you could adjust the steering stops just short of the wheel contacting the sway bar. It would cut dow on your turning radius but would not foul the wheels.

No dice on that one. These particular wheels were fouling right on the end of the sway bar (where it's cut, after the clamps) and I couldn't even turn the steering wheel a half turn in either direction.

Once I get the rally car ready for ice racing I'll bring the bug back in the garage and take some photos with the sway bar reinstalled.

-Dave

Whoa sweet, I'd be interested to see how you solve the sway bar problem,my brother may be running into that as well...

Hi

There was company in Australia called Whiteline that made sway bars for ball joint front ends. It replaced the stock bar and was mounted on the front of the beam with links going to the lower shock mount.

Steve

Good call Steve. Someone in another thread pointed out that Aircooled.net has them listed on their website.


Finally got the rally car finished for ice racing and the bug back into the garage. Here's the shots of the sway bar interference. I just zip-tied the sway bar on...but the problem is pretty clear.

Here's the stock size, for comparison...
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/...5f733d2c24.jpg

And with the new wheels on, which are obviously just a bit wider ;)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/...689d3d6e45.jpg

Once the car is on the ground and the suspension compressed, the sway bar is right in the middle of the rim lip.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2800/...387a9077b9.jpg
Above is the whiteline sway bar sold by Aircooled.net which would solve all my problems, but there's a few things I'm not stoked on. The strut nut is already single-shear (not ideal, and the sway bar will add more load to it. Might be my only choice though.

-Dave

The project list is never ending! Last night while looking at the sway bar issues, I figured it was worth crossing off a few other items on the list. Mid summer a guy's muffler fell off on the Sea-To-Sky, just as I was coming up to pass. Chose to smoke it with the apron, since it was a panel that I knew needed replacing.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/...af81991257.jpg

Hammered out the dent last night and discovered the metal is even thinner then I expected...it was essentially swiss cheese and I knocked out large sections of bondo and metal. After cutting and welding a patch in I smoothed it out and got it painted. Its definitely a temp-fix, but I don't have a spare apron handy and I need the garage space for Connor's Mustang project.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/...184e028158.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2726/...1e303fcee4.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/...102bf3f702.jpg

The color change is interesting...same paint I shot the car with, but I suppose it has had almost a year of UV. Hopefully it won't be as noticeable with the bumper on. Probably should have considered shooting this somewhere else besides my garage, the house still smells like a paint shop 12 hours later!

-Dave

The garage has been taken over with spraybooth version 2.0, so that we could prime my housemates '66 mini (fresh from chemical dipping). That doesn't leave any room in the garage for the bug, so I've been puttering around on some minor projects.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/...ec813ae861.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/...779f3795f7.jpg

The 914 tach suits my 'classic'/'GL'/'rally' style perfectly. Provides the RPM information front and center, while still using a classic piece instead of a modern gauge. I would honestly run with just the 914 tach, but I need a speedo and fuel gauge for rallying. That's why I ended up tossing the stock speedo next to the tach, even though I've never liked the look. Using the 914 Speedo would mean I'd have issues with fuel gauge and warning lights, thus I'd have to try and fit the 914 multi-gauge...and the problems just continue.

Since I can't work on any of the 'big items', and I'm left with just my workbench...I started looking at the 914 multi gauge for ideas, and soon my work bench look like a watch repair shop.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/...d02e07a281.jpg

My original plan was to see if I couldn't marry the beetle speedo unit with the 914 fuel gauge, but it was going to take a lot more effort then I was willing to put in. I did get a good rough start at it, but decided I didn't want a multi-day epic for a single gauge. My attention then turned to modifying a Beetle speedo to be more Porsche-like. The '72 speedo I had matches the 914 text and colors better then my '69, so I started there.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/...4197ec8ef9.jpg
...a little paint.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/...54c0e76669.jpg
...a little drill bit.

...some spray paint (not shown)...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/...86f52c7d1f.jpg
And now ready to mount. I think this should make me a little happier.

I haven't popped it in yet, as I'm thinking about changing the mounting system I have. Ran out of time on this project...the mini was done faster then expected, so I took over the spray booth for some Mustang pieces.

-Dave

Since the spray booth was up...satin black.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/...782cb7df_o.jpg

-Dave

that's LOOKING Sweet man... :)

Chris.

lol, it's not _all_ looks. I'm slowly amassing parts for my (relatively) mild engine build, and there's a good chance I'm pulling a Porsche tranny tonight. No plans to do the tranny this year, while the body is on the pan, but I figure I better put in the garage while it's available!

-Dave

Love the look your going for.
Maybe just needs to sit a little lower....but thats just me. That satin blk trim should be awesome!

Looks bitch'n man !!

Somehow I missed this earlier. Very Nice! :)

Thanks!

The satin black won't be on the car for a bit...I rushed the trim strips trying to get some Mustang interior stuff done...and, well, I'll be redoing the aluminum strips :P Can't drop it any lower, we've raced the car a couple of times in some tarmac rallies and it's too low for driving hard on the mountain roads around here.

I'm ditching the thin oil pan I've added to the bottom of the engine and moving to an Accusump setup...assuming the boys at the parts shop can finally get the correct one in! Haven't quite figured out where I'm going to mount it yet, but it's definitely the way to go.
http://www.cantonracingproducts.com/....php?id=24-046

-Dave

Hi

I have an Accusump as well, I was going to mount mine under the rear fender.

Steve