December 10, 2021, 21:16:56 pm »

2" narrowed beam
« Last Edit: December 10, 2021, 21:19:55 pm by Joe Hullett » Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Joe Hullett
Newbie
*
Posts: 32



« Reply #26 on: December 13, 2021, 04:50:42 am »

Nice sunny day today on Lake Norman.  Wired up the tach and made a few adjustments to the front suspension and took a ride around the lake.  Driving her is just serenity.   Grin
Logged

The older I get...  The faster I was...  No Fear
Peter
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1300



« Reply #27 on: December 16, 2021, 12:15:54 pm »

Thanks Joe,

I think I will modify an original beam and put the adjusters so I can put the car on stock height!
Logged
Neil Davies
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3437



« Reply #28 on: December 20, 2021, 18:26:15 pm »

I have used stock shocks on lowered beams, just without the bump stops. Gives an extra 40mm or so travel.
Logged

2007cc, 48IDFs, street car. 14.45@93 on pump fuel, treads, muffler and fanbelt. October 2017!
leec
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2584


« Reply #29 on: December 20, 2021, 19:59:55 pm »

Hi Neil,
Sounds like a good idea, when you say without the bump stops, are they the bits at the top of the shock?
Lee
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!