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I bought this bug as my daily driver in January
207. It will eventually be my sons 1st car in late 2008. But in the mean
time I will do a few bits and pieces to it. I've ordered some narrow struts
for the front so that I can lower it a bit, I will also fit some alloy wheels.
Having never lived with this model Beetle long term, it will be good to
sort out gauge positioning and a few other things before I finish my other
bug, which is also a 1303. |
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I'm fitting a few extra gauges, tacho, oil temp
& pressure. As the dashboard space is pretty limited on this model bug,
I've moved the light switch to the other side of the speedo, just near the
emergency switch. Rather use the self tapers to hold the panel in place,
I fitted some 10mm riv nuts in there place. |
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Just test fitting, the panel, I had some checkered
vinyl made up the cover the panel with, my sons into Ska music. |
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I bought some 7x17 BBS wheels for it from a Subaru
Liberty |
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Test fitting. |
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Momo Course steering wheel with a flat bottom,
my son is not 195 cms tall and he's not 16 yet, the flat bottom should help
getting in & out. |
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I fitted a 12 inch sub into the rear parcel
along with some 6x9s. |
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The wheels are all fitted up now. They BBS wheels
that were fitted to B4 Subaru Libertys. They 17 x 7 with a 55ET. |
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The backs fit perfectly, I used steel 944 rear
trailing arms & brakes. These move the wheel bolt face out 26 mm per
side, but using the 55ET wheels results in a very small track increase. |
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I scored a pair of Carrera rear calipers, 2 pistons
unlike the single slider on the 944. They are alloy and are made by Brembo. |
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I’ve had enough of not being able to see the top part speedo
in my sons 1303. So I came up with this solution, I fitted a small SPA digital
speedo inside the stock speedo housing.
I really needed to have this done as my sons gets his licence in a few
months and the popo are very strict with new drivers, they must display
a special P plate on the front and back of the car.
The SPA speedo features,
Acceleration timer
Standing 1/4 mile timer
Built in odometer
Built in trip meter
Maximum speed recall
Adjustable backlit lcd display
Programmable button function.
Readout selectable for mph or kmh
Calibrates to any tyre circumference
They cost around $225USD plus delivery
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After some vandalism occurred to the car,
its now time to give the bug a freshen up. |
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I've fitted a new front apron and a 2nd hand bonnet. |
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Removed bottom of the A pillar, this is a very bad spot for
rust as the drain hole often blocks up with crud, it didn't actually have
any rust in this area. |
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Ready to go to the panel beater |
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Weld up the redundant wiper holes |
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The roof being fixed |
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Quick visit to home for some rust rust proofing before the
hood lining goes in |
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Had Jeff Squires at Peakhurst fit a new hood lining |
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I've added an extra brake light bulb holder for a bit of extra
safety |
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Phillips make an extra bright halogen reverse light, its 50
watt as opposed to the stock 21 watt |
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Halogen on the right, stock on the left |
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First outing at the Sawtell Winter break. Thanks to Cool
Top Smash at Peakhurst for the paint and panel, Jeff Squires trimming
at Peakhurst and Retro Wheels at Mortdale for repainting the wheels.
Thanks also to,
Vintage VeeDub Supplies
V Force
Arthur Johnston Engineering
Anjor Engineering
Westside Mufflers
Rodney Penrose
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The stock 1600 was getting bit tedious to drive on the open
road with us two big lumps in it.
So a new motor was built up with some bits that were lying around the garage,
its now 74 x 90.5=1904cc with some V Force heads, twin 40 mm Dells, Berg
sump etc |
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An oil cooler was mounted at the front of the fame head, works
great, a 7 inch thermo fan has now been added, originally the fan was supposed
to be controlled by a switch in the oil cooler take off block, this wasn't
successful as the switch is supposed to turn on at 97c and switch off at
92c, there is too much heat in the oil cooler take off block so the fan
switches on at around 70c oil temperature, I will move this switch to a
more suitable location |
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The 944 rear brakes with Carrera calipers, Kafer Cup bar,
2 in 2 out 2 inch muffler that Westside Mufflers supplied. |
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Spring on the shift coupling, pulls the shifter of to the
3rd & 4th side of the neutral gate. |
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We have now fitted 215/45 Federal radial tyres 595R-S,
were very happy with them are an ideal tyre to use on the street or on
the track
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Running at the 2010 VW Nationals Supersprint the car developed
an oil leak from behind the pulley, I had Dave Stocker at LMS machine the
pulley to suit a sand seal, he fitted a stainless steel "seal saver"
as this gives the pulley some extra strength. |
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