Everyday GL Driver
 

Well here is the start of my build. I purchased this 1969 bug from the 2nd owner. It is a original black plate california car. My goal is to build a sweet little 1969 GL bug that handles, stops, and runs hard. Right now my priorities are to get it running well and reliable.

THis last sunday we were able to take off all the stock suspension in the front. We replaced it with a 2" narrowed beam, KYB GR2 shocks, drop spindles, and disk brakes.

I then replaced the rear drum brakes and put on some disk brakes and KYB GR2 shocks. Put on some new wheels and tires

Changes out the shift rod bushing, adjusted the shifter, and now we are getting ready to pull the motor and replace the clutch disk.

Before Bug O this weekend I would like to give the motor a tune up, change the fluids, replace most of the seals on the body with new ones, replace the headlights with new H$ lenses & install HID's, then give it a real nice detail job.


Here is how it sits right now and I will keep up the pics as I take more. ( sorry bought the quality of pics )

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo-1_426.jpg

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo_329.jpg




Thanks for taking a look.
Jeff

Very nice! What a great car!

Great looking car, a daily driver too, cool.

Nice looking car

Wow, you're fast! Where do you do your work? Looking very nice. Are you going to drop it at all? I wish you'd let me know your going so fast, I've got Porsche drilled rotors for ya.

Call me - 707-292-9558

Jason

We did put on porsche drilled rotors all the way arround. I would like to drop it a bit more and after we figure out the front we will go from there. A 7.5" wide rim in the front is a WIDE rim under a stock fender. I have some more spacers comming in hopes of getting it to turn some more !!!! I wish the rims were like 6" wide then it would be eaiser ! I will keep the updates coming and i hope to still have it at bug o.

Jeff

Lookn' sweet!! ;)

Looks nice.. good work!

Looking much better now. You are well on your way.

Quality of the pics are fine. Quality of what's in the pics are fine, too. :cheers:

Thanks for all the responses guys. I will not have the car ready for bug O. I will be there though, and I plan on working on the car all day on Monday. I will post up more pics as I get them.

Jeff

Well I finally got to finish the car so I can drive it this week. Sorry it took me so long to update the progress. We tore the body apart and changed all the seals except the turn signals but I will get to those !! I changed all the seals because back when the car was re sprayed they just painted over ALL the seals and I do not really like the look. We repainted the backs of all the bumpers, blasted and painted all the bumper brackets. Cleaned ALL fender wells and re undercoated all of them. Blasted the license plates and redid one of them for the time being. Also put in some H4 lenses with some HID's. Next I plan on doing some interior work. I will keep pics posted as I get it done. Here are some more pics.

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo-6.jpg

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo-7.jpg

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo-8.jpg

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo-10.jpg

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo-11.jpg

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo-12.jpg

Looks really clean! Did you just use primer for the bumpers? Also, how did you repaint the plate, is it regular paint or is the yellow reflective?

the back of the bumpers we used a grey hammertone paint. As far as the licence plate i blasted it and the it was re shot with gloss black. Then the numbers were painted with the same shade of yellow they used back in the day. The yellow is not reflective and i do not think it was ever reflective in its original state either.

Jeff

Just wanted to bring this back to the top. I have come to the conclusion that a 7.5" wide rim in the front sucks under a stock width fender.......

I am changing the rims with something new. I have not seen these on a german look bug yet. I have only seen then on a notch and a bus I think. The fronts are getting narrowed and I the were getting finished up today.

Also started to build another small motor for it and have been gathering other parts as well.

Here is how it sits right now. New rims and tires coming soon though !!

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/photo_872.jpg

you looking to sell those wheels?

Check your PM's

Got my wheels today. Tires are getting mounted tomorrow. More pics soon.......

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/new_rims.jpg

Very nice wheels you got there! Can't wait to see them mounted.

Nice wheels..

I need to win the lottery.. :(
Alex

Should look sweet. What are those from and what the dimensions?

Wow, now those are some GREAT looking wheels!

Can't wait to see them on your ride!

New here and have a ton of questions, but I'll start with just one. Tell me about your experience running 7.5 rims- I've read alot about reduced turning radius with wider rims- Is this because of interference issues with the tires, or having to do with the footprint of the tire?

Thanks for all the replys guys. I am still waiting on my front rims to get the tires mounted on them. I did get the rear rims with the tires mounted and here is a picture of those. 17x7.5 with a 205-50-17 Hankook V12's

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/rear.jpg

I will keep the pics coming as I get the rims back from the shop.


Hey bob,

getting a 7.5 inch rim under a stock fender is not all that hard. BUT the turning issue is another story !! We had the cup II's on there and narrowed the beam 2.5" to get the rims to just tuck with NO spacers. As far as the turning I have maybe and I say maybe, half turning radius. So with it being my daily driver I found these wheels. They are Porsche Cayenne v6 wheels. They are all 17x7.5's so I sent out the front 2 rims to get narrowed to 17x5.5's. I think this program will work a lot better for a stock fender application.

So the reduced turning radius is all due to tire rub?

I just found some 15 x 6.5, ET 30 (see wheel section)- any guesses as to interference?

Yes mine rubbed.

Finally got all the tires mounted. Put them all on the car and I like the fit for the most part. I need to narrow up another front beam to get the tires to tuck a little better so I can lower the front more. I also want and NEED to lower the rear more as well. Now it is time for me to start blacking out all the chrome.........


http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/new_rims_2.jpg

Those wheels look killer on the car!!!:clap::rockon::clap:

Will look great when its all blacked out! good job

Thanks guys ! More to come..........

Sweet! it's my clone...or i'm your clone...

Regardless, I love it :)

-Dave

Looks great! I love the way those wheels look on the bug and I can't wait to see it sitting lower

Well I got some more parts coming and I should have them next week. I am adding all urathane bushings under the car. I got 3/4 inch front and rear swaybars, and also got some 24.5mm rear torsion bars. I look forward to installing these parts and getting the rear a little lower at the same time.

The front end is completely done with a custom narrowed beam and I have NO TIRE RUB NOW !!

This car is just a blast to drive every day and I am living it !!

I will get some pics up next week of the progress !

Well I have gotten some motivation lately to work on my Daily Driver !! I installed the front 3/4" swaybar and I started to black out all the chrome. I only have the bumpers, hood handle, vw emblem, and window trim left to black out.

Here are a couple not so good cell pics.....

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/blacked_out_1.jpg

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/blacked_out_2.jpg

I still am in the process of mounting new front and rear seats. Need to also install the rear 24.5 torsion bars and rear 3/4" swaybar. I will try and get some more pics soon.

Jeff

Some 2" stainless exhaust tips :

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/exhaust.jpg

Dino Steering Wheel and a locking Berg shifter :

http://70.36.147.8/phpBB2/files/dino_wheel.jpg