tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71946623400529565332024-03-04T20:51:47.306-08:00(o\/\/o) 57' VW OvalMy Thoughts and Words.....some but not all.M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-26133800768461825732020-06-26T20:59:00.000-07:002020-06-26T21:17:51.678-07:00Joined at the Joints<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuCMgAcfpz3AiKkt-nLKQGURo1IRR_EaBNu47Aj460thpuKO7aoGTF6iiAEUJq06NbPXSHagWuY-HixLotU0ZlN7oL0TSj9SJcLPqd1Q1OX9UpNMCO3ep1RC2TFCAwAfWvZzZyRBkBtpu/s1600/gettyimages-3354574-612x612.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuCMgAcfpz3AiKkt-nLKQGURo1IRR_EaBNu47Aj460thpuKO7aoGTF6iiAEUJq06NbPXSHagWuY-HixLotU0ZlN7oL0TSj9SJcLPqd1Q1OX9UpNMCO3ep1RC2TFCAwAfWvZzZyRBkBtpu/s320/gettyimages-3354574-612x612.jpeg" width="289" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh.....this is big. We had a breakthrough on the beetle. There have only been a handful of hurdles on this project that put me in mental prison. The one that has been holding me up is the heater channel holes not lining up to the holes in the floor pan. You see, when heater channels are replaced, they are often not a match to the original pan. They have to match up or you can't put the bolts through to secure it. I don't know why but this one kicked me in the groin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I finally fought back. I pulled Nick (now 13...ugh) out to help me lift the front so I could shine light and see where the holes need some cutting. I marked the the floor pan with some chalk and decided it would be best to pull off the body and get to work. So we have some new neighbors and I was able to rope the Mom, Dad, and kids into coming over and lifting up the beetle to get it off the chassis. Apparently, it's not the first car body they've lifted???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We get the body off and I proceeded to drill-baby-drill. I used a step drill bit to round out the holes to allow for some forgiveness. Once I knocked those out, I pulled out the body-pan gasket seal. I used applied the seal across the pan with painter's tape so I could mark where the holes are. I then took the seal and used a center hole punch to knock out some of the rubber where the bolts will go through. Was't too bad....just tap with the hammer twice and repeat about 25 more times. I then used some seam sealer and applied it all along the pan and around the holes. I applied the seal and held it down with painters tape again to keep it in place over night. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTytkCUO62T0-yrUB9TuY5PyE8SHqDP0o_AnappLhyeU_5wa7CU_JIWu809TVtTUr19kHqk-Qb-slo3krSFPs5jzlZg2llmeUTiwNfferol1QsGqZvZ2zFIKdqO4Y2KwrcfYLIulZg1tjG/s1600/IMG_1756.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTytkCUO62T0-yrUB9TuY5PyE8SHqDP0o_AnappLhyeU_5wa7CU_JIWu809TVtTUr19kHqk-Qb-slo3krSFPs5jzlZg2llmeUTiwNfferol1QsGqZvZ2zFIKdqO4Y2KwrcfYLIulZg1tjG/s200/IMG_1756.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJhrQzRbERQpheavA1o-04-9TsEOZ8ftvWNjKPiboz5F0ioardjv2gaMe21F7sQVu3yDgWkw6VJYwuB_QB61OKGeaDIlPZkJs-3cUn4zux23h4dpCqSco4bN-An-nMz7tYy65EpmuXvt8/s1600/IMG_1752.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJhrQzRbERQpheavA1o-04-9TsEOZ8ftvWNjKPiboz5F0ioardjv2gaMe21F7sQVu3yDgWkw6VJYwuB_QB61OKGeaDIlPZkJs-3cUn4zux23h4dpCqSco4bN-An-nMz7tYy65EpmuXvt8/s200/IMG_1752.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While that sets, I decided to go ahead and start adding some gaskets. I added the engine deck lid and engine compartment gasket. Ok....glad I did this but I just realized that I'm missing tins to the engine!!! The front breast plate and engine firewall. Add to the darned "must buy" list. ugh. If I don't find some, the engine will likely overheat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwxSCKPrLzzg3sAozgFhnbCArZk7AFS1dLRzA1Y9YZyPnm9QUFIYX26WlY_pRTzSA9uzZG9v15h31AoJ4MLCwB10Ecii1p0QzCHWLrKe1lucVxuzlSVuM5olvpe8PtWLUSzzT88aWWJ4s/s1600/IMG_1757.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwxSCKPrLzzg3sAozgFhnbCArZk7AFS1dLRzA1Y9YZyPnm9QUFIYX26WlY_pRTzSA9uzZG9v15h31AoJ4MLCwB10Ecii1p0QzCHWLrKe1lucVxuzlSVuM5olvpe8PtWLUSzzT88aWWJ4s/s200/IMG_1757.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY72Jzt8SQXoVmxcS5a-Q-352ZLpgXL-zoEJ8ltpk6ZouLbkaV3yTSvehRdshPF8DbfTdJpRpHxvIDJaG9jie4uBFe6OS4qmWYOvnS2Hlx76qKLL8_4L15lvRKZMuW_U6JK4OwtASH8xB/s1600/IMG_1758.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY72Jzt8SQXoVmxcS5a-Q-352ZLpgXL-zoEJ8ltpk6ZouLbkaV3yTSvehRdshPF8DbfTdJpRpHxvIDJaG9jie4uBFe6OS4qmWYOvnS2Hlx76qKLL8_4L15lvRKZMuW_U6JK4OwtASH8xB/s200/IMG_1758.jpeg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next morning arrives and I remove all the painters tape. All is good with the seal! Except....I'm called to do some chores so vacuum, mop, bathroom cleaning, and grocery shop. Keep momma happy ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After supper, I call on the neighbors (Race Team Peterson) to come back over and lower the body. We all circled the the car....scratched our chins....grunted a few times and pointed at a few things. Lift!! I scooched the rubbernecked pads under all the critical joints and then we lowered it back down. We adjusted the body a little forward and backward to align up the holes and bazinga...ready to put the bolts on!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93cy1OL0TxBYgcCI7n5dALc5XzdWR1xyjxVnQlLrcNAsshSZguB21ng5e6yeNWwbbKAtvYhHXQk9emZKN4ePKke3gfnGZnzm-ik5HWCMvwMoySJaVC3Q7xKL-tc3JxwDzPhCA3qh0WTho/s1600/IMG_1763.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93cy1OL0TxBYgcCI7n5dALc5XzdWR1xyjxVnQlLrcNAsshSZguB21ng5e6yeNWwbbKAtvYhHXQk9emZKN4ePKke3gfnGZnzm-ik5HWCMvwMoySJaVC3Q7xKL-tc3JxwDzPhCA3qh0WTho/s200/IMG_1763.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">[Tip to those lifting the body up and down. It's wise to loosen the shock nuts and back out the bolt so that the body will clear past the bolt without scraping. just tighten back when you get the body on for good]</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoioe3biQa_UpTrJpQMknXxq3FohJFizzCa32RdTYmPNf0T3pHQnUvfRIgQWxW6kgCGt220D760iiXCLhG8fp6ddhEsQNAwKjZgXDEsX_-lRjK811WJH8Ddu_3tmd9j088amDDef0vZDYl/s1600/IMG_1766.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoioe3biQa_UpTrJpQMknXxq3FohJFizzCa32RdTYmPNf0T3pHQnUvfRIgQWxW6kgCGt220D760iiXCLhG8fp6ddhEsQNAwKjZgXDEsX_-lRjK811WJH8Ddu_3tmd9j088amDDef0vZDYl/s200/IMG_1766.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM8VYgap08HL6UmzonZoOFt_cpjlJ0V39lLSw99SYahwmVzOrGa5eaYR1BAF5sR2o8lzCpV5uE7gIm1v_xJUtYvLRvumwP0-9xzl8YyJzxz7p81Ox1AFUhp-OovCZ9FEXdu_IZkWxlNaC/s1600/IMG_1765.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM8VYgap08HL6UmzonZoOFt_cpjlJ0V39lLSw99SYahwmVzOrGa5eaYR1BAF5sR2o8lzCpV5uE7gIm1v_xJUtYvLRvumwP0-9xzl8YyJzxz7p81Ox1AFUhp-OovCZ9FEXdu_IZkWxlNaC/s200/IMG_1765.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I proceeded to get the rear wheelhouse bolts on (although realized I needed square plates to put on. Still have them, but didn't show up in the picture). Front two beam bolts, and eight bolts across the back seat. It got late so I haven't done the 9 bolts along each heater channel and two at each front corner. I expect there will be some shifting, cursing, and sweating to get those done. I'm not 100% confident that I got the rubber holes perfectly lined up so there could be some persuasion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm really surprised how well this all came together. If the Resto is like this to the finish, I think I could really move fast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> She is now ONE car. </span></div>
Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720627749764200529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-2719251021653465222020-05-06T18:45:00.000-07:002020-05-06T18:45:05.050-07:00Breaking the Seal<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm back.....very slowly. We found a new home about two years ago moving back to the Raleigh area. We live in Wake Forecast, NC and also brought the Oval of course with us. We had some trouble with the move and had to pack up all this garage stuff around the car and ended up scratching the paint. Not sure how to fix that one but will have to worry about it on the back side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally pulled the car out....dusted off the paint and pulled out everything that I moved here. I decided it was best to break the seal and add a few parts just to motivate. I added the license plate holder, license plate, hood hinge, and glove box door. All minor stuff but it's progress! Figured it was good to log something here to keep this thing going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next step is to pull the off the body and snip the body to pan bolt holes. Lock that baby down with the gasket and sealant and start adding parts! Wofsburg West is getting ready to get an order for a bunch of stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720627749764200529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-16385605576927296642016-05-19T21:36:00.001-07:002016-05-19T21:36:08.125-07:00Glorreiche Farbe and Plan B<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it's been a couple of years since I've updated this nonsense. So here's the skinny since the last post 2-1/2 years ago.....don't judge!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31ZD_DDbu_Csa967rAFRTJusDI5RV_Hh7B_3Wg-McI7WJeRSk_R1f4WKFh3qpALaEWb4qvmWfqht4MGvPMql2JN_3MBSNIsnsVz7A9z42jJnKb78Yq3UwDlmxEjivZhcbyVZajMaH2_AT/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31ZD_DDbu_Csa967rAFRTJusDI5RV_Hh7B_3Wg-McI7WJeRSk_R1f4WKFh3qpALaEWb4qvmWfqht4MGvPMql2JN_3MBSNIsnsVz7A9z42jJnKb78Yq3UwDlmxEjivZhcbyVZajMaH2_AT/s200/IMG_2502.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really struggled with the H-Apron. My buddy Steve Burns let me borrow some dolly's and I was able to man handle and beat it into submission......good therapy by the way. I finally got the right shape and just had to use some filler to get the finished look. I worked on that damn thing for hours here and there but I finally got it looking half ugly. I pressed on to the other needy items.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body not sitting on the floor pan - I decided to not replicate the asinine behavior I had done before on some of the other problems. I pulled up a chair and stared at this floor pan for a good 30 minutes. (Eyes bugging out) It came to me like a smack in the face. There's a gasket and rubber spacers that go on the mounts. I realized that it raises the pan up just enough above the jack stands. DONE! No cutting or welding needed. That could have been a total #$#$ show! On to the next dilemma....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The doors.....those damn doors. These sharts were worse than I remembered. The drivers side door skin had come apart from the inside door frame because it was totally rusted out. So I found some sheet metal and used some metal snips to cut out a 35" by 4" rectangle. I then used my vice, ball peen hammer, and sheet metal pliers to create a U-Channel that I could weld into the bottom of the door to secure the door skin. I had to snip and grind out the rusty crap to find good metal to weld to. Once I got it secured it worked perfectly. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2oriWQtEluosR2nt43wIVMB2NksFYSgyhvsItCWvYq7VEOep4La1NAxzYA4Z6z31tKU-jBNyEIH3QZD_K_bfYiyqRFLyNhSwC3PQFkCSBdrrtBf576yTihV7vcVf5uQ_8JKWo_Ub36Pm/s1600/IMG_3487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2oriWQtEluosR2nt43wIVMB2NksFYSgyhvsItCWvYq7VEOep4La1NAxzYA4Z6z31tKU-jBNyEIH3QZD_K_bfYiyqRFLyNhSwC3PQFkCSBdrrtBf576yTihV7vcVf5uQ_8JKWo_Ub36Pm/s200/IMG_3487.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5Nw8NLqkm9wkegAPurFPlqQt5oahsoeFiVCO7efHktN-XcTkpqPMY2tPp4XLZvNdK5fsjPY0Jpp6rbdrSDBmFmjKOrfp9iKnQDjKI2PmNRW51IPsNVXnK1L9JEGm6pR_xv00p6SKqJkA/s1600/IMG_3486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5Nw8NLqkm9wkegAPurFPlqQt5oahsoeFiVCO7efHktN-XcTkpqPMY2tPp4XLZvNdK5fsjPY0Jpp6rbdrSDBmFmjKOrfp9iKnQDjKI2PmNRW51IPsNVXnK1L9JEGm6pR_xv00p6SKqJkA/s200/IMG_3486.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bottom of both corners were rusted out so the only two options I had were to fabricate with metal and weld in or use fiberglass and filler. So before I hear backtalk from any Judgy McJudgersons, let me tell you.....after SEVEN years, you start asking yourself, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WHISKY TANGO FOXTROT did I get myself into. I went with the fiberglass and filler. It came out damn good. That's all I'm going to say.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp74uBW_MXAUasGm2H3RBQFkvsaKKbfYXko6Up6ZMBaSGf1nw_vwbLkbv5WI7xTXsFWG0pewFYFERJPtDgqmd_TA8VnffJTYa4N3ZBDZPrUdJe9TFBnsZ2SuLqmb1NUNfETwTpR9hEPvE/s1600/Anim_Homepage.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp74uBW_MXAUasGm2H3RBQFkvsaKKbfYXko6Up6ZMBaSGf1nw_vwbLkbv5WI7xTXsFWG0pewFYFERJPtDgqmd_TA8VnffJTYa4N3ZBDZPrUdJe9TFBnsZ2SuLqmb1NUNfETwTpR9hEPvE/s200/Anim_Homepage.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">So then life gets in the way. Oh hell....I got lazy! I let that car sit for way too long. THEN.....we move! We have always wanted to live on a small farm. The prospect of land, old restored home, NO HOA...I could sucker punch HOA in the throat....just saying. We looked seriously for property for everything we wanted for about 3 years and just couldn't find anything affordable. Then one day I looked outside of Raleigh. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">We found the place we always wanted just outside Clover, SC and York, SC. It was right before school was starting so Whitney and I teamed up and made it happen! So Green Acres here we are. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Three horses, five pigs, four dogs, four cats, a fish, thirty five chickens, and three baby goats on the way (eyes rolling). My wife LOVES animals. NO MONKEYS. That's where I draw the line. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we didn't sell the old house before we moved into the new house. Serious problem. The new house has a garage but no big garage door! It was converted into a workshop with a normal "man door". So the house sells and I have bring the Oval to the new house and park it OUTSIDE....with a car cover! So every time it rains, I can hear the faint cries of tortuous rust easing its way back through the surface. Imagine yourself with $1000. Then every day taking $1.00 and wiping your ass with it. That's pretty much how I feel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So.....out of the blue my good friend Jon emails me and asks if I have made any progress. I'm sheepishly honest and tell him I haven't done a damn thing. This guy......this guy tells me he'll come down for a three day weekend and pain the car! I'm speechless. I'm stunned. I'm overjoyed. I can't describe to you the relief!!! So we make plans for the last week of April. I've got some last minute work to do with filler. Finish up the ugly bag of hammers H-Apron, touch up some random parts for paint, fix the corners of the doors, and of course.....all the BLEEPING surface rust that has come through here and there. I've got to seriously hustle but work and life is just relentless. There's no way I'm going to get this all done before Jon gets here. So I bury my man card and I ask a buddy if he'd like to make some cash on the side and do some bondo work. He spends about eight hours and gets it all done! I sanded all the surface rust and coated some other tough spots with POR-15. It's all ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bad news.....rain crashes the party like tequila showing up after 15 beers. We reschedule two weeks later and by God the weather is perfect! May 14-16 is set for the painting party.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbZoCleiiXxOoW_53kXDC-SmyCHHI6UuOhoCFn2LGJIrKWtUCk3uqwJWLTC56G2pv1G2hdUwpsUiUCPw-6CTS_l5FbwE01I89BVA53gztWl2Mr3XtBLrrmck4ONMrulHBth1OCHA8Pclp/s1600/IMG_5016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbZoCleiiXxOoW_53kXDC-SmyCHHI6UuOhoCFn2LGJIrKWtUCk3uqwJWLTC56G2pv1G2hdUwpsUiUCPw-6CTS_l5FbwE01I89BVA53gztWl2Mr3XtBLrrmck4ONMrulHBth1OCHA8Pclp/s200/IMG_5016.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXst1cnEtGdnktUBJ2PISqosKEUrsnJI_4Q9GJKjuOzKsYwYGphwjVyqlgGS4bIy3aOqcgdDsef7cK3rijcFHlOIna8AHMZjo4CmHkgDQBfg61xnqnglcN4yw0gtcDJ7Y0ttcvJrqTuXL/s1600/IMG_5017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXst1cnEtGdnktUBJ2PISqosKEUrsnJI_4Q9GJKjuOzKsYwYGphwjVyqlgGS4bIy3aOqcgdDsef7cK3rijcFHlOIna8AHMZjo4CmHkgDQBfg61xnqnglcN4yw0gtcDJ7Y0ttcvJrqTuXL/s200/IMG_5017.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got all the paint materials, build a 2x4 frame with a tarp to keep shade over the Oval, and I'm all ready. So Saturday comes around and well....we didn't account for the temperature even through the sun would be shining. The paint chemicals I bought were for warmer weather.....CRAP. The paint shop was closed on Saturday so we had to wait until Monday to exchange the paint. Looking at the forecast, it's going to rain that Monday around midnight and HARD. So basically, I'll have freshly painted oval that need to cure overnight and rain will ruin it. </span></div>
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Have you ever said something as a joke and suddenly realize that it's a damn good idea? The garage I have was converted to a workshop and a "man door" was put in place of the one car garage door. As Jon and I are scratching our heads both avoiding the decision to put off painting I say, "well we could always cut a hole in the garage door....ha ha". Jon looks at me and I can see the wheels spinning. We decide to go to Plan B. We spend half of Sunday converting the garage back to a one car garage door. Header, studs, etc. Problem solved! Now the Oval has a great place to rest while the pain cures.</span></div>
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So for anyone who doesn't know how a car is repainted prepare yourself. It's not something to take lightly. We had to fill pivots, last minute dents, low spots, sand, wipe down, prime, sand again, wipe down again, clean with a degreaser, wipe down again with tack cloths.....it's ridiculous. EVERY INCH. Oh...we had to attach the spring to the engine deck lid because you don't want to mess with that after paint. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's talk about this deck lid. I've never seen anything so confusing in my life! There are four brackets it's attached to with eight points of pivot/adjustment....i think? You have to adjust this thing back and forth so that it doesn't rub against the body when it opens and closes. And when that doesn't work, you have to bend and push on it to make it work. What's funny is that is what the Germans did in the factory! I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a flathead screwdriver than do that all day. Well, we got that adjusted and moved on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Monday comes along and I exchange all the paint and we finish up the last minute prep/wipe downs. After scouring this car, somehow I missed two holes in the drivers side interior door that some ass hat decided to put a cup holder or something on. I race to the auto parts store and pick up a 5 minute epoxy that cures in an hour. We get that filed down and fixed and FINALLY we are ready to paint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We (Jon) get painting right about 5:00 PM. I notice Jon's mood changes. This guy is getting the jitters thinking about painting the car! This guys is all class. He wants this car to come out top notch and he's worried about how he is going to perform. Moment of silence for Mr. Turner...........Thank you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Yt5gEyI5whHYDk2FtqTisie5LCwi_GOGyL9pKQyRO-r6MnU4Foicp3_YGwFr2z6BkLG_IeGBlheJy8fFjIKTTD1UIohJg4DAscQdDTrFlLdlN4CkU62EAIuGZudSYtBC2l8W5wNAXE3L/s1600/IMG_5031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Yt5gEyI5whHYDk2FtqTisie5LCwi_GOGyL9pKQyRO-r6MnU4Foicp3_YGwFr2z6BkLG_IeGBlheJy8fFjIKTTD1UIohJg4DAscQdDTrFlLdlN4CkU62EAIuGZudSYtBC2l8W5wNAXE3L/s320/IMG_5031.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before my eyes, I see the transformation. I see the color go down and slowly swallow up the grey and pink filler spots. It's like a fountain of youth for old cars. The clear coat goes on but this is tough. We're outside, in and out of sunlight, I got a neighbor who decides to cut the grass who hasn't mowed in 3 months...literally, I got wind picking up, and I got the twilight bugs all coming out. But Jon nails it. I'm overwhelmed with excitement, relief, gratitude, and wonder. This car looks amazing! It's like a brand news vehicle off the factory assembly line in Wolfsburg. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s1Xbsb8GifytmQhV63F_NysRhcoO8Uha1G_EtpDxZA4xTfpD_8Z1eRDUDFR8C74nke2ZailEnlfw5zbWOyXMI39C8oq1ICMCDmqgWaOC8llTSNEAdR6AizBknIkKJ6z6AvEcSpG8mPGP/s1600/IMG_5037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s1Xbsb8GifytmQhV63F_NysRhcoO8Uha1G_EtpDxZA4xTfpD_8Z1eRDUDFR8C74nke2ZailEnlfw5zbWOyXMI39C8oq1ICMCDmqgWaOC8llTSNEAdR6AizBknIkKJ6z6AvEcSpG8mPGP/s200/IMG_5037.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ1dPGU_jJII-oORVUxcLxmwzMOQJv8PmTTx4-igoLXMJY7EIyFzWK1cfWzd6haILgmpI1-53zBqB2vBuK25ACnDmtM4OCs7z5s1GXnfoA8LM0vZT6dffb5yv_5h6PFwnclBJ6jm8HzqV/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ1dPGU_jJII-oORVUxcLxmwzMOQJv8PmTTx4-igoLXMJY7EIyFzWK1cfWzd6haILgmpI1-53zBqB2vBuK25ACnDmtM4OCs7z5s1GXnfoA8LM0vZT6dffb5yv_5h6PFwnclBJ6jm8HzqV/s200/IMG_5020.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEy6zNWfyoIsDLIxv6MNZk1e1hFg-ENJmLbMQMvlE9ONUzAm1sID9QYyfItIAy7DY47OzXjFFqHZeXW_hL3jZ-pXHIY6wkjr1l6-pzHAI0Z3vicw-wK4kcvc2hxKRBI30BfgDMwvvOZgev/s1600/IMG_5032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEy6zNWfyoIsDLIxv6MNZk1e1hFg-ENJmLbMQMvlE9ONUzAm1sID9QYyfItIAy7DY47OzXjFFqHZeXW_hL3jZ-pXHIY6wkjr1l6-pzHAI0Z3vicw-wK4kcvc2hxKRBI30BfgDMwvvOZgev/s200/IMG_5032.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCwhmOUaiDfKIbnl1yyo0TtI1lYfqAksMiDxY_U3ODjAdrZanEweGtUa0h6AAX8s-fchjrBY_rMa1BWqrGCzmYyFqJ5MxWd0OrJsxHjYJzlGR84k0-5Nm_0mqGfqnbgDDfQsxD9_-jRxe/s1600/IMG_5035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCwhmOUaiDfKIbnl1yyo0TtI1lYfqAksMiDxY_U3ODjAdrZanEweGtUa0h6AAX8s-fchjrBY_rMa1BWqrGCzmYyFqJ5MxWd0OrJsxHjYJzlGR84k0-5Nm_0mqGfqnbgDDfQsxD9_-jRxe/s1600/IMG_5035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCwhmOUaiDfKIbnl1yyo0TtI1lYfqAksMiDxY_U3ODjAdrZanEweGtUa0h6AAX8s-fchjrBY_rMa1BWqrGCzmYyFqJ5MxWd0OrJsxHjYJzlGR84k0-5Nm_0mqGfqnbgDDfQsxD9_-jRxe/s200/IMG_5035.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaN_19_VadJPOZULise73axuY4XI7nJgkJX0hrQHC-KIKLVo-R76BiLKOBj7wqyh-wMMH_J1oVqm8RNpNq5ScXnUrxSPMwA24AaZ8sNvGKCHFHnL4JlhcWUm8QkJZcplP9mpCnOUMzPV/s1600/IMG_5034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaN_19_VadJPOZULise73axuY4XI7nJgkJX0hrQHC-KIKLVo-R76BiLKOBj7wqyh-wMMH_J1oVqm8RNpNq5ScXnUrxSPMwA24AaZ8sNvGKCHFHnL4JlhcWUm8QkJZcplP9mpCnOUMzPV/s200/IMG_5034.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFk_YxuhFgepe_WVp8XbmSsRg-qC3HnFtsvjsXCxGCZn5apMNhPCeJ6ofA9Z6FA6QGVwb0ToLKnvnyC8U6qOxx_DEcAI5DMi-zfGoHTEQUknDEqD0N2yqi4ctX8z8WYeMcccSABemru-1/s1600/IMG_5038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFk_YxuhFgepe_WVp8XbmSsRg-qC3HnFtsvjsXCxGCZn5apMNhPCeJ6ofA9Z6FA6QGVwb0ToLKnvnyC8U6qOxx_DEcAI5DMi-zfGoHTEQUknDEqD0N2yqi4ctX8z8WYeMcccSABemru-1/s200/IMG_5038.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we finish up right about 7:30. We stand back and sigh in relief. We decide to let it cure until about 11:00. We need to set it back down onto the floor pan so we can roll it into the garage (yay). Jon gets in the car and turtle lifts it so we can pull out the 4x4's and lower it. The rope holding the hood rips apart and the hood slams shut! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The damn thing is tacky and is STUCK! We are struggling.....tired.....no idea on how to open this thing back up. If it stays closed, the paint will seal together and rip off when opened after it's dried. Suddenly, a small voice in the background quietly says, "I know how you can open it. Use a wall anchor through the latch hole and then pull it up." Jon's TEN year old boy saves the day! We look at each other in silence then in concert both say that's a great idea. Open it does :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now I have this beautiful car. Resting quietly in the garage. This is the moment I have waited for. No more adjusting. No more fixing. No more excuses! I get the instant gratification of putting all new parts on. AND I have place to do it that's inside and no threat of rain and rust. Ahhhhhhh. Yes, I'm in a good place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credits: If everyone had a friend like mine this world we be a better place. Jon Turner, I thank you, your kids (especially Brandon for his genius 10 year old mind), Angela for putting up with my needy and crazy hours. I will never be able to thank you enough. You are indeed a fart smeller....I mean a smart feller.</span></div>
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Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720627749764200529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-19933972742181179832013-10-12T18:35:00.000-07:002013-10-12T18:35:26.529-07:00Peanut Bondo and Door Jam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Getting much closer. I'm motivated and getting closer to painting. I was blessed today to share some time with Jon (okay...I begged him to come over and save me). Today was focused on getting some tough bondo jobs done and focusing on those damn doors that have been keeping me up at night. I've been sweating it not sure if I'd have to cut out the heater channels and refit the doors. I think that when Chris Bolin put the new heater channels in the body shifted slightly or the channels were slightly different cause the doors sagged a bit when I put them on. They were hanging low and jamming when you shut them. It was more like they would scrape against the back plate, striker plate, the door jam and side of door.<br />
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What we finally ended on is grinding down the back plates on both sides and shimming the striker plate so that it was recessed. This was allowed the doors to clear easily and the back plate guide the doors into place. Perfect!! Now the doors shut well and line up just right (wiping forehead). Close call but it's done.<br />
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Then I spent the rest of the time with Jon's help hammering down some high spots on the hood and fenders. Added some light bondo and sanded for awhile. It was wet outside today so it took forever for it to dry before sanding but it got done. There isn't much left but maybe a couple more days of work. Almost there..........<br />
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Here's what I have left:<br />
1. Finish up the driver side rear fender bondo<br />
2. Finish up the hood bondo<br />
3. spot check the rest of the car for minor blemishes/touchups<br />
4. Take the body off on saw horses<br />
5. Hammer out the H-Apron and bondo<br />
6. The body isn't sitting down on the pan on the driver side (1/2" blocked by the jack stand). cut out the metal on the top of the jack stand and reweld so body can sit flush on the pan<br />
7. Weld in door skin on the bottom of door rusted out and fiberglass the hold at the corner of door<br />
8. Paint this bitch.....<br />
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Get that done and I can paint. Looks like I might not get that done before the weather goes cold for good. If that happens, I think I'll work on the upholstery for the front seats and rear seats. Must.....see.....paint.......I'm obsessed. Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720627749764200529noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-84503445636318353592012-06-17T19:51:00.000-07:002012-06-17T19:51:38.674-07:00Prep for Paint....FINALLY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMaFveHDT6A7cEHarZOxsAfBNnu8qPG5ebJr0osBKEDdrKFuGjhp16QECT7nQmm7MqfHtr0KptxxNNe_bMhuO_moWjYyAhqGt7m35E8IS1tFzHPB1Q412SKTTyCMHm69PKEngcBkdszTx/s1600/VW254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMaFveHDT6A7cEHarZOxsAfBNnu8qPG5ebJr0osBKEDdrKFuGjhp16QECT7nQmm7MqfHtr0KptxxNNe_bMhuO_moWjYyAhqGt7m35E8IS1tFzHPB1Q412SKTTyCMHm69PKEngcBkdszTx/s1600/VW254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMaFveHDT6A7cEHarZOxsAfBNnu8qPG5ebJr0osBKEDdrKFuGjhp16QECT7nQmm7MqfHtr0KptxxNNe_bMhuO_moWjYyAhqGt7m35E8IS1tFzHPB1Q412SKTTyCMHm69PKEngcBkdszTx/s320/VW254.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I am now actually seeing the the light at the end of the tunnel. A few times, I actually begun to doubt I'd ever be this close to having a final paint job complete. I was ready to farm the next step of prepping for paint out because I just don't have the patience and I'm ready for the project to be done. I know I'm well past the halfway mark but it's time to get on the road.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvx67GKTfwz9HKLjsz2c6PL6xRG6bGuJmrD9l5GaGroSAhpHCVn2wHCKfF-L_iEIPUKB6bGAKixwNGocpdBhs_77kEY7G-eBnwLR1_PMJ1oDWvcl9uvR0xInFaMeryZIErnXpNbFh9qdd/s1600/VW256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvx67GKTfwz9HKLjsz2c6PL6xRG6bGuJmrD9l5GaGroSAhpHCVn2wHCKfF-L_iEIPUKB6bGAKixwNGocpdBhs_77kEY7G-eBnwLR1_PMJ1oDWvcl9uvR0xInFaMeryZIErnXpNbFh9qdd/s1600/VW256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Jon talked me out of (just like the welding) and I'm going to do it myself. He was a big help once again to show me the ropes. It's not that difficult but requires the time and patience to get it right. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvx67GKTfwz9HKLjsz2c6PL6xRG6bGuJmrD9l5GaGroSAhpHCVn2wHCKfF-L_iEIPUKB6bGAKixwNGocpdBhs_77kEY7G-eBnwLR1_PMJ1oDWvcl9uvR0xInFaMeryZIErnXpNbFh9qdd/s1600/VW256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvx67GKTfwz9HKLjsz2c6PL6xRG6bGuJmrD9l5GaGroSAhpHCVn2wHCKfF-L_iEIPUKB6bGAKixwNGocpdBhs_77kEY7G-eBnwLR1_PMJ1oDWvcl9uvR0xInFaMeryZIErnXpNbFh9qdd/s320/VW256.JPG" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Again, I would rather staple my head to the floor than do this but I want to get it done right and I only trust myself and Jon to get it right. Even if there are imperfections, frankly, I don't really care because I would only have myself to blame.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_lm2dENa9VYEOsuss11fu-wQf37jBswMkp6pg3WF2OzdyOwn6Z8p_8xkN00VvaGLCI1VSTCKrCIX1pMm1QwCA0Lm817cPIjCLJDmGAxckVZeAq8SqO3oZ3YBRrFHeLDCjUiw-reOhfE3/s1600/VW258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_lm2dENa9VYEOsuss11fu-wQf37jBswMkp6pg3WF2OzdyOwn6Z8p_8xkN00VvaGLCI1VSTCKrCIX1pMm1QwCA0Lm817cPIjCLJDmGAxckVZeAq8SqO3oZ3YBRrFHeLDCjUiw-reOhfE3/s320/VW258.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here I am working on the gas tank while Jon works on the Holy Grail of aircooled vehicles....the "W" decklid. I think he's particularly pleased to say that he has done some body work on this piece. It's bragging rights for certain. Kind of like when you can brag about the girl that everyone wanted to date but could never get close enough to talk to. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBboBluod2tNG8JTPzoZRrPHYak9vB6qEZRgFso7Vh7dANTQrHMeX14DDbxYx7ETGZbkibfeoe4tAgQNPggV8qtdOOVT1un7iwpgrRMvgxvDMmrxMTzzvzD6t1kC2GRZSETRQXx5I5HxD/s1600/VW268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBboBluod2tNG8JTPzoZRrPHYak9vB6qEZRgFso7Vh7dANTQrHMeX14DDbxYx7ETGZbkibfeoe4tAgQNPggV8qtdOOVT1un7iwpgrRMvgxvDMmrxMTzzvzD6t1kC2GRZSETRQXx5I5HxD/s320/VW268.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The gas tank is in great condition but it has some typical pitting from the fuel that's spilled over the years.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv6h6F9CFrrXA2s7o5ruHNK0svFnqA22ZSoA9Mz8NwCAc8bM9v7klxZh3wAfbgV0PH7VNcMZ6nZqCd_VdpGS_bIaUs0IKJ0xgKUDxgBEEAoeGjtCTzqtFZx-4XTSKu5Z5OLBtL5jwa6fb/s1600/VW259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv6h6F9CFrrXA2s7o5ruHNK0svFnqA22ZSoA9Mz8NwCAc8bM9v7klxZh3wAfbgV0PH7VNcMZ6nZqCd_VdpGS_bIaUs0IKJ0xgKUDxgBEEAoeGjtCTzqtFZx-4XTSKu5Z5OLBtL5jwa6fb/s1600/VW259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv6h6F9CFrrXA2s7o5ruHNK0svFnqA22ZSoA9Mz8NwCAc8bM9v7klxZh3wAfbgV0PH7VNcMZ6nZqCd_VdpGS_bIaUs0IKJ0xgKUDxgBEEAoeGjtCTzqtFZx-4XTSKu5Z5OLBtL5jwa6fb/s320/VW259.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is the right quarter panel that Jon and I worked on. He did most of (ok.....all of it) the Bondo work. There was a quarter sized hole that needed to be filled. We covered it in fiberglass and then Bondo to top it. He did a fantastic job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The front nose has so many pitting spots. They're not hard to fill and take care of, but they are in tricky spots and there are just so damned many. It took me hours to get this done and have it look right. I'm still working on some of the areas still. You can see the pink spots all along where the hood seal will go. The trunk has some trouble spots too so I want those to look good since I'll be painting this area as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I worked on this area and it came out pretty well. The front corners of the nose needed to be smoothed out. There were some gaps when the new front apron was welded in. The fiberglass and Bondo is getting it to look "sealed".</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Last, the fenders have pitting and holes in some typical trouble spots. I had to spot weld in the holes where I could, grind them down and then Bondo over it to make it look right. I've had to push this part off for a couple of months because I could never find a time when Katie wasn't taking a nap or having to watch her. Grinding is so loud and usually wakes up everyone around you. You can see how long it has been because of the rust around the edges. That will come off when I grind it down....no worries.</span>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-11126203648286931312012-06-17T19:24:00.001-07:002012-06-17T19:28:29.092-07:00Home Sweet Home<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well......IT'S BACK. It was a extremely rainy morning but a short ride in a U-Haul and a little help from Jon and my neighbor, Steve, the Oval is back in my garage. Katie is so darned cute.....she came </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwltYsHIZlFhF34F92jrLbIV7RRW_SOLyEoUXfv6wqKPGgr-4EINIQAe25TYoAHQtDcIlS-oXNJguf9ORnsMSWYYn3mJIKcPX_vneb-44yG5IYeFSxGQZ_AlHcIifl8GlBBkZeLNzM7zf/s1600/VW231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwltYsHIZlFhF34F92jrLbIV7RRW_SOLyEoUXfv6wqKPGgr-4EINIQAe25TYoAHQtDcIlS-oXNJguf9ORnsMSWYYn3mJIKcPX_vneb-44yG5IYeFSxGQZ_AlHcIifl8GlBBkZeLNzM7zf/s320/VW231.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-h2A1DphSKDNnrdS6fB98ZGGbGZWSgD_Y0tzXMmjiqJsFBhn13MlO4FeUc1UeUgVomM7xKaqmPqRoFPRlHCOpG0t9Jo6e6RE68khkMCNB3SSsIS73-FUFzuvLGLCa2_hbOcoIzQxHPqB/s1600/VW224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-h2A1DphSKDNnrdS6fB98ZGGbGZWSgD_Y0tzXMmjiqJsFBhn13MlO4FeUc1UeUgVomM7xKaqmPqRoFPRlHCOpG0t9Jo6e6RE68khkMCNB3SSsIS73-FUFzuvLGLCa2_hbOcoIzQxHPqB/s200/VW224.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAz0vxBRfJckn5TTqIrf8oMhTQmAZShcmd980L24ZVuaazEinvdoy8zHd3CR7xL0TBpPkzpnf_xMCYHAn-RIIe3wEftQtReaLEmBqc9b5mt_XhyReCh-X3bV8m5rFVErkF7PfnwliYN06/s1600/VW236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAz0vxBRfJckn5TTqIrf8oMhTQmAZShcmd980L24ZVuaazEinvdoy8zHd3CR7xL0TBpPkzpnf_xMCYHAn-RIIe3wEftQtReaLEmBqc9b5mt_XhyReCh-X3bV8m5rFVErkF7PfnwliYN06/s200/VW236.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwltYsHIZlFhF34F92jrLbIV7RRW_SOLyEoUXfv6wqKPGgr-4EINIQAe25TYoAHQtDcIlS-oXNJguf9ORnsMSWYYn3mJIKcPX_vneb-44yG5IYeFSxGQZ_AlHcIifl8GlBBkZeLNzM7zf/s1600/VW231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-h2A1DphSKDNnrdS6fB98ZGGbGZWSgD_Y0tzXMmjiqJsFBhn13MlO4FeUc1UeUgVomM7xKaqmPqRoFPRlHCOpG0t9Jo6e6RE68khkMCNB3SSsIS73-FUFzuvLGLCa2_hbOcoIzQxHPqB/s1600/VW224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rushing over to see what was inside. I don't think she really even remembered that this was in the garage really. But BOY she was excited. With the help of Steve and Jon, we just just unloaded it right into the garage onto the 4x4's. At this point, it seemed logical to just set it right on top of the chassis to see how well it fit. No time like the present. It fit fantastically great. I was a bit nervous because when it went to Chris Bolin's we didn't intend to replace the heater channels. When they come off, it's a bit scary because you just don't know 100% for certain that it will all fit exactly as it should. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ACYhQkGq_alX0CDsFHzaQqHHqEB20ogA1qPJ7Ckellz6Hk9Ai_ZO4lwoAAdbMkNau1S6Xr0fHlp0PA1_78_p4rgBRw27ECOIauvpvAhmCa7Jfl97GC6_XT6NNH5yXAfxJvSGx7aQZagi/s1600/VW238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ACYhQkGq_alX0CDsFHzaQqHHqEB20ogA1qPJ7Ckellz6Hk9Ai_ZO4lwoAAdbMkNau1S6Xr0fHlp0PA1_78_p4rgBRw27ECOIauvpvAhmCa7Jfl97GC6_XT6NNH5yXAfxJvSGx7aQZagi/s1600/VW238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ACYhQkGq_alX0CDsFHzaQqHHqEB20ogA1qPJ7Ckellz6Hk9Ai_ZO4lwoAAdbMkNau1S6Xr0fHlp0PA1_78_p4rgBRw27ECOIauvpvAhmCa7Jfl97GC6_XT6NNH5yXAfxJvSGx7aQZagi/s200/VW238.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nick was ready to go for a ride. He jumped in the back and found his spot.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPbxILG_wNtveIKAuhPpCapxolRbPf-1pFcG4N2-Ykp6zan8HLOZdvQs2-5nqrZwNrH1ITusk3OaFUXPyXh2emSY2CQHzJzmqykkcvSOoEHa7G4kdTECBiQzvp18d3GSrJi9VN0cI3mSv/s1600/VW242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPbxILG_wNtveIKAuhPpCapxolRbPf-1pFcG4N2-Ykp6zan8HLOZdvQs2-5nqrZwNrH1ITusk3OaFUXPyXh2emSY2CQHzJzmqykkcvSOoEHa7G4kdTECBiQzvp18d3GSrJi9VN0cI3mSv/s200/VW242.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpnYKq0qFDbiO2vTWhzJ3bUWjyrkBEiAJeJK_-7akf93pEnRk_stvrVt0ElBaVA4pByw-oS04xwbd42uK0AoeTGiCrBaxMWiOUbzzcHr9hLQE6JcXCmrujP6GDZCUwvw41l1RVISLa-CR/s1600/VW252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYKgJsuYIz_ltgI83y9oRRmI1cdOOfbGSJuOGYDmwvr9FIA9ierld4gBRaY4yPgRqTsG9Uzg2itplOQxX2LNE4SFVudpqbrG0qNxEfOxn9DtZRANpw4GDbH5QZricPFXnBH0AsXnWUPlP/s1600/VW246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYKgJsuYIz_ltgI83y9oRRmI1cdOOfbGSJuOGYDmwvr9FIA9ierld4gBRaY4yPgRqTsG9Uzg2itplOQxX2LNE4SFVudpqbrG0qNxEfOxn9DtZRANpw4GDbH5QZricPFXnBH0AsXnWUPlP/s320/VW246.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was very cool to look at the rear of the car and see that classic "W" deck lid.....one of a kind for sure. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR0Q9FvQ5m6AkPoGbvDKW4kioXmsE1Bk06XxYgyT6ifJdlb9vPBGmuwESXLEcuKt5LFUhke4PpAC7cmKOatSTR0cH9zFs-bbYwqr4BcruF4o4YPtwVVLujnB8D0EHO_SGvnGIfRDML5gv/s1600/VW240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR0Q9FvQ5m6AkPoGbvDKW4kioXmsE1Bk06XxYgyT6ifJdlb9vPBGmuwESXLEcuKt5LFUhke4PpAC7cmKOatSTR0cH9zFs-bbYwqr4BcruF4o4YPtwVVLujnB8D0EHO_SGvnGIfRDML5gv/s200/VW240.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And take a look at that engine. Nothing is finer than a clean engine that has been rebuilt. Especially sitting below that oval window. Not a common site.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Check out Jon. What a great sport! I think he's enjoying this moment too!</span> </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpnYKq0qFDbiO2vTWhzJ3bUWjyrkBEiAJeJK_-7akf93pEnRk_stvrVt0ElBaVA4pByw-oS04xwbd42uK0AoeTGiCrBaxMWiOUbzzcHr9hLQE6JcXCmrujP6GDZCUwvw41l1RVISLa-CR/s1600/VW252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpnYKq0qFDbiO2vTWhzJ3bUWjyrkBEiAJeJK_-7akf93pEnRk_stvrVt0ElBaVA4pByw-oS04xwbd42uK0AoeTGiCrBaxMWiOUbzzcHr9hLQE6JcXCmrujP6GDZCUwvw41l1RVISLa-CR/s1600/VW252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpnYKq0qFDbiO2vTWhzJ3bUWjyrkBEiAJeJK_-7akf93pEnRk_stvrVt0ElBaVA4pByw-oS04xwbd42uK0AoeTGiCrBaxMWiOUbzzcHr9hLQE6JcXCmrujP6GDZCUwvw41l1RVISLa-CR/s200/VW252.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was a short day for </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">certain but it was so important. I've been a bit of a wreck not knowing how or when I would get this back. Chris did some great work on this car. I love seeing the body in it's expoxy primer. What a joy and I got so caught up in the moment, that we put the seats on their track and took some pictures with the kids! What is amazing is that it's actually starting to look like a car! I think I went back into the garage six times that night just to take a peek. A went to bed with a warm grin that evening :) The next step is to get ready and prep for paint.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3zVFe9IRXoHvl_gJEePUPoaUz8QKQy9EMVydkWJblj_iarvhT_4SydwdOPVJ624Yxc0Uf3GFocGffe3dGUwSK04MuRVKycbtTgc0l4ko3DoEqnA2Upt1n68V8-btAWuTFAujbWkyeuAl/s1600/VW253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3zVFe9IRXoHvl_gJEePUPoaUz8QKQy9EMVydkWJblj_iarvhT_4SydwdOPVJ624Yxc0Uf3GFocGffe3dGUwSK04MuRVKycbtTgc0l4ko3DoEqnA2Upt1n68V8-btAWuTFAujbWkyeuAl/s640/VW253.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-85664212714389083252012-02-26T14:15:00.001-08:002012-02-26T18:27:52.904-08:00Yin without the Yang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBwo2YHu4WVMmG728wVx7zYyZxIvkgAIWTZZpG7zfiUK0iyo9mfhWwnYC8CaDWe0OGHgTWkAn8aAd6MQZKgq48Rqxt8qTo49JKTymT9BZjRENVr3W6hPekl7TKzzx9rQsUiyGcMdsuV4V/s1600/yin-yang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBwo2YHu4WVMmG728wVx7zYyZxIvkgAIWTZZpG7zfiUK0iyo9mfhWwnYC8CaDWe0OGHgTWkAn8aAd6MQZKgq48Rqxt8qTo49JKTymT9BZjRENVr3W6hPekl7TKzzx9rQsUiyGcMdsuV4V/s200/yin-yang.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 302px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 409px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been 9 months since the body has left the building. Like most things with this car, it has taken longer than we all anticipated. We surely thought it would be done by now. Not so lucky. I've been patiently waiting to get the body back and the first estimate of July came and went......the second in September came and went......the third before Christmas came and went.......but I was assured that definitely in March I'll get the body back. NOPE. Not going to happen and I'm not happy at all. It's been 9 months and there has been some great progress. But then again, after 9 months you'd expect some great progress, right? Chris works his tail off during the week and I think this project is just more than he can handle. So it's time that I go bring the lady home and call it a day. Stay tuned for the next blog post to see how that turns out. In the mean time, here's what has happened during that time where yin has been missing its yang.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqxY46Yc8KSXxaf0_zijCbn3IogD4VBIVzhOyhkRWTYjeDpM2CiWf9GTTIGnToS3JVOmDLpOqLW13d9UFh-hTkyZu8jH_az1aeDyY-nIygclarsY_cCA3UwYb77ZabUTOdPJ7Esdg1MT5/s1600/VW213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 193px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 170px;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqxY46Yc8KSXxaf0_zijCbn3IogD4VBIVzhOyhkRWTYjeDpM2CiWf9GTTIGnToS3JVOmDLpOqLW13d9UFh-hTkyZu8jH_az1aeDyY-nIygclarsY_cCA3UwYb77ZabUTOdPJ7Esdg1MT5/s320/VW213.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIp-Xpm4wOe9GMnGjmM89SYHKsDz6BvlzCkYCAkC60cOpAI44pyhK9g7YrHWDU1gc2jsED0zy8U6adOCpuWhQg1eLtXY5RXfv7wpYut1JmnilKaq_UJ3ZpoamGfQXPT0Pm8MJIsFblB2t/s1600/VW212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIp-Xpm4wOe9GMnGjmM89SYHKsDz6BvlzCkYCAkC60cOpAI44pyhK9g7YrHWDU1gc2jsED0zy8U6adOCpuWhQg1eLtXY5RXfv7wpYut1JmnilKaq_UJ3ZpoamGfQXPT0Pm8MJIsFblB2t/s320/VW212.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chassis is done and looks awesome! She is ready to receive her other half and boy I can't wait for that day. I'm seriously having a hard time being patient but what the heck can you do? The wheels were sandblasted and painted by Chris. I took them to Hick's VW to have them mounted and man.....they look awesome. It looks like a car now....or a really cool go cart, I suppose. I had to put one moon hubcap on just to get a glimpse of the future. These are the little things that keep you going. I had to clean out the carburetor, attach the accelerator linkage, put new clamps on the axle boots to stop the leaking, reattach the air cleaner, and weld in the j-tubes so they don't leak exhaust. It's all done now except for the heater boxes. I realized much later after I had finished the engine that I didn't have those. Found some good ones used that I can restore later. I might have said that in an earlier post.....too much time passing on this thing!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDd3jzQ8Dd2nXaXc3uppUo2ORGP3N88nfwyLJ-1twr7wIVG-roE21FCRiVyHE5NiuYjk6cV6aBpzEpwevaeLbeP6RvqeCeIb4LvEwh2nEGU8VwZi9tFEOw9VPy5ZNQk0mZ3Rn5_2cYO5K/s1600/VW215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 305px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDd3jzQ8Dd2nXaXc3uppUo2ORGP3N88nfwyLJ-1twr7wIVG-roE21FCRiVyHE5NiuYjk6cV6aBpzEpwevaeLbeP6RvqeCeIb4LvEwh2nEGU8VwZi9tFEOw9VPy5ZNQk0mZ3Rn5_2cYO5K/s320/VW215.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHtOP-wm-izUMDu43whGiW-05zqeLonQT1WGmkCD5va6LRK58Bwy7lBDwX4Tc-8ZAo1QEBreiNFsLiXo8xRAXZdtEwuMKnti-t_ZftJfbPZnJrcX4d2s4i0Px6xcNFPspnWHuHyj57EYY/s1600/VW214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHtOP-wm-izUMDu43whGiW-05zqeLonQT1WGmkCD5va6LRK58Bwy7lBDwX4Tc-8ZAo1QEBreiNFsLiXo8xRAXZdtEwuMKnti-t_ZftJfbPZnJrcX4d2s4i0Px6xcNFPspnWHuHyj57EYY/s320/VW214.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Here's what Christ has been able to do so far. He has the body on a rotisserie so that he can work on it easier. Everyone needs this in their garage. You can see where he replaced the heater channels. It wasn't what we planned on doing but after pulling off the bottom plate, we found the tube was Swiss cheese along the right side. Then, the right side was fine but the bottom plate didn't match. So it was easier and would match better if we just replaced the heater channel. I was nervous that when we brought the car back it wouldn't fit right on the chassis pan. This way we have a much better chance. The cross bars are tacked on to prevent a twist in the car. Think of it like insurance.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqhPTfDxjYMuYsbQ2IpSDXCiAKRvjUBOAYnqLOy-NZAR2ojPmLKUWPDJ0wK5N1WPk4D9vjkXm2P_eo4z7cZ33vcUKQGhhR-2GRqizo4b9zvWIYowq3QEQSZ-D1ZNs7jiNMoHYbeK4_ZXd/s1600/VW175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqhPTfDxjYMuYsbQ2IpSDXCiAKRvjUBOAYnqLOy-NZAR2ojPmLKUWPDJ0wK5N1WPk4D9vjkXm2P_eo4z7cZ33vcUKQGhhR-2GRqizo4b9zvWIYowq3QEQSZ-D1ZNs7jiNMoHYbeK4_ZXd/s320/VW175.JPG" width="240" yda="true" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWs8VfZHOTpYd0W5Y4iLULBpqw6Q90DxsWAalT734Xt4VwRYRNPzApRla9Cfoas16JquuU3bPMgNH1vzgcsEgO41EtljuHeGGOFd-5DoUrDW8xZSW2Ssvbu0GA4ZWBmXnVa3nIg63-6DA/s1600/VW206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWs8VfZHOTpYd0W5Y4iLULBpqw6Q90DxsWAalT734Xt4VwRYRNPzApRla9Cfoas16JquuU3bPMgNH1vzgcsEgO41EtljuHeGGOFd-5DoUrDW8xZSW2Ssvbu0GA4ZWBmXnVa3nIg63-6DA/s320/VW206.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0GvHA0qmMw4U5wOsmLLXccbXcWq4YZsbWrfo061YRNH0R-Izjz-4RAuI0zoUY9mlxajWxXpSr0UAbHL0BsRQhveWmGcasoO86lUVrCYyHeOrWhlRJXZAifgQcE9_ZjRF9OxLgYElHdoz/s1600/VW205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0GvHA0qmMw4U5wOsmLLXccbXcWq4YZsbWrfo061YRNH0R-Izjz-4RAuI0zoUY9mlxajWxXpSr0UAbHL0BsRQhveWmGcasoO86lUVrCYyHeOrWhlRJXZAifgQcE9_ZjRF9OxLgYElHdoz/s200/VW205.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see here where the radio slot has been filled in. It was fit with sheet metal and topped with filler. (not too sure what to think about that surface rust.....mmmmmm)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEMI-IKyF25Ww6QuveFaAbsT4C15-4u8VcgEeHFrJz_385Q4rReKRdCBThvsQmJg-qmLOiyKrdY21F2a4h6pyr2K3MHeTNOME4P1-me_EVB0j0d1T2VwOS_4R8396bxNxaGs7PrU3StHt/s1600/VW207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEMI-IKyF25Ww6QuveFaAbsT4C15-4u8VcgEeHFrJz_385Q4rReKRdCBThvsQmJg-qmLOiyKrdY21F2a4h6pyr2K3MHeTNOME4P1-me_EVB0j0d1T2VwOS_4R8396bxNxaGs7PrU3StHt/s320/VW207.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuACReC7jM_ezVTjRwusfX-S-Ns1szDITBrDXmXhC2tFLHYeLiKNlW1WaHz3ztfpZ4Yz6rYSYgxS0Mc9s0D6MZV5TUJ1SmswGDWRH3s4R-uhBeF1rHAajYGyey_8I5AfafMwf7xDV4rJ9/s1600/VW208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuACReC7jM_ezVTjRwusfX-S-Ns1szDITBrDXmXhC2tFLHYeLiKNlW1WaHz3ztfpZ4Yz6rYSYgxS0Mc9s0D6MZV5TUJ1SmswGDWRH3s4R-uhBeF1rHAajYGyey_8I5AfafMwf7xDV4rJ9/s320/VW208.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see here where Chris repaired areas that were not problematic but had little perforations. I had intended to fill them with Bondo-Glass but Chris wanted to patch them with sheet metal. Long term, I'm thrilled with his plan. He also rebuilt the front passenger side door bottom corner. It was mangled and rusted out. he reshaped and fabricated new metal to fix it. It looks great and matches the other side quite well. Nice work indeed. He also blasted and painted the gas tank, and seats.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a2KiGHyqpG6ODGKlYEq35mU9fzILSmT_9moOLQQCv36wdc_UA5fpoA54EBjFWyT3f_0KOSdfTS67nQanMnUIoBztT459nJjXG2VhQMghI3LuZTqL4D5AbbM7nlzJpKWCTcfT422diwrK/s1600/VW209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a2KiGHyqpG6ODGKlYEq35mU9fzILSmT_9moOLQQCv36wdc_UA5fpoA54EBjFWyT3f_0KOSdfTS67nQanMnUIoBztT459nJjXG2VhQMghI3LuZTqL4D5AbbM7nlzJpKWCTcfT422diwrK/s320/VW209.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alas......I want to give Chris the time to finish this. But he's expecting a baby any day the first week of March. He won't surface for another 6 months and I just don't want to wait that long. I'm going to have to finish this myself or take it to someone like Transporter Werks. What frustrates me a bit is that there seems to be a lot of surface rust that I had removed before. In some respects, I feel like I'm a bit further behind than I was before. Although they say you shouldn't cry over spilled surface rust......or something like that. Time to buck up and get this thing back and done. Summer will be here soon and we will all need to go for a ride!</span></div>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-21333434094187219572011-07-27T20:25:00.001-07:002012-02-26T18:23:49.376-08:00One Giant Leap.....<img height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjraqQ7vs6hSFtjFy6L3onXCW_a7SkMf9BgT-g5wxf-5zRke2N903tUQ_NI-B1Tm06jqpl3CKRNUD0V2hy1v7XYZLfSW0qGC2cfW4WmbUKOM-yk49k_tTp6LgqsD4sg3wf8gsObY4BVwr/s640/fingerogod.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDHI_F_zbjd-YO7fUws3xAecEO7g_nzWfaikPzoRY3JrZT7JRyvzGtgdt8QIECokenBP13-0YH6S6TWPcqwFmdWZR5xIWlZQ2lDaJAgMFO9v1c_Ww94md6dBhF25PtVsskVOYGpaASgX4/s1600/VW61.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDHI_F_zbjd-YO7fUws3xAecEO7g_nzWfaikPzoRY3JrZT7JRyvzGtgdt8QIECokenBP13-0YH6S6TWPcqwFmdWZR5xIWlZQ2lDaJAgMFO9v1c_Ww94md6dBhF25PtVsskVOYGpaASgX4/s320/VW61.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember Jon bringing over that engine. I thought it looked so good. I was excited because the rumor was that it was running at one time.....I suppose all engines do now that I think about it. I remember taking it apart wondering how long it would take to put back together. Longer than I thought! I mean seriously, how could it possibly come back to life? There is no telling what could happen. I've only taken an engine apart. I've never actually put one back together! I had all these parts and I'm genuinely not completely certain what to do with all of them. Nonetheless, I pressed forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now the day had come....I couldn't stand it anymore. Jon and I have been coordinating, talking, and getting closer to firing this engine that has been hibernating for just about 20 years. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Jon was to come over in the early evening. We had a few adjustments to make; valve adjustment, points adjustment, timing, etc. I decided that there was no time to waste, so I made all the adjustments before he came over. That way there was ample time to try and get it running in case something went wrong. The two of us were able to pick up the engine and maneuver it onto the transmission with little trouble. We tightened it down and attached the starter, which is 6V. I decided to keep that despite the rest is a 12V system. That way, the car will start with VERY little trouble. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSgGioRDz2U-VYjdUc4MotXc8_ZMoMdKYXgpevpCq7Zl19jS6gP_N8XScECLF19sDiHunqRQ_UCpMq0iKz2ZCj3znnp64vKLkfUuL4vW6LUZUdUqhwmiqIyYK0AGqaZt5RNGVZfS8abXC/s1600/VW199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSgGioRDz2U-VYjdUc4MotXc8_ZMoMdKYXgpevpCq7Zl19jS6gP_N8XScECLF19sDiHunqRQ_UCpMq0iKz2ZCj3znnp64vKLkfUuL4vW6LUZUdUqhwmiqIyYK0AGqaZt5RNGVZfS8abXC/s320/VW199.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I forgot that I had to fix the boots that go over the transmission and the swing axle. I still needed to do a transmission fluid change and I couldn't do that until I fixed the boots. If you recall, I F#$% up a boot one night with the heater wire that was sharp. I took out my rage on our poor garbage can. Times were tough at the time and I was pretty stressed out. The best part is that Steve was able to witness (translation....laugh his ass off) me embarrass myself. Anyway, I took the plug out of the bottom of the transmission and being magnetic, it yielded what I'm calling the "Revenge of the Black Booger". All sorts of sludge, metal shavings, seal springs, etc showed up there. I cleaned it out good and we put new oil in the tranny. All set.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VOMu0k8fImYvVWJi1c1av3vCDQK58M8pFPkHVoTZm0INYkOokhuz-nwkR3LN-wFVZqW3kVjiZrVjqzObQbVWxn4QA2kWGJTyAxNI_50qjJmirA_M-4sxANC6B6Xi3JLEJJboW-E7KH7D/s1600/VW200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VOMu0k8fImYvVWJi1c1av3vCDQK58M8pFPkHVoTZm0INYkOokhuz-nwkR3LN-wFVZqW3kVjiZrVjqzObQbVWxn4QA2kWGJTyAxNI_50qjJmirA_M-4sxANC6B6Xi3JLEJJboW-E7KH7D/s320/VW200.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We hooked up the battery with all the wires and cables looking like someone dropped loose spaghetti around the engine. It would do the job though. We fed it some gas and starter fluid and checked to see if the carb was functioning. All is good......we jumped the starter.....and nothing. The engine was turning but no firing. We finally realized the coil wasn't getting any juice. The rig we created wasn't so good after all. It was a remote starter that needed to be depressed harder. So I pick it up and press it down harder while Jon jumps the starter again......Brumm...Brummm.....PaaaaaaDOOOWWWW! It turns over in 5 seconds or less! Sure it backfired a bit and choked a little, but the damn thing CAME TO LIFE!! I got so excited I forgot to hit the accelerator and it stalled :) We started it back up and let it run for a bit to break it in.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAba8-pFm037RdCted4ypwkA5kdctAYgWj3k_BmWDhRvYx5JjZst_OteVzMdCns65NrOxfD4Q5D4iSz5wtDyu-YHAzlIrcpakqm73_ChYq6LsDfIZ4kwwUt_hD0g7nCRq9bTFaKL6_Wdwh/s1600/VW202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAba8-pFm037RdCted4ypwkA5kdctAYgWj3k_BmWDhRvYx5JjZst_OteVzMdCns65NrOxfD4Q5D4iSz5wtDyu-YHAzlIrcpakqm73_ChYq6LsDfIZ4kwwUt_hD0g7nCRq9bTFaKL6_Wdwh/s320/VW202.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana;">The conclusion was that it runs great. I need to rebuild the carburetor, weld in the J-Tube exhaust pipes, change the main seal (we had trouble putting that in and thought it might leak....it did), and then she's all good! </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLEOgdXGzPrwAWXFLVuTWby46xHG2TKke_bxKgkKtQfKli9rpn3N1em-vJPApX63IYIcgZGyUk-zTMw90SSlHq8ikI6e2fGk8JJW7NRQXAjHu0PmpYnh-LNE7SeA3V5JS84JyJg8sfRqK/s1600/VW203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLEOgdXGzPrwAWXFLVuTWby46xHG2TKke_bxKgkKtQfKli9rpn3N1em-vJPApX63IYIcgZGyUk-zTMw90SSlHq8ikI6e2fGk8JJW7NRQXAjHu0PmpYnh-LNE7SeA3V5JS84JyJg8sfRqK/s320/VW203.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This was a major turning point. I feel like I'm ready for the body to come back, get the wheels done and back on. I'M READY TO DRIVE. The day is coming that I'll be taking the family for rides to the grocery store. I already love this car and it's in pieces. But it's alive now. It's no longer a dream or fantasy. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp2wX9EzY9EdLlZn7XKpkplCl4eFX56JsKZLvR9bDZmVXkSbotI2_CrNrJQYYJBe6-3Fks_5_zF7n6rlX-UVTAtQyVTHms6WhhmIR4Gz6RLRMa-SJ4fihBvCAjK1euf-IYYffX3sXcrn6/s1600/VW201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp2wX9EzY9EdLlZn7XKpkplCl4eFX56JsKZLvR9bDZmVXkSbotI2_CrNrJQYYJBe6-3Fks_5_zF7n6rlX-UVTAtQyVTHms6WhhmIR4Gz6RLRMa-SJ4fihBvCAjK1euf-IYYffX3sXcrn6/s400/VW201.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My wife, Whitney, even said, "I can't believe it's actually running". She was truly in awe and in the moment that the time is coming. I've done many successful things in my life. I've been a Bartender Champion (at least twice), I've been Sales Rep of the Year (the only rep to do so three times in a row), I've earned my Eagle Scout rank, I've climbed to the top of the tallest mountain in New Mexico, and many more accomplishments. But I haven't felt that kind of excitement in quite a long time. I literally jumped for joy when I heard that chirping and puttering from that crappy old engine.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/3SW_3znIs7U/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3SW_3znIs7U&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3SW_3znIs7U&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://broadstreetbuzz.com/files/2010/12/jump-for-joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://broadstreetbuzz.com/files/2010/12/jump-for-joy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-39468365732326933612011-07-26T20:34:00.000-07:002011-07-26T20:34:55.435-07:00Steering My Patience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAbYTgcePPnr80efbnSNcmwjsDzm_E0Oq4UgaNCQ8AXJD3l5UOncI1nhCmLzxR2vnLDQU5XjbwD_Lod2eBXbC_hJoKn_p8IBguWSSME01F5ASfduuNrT5eMzPVFsMX-9F9z1INHyRdyBc/s1600/VW8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAbYTgcePPnr80efbnSNcmwjsDzm_E0Oq4UgaNCQ8AXJD3l5UOncI1nhCmLzxR2vnLDQU5XjbwD_Lod2eBXbC_hJoKn_p8IBguWSSME01F5ASfduuNrT5eMzPVFsMX-9F9z1INHyRdyBc/s320/VW8.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had an option to either fork over $350 for a fully restored steering wheel. I actually had one that is in pretty good shape. The problem areas are around the ribs. There were a heck-uv-a lot of cracks too. This is a shot of the wheel before I disassembled the car. This is what it looked like in the condition I found it. Not too shabby! So I read up to see what the best way to bring this back to life and if it's actually something that is doable. I went ahead and bought some POR-15 Epoxy that seems to work really well.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ZOSr7Qs_XpN-WVsDwWfe4WWZBveKiDSj_NvNJoGsDTsy3YUOZYi3eK4e83-JWM7JnHdZhm2zEPIW3Ncd7VHxqQdnURB6-DLUyb_OWkey8bcnoNo15udNHHonwuRc-OLYr_upoxwa4Gn/s1600/VW194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ZOSr7Qs_XpN-WVsDwWfe4WWZBveKiDSj_NvNJoGsDTsy3YUOZYi3eK4e83-JWM7JnHdZhm2zEPIW3Ncd7VHxqQdnURB6-DLUyb_OWkey8bcnoNo15udNHHonwuRc-OLYr_upoxwa4Gn/s320/VW194.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The POR-15 is water based and it easily smoothed out. It's almost like paste so it's easily malleable. What it requires is an ENORMOUS amount of patience. You can only really do a small area at a time. I'd mix the two part expoxy, get my fingers real wet, and press the stuff into the cracks and smooth out as much as possible. Once it dries I would use three types of sandpaper. 80 grit, 120 grit, and 300 grit. Using this I was able to get this very smooth and bring a consistent shape and look to it. You can see the middle that has been quasi-finished. I figured I can work on this over the next 4-8 weeks as I have time. I can set the putty and let it sit over night. Then the next time I can sand it down and start over. Hopefully, it will come around looking presentable. I figure I'll take my time on this one because it's the one thing that you'll be touching the most and looking at the most every time you drive. Might as well make it look good. If I screw up.....I'll break the bank for $350 and say screw it!</span>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-46649571611016033142011-07-22T21:08:00.000-07:002011-07-23T05:55:09.452-07:0036 Horses Corralled<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've come to a conclusion QUICK. I dyin' to get this engine back together. I'm waiting patiently for the body to be finshed, prepped, and painted by Steve's co-worker, Chris Bolin. He's slammed at work right now so it appears to be taking a bit longer than we anticipated. Quite alright alfter all. Medical bills are more painful at the moment than the procedures themselves! At least I have this engine to focus on. So I get on the e-horn and holler at Jon to see about coming over and figure out how to put all these floating parts together.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41glOK0fJYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41glOK0fJYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I've ordered all these parts....their sitting in cardboard boxes, on shelves, and on the workbench. I just keep tempering myself and reviewing the parts, reading the Muir Bible..."How to Keep Your VW Alive Forever, a Manual of Step by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot". Let me have a pondering pause here for a moment.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This guy was a VW genius......but he also looked like he was a couple of miles from the Kool-Aid compound. The artist that did the pictures in this book are phenomemonal too! Jon and I were working and talking about this book and both of us are just SO impressed with the detail and accuracy?! I mean this pictures has ALL the parts of a stinkin' Beetle.....I SWEAR?!! Look for yourself.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.peteraschwanden.com/images/F3ExplodedVW.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://www.peteraschwanden.com/images/F3ExplodedVW.gif" width="260px" /></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ovKWPNlZC6A/R78FbR_IEoI/AAAAAAAABzU/fI4tJzdqZcU/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: undefined;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ovKWPNlZC6A/R78FbR_IEoI/AAAAAAAABzU/fI4tJzdqZcU/s400/Picture+1.png" /></span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1566913101/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link"></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God Bless you John Muir.......</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I've got all the parts polished and cleaned off. I used this Purple Power stuff that worked TEN TIMES better than a standard engine cleaner. Careful recommendation though: Use gloves because I swear I turned my hands into 80 grit sandpaper. Truth be told :) I put all the cylinders and pistons into the dishwasher to get all the grease, gunk and dirt out. Second recommendation: make sure you run dishwasher again empty to get all the crud out that is leftover from the first run! I headed over to Hicks VW and find all the screws and nuts that I need for the engine. He helped me out.......after begrudgingly letting me know that he didn't "have time to mess around with no F#&$'N 36" HP engine. I promised I would buy the roof rack just so he would keep helping me!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The first step was to hone the cylinders and use a valve seating compound to get the cylinders to seat right into the cylinder heads.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b0YTf3tucbrQritTWvUhsMARfQVAMTIoG6IXScjYUpKiof3Af4mF9yVFJyOMTVEDi6PoBdNojAh9xgY0y-y-aflO_z1NxoWmtyudviApp5U5j4QT4RTXNcJW0954Wwp2AyEEQ0s7Jh6s/s1600/VW184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b0YTf3tucbrQritTWvUhsMARfQVAMTIoG6IXScjYUpKiof3Af4mF9yVFJyOMTVEDi6PoBdNojAh9xgY0y-y-aflO_z1NxoWmtyudviApp5U5j4QT4RTXNcJW0954Wwp2AyEEQ0s7Jh6s/s320/VW184.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcP1GOyaOq606Ezh9y1OWdh50jaaPnwyjOZoKIEvpAnF-KWOKWXvBcKhT0Et1lZbUB6obp4_fxxSugZTCwVZ4nkSnbXJFK496aV4Z8kLx0UMxt0QIjHwERS8ztMxs3hjT6w-43QmjpHCEV/s1600/VW187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcP1GOyaOq606Ezh9y1OWdh50jaaPnwyjOZoKIEvpAnF-KWOKWXvBcKhT0Et1lZbUB6obp4_fxxSugZTCwVZ4nkSnbXJFK496aV4Z8kLx0UMxt0QIjHwERS8ztMxs3hjT6w-43QmjpHCEV/s320/VW187.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rYIQaWNirvjTQeWwUqkYhYPivMVbjWGBcmuGzZjqZq1qT0jHLpWyctxHKDem9a5zxjSKyssr1YHZ3cruiHnplKrN5KCQJfKqdPuuY6FVFTx8teoItaQ_hmb0Fgh-zsZVhxV-VEnc_Evo/s1600/VW185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rYIQaWNirvjTQeWwUqkYhYPivMVbjWGBcmuGzZjqZq1qT0jHLpWyctxHKDem9a5zxjSKyssr1YHZ3cruiHnplKrN5KCQJfKqdPuuY6FVFTx8teoItaQ_hmb0Fgh-zsZVhxV-VEnc_Evo/s320/VW185.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now the cylinders are ready, we have to use a ring compressor to get the cylinders over the pistons and rings. Of course the one I bought doesn't work. But what worked great was a 3-1/2" Hose Clamp from the hardware store for $3.00! Once the cylinders went on things really started to come together. We used assembling grease, anti-seize grease and 30 weight oil for most of the parts. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also had been storing the push rods somewhere safe so that they wouldn't get bent. I've been watching them everytime I open my cabinet to get the measuring tapes. I had to take this picture because I was so happy to take them down and finally put them back into their home :) So I continue getting all the other parts, gaskets, slowly added to the block. I ran into a few glitches because the engine was missing a few parts here and there. The rocker arm assemblies were missing the stud cradles that you screw the nut to keep it in place. The fuel pump camshaft was missing too. Not a big deal, but I had to order the parts from Wolfsberg West. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuKo1xRvylDM3xKtSUdVpeVHraXpS3U5OgLfI8-JhdCTAjZROiQFsIDOZ-2dOgT1JndGiBDIQZmw5h_dq5NyCv4WP3F-UafzzIASCi72A_ZFPsf2-iXE3vpe37Hj3DpVxvsgf-uNewdVd/s1600/VW186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuKo1xRvylDM3xKtSUdVpeVHraXpS3U5OgLfI8-JhdCTAjZROiQFsIDOZ-2dOgT1JndGiBDIQZmw5h_dq5NyCv4WP3F-UafzzIASCi72A_ZFPsf2-iXE3vpe37Hj3DpVxvsgf-uNewdVd/s320/VW186.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr0YMaCGZgztTLG_UkLwooPGjS96H9vudrs53WMj7Ymhl_HXtHaap7HpNROmp3bjO-9-FCRt2HbGeDzkGXU6BAUBWiD_pcmcezCtQqIg5GsD_z_aCbw5GwBU_w84AB80N91fdvmBW0z77/s1600/VW193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr0YMaCGZgztTLG_UkLwooPGjS96H9vudrs53WMj7Ymhl_HXtHaap7HpNROmp3bjO-9-FCRt2HbGeDzkGXU6BAUBWiD_pcmcezCtQqIg5GsD_z_aCbw5GwBU_w84AB80N91fdvmBW0z77/s320/VW193.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now I came to a few revelations by accident. Jon and I were looking at the generator pulley noticing that it wasn't lining up correctly with the crankshaft pulley. We farted around with it trying to get it to fit correctly. Then I looked over in the parts pile and saw a brass pulley that Steve had given me. It looked like it would fit and so it did! I look on the pulley and it says "12V". So then I look around on the engine and the coil shows 12V, etc, etc. So now I'm convinced it's been updated to a 12V and with an alternator. That's good news, I suppose.</span><br />
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMq5Np6AeuZN-ncQsooFItJ2K47BqIp8z9Du8UYPEIQAAmxGx8K8BOZAnY0_zb5FAbE3yYSwu616c0lG27XHdeCI1eV3HaAwRGatBGA9SQs2gKs8FAGCJmosy7OJ5frZtKgq_KuhW2ZZx/s320/VW195.JPG" width="320px" /></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I get everything assembled and finish with getting the exhaust system including brand new J-Tubes. The engine studs and intake studs were a bit tricky but I was able to get them settled with either new studs or the existing studs. The next challenge was the distributor. After much research, trips to Hicks VW, and calls to Wolfsberg West, I discover that I have the correct "019" distributor but I have the incorrect cap. Someone had modified a smaller cap to make it work. This gave me a good chance to clean out the distributor, change the points, and replace the condenser. I hadn't realized how much attention it really needed. I also took that opportunity to clean the air cleaner, carburetor, and the fuel pump.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBgkI26MTiisHKK5eC16pG2EAbnZzhY-Qh7jJH841hs5Gam_8Wu-o-a9EZfAkIHxoHB1kfCjLzlaTbIXlORV_sRcVWa2jCFMsnplMaSZlA3b2j_Db6EZ7H7LxFDnaYPc_p1yjkxJUwGar/s1600/VW198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBgkI26MTiisHKK5eC16pG2EAbnZzhY-Qh7jJH841hs5Gam_8Wu-o-a9EZfAkIHxoHB1kfCjLzlaTbIXlORV_sRcVWa2jCFMsnplMaSZlA3b2j_Db6EZ7H7LxFDnaYPc_p1yjkxJUwGar/s400/VW198.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now I'm ready to go. Bought a battery, filled it with the 2.5 quarts (plus 0.5 quarts in the air cleaner to red line, of course) and I just need to hook up the fuel lines, set the timing, and adjust the valves. Then. POP. POP. POP. KABOOOOOOOM. Out from hibernation and she'll be back to life!!!</span>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-18721879511859617962011-06-14T20:34:00.000-07:002011-06-14T20:34:11.111-07:00Drivers.....Start Your Engines<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've started to day dream about what it will be like to have the body show up and what I'll do with it when it gets here. The cold reality is that it's time to put the car together. It's like my friend Jon has been telling me. At some point, after constantly feeling like you're going up a hill feeling like it will never end, you suddenly at the edge of a cliff looking down a very steep hill. It all feels like it's quickly happening now. I realize that if the body arrives, I need to have the chassis COMPLETELY ready to receive it. I need to have all the bolts, body gasket, brakes, etc all ready to go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yz0W7GGYzzpRHzhV-x9ZUkfRQ9xjNPZwqkDKzoWVHx9qy-GK6991C-ht4cupu0Z9wgAdpy_Vk_SQshRoOgBWuaxxYVGDiD6VAaxJ2KQQyCW4Be_jL_CTux5OFFAerLISgZAHpn5vCza2/s1600/VW+Assembly+Line+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yz0W7GGYzzpRHzhV-x9ZUkfRQ9xjNPZwqkDKzoWVHx9qy-GK6991C-ht4cupu0Z9wgAdpy_Vk_SQshRoOgBWuaxxYVGDiD6VAaxJ2KQQyCW4Be_jL_CTux5OFFAerLISgZAHpn5vCza2/s400/VW+Assembly+Line+2.jpg" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In fact, I really need to have the engine running and ready because it will be far easier to mess with it with the body off. In fact, after consulting Wolfsberg West, they tell me that is exactly how Volkswagen assembled the cars. Who am I to argue with the Germans? (NEIN! in my best German accent). It would be helpful if I had an assembly line and several chaps to help me, of course.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So now I'm motivated to get my act together and get the right parts and pieces in house so that I can get this all ready for the "show". I took a trip to Hick's VW in Durham, NC. Good operation that Bob has there. Really cares about the cars and your best interest. I had him take a look at the cylinder heads to see if they would work. Jon met me there that day because he had some parts to buy too. After we all looked at the innards of the engine case, cylinders, pistons, heads, and rings it all looks great! It's really ridiculous if you think about it. The engine had run before. It's a 36hp that hasn't run since the mid 1980's. It has sat on a mechanic's shelf, Jon's shelf, and then my shelf for almost 20 years but the damn thing looks good! So now I've ordered all the parts that I need for the engine from Wolfsberg West and bought some from Bob at his shop. I swear I cleaned out every 36hp part he might have had in house......he's probably grateful I got that stuff out of his inventory.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIyfcmuteG0iDL8GpeEBE0LSylkkVkweesyWYD0a6Ab8mXGKJjmkvbbo8kZKsaxB1eWkZVPjzWh-noXHmm4OtA-Pgoj6uw29ROutUEc0YHmawWbuiGUrx6zI191HoyI_ubYi9PG_svst7/s1600/VW182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIyfcmuteG0iDL8GpeEBE0LSylkkVkweesyWYD0a6Ab8mXGKJjmkvbbo8kZKsaxB1eWkZVPjzWh-noXHmm4OtA-Pgoj6uw29ROutUEc0YHmawWbuiGUrx6zI191HoyI_ubYi9PG_svst7/s320/VW182.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Let me pause here too to brag on Wolfsberg West. Not only do they offer themselves as a resource when you speak with them on the phone, but you can tell they take great care in how they send their parts. It arrives well packaged. They also will sell you used parts if they don't have something in stock. Most other folks would just backorder you or send you the wrong part intentionally and make you return it so it doesn't look like the are backordering......bastards. I commend and recommend Wolfsberg West as a primary supplier to any Air-cooled enthusiast. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now that I have the parts, I've got the engine clean, and ready to assemble. I just need to set aside some time to pull all those parts together. I think I'll wet myself the first day I hear the engine run.....take your bets. </div>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-17323630707141454042011-06-14T19:53:00.000-07:002011-06-14T20:09:53.667-07:00The StingI'm sitting in my hotel pondering whether to order a crappy pizza or muster the energy and hunt for my food in the urban jungle of Charlotte. I get a strange email in broken English on my iPhone telling me they will gladly pay $50.00 to pick up my car. What the....(rubbing my chin). Son of a nutcracker! I see a picture what is clearly my 57 Oval on a flatbed! Fumbling for my phone, I call for my wife after mis-dialing in a panic, and ask her to go into the garage and make sure my car is in there. She seems to be taking her sweet time and I continue to press and ask her if she sees it or not. "Why?" she simply asks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyWOlJr1c5bvQ0HYUvxWAc4hFUJvrqrLAwslLyr6BXr2gFr6LYfSfyJESuhvb_8KULDGxfJlfNN505tMYuGp9VLUCuX-66EsI2wEqAaNK7zNGHBnAciaoxT9-OgpFHiTesCnh9UHhipEm/s1600/VW177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyWOlJr1c5bvQ0HYUvxWAc4hFUJvrqrLAwslLyr6BXr2gFr6LYfSfyJESuhvb_8KULDGxfJlfNN505tMYuGp9VLUCuX-66EsI2wEqAaNK7zNGHBnAciaoxT9-OgpFHiTesCnh9UHhipEm/s320/VW177.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now you have to understand that there is a dance that Whitney and I do. Having been stolen from before, I always lock the doors and keep the garage door shut. She (innocent and naive.....snicker, snicker) doesn't seem to have the same priority. I always have the same comment that if we leave the garage door open when we are not home someone will go "shopping" in our garage. Mainly for my tools!!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Coming back to the story at hand.......at this point, I'm sure that someone has gone shopping in our garage and has taken my car away and it's gone for good! Suddenly, she stops me as I begin to tear up and tells me, "Happy Anniversary :-) ". <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMI3l2uF7QrUT0gyT6MuX5-xCohnWi68j4RoxktRp_yXuht-B1XrPEhwDR7ObzVWyWScUWMCGSGAZYeQYHAjIg7VjphTrrYzXjl4EUlw3KSOEhEQAm1DBlee1fg3NGrioyi9hCt4iGTOg/s1600/VW178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMI3l2uF7QrUT0gyT6MuX5-xCohnWi68j4RoxktRp_yXuht-B1XrPEhwDR7ObzVWyWScUWMCGSGAZYeQYHAjIg7VjphTrrYzXjl4EUlw3KSOEhEQAm1DBlee1fg3NGrioyi9hCt4iGTOg/s400/VW178.JPG" t8="true" width="400px" /></a>Silence......What is she talking about? Come to find out, she arranged to have our neighbor's co-worker to come and pick it up. Steve next door helped out to get it out of the garage. They all had been in on the Sting for weeks! Chris will finish up some of the minor body work and then prep for paint and paint the body, doors, hood, decklid, wheels, and misc parts. I was slack jawed! After the shock faded and the reality set in, I was STOKED! In a about 45 days I'll have a beautiful painted body in my garage to set right down onto the finished chassis.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> A couple of weeks later, I head over to Chris' shop to take a look and talk about what needs to be done and what direction to take. He had the Oval already on a welded rotisserie with the apron welded and the rear bumper mounts welded in. It was very well done. Not grafted on without any care or thought of potential rust that might come back and haunt you, but almost surgically implanted after the worn out part has been removed. I was impressed.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9PDziYAUpTNSCUoInDmhMIDkPQGoFrcy89lqBcJrDvlKKo1296oERI1jjVJSbcIA33B4RP7k_YKDaGIrXEl31m4MZ8nKyt53FLJ4Gy9CLr1MjnWBrZ2GiHYKAhdPCCmx0xCmpSSpILGe/s1600/VW179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9PDziYAUpTNSCUoInDmhMIDkPQGoFrcy89lqBcJrDvlKKo1296oERI1jjVJSbcIA33B4RP7k_YKDaGIrXEl31m4MZ8nKyt53FLJ4Gy9CLr1MjnWBrZ2GiHYKAhdPCCmx0xCmpSSpILGe/s320/VW179.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-89632672051080010012011-05-05T20:07:00.000-07:002011-05-22T18:14:48.715-07:00Rear Arpon Assembly<div><br />
<div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603404495582551698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWCn2aSX9mYltbm1bXBsQ-_7qkIVMPX-aEylOX68r2cLqIDcqO2jN5zkgFFLA4fu_BD_gvP-aIEap2G3if7agSOjBFPx_iFtbucvDtiLfqHfZ94sYfh9YfbIBfnCp4GqUJumf_vU3EISz/s320/VW170.jpg" style="float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" />The time has arrived. I promised myself that I would start back on the bug when the baby girl, Katie, turned 6 months old. Almost to the day, I dragged myself into the garage and tried to figure out where I had left off. I really knew where I had to focus my attention to, but I felt if I put my thoughts onto paper it would help.</div><div>The next major phase, is the rear apron. I had to call in reinforcements again......Jon Turner extraordinaire. I needed some guidance while I admit that I'm feeling more and more comfortable with this kind of work as the project continues. So the first step was to cut out the problem area on the apron without losing the historical integrity and structural integrity. It was hard to cut out with snips so I bought a pneumatic circular saw to make this cut go fast. The reality is I just "need" a new tool. After I cut it out I took some snips and cleaned up the edges.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wzaf3fV_mEhnQ9fKksGWcD94Z-6oVz0XKPAaJ3tiV3hpTgf0g9TZidxWGPfLT7WSElC1gDGYb2O6eGtRlqogtH9KEk6erD9lYMDNu7-DCQg3kZDB1IyPtC_kAXol3CcwBihKpyUm06TY/s1600/VW172.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 243px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 326px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603415653237047906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wzaf3fV_mEhnQ9fKksGWcD94Z-6oVz0XKPAaJ3tiV3hpTgf0g9TZidxWGPfLT7WSElC1gDGYb2O6eGtRlqogtH9KEk6erD9lYMDNu7-DCQg3kZDB1IyPtC_kAXol3CcwBihKpyUm06TY/s320/VW172.jpg" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a> </div></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The next step was to take the new apron I bought from Wolfsburg West. It seems ridiculous to hack it up with snips only to be left with just about half of what you started with. However, it does make sense. I was able to carve out the extra part so that I can piece it all together. Of course the next day my hands felt like </div></div><br />
someone had punished me like some Fraternal Ritual by slapping my hands with a 2x4 until I cried. It was worth it. I then popped out all the spot welds to take off the weather stripping seal since the original is far thicker and is still in good condition.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau6BQMOC9Yqvi0Hx7HSl0dTwphxisycssM7WHIjVJ4INAlKGd3GPGtXo0QwTpmjxugtAfQzYlh0SJv4PRWzIN4Dz-JBVcRke8w9WAi-1YGa52BByFFNznBc8VBUL7HKOqbH8IySwgnZQf/s1600/VW173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau6BQMOC9Yqvi0Hx7HSl0dTwphxisycssM7WHIjVJ4INAlKGd3GPGtXo0QwTpmjxugtAfQzYlh0SJv4PRWzIN4Dz-JBVcRke8w9WAi-1YGa52BByFFNznBc8VBUL7HKOqbH8IySwgnZQf/s320/VW173.jpg" width="320px" /></a>Now I took the clipped piece and fitted into the rear apron cut out. I had to make a few extra snips here and there to make sure that it would slip in nicely. There is overlapping metal where the rear is welded together. I popped it open slightly so I could slide the new apron into place. With some gentle persuasion it slid in so easily. Probably the one thing that has gone smoothly so far! I took a rubber mallet and gave it some taps and it looks great. I still need to take off that crappy black primer that they ship the parts with and weld the new piece in permanently.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div></div></div>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-80250646009330780962010-07-05T19:55:00.001-07:002010-07-05T20:45:56.140-07:00Man-Bench & Sand-Tastic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49qsbXPUnymisiDMdPqvfBIFvRVBBEfxNwm-ZCOjEb-JWKQE60jxMAnoFy1nhOmUES5iHxwRJ3LWBm3_c1nwp4iXvAKeAL1oUlPCnuX2UUYoRObWULAHmii3pz-bqiCjcjKJqIjvPQHta/s1600/VW143.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49qsbXPUnymisiDMdPqvfBIFvRVBBEfxNwm-ZCOjEb-JWKQE60jxMAnoFy1nhOmUES5iHxwRJ3LWBm3_c1nwp4iXvAKeAL1oUlPCnuX2UUYoRObWULAHmii3pz-bqiCjcjKJqIjvPQHta/s320/VW143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490628051037660402" border="0" /></a><br />It's been about 2 months since I've worked on the car. However, with reaallllly good cause. I scored some solid oak cabinets from my neighbor. I was able to use these to make a great workbench. I took the workbench I had and chopped off about 2 feet and put some casters on it. I topped the new work bench off with some high quality plywood and polyurethaned it. It has a lazy susan too! So now I have a nice finish workbench and rolling workbench that can come out and be moved around the garage......nice.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I saw the 4th of July Holiday weekend as a perfect opportunity to jump on the bug. I had to do some paint removal on the fenders and hood. I had a feeling that there would be a fair amount of filler under the pink goo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41x26spF3vub2jOpF2Vj6cpnY9AXSVgE7SaKqyOgWLiu2rBrW-urA62pzVZj0AFmA27P7nt_FP_7wT7CgE-HIYFSvWGV6AhWCDf3sRRXneAZQ_Nd_pcbSu3ZzLF8eOgP_h4Q-akFIC0nn/s1600/VW141.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41x26spF3vub2jOpF2Vj6cpnY9AXSVgE7SaKqyOgWLiu2rBrW-urA62pzVZj0AFmA27P7nt_FP_7wT7CgE-HIYFSvWGV6AhWCDf3sRRXneAZQ_Nd_pcbSu3ZzLF8eOgP_h4Q-akFIC0nn/s320/VW141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490629573857063986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdwaL5kHWP5qV37BVb7fn7H_6VbBKfLACQVlYQr8mmKUnLjD5NWrtOcvSwTMxiNkJWXL6iAzV1sD1QVkNFXvXq7HIaSYNOFLqp92XkrbBPJ9ijU-Q8lQ7pRiCoNfvwbHxG8UW8emcyISg/s1600/VW140.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdwaL5kHWP5qV37BVb7fn7H_6VbBKfLACQVlYQr8mmKUnLjD5NWrtOcvSwTMxiNkJWXL6iAzV1sD1QVkNFXvXq7HIaSYNOFLqp92XkrbBPJ9ijU-Q8lQ7pRiCoNfvwbHxG8UW8emcyISg/s320/VW140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490630252420623506" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Sadly, I was right. Boy I spend the better two days stripping, sanding, and scraping. The final product was very nice though. What I found is that the parts are in great shape, especially for their age. There is some pitting in areas and perforations. Despite this, I should be able to weld up the trouble spots with minimal filler......the way it SHOULD be done.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQDj8Ac2RtSVg2LwpII2O0eu-ll6bljKUV0uAuktMlaLGYxzFTOtdM2Dv4zPJbviRugnX9mLbAgF_wW9azmp4ONq65WH_eAk2d0vUhxEZWZkZyJwWEjzOvFv3wlvmyctVCksuV8lZ6dvO/s1600/VW139.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQDj8Ac2RtSVg2LwpII2O0eu-ll6bljKUV0uAuktMlaLGYxzFTOtdM2Dv4zPJbviRugnX9mLbAgF_wW9azmp4ONq65WH_eAk2d0vUhxEZWZkZyJwWEjzOvFv3wlvmyctVCksuV8lZ6dvO/s320/VW139.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490631683606432354" border="0" /></a><br />The only two major parts that need scrubbing and cleaning are the doors and the engine deck lid. The deck lid will take some major energy. I kick myself because I forgot to bring it when I sandblasted the body.....damn! It's going to make cleaning the nooks and crannies tough, but I'm sure I can get it done.<br /><br />My good friend, Jon, is going to come over next weekend. He IS the man! We're going to work on a mix of the nose, rear apron, side members under the heater channels, and fender & hood issues. I'm hoping to get lots of insight and direction. It's gettin' there!M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-57299113510005109882010-05-15T17:56:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:01:33.442-07:00Blessing and a CurseThe Curse: I had planned a great vacation for everyone. I had enough points with Marriott and Delta to get a free hotel for a week and free flights for everyone. We were going to surprise the kids the morning of and tell them we were FLYING to Orlando; one day at Disney, one day at Sea World, etc. Well Whitney’s ankles have become an issue. The doctor told her that she can’t stand, sit, or walk too much because it cause more issues. The only thing that will fix it is popping that baby out. So we canceled.<br /><br />The Blessing: So now I’m on vacation and nowhere to go……mmm…..might as well work on the Oval! I scramble to the phone and make arrangements to borrow my brother-in-law’s trailer (you da’man), call me buds Pete and Brian to see if I can sandblast at the shop, and of course check with the wifey. SCORE! I head out to get all the sandblasting media and take the body over to Pete’s shop (also…da’man). I get the all the bad spots and skim the rest of the body to make the paint stripping a bit easier. I took care of the fenders and hood, too. Sadly, it wasn’t until I got home I didn’t realize that I forgot about the rear decklid and the wheel rims. I’ll just have to figure that out later. I did all this in about two days. I think I really only picked the car up about 6 times with help. After it was done, I felt like somebody had shot me all over my body with a paintball gun…….and then a 2x4. Clearly I’m not quite as fit as I once was.<br /><br />I got the body home and got here settled again back in the garage. After a couple of weekends, I decided it would be best to finish the job before the humidity set in. I didn’t want to get any flash rusting. I found some powerful stinky stuff that would take off your skin like that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark……or maybe Fight Club depending on your generation. It took me about 8 hours but I was able to get all the paint off, sanded, and etching primer down. A few times the gooey paint that was sizzling up spattered on my arm. YOUCH! I may be out of shape but I can still move pretty quick to get that crap off of me. The wife had to come out a shut me down because it was Sunday night about 12:30 AM and I was using the orbital sander to get the last of the original black lacquer off and some filler. Made the last part go a bit longer, but I finished it off the old fashioned way by hand.<br /><br />After I stood back and looked at what I had done, I finally felt like I made it over another hump. The next day my wife actually made a comment, as she walks by with groceries in her arms, “look like your making some progress”. MY LORD, that’s huge! If she noticed that then I really have done something. Well I’m ready to finish up that nose, maybe the underside of the heater channels, or the rear apron. I’d like to tackle this myself, but I think it would be better to have two heads around this one. I still need to strip and sand the fenders, hood, decklid, and doors. I got plenty to do so I’ll tackle that and hope that I can get Jon to come over sometime in the near future.M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-91710958660844461312010-04-06T22:13:00.000-07:002010-04-06T22:15:18.944-07:00Bugs and Babies.....oh my.3-21-10<br /><br />I’ve taken off some time not only from this project but also the memoir. Things have been just too entirely busy and demanding. At time I begin to feel that my schedule is the dog and I’ve become the tail. Since my most memorable, frustrating, and fearful part of this restoration I’ve made some substantial progress. I have to think back because I’ve snuck in a few moments with the Oval. <br /><br />Starting with the clutch cable fiasco. Now that it was out, I flushed it with Purple Power and hot water. I used a small funnel and a hose and pushed all the nasty crap out of it. Then we blew compressed air through it and it couldn’t be better. <br /><br />Now I’ve taken some time off from the car. Not for any other reason but to free my family from debt. It took about 7 months of strict behavioral changes, selling of personal items, and careful planning. Fortunately, selling the Bug was not part of the conversation. As if….. I made the commitment with my bride to not spend a dime on the car until we were debt free. However, when we were, it would be FULL STEAM. <br /><br />So I placed my first substantial order to get things going. I started a new position in the company I work for which has monopolized virtually every moment of my time 7 days a week for the first 45 days. It was becoming ridiculous. I actually had the parts at the house for over 2 weeks before I even touched anything. I mean, come on, to sit anxiously pining away for a car that you know you are not going to work on is like a fat kid pressing your face against the glass of a bakery that is closed for a VIP party. <br /><br />I asked my friend Jon over since we hadn’t seen each other in awhile nor talked due to the holidays and the new job. Besides it was time that we commiserate on the current economic and political state of affairs. I asked Steve if he wanted to come over to scratch and fart too. The Saturday that I had been waiting for had finally come with a grateful surprise. Jon, Steve, Steve’s dad Tom, and Dave, all came over to help me put on the parts that I had brought it. I couldn’t believe it!!! Everyone wanted to help get this project moving forward. I suppose it was because they were tired of hearing my pathetic story or because they were hoping to see more progression. Either way it was phenomenal. Here’s the recap on what we did.<br /><br />I decided to update the front brakes to disc brakes. I decided to drop the $500 because it would be a better insurance policy than anything I could by. All that time and energy could be wasted if I can’t stop and crash into some SUV. That’s how I got here in the first place! Those were installed with relative ease. We installed the shocks which wasn’t too bad, but required a little persuasion with the bushing’s on the front beam. They had rusted on there unknowingly. Dave cut them off with a Dremel and the shocks went on no sweat. We sandblasted a few parts like the rear brake back plate, the pedal assembly, and wheel drums. I finished up the wheel bearings in the rear, assembled the rear shoe brakes (of course after I switched the back brake plates that I put on backwards – right on the left and left on the right…duh). Got the clutch cable and pedal assembly attached. Heater cables and knob assembled. Gear shift and knob functioning correctly. Brand new brake lines bent and assembled. And last, the transmission connected to the gear shaft.<br /><br />Jon said, “Let’s go get the wheels”. I paused and thought to myself skeptically, that surely he’s joking and we wouldn’t do that yet. But we could!! So we did!! Damn, it’s actually looking like a car now. It’s so gratifying to actually feel like I’m making progress. Except for restoring the brake fluid reservoir and blasting the wheel rims, this chassis is DONE. I was going to order a new reservoir, but they said they just end up leaking. That is VERY BAD. Holy crap. If I hadn’t talked to Wolfsburg West, I would never have known that. That’s just why you don’t by off e-baby, or just some reseller. It pays to buy from a resource. They may charge a bit more but it’s so worth the extra cash. <br /><br />I’m going to put the MBA on hold. We have a baby girl on the way (yahoo!) and my new job is very demanding. Finishing this car is a high priority for me so come April 25th I’ll be free to charge forward on this at full steam. Right now, I’m only catching a couple of hours here and there when a new part comes in. The baby is due around 7/30/10 so I better haul ass! <br /><br />Now comes the next phase strategy. Do I move to the body or the engine? Perhaps, both? I think that I could get the engine going in 2 weekends. One to finish disassembling and partial reassemble. A second weekend would be to finish the reassembly and start and fine tune. I better get the body moving forward at least to sandblast (just the lower portion) and primer so I can take my time with the body rebuild and welding. Next stop……sand blasting.M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-59094773603153652162010-04-06T21:53:00.000-07:002010-04-06T22:03:15.783-07:00The Big Black Booger<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmtouch%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmtouch%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmtouch%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> 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</xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">11/1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well it’s a glooorious day!<span style=""> </span>It’s Halloween night and I mention to Dave (bus man helped Steve next door) how I’ve screwed the pooch on the clutch cable fiasco.<span style=""> </span>I described my misery and how I’m unmotivated by the whole thing.<span style=""> </span>He describes an idea of some kind of fence puller.<span style=""> </span>I’m not entirely sure where he’s comin’ from so I just let him run with the idea.<span style=""> </span>He offers to come over in the morning, so I figure, “what the hell?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dave comes over with this old piece of crap that looks like a Viking tool that he found in an old shed somewhere.<span style=""> </span>He hooks this apparatus up to the front of the car and I start to gain anxiety.<span style=""> </span>What if it pulls the conduit apart?<span style=""> </span>What if I bend the front beam?<span style=""> </span>HOLY CRAP!<span style=""> </span>I better tell him to stop!<span style=""> </span>Just then, we give it a tug and that son of a bitch cable just came right out like a thick black booger.<span style=""> </span>I jumped for joy and spun around like the idiot I felt like.<span style=""> </span>This tool is designed to stretch fence wire around farms.<span style=""> </span>I don’t think it could have been any better.<span style=""> </span>It was like four monkeys were swatted off my back.<span style=""> </span>I was a new man and ready to charge forward.<span style=""> </span>Finally……I can get moving on this project again.<span style=""> </span>Dave……..you da’ man.<span style=""> </span></p> M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-50526047957649047502009-08-07T19:47:00.000-07:002009-08-07T19:51:54.452-07:00Always Get a Second Opinion8-8-09<br /><br />I decide to put on the last of the parts from the “birthday order”.<span style=""> </span>I cleaned up the gear shift lever and reinstalled the shaft too.<span style=""> </span>Everything fit great!<span style=""> </span>Small surprise though.<span style=""> </span>I realized that the coupler to the transmission has an unthreaded side.<span style=""> </span>No big deal as I’ll just reorder another one…..$11.00 no problem.<span style=""> </span>I moved on to install the emergency brake cable…..done.<span style=""> </span>I then insert the clutch cable with no problems.<span style=""> </span>I’m thrilled and ready to call it a day.<span style=""> </span>Then I decide to move the clutch cable back and forth and I hear a crusty-scratchy noise.<span style=""> </span>There was sand from the blasting in the conduit tube.<span style=""> </span>Being the perfectionist, I am resolved that I cannot have this noise every time I push the clutch in.<span style=""> </span>Not in my car!<span style=""> </span>I attach a small amount of cheesecloth with duct tape and pull the cable back out………then………CRAP!<span style=""> </span>The damn thing is stuck half way.<span style=""> </span>Of all the stupid, jackass, idiotic, thumb up the butt things to do.<span style=""> </span>The caveman in me grunts and says, “pull harder”.<span style=""> </span>This is the moment that I which I had gone over to Steve’s house to get a second opinion before I pulled the cheesecloth through.<span style=""> </span>It is absolutely stuck and there is no way of backing this thing out.<span style=""> </span>Now I’m so angry and I’m searching desperately to find something to throw and everything in reach is already restored.<span style=""> </span>I just head into the house and create every compound curse word I can think of while Right Brain looks at me not sure if she should run or console me.<span style=""> </span>One look from me and she walked into the next room.<p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">Now I’m stuck with a terrible dilemma.<span style=""> </span>How do you get this stupid cable out of the tunnel conduit?<span style=""> </span>The last thing I want to do is tear open this tunnel.<span style=""> </span>I might try a come along which will really yank it out and most likely destroy the tube.<span style=""> </span>But if I can’t get it out I’ll have to install a new tube anyway.<span style=""> </span>Must think long time.</p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Time to put the project on hold.<span style=""> </span>This hurts as I’m so excited and so anxious to finish this and drive.<span style=""> </span>Right Brain and I have decided to change our lives and behaviors.<span style=""> </span>We are striving to be debt free in 6 months.<span style=""> </span>Part of my sacrifice is that I won’t invest any more cash until we are debt free except for the house.<span style=""> </span>It’s tough but it’s prudent during tough economic times.<span style=""> </span>Of course there’s always Christmas Money <span style="">:-)</span></p>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-39017297587301823722009-08-07T19:42:00.000-07:002009-08-07T19:54:47.859-07:00Shiny Tranny<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">6-10-09</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Ok….the MBA is vetty vetty laborious.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now that it’s summer time I’ve jumped back into the Bug.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I cleaned up the transaxle spending most of my time just trying to get the aluminum to shine.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I scraped what looked like Tammy Fae Baker make-up off with a screwdriver and 4-in-1 tool.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then I brought my corded drill with a metal brush on the end to it to get it all shiny. Steve next door brought over the “purple power” and I borrowed his pressure washer to give a real good clean.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It worked great for the oily bell from the leaky seal but it didn’t do much for the outside.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That took me by surprise.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I took off the old nasty axle boots and wiped down and brushed up the axles too.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Steve came over and helped me mount the transmission.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To my complete astonishment, my wife participated!</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">She came out to guide the nose cone through the chassis……what a dame…..nice stems too.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also replaced the front 4 bolts with 10.9 bolts.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">SMART MOVE.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The difference was night and day.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I can’t imagine driving along and watching the front end drop to the ground.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I shudder as I type.</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now that I got the transmission back on I realized that I’m missing the rubber gasket that goes there.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Crap.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">That’s ok.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I ordered a bunch of parts from birthday money I had stashed.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Bought chassis parts mostly.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Once they came in I replaced the bearings and seals in the rear axles, and fixed that boot.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I had the “moment” though.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I had a rough day and decided to work on the car to cheer me up.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Bad choice.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">As Steve and I readjusted the transaxle to put the nose to chassis boot on I ripped one of the new axle boots.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Steve laughed of course as I proceeded to physically abuse my garbage can with a push broom.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I couldn’t help but get medieval venting my frustrations……..I called it a day.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now I’m ready to get back in the game.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Another long Saturday and I could have the chassis done except for the brakes.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m saving that since I’m going with the front disc brake conversion.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I think it’s a small investment to protect this car.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Everyone love driving but I sure love being able to stop.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I need to go back to my buddy Pete’s shop and sandblast some more.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m getting ready to reinstall the pedal assembly and other do dads on the chassis.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Feels better going downhill as I’m now assembling things.</span></p>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-82635640196858530392009-01-03T18:08:00.000-08:002009-01-03T18:23:33.480-08:00Front Beam<!--[endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">1/3/09</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />Another year is here.<span style=""> </span>Christmas has come and gone faster than the year before as always.<span style=""> </span>However, we made it through the annual saga.<span style=""> </span>Our vacation was cancelled due to Nick’s viral throat infection.<span style=""> </span>When we took him to the doctor we were crossing our fingers and hoping that he had strep.<span style=""> </span>I know that sounds morbid and twisted but there is truly logic behind this.<span style=""> </span>Because of the modern marvel of antibiotics a child can be cured within 24 hours of an illness.<span style=""> </span>If the illness is viral it can take anywhere from 3 days to 10 days.<span style=""> </span>We knew if his illness was viral we’d have to cancel the trip.<span style=""> </span>His immune system just couldn’t take the stimulation overload and overexcitement from Wally World.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The good fortune from this was that I was able to focus on the bug a bit.<span style=""> </span>Jon came over again since he had some time off.<span style=""> </span>We thumb ducked a bit pushing some parts around trying to find some things to do on the oval. <span style=""> </span>I hadn’t planned on working on it so I never ordered any parts.<span style=""> </span>We pulled the engine apart to get a better look at what we had to work with.<span style=""> </span>It’s in pretty good shape but it looks like the left cylinder head needs a little attention.<span style=""> </span>There is a list of parts that I need before I can get it started so money will continue to be the limiting factor.<span style=""> </span>Overall it looked pretty good and just a bit dusty.<span style=""> </span>The best thing about Jon coming over and putzing around was that I got the inspiration that I was looking for.<span style=""> </span>I have felt bad that I haven’t put any time into the car since I started the MBA program.<span style=""> </span>I went to bed looking forward to the next day so that I could clean up the front beam and get it back on the floor pan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next day I cleaned the rockers and the valve covers.<span style=""> </span>I shot from WD40 in the ending and plugged up the holes with paper towels so that the engine stays lubed.<span style=""> </span>Then I started cleaning the front beam with a wire brush and engine cleaner.<span style=""> </span>It took a fair amount of time but it came out looking great.<span style=""> </span>I painted it with the rust converter, etching primer, and black paint and it looks amazing.<span style=""> </span>I lubed the tie rod ends and hung my hat for the day.<span style=""> </span>I’m in a pickle though.<span style=""> </span>I’m tempted to use the same 4 bolts that I have for the front beam to attach to the frame head but they are a bit rusty.<span style=""> </span>I’m going to try the hardware store to see if they have new ones.<span style=""> </span>If not then I’ll just scrub them and use them anyway.<span style=""> </span>I think getting the front beam back on is a big milestone as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My next step is to order a bunch of parts that are needed for the front beam, the rear transaxle and the floor pan in general.<span style=""> </span>I’m saving the brakes for last on the floor pan initiative because they are damn expensive.<span style=""> </span>The front disc brake conversion is going to cost me about $560 alone!<span style=""> </span>This way I’ll have some parts to get going on the project for awhile.<span style=""> </span>Once I get the front beam and rear transaxle done I’ll get the engine up and running so I can attach it and start running it.<span style=""> </span>I think it will keep me motivated.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Crap….forgot to take pictures.<span style=""> </span>Better go do that.</p>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-84274684433052880712008-11-29T17:59:00.000-08:002008-11-29T18:02:35.887-08:00Christmas Wish List<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmtouch%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmtouch%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">11/29/08</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Four months have gone by and I have not done anything on my bug.<span style=""> </span>This is very disturbing and discouraging.<span style=""> </span>Although I knew that once I started the MBA program I would have less time.<span style=""> </span>Don’t get me wrong I have A’s in both classes and I have found a groove.<span style=""> </span>I think if I had the money I might be able to work on it on the weekends or during the weeknights.<span style=""> </span>However, I have to say that the lack of funds is causing more of an issue.<span style=""> </span>I am hoping that things change in the beginning of next year considering that I have closed a big account.<span style=""> </span>The company also acquired another company so the sales people are hoping for a flux in our base salaries.<span style=""> </span>While I am hopeful, I think the salary bump is not as likely as Obama raising my taxes and socializing our government.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">My last chance is to hope that my wife buys me parts for the VW.<span style=""> </span>I need about $220.00 in parts to get going again.<span style=""> </span>I have to rebuild the front beam and the rear transaxle.<span style=""> </span>Then I can reattach it to the floor pan.<span style=""> </span>This would be wise as I can get the engine attached and running again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Santa if you’re reading this, please get me those tie rod ends……skip the red rider bee bee gun with the compass in the stock.<span style=""> </span>I might shoot my eye out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-8897903444251274622008-08-11T08:52:00.000-07:002008-08-11T09:01:35.519-07:00POR-15 Side of Things8/11/08<br /><p class="MsoNormal">Due to the lack of funds from my employer and the lack of approval from the domestic Chairman of the Board (a.k.a. my wife)<span style=""> </span>I was unable to purchase the parts that I was hoping to have to make the next stride in progress.<span style=""> </span>I was hoping to have the parts to rebuild the front beam and the rear transaxle but an order got pushed back at work and the commissions won’t come until next quarter.<span style=""> </span>However, there another source came through on a spiff so I can press forward.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I had planned a Sunday with my buddy Jon but since we didn’t have the parts he brought over some leftover POR-15 to my delightful surprise.<span style=""> </span>We cleaned up the pan and caulked the joints of the new pans with seam sealer.<span style=""> </span>We brushed on the POR-15 which went on easily.<span style=""> </span>It was like the floor pan transformed right in front of my eyes.<span style=""> </span>It only took about a pint to cover both the underside and the topside.<span style=""> </span>Now I am at the point where we can begin assembly!<span style=""> </span>I have already made the list of items I need to order so I should have those in about a month.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s nice having Jon over to help with this project. It has spawned not only a new friendship but creates a distraction from everything else. I think that is important for everyone to have. I believe sometimes we need therapy in the disguise of things we like to do.<span style=""> </span>Some would say that men need something to “fix” at all times.<span style=""> </span>Some women would say it’s because we don’t have the ability to create life.<span style=""> </span>Naaaaah.<span style=""> </span>I think it is because people like to feel accomplished.<span style=""> </span>The process allows us to find out who we really are.<span style=""> </span>It allows us to have pride and show someone “hey…..look at what I did.”<span style=""> </span>You can stand back after getting pushed around and beaten up and proudly say I finished this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I am very pleased with the progress of this project.<span style=""> </span>While I would like to be finished with it and be driving along with simple elation, I am consistently motivated.<span style=""> </span>A momentous benchmark has occurred.<span style=""> </span>The floor pan is solid and coated with POR-15.<span style=""> </span>It is starting to look and feel like a car.<span style=""> </span>I’m slightly concerned now.<span style=""> </span>On top of raising a family, working full time, and restoring a car, I have officially been accepted to ECU MBA program.<span style=""> </span>Things are going to get tough.<span style=""> </span>I’m not sure I’ll have all the time that I would like do to this new variable.<span style=""> </span>I have finished the office project.<span style=""> </span>That has taken up many weekends just trying to get that done.<span style=""> </span>I just have to stay focused and stick to schedules to get this done.<span style=""> </span>It may require a few nights during the week for an hour or so too.<span style=""> </span>I can’t let this project just linger on into the grey twilight of neither day nor night.<span style=""> </span>To infinity and beyond…….</p>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-51339256604660950142008-07-03T20:33:00.000-07:002008-07-03T20:34:44.941-07:00Floor Pan Progress PART II<p class="MsoNormal">7/3/08</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Due to my crazy schedule, which has juggled my father’s surgery and also taking the GMAT, and Jon’s schedule with his new job we couldn’t get together for him to help me finish the pans.<span style=""> </span>So I decided to take the plunge and embrace the unknown.<span style=""> </span>I sat down and looked at the pans, scratched my head.<span style=""> </span>I thought to myself that I could weld in these pans.<span style=""> </span>I turned the MIG welder on and went to it.<span style=""> </span>After some hammering, cursing, and beating the pans into submission, I spot welded the two rear pans myself!<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have three new floor pans now!<span style=""> </span>Jon was very helpful in this process.<span style=""> </span>I am so grateful for his assistance and his expertise.<span style=""> </span>He showed me how to weld and helped me get these floor pans in correctly.<span style=""> </span>Instead of just cutting out everything and putting in the new pans we took the time to cut out the rusty areas and insert the new pans that were cut to fit.<span style=""> </span>It took more time but I think it was well worth the effort.<span style=""> </span>This way I was able to keep the original seat tracks which are more robust and have a better integrity than the new replicated products.<span style=""> </span>I have to go back and put a few two inch beads around each rear pan.<span style=""> </span>This way I know the spot welds won’t come undone in any event.<span style=""> </span>I’m just thinking ahead and I don’t want the car to be back together and find that the spot welds came apart.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next step will be to turn over the floor pan grind down the lip where the edges of the pans meet.<span style=""> </span>Then I’ll sand down the pan and begin the POR-15 process.<span style=""> </span>I’ll have to order about $250 worth of parts to get the front beam and the rear transaxle put back together so I’ll probably order those parts soon.<span style=""> </span>I finally feel that this project is moving in an upward direction.</p>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-86785367506593449002008-06-21T07:54:00.000-07:002008-06-21T07:55:25.048-07:00Floor Pan Progress<p class="MsoNormal">6-21-08</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last weekend was not as productive as I intended but there was some definitive progress.<span style=""> </span>My good buddy Jon came over and gave me a great lesson in welding.<span style=""> </span>First we took a cutting air tool and tried to cut out the floor pans.<span style=""> </span>This proved to be quite laborious.<span style=""> </span>Quickly we ran over to the Bus Man, Steve and begged to borrow his sawzall.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>We cut the same amount of metal in a fraction of the time.<span style=""> </span>We spent most of the day just gabbing about aircooled stuff and checking in with Steve to take a look at his 72’ Bus.<span style=""> </span>Now the floor pan is ready for its new pans that I ordered.<span style=""> </span>I only needed three because the front right proved to be in great shape.<span style=""> </span>I ordered the Danish Quarter Pans because they are a much higher quality than the crap that comes out of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Brazil</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>I don’t want to be driving down the road and have my seats fly off the track!<span style=""> </span>They took entirely too long to get here.<span style=""> </span>There was a backorder and things took about 2 weeks longer than I had expected.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I decided to make my move on the front beam.<span style=""> </span>I have taken it apart down as far as I can go.<span style=""> </span>I’m amazed at the condition of the bearings.<span style=""> </span>They are in great shape with no signs of wear.<span style=""> </span>The next step will be to spray the front beam and rear transaxle with some Engine Brite and take it to the local car wash to spray off.<span style=""> </span>Then I can start bring both back to life.<span style=""> </span>I have to order about $250.00 worth of parts for it but it should keep me busy for awhile.<span style=""> </span>Jon’s coming over tomorrow!!!<span style=""> </span>Can’t wait ‘cause we’ll have a solid floor pan when he leaves……and that’s a good thing.</p>M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7194662340052956533.post-53476715564279102512008-06-01T14:15:00.000-07:002008-06-01T15:31:47.459-07:00Looking Back<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Perspective</span> can be a quagmire. I was overwhelmed this weekend by a photograph that I haven't seen in a long time. My birthday was this weekend and I was surprised with a picture of myself with my first Volkswagen. It was the 1965 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">VW</span> Bug in original black.<br /><br />My mother took this picture in the summer of 1991. I was a Junior in high school and a rising senior. My mother choreographed the pose emulating a picture of my grandfather whose had a picture taken in 1965 on the same beetle. I hesitantly sauntered up to my beetle and posed for my mother. She informed me after the fact why this was so important. I felt silly at first, then proud knowing I posed analogous to my grandfather who I never had the pleasure of getting to know.<br /><br />What is most strange is the emotion that I felt as I gazed at the picture. I always knew that I missed driving this car but what was shocking was the emotions that surfaced. I more than owned this vehicle. I did more than just drive it. I recalled how endearing this car was to me. I also noticed how nice the driveway looked. It reminded me of better times at my parents house during my high school years. The driveway looked great which hasn't been this way until lately. This simple picture has changed my perspective and what continues to drive me to bring this new 57 oval restoration to fruition. It is more than just a project. It has meaning to me. I'm looking forward to taking another picture next to the diamond green metallic with my foot resting on the running board. This time, however, I will feel differently and more proud. Perhaps Whitney, Bailey or Nick will want to put their foot up with me and smile.M. J. Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544200720412802196noreply@blogger.com0