Dude’s 58 Ragtop Beetle

[Deanodynosaurs]

Right, at last it's time for a proper update! 

Last time I put any photos up the floor pan was just painted. However, over the last few month I been working on it really hard, and at last it's finally rolling!

Please note, this is not final finish, it is simply a trial fit to make sure everything fits/ works. I’m really glad I did this, as I’ve had to modify a number of parts!




At the front I fitted later disk brakes drilled to Porsche pattern, and have up rated the callipers to Talbot horizon units. Shock are KYB Gas adjust standard length, as drop spindles have been fitted to get the 4" narrowed beam into the weeds. Also note the welded on nut on the tie rod, to make tracking adjustment easier.






The fuel line has been run through the middle of the chassis, and here you can see it going into the specially modified cover plate. -6AN fittings, and braided hose have been used throughout. All fitting are either stealth black or blue to match with the colour scheme of the car.




Here you can see the fuel system and brake system hidden away in front of the bulkhead under the inner arches.




A duel circuit master cylinder is fitted as well as a Hurst line lock. Yes, I have polished all the brake lines!!




And here’s the fuel system fitted which I’ve talked about before.




Here’s the pedal assembly all detailed and fitted up. The assembly has been modified to accept a later style spring. Also the weak S bracket connecting the pedal to the accelerator rod has been replaced by rose joints for a much more precise action.






Another shot of the polished brake lines!  I know they’ll never be seen, but I used anodised clips where the brake line runs along the tunnel anyway!






Here’s the tunnel inspection plate. This has been modified to take 3 stainless button screw, just cause I like how it looked!




And here’s the back end!




As pictured previously a BERG mid mount has been fitted.




Here you can see where the fuel line exits the tunnel. This was a proper pain as I had to remove the beam and gearbox again to get it in! Cheers for the help with this Stretch!




One thing I never liked on early cars was the bracket which was bent around the axle tube to secure the brake pipe. It just meant that any paint you put on it would crack and peel on install. Therefore I adapted the original to mount in two halves, as well as secure both the brake line, and handbrake cable out the way of the rear shocks.




Here is the rear brakes. CB disks have been fitted. These were originally blank but have again been drilled to Porsche pattern. Oh, and more polished brake lines!






And finally a shot of a happy me!




Anyway that where I’m up to now! Hope you like it!

Dude 

[roland]

very nice work!

[Jesus]

Looking ace fella

[taffy apple]

keep up the good work dude.

[sparkieben]

hi dude looking good ive sent you a pm cheers ben

[Deanodynosaurs]

hi dude looking good ive sent you a pm cheers ben

Hi Ben,

PM read and replies to!

Thank you very much for the info, i genuinelly hadnt noticed, but I'm very glad you pointed it out. 

Cheer,

Dude 

[Lee.C]

Nice work dude 

[Dereck]

What cool thread and a cool Bug too

[Deanodynosaurs]

At last a real landmark moment, and what feels like a real turning point for the car! I’ve finally got the ragtop in!

As usually it was not straight forward, and although only a partial picture, you can see how bad the ragtop fabric and the mechanism was to begin with.




Here’s the rear bow section which only had two mounted studs left on it, as well as the end being partially rotted away.




However this was soon repaired!




A few other bits of brackets broken and fixed.






All mechanical parts got a repaint.




And the guide rails got a polish! Yes I know not 100% perfect, but this is only a trial build, and my arms nearly fell off getting them to this point!




Rails installed in the car.




And the ragtop section built back up. At this point I got to say a massive thank you to Dayne at Touch of Class who made me up a ‘temporary’ top. He did an amazing job!

The actual ragtop will be done in mohair, but this temporary cover is just to make sure all the mechanisms work, and keep the water out the pan where my garage roof leak thanks to the shit*y wet weather in the UK!




And the ragtop installed! Please note, yes I know the edges are lipped up. I haven’t put the side tension straps in, as I couldn’t get the special rivets I needed to do so. This will be sorted out soon!








And the inside, showing the rebuilt mechanism.




And here’s the ragtop open, the most important bit of having a ragtop!






Anyway finally some progress worth showing! I’m so happy to have got this in! It’s finally a proper ragtop!

Dude

[smurf67]

looking really good love the little details on this car. Awesome work

[Deanodynosaurs]

Cheers Smurf67,

Really appreciated! Especially as I am loosing a bit of motivation on it at the moment. 

I just never seem to get much time to actaully work on it, nothing ever just fits up, and added to that the arctic like weather, it hard to keep motivated.

Hopefully get something more done this weekenend.

Dude 

[smurf67]

keep the faith will be a top car when its finished. I know what you mean though my car is in a state of disrepair and getting worse the more we look into it  more than a little disheartening but you have done a top job and needs to be seen to the finish, and I look forward to some updates soon Alex

[jamiep_jamiep]

AWESOME dude!

[taffy apple]

keep up the good work dude, i have a electric heater in the attic, if you want it for your garage mate.

[Deanodynosaurs]

Thanks all for the word of encouragment. 

Went to see my mate Stretch last night, and after numerous cups of tea and chatting about vw I was actually feeling quite motivated!

However, got home and thought i would try and fit a few things up. Found out that the steering column rubber donut does not work with the neimann acceesory steering lock, and then I could not find any rubber the right thickness to make one, and yet again enthusiam disappeared! Isnt anything just going to bolt up?! 

I only wanted to trail fit it to see if i actually wanted to use it! 

Hi Graham! Cheers for the offer of the heater dude, but me garage has a tin roof. Any heat in there, even body heat, end up in me being rained on with condensation! 

Hows your motor coming on?

Dude 

[Jesus]

Keep at it Fella, Looking Great

Perseverance is the key!

[Deanodynosaurs]

Keep at it Fella, Looking Great

Perseverance is the key!

Cheers mate, hope alls good.

'Key' is the 'key' word at the moment! Trying to work out wether i wanna put the ignition key at the stock location in the dash, or on on a period accessory neihmann steering lock! 

Opinion much appreciated, but remember trying to keep it cal look, not limp resto call! 

Dude 

[jamiep_jamiep]

If you're adding something unnecessary to the cars performance AND its hindering the build I would bin it! Well... maybe Ebay it 

[Deanodynosaurs]

If you're adding something unnecessary to the cars performance AND its hindering the build I would bin it! Well... maybe Ebay it 

Sadly I've oversived drilled the standard ignition barrel hole on the dash to acept a cigar lighter socket (not as bad looking as it sounds!). 
I i handt i would go back to stock due to the hassle i had with this! 

Dude 

[Jesus]

easily solved by having a push start button tucked up under the dash and a battery cut off switch key you take with you to imobilise it 

Cal Look to me is about clean lines and less fuss

[Deanodynosaurs]

Right decision made. Fitted the steering lock up tonight, and sadly although its close, it don't fit. 

Thus looks like i'm going back to stock. Cool as it a cleaner look, but a shit as i'd oversived drilled the ignition barrel hole. Time to get the welder out again! 

Gonna loose a few other bits on the dash in the cause of a cleaner cal look as well, such as the genuine empi glove box pull, and the radio! 

Dude 

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Right decision made. Fitted the steering lock up tonight, and sadly although its close, it don't fit. 

Thus looks like i'm going back to stock. Cool as it a cleaner look, but a shit as i'd oversived drilled the ignition barrel hole. Time to get the welder out again! 

Gonna loose a few other bits on the dash in the cause of a cleaner cal look as well, such as the genuine empi glove box pull, and the radio! 

Dude 

What Dose not Fit??? here is the Rubber piece you need??  http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1062933

[Deanodynosaurs]

Cheers Shubee2,

That columns actually a later column though. Wouldnt work with my 58. Piece of rubber would probably be ok.= though.

Lock dont fit as when you bolt the housing up under the dash, one side goes flush to the steel, whereas on ther other side theres a 2-3mm gap.
I dont think you'd have this problem with a LHD car.

Dude 

[Deanodynosaurs]

Right, a good friend of mine has been reminding me I should really update this thread so here goes.

Well it’s clear the body’s back on from the ragtop photos, but here are some better shots of it on.









I thought I’d try and make it a look a bit nicer, as well as try and stop the dreaded rust, so I replaced the body mounts and bolts with stainless steel items.







The interior has also started to go back in. Check out the MSD system hid under the rear seat.




 
Although I’m still having some issues with, the brake fluid master cylinder and all connections are installed. Also note the polished ID tag and ‘Made in German’ badge!





I have also started to fit the electrics back in. The dash is starting to go back together. Note the mini shift light fitted on the column!





Here is the fuel pump power switch hidden as an ash tray knob.



And finally here is the control box I am currently in the middle of building which will give me flashing rear snowflake lights, used as indicators, as well as flashing semaphores. All will be hidden away in the box under the dash. A big thank you to Larry for Retro Custom, who was a genius when it came to the wiring for this. I know it’s been a while since you sent it, but I haven’t forgot you buddy!



So that where up to at the moment. Hopefully once I get my garage back, as were having a conservatory fitted, I can crack on with it!!

Dude

[thejohn66]

looking good, like the rose joint mod on the throttle pedal, may well do something similar to mine at some stage

[Jesus]

Looking good fella!

[Deanodynosaurs]

Top end trial fitting of tinwear, and ancillaries coming along nicely.  Big thanks to Stretch for his help!

DDS and Race Trim parts are on too!! 
I like purple!! 

Just got to decide now, DDS twist linkage, or BERG linkage with the 48IDA's?!?! 













Dude 

[Deanodynosaurs]

I've actually made quite a bit of progress on the car recently, but I thought I’d just chuck up a quick update on a important bit of it, the motor! 

Ancillaries build up is finally all finished. Took a long while as a lot of parts had to be adjusted, or modified. For example, due to the DDS manifolds turning the carbs around 180 degrees and the arms open outwards, I ended up having to make linkage arms to make it all work. I'm pleased with it though as it looks very similar to the linkage set up’s used of early DKP cars.

I did also have a DDS linkage, but I just couldn’t get it to work with the MSD dizzy as it caught on this. 

Anyway I’m really pleased with it, as although it not a fully correct cal look vintage performance motor, I do think it has a reasonable look of one.

Hopes you all approve.

Dude 

[Christofe]

Vert Nice work dude !!!

[taffy apple]

Nice work dude now lets see the pics of the engine in the car