My concept for the general Vee - Page 9 - Cut-Weld-Drive Forums

Palepainter · March 24th, 2010, 06:23 PM

This evening I finished up the lower side of the center portion of the dash. Then I recruited the gauges I had collected the past couple of years and decided on what I want and where I want it. I buzzed over to Checkers and got the keyed ignition switch and the rocker switches. Then I used the plasma cutter with wooden cutting patterns to cut the openings in the dash. I have been using the hell out of the plasma cutter. Very happy with the placement.

I am going to have a JVC stereo with an Ipod player mounted in the center. I am going to configure some other stuff in the center as well. Not sure yet.

I am also considering putting the Tach up top if I go with it. Undecided there as well.

Double D · March 24th, 2010, 06:33 PM

the dash is looking SAWEET! Keep up the good work!

Palepainter · March 24th, 2010, 06:39 PM

Thanks Dennis! It has been a fun part of the project. It is like designing the interface to the car. I am enjoying it.

detroit73super · March 24th, 2010, 07:17 PM

Once again awesome dash!! And I like the ignition key on the left...seeing that most of the briliant people in this world are left handed..

Palepainter · March 24th, 2010, 07:23 PM

HHAHAHA... I know bro. It just seemed more natural there. You can see where I sharpied in a location on the right, but I said fuggget. On the left it goes.

Palepainter · March 27th, 2010, 02:48 PM

Worked on a bunch of grinding and some finish welding. Still waiting for the bigger parts to come back from the sand blaster. After the price I got for powdercoating the parts, I decided to use Chassis Black paint. So I got some of the pieces painted today.

Dbug41 · March 27th, 2010, 03:29 PM

Thats Purdy

you are doing some amazing work man!

Palepainter · March 27th, 2010, 08:52 PM

Thanks guys,
I am getting to that point in the build where it is looking like not much is getting done. It is all the widget work at this time. As soon as I get the front end assembled, I will get the car turned around and attack the driver side. A lot of detailing with the final welding and stuff. I am getting my funds together for the motor right now. Getting close. Then I will finish up the ass end of the car. Time sure has passed by these past 3 months.

Thanks again!

**V8Transporter** · March 27th, 2010, 09:36 PM

Awesome work.

The dash is really trick.

Over the last few years I've used Chassis Black on the transporter's suspension, motorcycle frames/parts etc.. It holds up really well.

Palepainter · March 28th, 2010, 05:59 PM

The list of Honey Do's was long today. I did manage to get in a couple hours. I started cleaning up the back end. I got rid of all the seals for the cooling tin valances inside the rear. It really will make working on the car so much easier. Getting the the starter and will be a breeze now. Because the Capella chop slanted the entire decklid to a new angle, I had to make sure that the rear of the apron was elevated enough before I started welding the side supports. I use a bottle jack and lifted the rear section until the gap looked good along the edge of the decklid.

I then took 1/4 in round stock and shaped it over the tire to get the curve close and proceeded to weld it to the back of the apron and the side of the inner fender well. Tomorrow I will get the sheetmetal cut and put in place.

detroit73super · March 28th, 2010, 06:10 PM

Lookin' good, as does your bike in the background of that last photo..

**purplemyth** · March 28th, 2010, 06:50 PM

thats gonna look good Mike!

Palepainter · March 28th, 2010, 07:13 PM

Thanks everyone,

Just scored this on Ebay. Going to powder coat it black.

Palepainter · March 29th, 2010, 06:17 PM

I got the pass side in the back finished up tonight. It was tricky due to the complex bend. Had I been thinking when I cut it all off, I would have cut the rear clip off after the point where the inner fender well curve straightens out about where the rear apron attaches on top. The reverse curve on the upper right got tricky to get right.

I also had to grab the tail light and see what it looks like. I have a bunch of old HD turn signals as well, but am trying to get to the bottom of how to make this all work with just one dual filament bulb in the light. I had considered Type 3 Side markers also on the side. I see a thread going on this topic and hope to grab the info I need from it.

Palepainter · March 30th, 2010, 08:31 PM

Tonight I only had about an hour to cut and weld. So I made the bracket for the rear pass side light. I also picked up a motor off Craigs. Got a good deal on a running dual Weber carbed motor. Needs just a bit of cosmetics, but will post a pic tomorrow.

Palepainter · March 31st, 2010, 06:40 PM

Big day for the General, The powerplant made it home last night. I found it on Craigslist here locally built by a well known builder here. I bought off of the builder. Guy named Steve Blue. Dual Baby Webers, mild cam, 009 Bosch, sounded peppy. It is a runner. I will be tearing the sheetmetal off and paiting it all and detailing it. Adding a 1.5 quart sump to her and just overall cleaning. It has about 6 k on it.

Tonight I got the driver side rear mount in the fender well tacked in. Amazing how much smoother shit goes on the repeat effort. I also got my gas cap in today. Freaking love it. It will be painted gloss black. And I also got the tach housing fabricated for the hood. It will basically replace the VW emblem on the hood and will be bolted down to the hood with a rubber gasket between it and the hood. I am going to run a very small tach and a shift light in it.

Palepainter · March 31st, 2010, 07:14 PM

Yes, Ding...Ding...We have a winner.

I made it from a later model tank section. It was left over from my chopper project. I originally wanted to make a rectangular headlight out of it. Kept it around for years, found it's way into this project. Cut off the rounded bottom portion. I have an early 70's one too, but dont want to chop it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whozawhat

Is your tach housing made from the tail end of a stretched sporty gas tank?

Its kinda reminds me of that.
I like the look.

gives me ideas

detroit73super · April 1st, 2010, 04:13 PM

wow, good call..

Palepainter · April 2nd, 2010, 05:47 PM

I finished up the rear of the car with the transition from fender well to apron. This way I will be able to lock up the motor if I piss off my neighbors. :) It took a bit of tweaking to get this area right as it was basically just floating in mid air. Very happy with the entire transition towards the end of the car.

The brake light and running lights are done and mounted. Still debating as how to wire it with out a second bulb. I see that the trailer module isn't a cut and dry operation.

Having a difficult time trying to find a nice small tach to go in the pod on the hood locally. Something that will weather proof I would imagine. There are a couple of bug meets coming up this month, going to keep my eyes open.

Palepainter · April 3rd, 2010, 07:46 PM

This morning I had a visit from The Tinman. Always good to meet the local VW enthusiasts. We did a barter, beer for bumpers. HEHEHE. That works for me.

I spent the morning repairing the lower rust section on the heater channel. It was a mess everywhere except on the bottom. So I cut out the back section of the channel from a donor car and got all the different parts of the overlapping skins in order and welded up. Then I bent up a section for behind the running board area. I used an offset crimper to get the material up behind the bottom of the quarter panel. I have the inner curved spot on the inside of the car to finish up. Rust repair is so damn time consuming. Fortunately it was just at the ends of the channel and not into the heat tube.

I also went over to visit Eric at http://www.uberautowerks.com/ . I just discovered that there is a reputable VW shop not far from my house and shop. Convenient for my credit card company.

Pics of the outer repair.

Palepainter · April 4th, 2010, 06:01 PM

I enjoyed a day with the family. Happy Easter everyone. Had a visitor on the property today...

After things settled down, I went out to the shop and finished up the rear drivers heater channel rust repair. Just need to throw down some seam sealer and ready to go.

Then I went out to storage and grabbed two low backs and threw them in to see how things were fitting. Basically a day of making motor simulations with my 9 year old. She wanted to take a few pics of me behind the wheel being a dork, I am always so surprised at the eye she has for the lens. I took a jack and dropped it down to its riding height. I decided to drop the pod on the hood at least the way it was due to the blocking of vision.

Here is some fun from today.

detroit73super · April 4th, 2010, 06:09 PM

Looks like you got a good seat height / sight of view out the 'shield. I had a visitor on my property today also. I caught a neighbor kid (12-13!!) smoking weed behind my neighbors shed. The small fires in the forest he was setting is what caught my attention. Didn't come down hard on him for the smokin' cause, well....but I did about playing with fire in my woods....

Double D · April 4th, 2010, 06:38 PM

It's awesome when the kids get involved with Dad's project.
My 12 y/o daughter is always hanging around in the garage wanting to know what I'm doing to the car. Yesterday I gave her a hand held welding shield so she could see for herself.
Happy Easter.

Palepainter · April 4th, 2010, 08:08 PM

It is cool. She enjoys sanding and she is a hell of a pinstriper for her age.

She is excited she gets a bucket seat in the back of the car. The car will a 3 seater. So I am throwing another low back in the rear of the car in center. She will probably have a few other ideas for her comfort along the way. :)

hotrodgary · April 6th, 2010, 04:37 AM

Looking good! I like the dash and how you finished off the back of the body and trunk lid area.
-Gary