the black vert - Cut-Weld-Drive Forums

**bugdust** · May 29th, 2012, 04:31 PM

Note: If you want cutting and welding, skip this thread. This will just be bolt-on mods to my daily-driver. Hopefully some of it may be of use/ interest to some of you.

I don't know when I will build my volksrod. I have a lot of cool ideas that will get done at some point...but who can say when. Right now my primary focus is suppossed to be building my '67 westy. The status of that is that I have a ton of money sitting in parts. Between work and medical issues (wife's and mine) I haven't been able to do much to it. So, it sits. But, I wanted an aircooled to cruise around in and take to club meets, shows, etc. So, I was on craigslist looking for a cheap beater/ project that I could drive for now. Somehow, I ended up with a bug vert.

It was sold at Barrett Jackson in Arizona (have some of the paperwork). It is a body-off, amateur resto/custom. It has a lot of wrong parts, aftermarket parts, etc.
More pics:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/?start=all

So, I was all ready to start rolling this as my daily driver. I ordered a few things from Wolfsburg West (should be here tomorrow). The engine was running a little rough when I bought it. I figured a good tune-up and syncing the carbs would fix that. Nope. So, the engine is out and down to the longblock. I will tear into it later this week or weekend to see why I have three cylinders at 135 psi range and one cylinder at 115. When the carbs came off I noticed some polishing and shaping in the intake ports.

I'm going to figure out the engine issue...not splitting the case or anything like that. I will clean and reseal everything, repaint a few things, add a couple of pretty things, etc. The trans is wet so I want to check that, too. The rear discs drag in reverse so I need to figure that out. I will (as money allows) change out the KYB Gas-a-justs for some GR2s, maybe build a narrowed beam and add front discs?? It has 135s on the front so those will need to go SOON. I'm also going to add rear seatbelts, LED tail lights, a 3rd brake light and either LED or H4 headlights. Basically, I want a clean, dependable daily-driver bug.

That's the plan. This will be a work in progress, as time and money permits, etc. I do not have it all planned out but will research ideas as I think about doing them. I do NOT want this to turn into a full-on project car (I have a bus for that)...just doing a few mods to my daily-driver.

Jon · May 29th, 2012, 04:35 PM

Get that thing back together and leave it alone. Enjoy it and dont get rid of it.

**bugdust** · May 29th, 2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

Get that thing back together and leave it alone. Enjoy it and dont get rid of it.

If only it were that easy.

I think I'm going to have to keep this one a while because I already have waayyyy too much money into it. I would lose my ass if I sold it right now.

Budreaux · May 29th, 2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugdust

That's the plan. This will be a work in progress, as time and money permits, etc. I do not have it all planned out but will research ideas as I think about doing them. I do NOT want this to turn into a full-on project car (I have a bus for that)...just doing a few mods to my daily-driver.

I feel ya man. I started off this way with my current DD. Sadly, I've nearly completely disassembled everything except the motor and trans. However, i should be putting her all back together in a few weeks.

**crack monkey** · May 29th, 2012, 06:09 PM

it is a great looking car

JiI · May 29th, 2012, 06:17 PM

I agree with CM. Nice car!! I love the BRMs on it. Nice stance but I agree, the fronts are too narrow.
Jeff

HeidelbergJohn4.0 · May 29th, 2012, 06:51 PM

I love what you Florida guys call a beater.

**bugdust** · May 30th, 2012, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeidelbergJohn4.0

I love what you Florida guys call a beater.

I said I was looking for a beater. This thing is far from your typical beater but give me some time. I've already scratched the left tail light and took a fair amount of paint off the rear apron. I put a rag on my floor jack but it still scratched the pan. After a few months of daily driving it will look worse...may even have some spray bomb primer on it

**Double D** · May 30th, 2012, 04:26 PM

Sweet looking Vert you have there MR. Bugdust!

Will you be able to keep it?

**bugdust** · May 31st, 2012, 02:59 PM

I have started ordering parts for the vert. The first package came in today from Wolfsburg West.

chrome drink holder/ basket
pair of red seatbelts for the back seat (I have kids)
bolt kit for the seatbelts
2 cigarette lighters (for cell phone charger/ gps etc)
plastic grommets for hood emblem (it sits funky now)
rubber grommets for trim (some of the trim is loose)
German 12v horn and wire grommets (no horn on car now)
long arm right mirror
left mirror
new rubber pads for clutch & brake pedals (had crappy hard ones on there)

I know, nothing exciting and I probably won't post when I install the stuff. I already changed the mirrors. It is nice to be able to see out of the right side. The short arm one was useless on that side. I also put the drink holder/ basket on the tunnel (took 5 seconds...lol). More to come.

**crack monkey** · May 31st, 2012, 05:46 PM

its ok charlie... Putting that drink holder in took longer than any time I have spent o. My vw in the last 2 years

**bugdust** · June 2nd, 2012, 12:17 PM

TIG welded and balance fan from Jason Eggum (JSE Racing) came in today

jake1974 · June 2nd, 2012, 01:54 PM

what is special about the fan , over a stock one?

**bugdust** · June 2nd, 2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake1974

what is special about the fan , over a stock one?

The vanes (cooling fins) on a stock fan have little tabs bent through a slot holding it together. At high rpm's (5000+) or on an engine that spins to higher rpm's quickly (lightened flywheel, different cam, etc) the fan can come apart. I had one come apart in a '67 bug I had with a 1776cc engine. When it comes apart, it is common for it to destroy the fan shroud, alternator/ generator backing plat, oil cooler and cooling fins on the cylinders. This fan has had the tabs TIG-welded and the whole fan balanced so it should never come apart or wobble. Plus, I am converting to a serpentine belt system which is less likely to have belt-slippage (compared to the stock v-belt) so it will shock the fan more with any sudden rpm changes.

For the record, many people have drag-raced stock German fans with no issues. I can not afford to take chaances so $79.50 to my door is cheap insurance.

**StickerDick** · June 2nd, 2012, 08:00 PM

I was going to ask you why you have a little, tiny shopping cart.... Then I read your blog. I went another way with the drink holder and got one of these.... fits into the ashtray slot on the dash, clears the shifter and holds two drinks and the cell phone.

**bugdust** · June 6th, 2012, 02:17 PM

A few more parts arrived today. I have one more order to come.

I should start back on the engine this weekend. I measured the cylinders...90.47. So, it's at least a 1776. It's supposed to be a 2017 so it would have to have a 78.4 crank to get that. I don't know how to tell what the crank is without splitting the case. It does have LRE rods. The heads are stock castings with some intake port work done and possibly enlarged combustion chambers.

bigguy · June 6th, 2012, 02:26 PM

Can you measure the crank stroke with just the heads off.

**StickerDick** · June 6th, 2012, 02:28 PM

looks like its going to be alot of fun in bugdust's world over the next couple of weeks!

JiI · June 6th, 2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugdust

A few more parts arrived today. I have one more order to come.

I should start back on the engine this weekend. I measured the cylinders...90.47. So, it's at least a 1776. It's supposed to be a 2017 so it would have to have a 78.4 crank to get that. I don't know how to tell what the crank is without splitting the case. It does have LRE rods. The heads are stock castings with some intake port work done and possibly enlarged combustion chambers.

Saw a guy stick a rod in the spark plug hole and turn the engine over by hand, marking the hi and low of the stick. Gave him a good ballpark number on the crank size.
Jeff

**crack monkey** · June 6th, 2012, 07:36 PM

so why switch the new shroud? Are you moving the coil?

**bugdust** · June 7th, 2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crack monkey

so why switch the new shroud? Are you moving the coil?

The coil is already mounted to a bracket behind the distributor, on the case. I'm switching to the 36hp-style doghouse shroud and offset oil cooler for better cooling. It has a standard oil cooler on it now but I got an offset one with adapter. I'm also putting in the wider, welded fan. I went welded because I'm switching to a serpentine pulley system as soon as I get more money.

JiI · June 7th, 2012, 05:41 PM

Which pulley system/ company are you going with?
Jeff

**crack monkey** · June 7th, 2012, 06:44 PM

ah I see the offset now.... Very cool

**bugdust** · June 7th, 2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiI

Which pulley system/ company are you going with?
Jeff

I'm not sure. A friend of mine has the Scat and he likes it. He did have to replace the idler pulley bearings but I've heard that about all of them. Maybe the BMD or MST?? I like the MST Renegade

**StickerDick** · June 7th, 2012, 07:52 PM

me too