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Posted

Here is the Jairus drawing that I received to build:

TheBeetle.jpg

I am excited to build this and I finally got everything together that it looks like I'll need.

I picked up the excellent Tamiya 1966 VW Beetle 1300 kit from the LHS. This kit is beautiful and it is almost a shame to have to customize it. I'll definitely be picking up another soon. Here is a photo of the kit instructions because I didn't take a photo of the box:

DSCN3833.jpg

From the drawing it is obvious that it has a Porsche whale tale so I broke out my Fujimi 1985 Porsche 911 kit that I got a while ago from VW Dave. (Thanks Dave)My intentions are to add the tale and the front seats for sure. I may possibly try to add some other interior parts and possibly the engine from the Porsche. I'm not sure on the engine yet. I'll build both engines up and see how much the size varies.

Here is a photo of the Porsche driver's seat, tail and the somewhat assembled engine.

DSCN3834.jpg

DSCN3828.jpg

More to come.

Later-

Posted

The other night I got some time to begin on the body work. I only managed to get the trim removed and puttied in the door handle holes. I also sanded out the minimal mold lines.

DSCN3830.jpg

DSCN3831.jpg

DSCN3832.jpg

I have an F1 air intake from an old kit in my parts box. My idea is to panel in the rear window and create an extension of the base of the air intake that will lead to just above the tail which will create a channel leading into the engine bay.

I also received a set of the Pegasus wheels from Jairus himself for this build. I tried to show a photo of them, but it wouldn't load.

I looked at how to lower the suspension on the Bug and I believe that the front suspension can be lowered by simply mounting the front axle on a block. The rear will take a little more work, but shouldn't be difficult.

Keep checking back and I'll try to keep making regular progress. Any comments, criticisms or suggestions welcomed.

Later-

Posted

I like it and it is indeed fun to take part in this.

I wish I could find the time to work on my car....

Really need to grind out a hole in the floor for a "rust through"! But life keeps getting in the way! :angry:

Posted

Hey Jairus-

Good to hear from you. I understand about life getting in the way. I got laid off this week, spent a day putting new tile in my front entry way and spent the next evening helping a buddy put cheap "hardwood" flooring in his living room (Two days on my 41 year old knees on a hard floor)

Keep at it and you'll get there. Heck, we have a year!

Later-

Posted

look like yer off to a good start there tom

looking at that drawing there is no way that the stock engine needs 3 seperate air intakes B)

so you better slap that porsche mill in there

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

I have not done anything with this in quite a while due to being extremely busy with house remodeling and graduation party planning and MANY other things. However, today I am on my way to Lake Tahoe, NV to work for a week or so and I won't have ANY "Honey- Do's. I am taking this with me to work on in my limited "off time". So, Look for some progress photos in about a week.

Later-

Posted

Not sure if you have this idea or not but the intake looks like the one from a speed boat that a friend of mine had. It has a 454 :huh: ....not that you should put that in the bug.

Posted (edited)

Well, I'm back and like I said, I got some time in the hotel to work on the VW. First I cut a hole in the roof to attach the F1 air intake.

DSCN3892.jpg

DSCN3894.jpg

Due to the curve of the Beetle top I had to cut the air intake into two pieces to change the curve. I cut a pie shape from the lower half and re-glued it at an angle to follow the curve of the Beetle roof.

DSCN3901.jpg

Sorry for the bad photo.

After looking at the drawing it appears that the air intake comes to a point at the top. The intake from the F1 had a flat, or rounded off top. i added some scrap plastic to the top of the intake to build it up to a point. This area still needs to be completed.

DSCN3907.jpg

DSCN3908.jpg

I spent a little time since I've been home sanding the area but there is still much to be done on the air intake. I'm going to build a tunnel on the inside of the body that will enclose the intake and lead to the engine compartment. There won't be a rear window.

More updates in the next post.

Later-

Edited by Modlbldr
Posted (edited)

While in the hotel I also worked on lowering the front suspension. This merely required adding "lowering blocks" to raise the front suspension or axle.

DSCN3895.jpg

DSCN3896.jpg

The work is rather crude, but effective.

DSCN3898.jpg

I would have placed the wheel/tire into place for this shot but I need to remove the posts from the rear of the wheels so that they will fit into the fender well. The rear suspension isn't going to be so easy. It's going to require more "technical" adjusting. LOL!

Not a lot of progress but remember, I was out of town to WORK!

I'll post more as it comes.

Later-

Edited by Modlbldr
Posted

Bruce and Jim-

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm not sure about how I'm going to do the side scoops yet. I've been mulling over a couple of options but I'm not sure yet which is best. That's why I haven't started them yet. I have some personal studying to do and a gate to build in my field (in the rain)today and then I hope to get some more time to work on the kit tonight. Should be some more progress shots soon. Plus, I go back out of town Sunday to work for a week. I'm taking it with me again.

Later-

Posted

Well guys, I'm still working out of town. So while I have updates, I don't have any photos. I am on the hotel's puter.

I've been working on lowering the rear suspension. It turned out to be easier than I thought. I'll explain the steps when I post photos. Hopefully Saturday night. I also am reworking the air intake on the roof. It was too tall.

More later. Check back sometime this weekend.

Later-

Posted

Morning all. As promised, I have a few photo updates. I had done a bit more puttying and sanding on the air scoop to get it to this stage.

DSCN3955.jpg

DSCN3949.jpg

DSCN3951.jpg

Then, after comparing my progress to the original drawing, I realized that the scoop was too tall.

TheBeetle.jpg

So I hacked the scoop right down the center and took out about 1/8 inch and squeezed it back together to lower the height.

DSCN3960.jpg

Next up- Lowering the rear suspension.

Later-

Posted

I then turned my attention to the lowering of the suspension. The axle shaft (I guess that's what it is) is molded with a slight arch to it and the instructions show to install it with the arch up, making the rear sit higher. I turned it over to lower it but it still didn't cause enough of a lowering job. So I cut a pie shape almost all the way through each side.

DSCN3964.jpg

I then ran out of glue so I couldn't glue it in place to check the ride height.

I also had to notch the underside of the chassis pan to keep the shocks from hitting when I lower it.

DSCN3962.jpg

this is the start of the notch. I got the rest of it done and had to go to dinner before I could take more photos.

It is coming along. I leave again tonight or tomorrow for another job so I'll be getting more time in the hotel to work on it. Not sure when the next updates will be though.

Any comments or criticisms welcomed. Thanks for following along.

Later-

Posted

Thanks Bruce-

I'm here in Taos, NM and I'm on my way to the room to pop in a movie and work on the Beetle a bit. Got to get that rear suspension sitting right.

Later-

Posted

Bruce-

The movie stunk and I will not be posting any photos till I get home. Hotel computer. How's your Vette coming?

Later-

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Hey Guys-

I know I sound like a broken record here but for those who care, I am on my way back to New Mexico in 6 1/2 hours to finish my job there. I'll be gone until about the 12th. Once I get home I promise I'll get some photo updates on here. Who knows, I may even have those side vents done.

Later-

  • 2 weeks later...

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