My concept for the general Vee - Page 4 - Cut-Weld-Drive Forums

briancustoms · January 25th, 2010, 07:20 PM

Those military tires would help carry the theme well, but I also love bigs and littles on fenderless rides. IMHO.

Palepainter · January 25th, 2010, 07:23 PM

Me too. Love that look of the talls in the rear. It would be easier to emphasize that if I could find widened rims. They want an arm and a leg to widen the rims here locally.

Unfortunately, I can only find the military style tires in one size for the 15 in rim. I will have to do some mockups to see how it will look before I commit. Other wise its gonna look half assed when i get the extension on and have the same smalls on all the rims.

**Unkl Ian** · January 25th, 2010, 07:25 PM

Can you switch to 16" wheels? They have a wider range of sizes, from 600 to 900.

**Unkl Ian** · January 25th, 2010, 07:26 PM

Miller Tire has 16" inch hoops in 3 widths.
http://www.millertire.com/wheel_catalog.asp?class=99

Palepainter · January 25th, 2010, 07:32 PM

Do you think those hoops would work with VW center section? That is not a bad idea if it would work.

**Unkl Ian** · January 25th, 2010, 07:35 PM

Measure the VW hoops, ID and OD.

All those 16" hoops have the same 13.5" dia.

**Unkl Ian** · January 25th, 2010, 07:38 PM

Same size tires front and rear sounds practical, like stock,
but bigger/taller on back looks better especially fenderless.

**Unkl Ian** · January 25th, 2010, 07:56 PM

Sometimes it is easier to measure the circumference, instead of diameter.

13.5" dia -> 42.525" circumference.

Palepainter · January 25th, 2010, 08:12 PM

I will do that. Thanks for the links!

Palepainter · January 26th, 2010, 05:39 PM

Got the passenger side window frame tacked in as well as the rest of the sail panel. I will grind and finish welding tomorrow. Then I am going to pull the supports inside so I can get to the inner areas that need welding.

Palepainter · January 27th, 2010, 05:49 PM

First off,
Let me throw out some props for Doug and his new BJ/BJ 8" extension. It showed up today. Better than I expected, not that I didn't expect great quality, but was extremely happy with the details and clean welds. You rock dude, and I wish you the best with your business. If you need anything I can offer you for services, just let me know.

So I got it, it was a little banged up on one of the corners from the gorillas in the shipping dept. Easily beat back into place. I sized up the hardware I would need to install and hit the local hardware store. For anyone getting into one of Doug's extenders, here is the list of hardware needed to install,

1. (4) 4 in 1/2 inch grade 8 bolts.
2. (8) Thick grade 8 washers.
3. (4) Split lock washers.
4. (4) Grade 8 nuts.
5. You will reuse the stock bolts that mount the beam to the frame head. Use these bolts to attach the extender.

I will be researching the U joints and the steering extension. I am working on a Rack and Pinion system that should clean things up a bit under the hood.

My wife gave me a hand this eve dropping the beam and resetting it on the new extension. She is a good sport. Now I can get the sheetmetal and head light fabrication done up front. I believe I will be going with dropped spindles on the front to get it down a bit more. I am looking for a nice rake to the stance.

Again,

THANKS DOUG!!! I WILL BE TALKING TO YOU SOON ABOUT SOME MORE STUFF!!!

Palepainter · January 30th, 2010, 06:28 PM

Made decision on my rear tires. I went with 225/75/15's in the rear comfortably on 5.5 rims. It sure helped a lot with the rake and stance of the car. Now I just need to do some rust repair in the lowers and then adjust the spring plates a notch. I am debating on the adjustable beam or the dropped spindles. What have you guys had the most success with?

Here is how it looks with the tire change.

Palepainter · January 30th, 2010, 06:32 PM

As soon as I get the majority of the structural work done I will take the body off the pan and get busy with the suspension and drive train. I am going to mock it up with a motor first to finalize the exhaust and the rear apron section. Not sure yet on the exhaust, but am going to try a few things lying around here. I may even make my own system. I have a nice collector here and have thought about a stinger out the back with a spark arrestor. So many decisions. I am also measuring for the 6 point cage and getting that bent in the very near future. That will stiffen everything up a bit.

Palepainter · January 31st, 2010, 05:07 PM

So, this weekend I sat in my booth at a motorcycle show in Denver. Each time I was able to get away, I ran pas the Custom Chrome booth and eyed up some goodies. A friend of mine is a sales rep for them, so I had him hold some items till the end of the show. I can not tell you what I paid for them but let's just say dealer cost. I am going to make military style black out shields for the lenses after I install H4's.

I also found a really trick item off a heritage softail front fender that will make a great 3rd brake light. I have a lot of fun stuff to work on this week. Very excited to make some unique progress, I will be going out on a limb design wise with a few ideas. But we will see. Anyways, if anyone cares, today's score.

I am done with the chop and will soon permanently mount the rag top also. I am going to bounce around now to maintain a certain creative involvement besides a whole bunch of welding and grinding.

Palepainter · January 31st, 2010, 05:14 PM

I have also been using the search engine for lowering the rear on swingaxle but not coming up with anything specific. Particularly with pictures or the plate and the axle tube details. Does anyone have any good tech articles from any place regarding dropping the rear one spline on the outside?

bigguy · January 31st, 2010, 05:16 PM

Same as irs for lowering but just swing axle.

**purplemyth** · February 1st, 2010, 04:00 AM

here ya go Mike, from the tech bin~
http://www.volksrods.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15982
just check the link in the first post :)

Palepainter · February 1st, 2010, 06:11 AM

Thank you Carlene!!

Palepainter · February 1st, 2010, 06:13 PM

So this evening I made up some brackets for the headlights and got them welded to the beam. I went to Lowes to pick up some metal stock that I didn't have around. I didn't realize how much steel was these days. I will be more resourceful with the scraps I have lying around. I positioned the lights in front of the shock tower to break up the mass of them. I am going to be doing some sheetmetal work to the beam to clean it up as well. Here are a few shots of the lights.

Then I had an idea and kind of wanted to see how it would look. I would be sectioning the bumper. Basically only using the outside 16 inches or so. The overriders and may look kind of cool all painted to match the rest of the body. Anyways, I held up the bumper and wanted to get an idea.

And lastly, this was the final project for the evening just cleared it after finishing the art during the day.

Palepainter · February 2nd, 2010, 02:43 PM

Working up mock up for a front bumper. Here is what I have. Opinions?

Palepainter · February 2nd, 2010, 02:50 PM

To bore you even further, here is a better shot of the height I like.

**Unkl Ian** · February 2nd, 2010, 02:57 PM

The bumper idea is very cool. Are you going to lower the whole car ?

hotrodgary · February 2nd, 2010, 03:05 PM

I like the first one.

what about one bumperette in the middle?

-Gary

**purplemyth** · February 2nd, 2010, 03:13 PM

http://www.rollingchrome.com/vw/chop56.jpg I like this one.

Alien right? Cool! just watched that series friday.

Palepainter · February 2nd, 2010, 03:32 PM

Ya Unkl,
I am going to drop the entire car. Spindles in the front and one outer spline in the rear. I don't want excessive camber and don't mind a bit of excessive rake.

Gary,
I had played with the single bumperette, but the two looked more menacing IMO. More of a Dracula feel. HAHAHA.

Carlene,
I like that one also, I will play with the height on Pshop to see where it will go. I am going to get rid of the hand on the lid too. Gotta love the aliens.
Most of my work these days is on guitars.

Thanks for the input guys. Glad to get opinions on the little bumper.

Oh ya, I am going to make the signals apart of the bumperette.