Dude’s 58 Ragtop Beetle

[Deanodynosaurs]

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

I'll put some up soon dude.

I hear your motor came out easy as well, any idea what the problem with the box/clutch plate is?

Where your build/ transformation thread?! 

Dude 

[taffy apple]

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

I'll put some up soon dude.

I hear your motor came out easy as well, any idea what the problem with the box/clutch plate is?

Where your build/ transformation thread?! 

Dude 

engine out clutch was all good mate but rotating the wheels some times it moved the input shaft sometimes not, i reckon its fooked

[Deanodynosaurs]

engine out clutch was all good mate but rotating the wheels some times it moved the input shaft sometimes not, i reckon its fooked

Ah, sucks dude! 

Looks like it time for a new superman box, especially as it big motor time! :-)
I'd say you need to have more mechanical sympathy but that aint gonna happen mr 1 ton right foot! 

Dude 

[taffy apple]

just spoke to Paul at bears, will get the box out sunday and drop it up to him next week

[Deanodynosaurs]

just spoke to Paul at bears, will get the box out sunday and drop it up to him next week

Cool, Paul a top bloke and make a great cup of tea. If you fancy a wingman for the trip let me know.

Dude 

[taffy apple]

  Now where's those pics

[Deanodynosaurs]

Now where's those pics

LOL!  Believe it or not, i've actually for once in my life, been to busy to put them up!! 

Dude 

[Deanodynosaurs]

Right, finally time for a thread update!

Been cracking on with wiring, and all the wiring is now in that is needed for when I’m ready to fire the motor up.

Battery is a deep cycle yellow top hidden away under the rear, seat as is the MSD system.





Also done a fair bit of wiring under the dash. Please note all wiring will be ran through heat shink, and tidied up when the loom is finished.



Here you can see the lights control box, and an example of how neat I’m trying to keep it all.



And here’s the horn! It an aftermarket retro style chrome one, but with a genuine vintage BOSCH badge on it. I think it looks pretty cool!



Oh and I also fitted the high torque starter motor, after a good clean up, that I brought second hand.



I’ve also been busy on the fuel system, and all the lines are now fitted in the engine bay (as well as the MSD coil on the firewall). Not the use of ali P clips to keep it all tidy!





Even under the car! 



And finally the most exciting bit! The engine has been slotted in!

Thanks so much to Stretch for helping me get it in, and for all those who say it can’t be done, it did go in with the fanhousing on!!    Thanks to the short DDS manifolds the engine lid also shuts without standoffs.











So finally something worth updating!

Dude 

[Jesus]

Looks great in there!  Good Work Dude!

[fahrvergnugen]

hey Dude,

very nice work, love all the details.
Maybe I missed it, but are you running the car without paint or do you take it apart again?

Paul.

[Deanodynosaurs]

Cheers Alex. 

Fahrvergnugen, na, the car will be fully stripped down once built and be properly painted. Just wanted to make sure all the holes are there I need, everything fits, and that I dont need to weld on any other bits. I'm glad I have done it this way, as I've had to do loads of little body mods during the trial build.   

Dont like 'rat' look, its for people who are to lazy to paint there car! 

Dude 

[taffy apple]

That engine bay looks awesome mate, really really neat.

Top work dude

[Deanodynosaurs]

That engine bay looks awesome mate, really really neat.

Top work dude

Cheers mate. :-)

Only updated the thread cause of you nagging at me! 

Wheres yours 

Dude 

[fahrvergnugen]

Fahrvergnugen, na, the car will be fully stripped down once built and be properly painted. Just wanted to make sure all the holes are there I need, everything fits, and that I dont need to weld on any other bits. I'm glad I have done it this way, as I've had to do loads of little body mods during the trial build.   

Dont like 'rat' look, its for people who are to lazy to paint there car! 

Dude 

OK, Cool.

I think that's the safest way to do it. I think I will even drive mine before painting it.

Paul.

[Deanodynosaurs]

Right finally thought it’s time for a bit of an update. 

Although physically it doesn’t look like I’ve done that much, I have been putting the hours in! The car has had a complete new wiring loom from scratch all done all in black! (I think I might regret this in the future!!  )

Anyway here’s the car as she currently is!


I’ve also done a lot on the brake system. I couldn’t get the nylon braided brake pipes to seal on the standard reservoir push on end, so Bob at Concept racing welded some AN fittings on for me! The guy is a welding genius!


Here are the reservoirs in place.


And the stainless brake lines fitted between the reservoir and master cylinder.


Had some stainless brake hose flexi's made up at speedflow. Although they were expensive, I’m very pleased with them.




I also got round to fitting the SWF washer system. This was hard work as it took some head scratching, and about 5 different non return valves to get it all to work. But it did in the end.


Here you can see the pump for the washer system as well as the wiring loom. I know at the moment it’s a bit messy, but this will eventually all be wrapped with cloth loom tape.


Whilst were talking about wiring, here’s the obligatory Lucas indicators! Not this isn’t final fit! Just wanted to test everything works, but putting the wings on would have got in the way!


A few interior bits fitted.




I’ve also finalised the dash!


I decided not to run a radio, as I couldn’t find anywhere to hide speakers, and I’m not gonna hear it with the motor at 6,00rpm anyway!!

To finish the radio plate off nice, I adapted a glove box trim piece. I really like how it turned out.




Also got most of my gauges sorted!

120mph speedo fitted, as well as the mechanical Motometer pressure gauge.  The Motometer temperature gauge is only trial fitted at present, as its been sent away to have the sender cable extended. Also trial fitted is my ‘rare as’ Motometer tacho! Still trying to work out how to wire this in, and how to get it to work with a modern MSD system! Shift light is attached to the column.


And finally here’s a shot of my OG dehne fuel gauge fitted. At the moment this works, but it’s a bit ratty, so hoping to have a new face put on it. Some of the photos show an electronic dehne fitted, but I decided in the end OG was best!


Anyway, I hope some of you are still awake after reading this!! 

Dude 

[Jon]

Nice work with that trim!

[jamiep_jamiep]

This is looking awesome Dude!

[Richyrich]

Fantastic build buddy, keep it going, looking forward to seeing it running..

[Deanodynosaurs]

Cheers both.

Really need to up-date this build thread!

Cars been running for about 2 months, and a I've done a lot has since I last posted!! I'll try and chuck some more photos up tonight.

Dude   

[guillaume]

I've done the same with the trim on the radio delete plate. It's the nicest way to finish the dash when you have gauges around the steering wheel.

[Deanodynosaurs]

I've done the same with the trim on the radio delete plate. It's the nicest way to finish the dash when you have gauges around the steering wheel.

Interested in how you shortened yours Guillaume?.

Mine is a repro aluminium trim which I have cut and then glued the end piece back on to close the end off. I then polised this so you can hardly see the join.

Did think about cutting the original aluminum trim, and having the end ali welded up, but i went for the above option in the end because i could do it all, without having to get someone to TIG it.

Dude 

[Deanodynosaurs]

Right, bit of a sort of intermediate update, but a cool one never the less!

I have always wanted to put a vert decklid on the 58, because I wanted it to get extra cooling, abut also just because I think the look way cool, especially the 58-63 with the horizontal vents and t handles.

Anyway years ago, I managed to find a genuine vert decklid on a trip to the States. However, it was very sun bleached, an at some point it must have been in a accident, as the bottom was way out of shape, and the whole decklid curved like a banana!!





Anyway, enthusiasm took over from common sense, and I brought it and shipped it back to the UK. However, it soon became apparent though that I didn’t have the skills to get it straight enough, as it was gonna be a difficult job, and thus it was sent to Wayne at the Intergalactic Customs Shop, who did a amazing job of beating the thing back into shape. This picture really doesn’t do his work justice.



Here’s a pic of it on the car. It really fits nice.



Next it was off to my mate good mate Andy at Custom and Classics Paint Shop, who helped me get all the last little wrinkles out. He also did all the paint, which I am well chuffed with.

First of it got a coat of etch primer.





Here are the popes noses I had already got prepped for it. (Yes there are two! I’m a flash git and as you’ll see later, it on quick release pins, so that I can swap between the vert and standard deck lid I have!)



And a quick shot of it on the decklid.



Next up it was time to put a bit a bit of filler in to take out any last little wrinkles. Please note, the photo makes it look like there is a lot more filler in it than there actually is! There is only a thin skim, which is amazing as it looked like it had been steam rollered when I brought it!



And finally it was time to get it into paint!   Here’s it in primer.



And here is it finally painted in Fjord Blue.




(Yes I know this photo is upside down! I thought it looked weird the other way up!! )



And finally a shot of the titanium quick release pins fitted. I got these from Joe Bence, and they are stunningly well made.



So that’s it for my quick intermediate update! I hope you like it.

I am very pleased with the final outcome with the decklid. Only took me 4 years to get it to this stage!!

Dude 

[Jesus]

Looking Good Dude, Loving the coulor choice!

[Deanodynosaurs]

Looking Good Dude, Loving the coulor choice!

Cheers bro.

Blues the new red or summut like that!! 

Dude 

[Richyrich]

Thanks for the update, will be great to see her in one colour, thats when she will come together. I feel like its coming to the last page in the book, Been a great read so far Dude, and the next instalment ( On The Street ) Should be Fantastic.....

[Deanodynosaurs]

Thanks for the update, will be great to see her in one colour, thats when she will come together. I feel like its coming to the last page in the book, Been a great read so far Dude, and the next instalment ( On The Street ) Should be Fantastic.....

Cheers Richyrich.

Yeah it does feel like it s actually coming together, although still a number of teething problems to work through. Really looking forward to getting it all in paint.

.........and the next instalment ( On The Street ) Should be Fantastic.....

I think you mean on the street/strip!! 

Dude 

[Pas]

Love the colour and the standard of the build 

[Richyrich]

Yes . Strip AND Street,. sounds like a porno .. love it..

[Richyrich]

Teething is just tuneing. as somone said, When Its Finished We Sell It.......

[H67bug]

Nice