My first VW project, hotrodgary

[hotrodgary]

Well I decided to start a build thread here cuz I've been askin lots of questions and figured I better show somebody what I got? And I like to get peoples feedback!

This is the first VW I have ever owned (bought 3 to get one that I wanted) and its been a quite a learning process! I've learned the majority of it from here reading countless threads and weeding thru shit.

So here it goes,

I picked up a 74 body and bare pan. Been slowly collecting parts for it. Trying to get everything used or whatever I can find. Its supposed to be a "budget" project lol. Trust me... I know how those go!!!!

My plans:
Chop it 4", got a sunroof top I'm gonna put in.
New heat channels.
29 ford headlights.
37 ford taillights.
33 ford cowl lights.
spun alum. gas tank.
8" Pegleg Beam extender.
Gotta front beam assembly with 2 1/2" drop spindles.
Guy GAVE me a good running 1600 for it.
G/F Dad gave me a chrome steering column and wheel outta his 32 ford for it.

Not sure bout wheels & tires yet, I know they will be big and littles though. And dunno what I want for seats yet?

Not sure bout the chop yet either? Tossin around the idea of laying the windshield back kinda like a saltflat style look.

Picked up a 34 ford dash for it, not sure yet but I like it!

I am going to have lots a questions about getting the thing low I'm sure! Dunno the best route? Trans raise? Channel? Torsion raise? Lots of option, not sure whats the best?

Anyways, Heres some pics of it so far. enjoy

-Gary

[ratlook63]

Looks like a solid car to start with, now get cuttin!

[c1run1]

Hey Gary ,
If it comes out anything like that 62 Nova it's going to be bad ass .
I see your vision and it looks great . As for the dash i'd swap it out on a 69 and up beetle to a custom one before i would do that to a late 50's or early 60s just because they still look cool then .
And as for lowering it i would go with mechanical options first , even air ride if you want to be that low .
They have ajustable front ends , lowering spindles and lowering spring plates .
you just have to figure out how low you want to go and how good of a ride you still want .
Looks good ... keep us posted

[Unkl Ian]

The Ford dash is cool , hope you have a glove box door for it.

[hotrodgary]

Originally Posted by Unkl Ian

The Ford dash is cool , hope you have a glove box door for it.

A guy lent me that dash to see if it fit.... I hopin he wont want it back otherwise I gotta keep lookin for one.

My dad used to have a 33 ford and had ALL the original stuff for it, door and even the glove box! He cut up and smoothed the dash he had. But he cant find the parts now dammit? lol
he never throws anything away so its got to be sittin around somewhere I hope?

I thought it was a neat idea... always loved the shape of the 33-34 dash. And I hadnt seen one yet in a vw?

c1run1 "As for the dash i'd swap it out on a 69 and up beetle to a custom one before i would do that to a late 50's or early 60s just because they still look cool then"

If I had an early dash I would use it, I like them too! Mines a 74 though.

-Gary

[hotrodgary]

Well I got the engine and trans together, still waiting on my trans mount/adapter from CIP1 so I can put it in. Then I wanna fire it up and make sure my free motor runs?

I got some wheel adapters today for the rear so I could bolt up some bigger rubber that I had in the barn. (not what I will end up using!)

It needs to get low! I ordered adjusters for the front so Im waiting for those too.

Little wood and some zip ties I "mounted" the headlights to get an idea of where I want them and how they will look.

I need to get crackin on replacing the heater channels so I can start the chop. I marked it out and I cant decide whether to chop it 4" or 5".... I think 6" is too much?

couple pics...

[Unkl Ian]

Always easier to cut more, and remember the windshield
ends up smaller after the glass is installed.


And the rear window can't be cut, since it is tempered.

[hotrodgary]

I thought I posted this already but its not here now?

But heres some sketches I did of what I hope to do to it.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by hotrodgary

I thought I posted this already but its not here now?

Actually you did Gary... because I also remember responding to it. Unfortunately BOTH our posts were in that "black hole" timeframe last week when we switched servers. There were several hours worth of posts that didn't carry over.
Sorry about that.

So, I'm reposting my reply as well...

I LOVE the ideas you have for this... I'm REALLY diggin' all the Ford details you're working in there. Very nice, sir.

[BLKWIDO]

very kick ass ideas man

[hotrodgary]

Got a few new goodies, picked up a box full of 33 ford cowl lights via ebay for a good price!

I guess I'm ditching the sunroof top, I will need to pick up another cuz I dont really wanna cut that one up for pieces.

I got on craiglist and found a guy with a brand new sliding ragtop kit from that streetbeat customs. Called him up and he said he bought it new back in 2007.Said he got it for a vw he was going to restore, till he was driving one day, hit a bump and the car split in two! lol, he said he opened the door to get out and the roof buckled haha.

Anyways, I have heard good and bad things about these kits, and i was not even looking at one for what they are new, but for the price I got it for, I couldnt say no?

I would like to mount it from the bottom rather than the top, I dont like how they sit up and the frame is exposed.

I am in the process of putting the adjusters in the beam now, hope to get it on the ground by the weekend and get some progress pics up!

-Gary

[hotrodgary]

Some new pics, got the adjusters put in... if you saw my other thread you would know that I did it wrong and had to redo it. Its def low now, might even be a lil too low but we will see.

Theres a pic of my ragtop kit I mentioned earlier. Im really undecided whether or not to use the sliding ragtop or the sunroof top I got????

Got the headlight and cowl lights mocked up for some ideas of where to mount them. Engine is sittin in it with the headers I picked up bolted on.

I need to get busy and replace the heat channels so I can start choppin it.

[hotrodgary]

It sits way crooked too... I think its cuz of the back, maybe I am a tooth off on the splines when I lowered it? There really no way I think to make the front crooked is there?

Also, My shocks are too long, do they make shorter shocks for the lowered beams? And I was told I need the lowered ball joints now.

-Gary

[vwfanatic]

yup...short shocks are available from pretty much anyone and everyone

[Wizzy's68]

I'm diggin it! Ya gotta love bazooka tube exhaust's!
Nice job

[mkparker]

I don't have lowered ball joints on mine and it seems OK. Push down on the front end and see it they travel ok or bind up. It'll be pretty obvious.

[hotrodgary]

Originally Posted by mkparker

I don't have lowered ball joints on mine and it seems OK. Push down on the front end and see it they travel ok or bind up. It'll be pretty obvious.

If you bounce on it hard it will bind... and I live in MI where the roads are horrible! So its probably best to put them in.

[hotrodgary]

I was wondering too... do you guys recommend moving the tierods to the bottom of the spindle instead of on top? Is bump steer a problem with lowering them? I have the adj. set to the highest position and highly doubt I will lower from that point.

[mkparker]

Fonzy did it on his, I would shoot for tierods as close to parallel to the beam as possible,
you can see on your picture the tierod is very "uphill" going out to the spindle. You can see Fonzy's are closer to parallel.

[JayinMI]

Wow. I don't know how I missed this. Don't see m(any) volksrods up this way much. I catch a few at the Vintage VW show the last few years, but None in the flint area.
Hopefully the progress is still underway.

Hey Gary, do you actually live in Flint or in the area? I live in Flushing, but I just tell most people Flint so I don't have to explain where it is. :)

Jay

[strokerbug]

looks like a great start to me man

[c1run1]

Looking good Gary : )

[hotrodgary]

Originally Posted by JayinMI

Wow. I don't know how I missed this. Don't see m(any) volksrods up this way much. I catch a few at the Vintage VW show the last few years, but None in the flint area.
Hopefully the progress is still underway.

Hey Gary, do you actually live in Flint or in the area? I live in Flushing, but I just tell most people Flint so I don't have to explain where it is. :)

Jay

Yup, Swartz Creek actually... Flint is just easier lol!

You will have to let me know when the vw shows or swap meets are around the area cuz I have NO clue or any info on them?

A friend of mine had a vw luggage rack for sale on craigslist and someone wrote him that there was a vw show in the area, I never knew there was any at all around here?

Progress is underway still, just slow, got one new heater channel partially in before getting side tracked yet again. Hope to have them in on my christmas vacation.

-Gary

[JayinMI]

Well, "around here" is kinda relative. I usually try to remember to think about going to thew one at Milan Dragway (July-ish) and moreso the Michigan Vintage VW Club show in Ypsilanti (April-ish, IIRC). Not exactly close to the Flint area, but not too bad. I used to live in the Waterford/Pontiac Area, before I moved up here.

I've been kinda out of the scene for a while. My "project" has been in storage for about 3 years now, and I sold my air compressor and welder, so nothing much is going to happen.

Jay

[Unkl Ian]

Originally Posted by JayinMI

I sold my ... and welder, so nothing much is going to happen.

Jay

That sucks.