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  #1  
Old June 5th 2004, 14:15
Bill K.'s Avatar
Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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Location: Woodinville, Wa
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Questions about Bill K.s ride

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  #2  
Old June 5th 2004, 15:00
Bill K.'s Avatar
Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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Location: Woodinville, Wa
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Introducing Bill's First Car

Hey everybody,

I've been using this site for about a year now and have learned alot from you all. I've always wanted a Porsche. But building a GL inspired bug has proven to be more rewarding.

I'm restoring my first car, a 70 bug, that I've owned for 20 years and driven daily for 15 years. It's something I've always wanted to do. Over the years I just got by with fixing whatever was totally broken. I stopped driving it daily when my twins were born and opted for a safer highway capable rig. Now the bug will be a weekender and evening cruiser. No doubt I'll take the long way to work here and there too.

Currently, the chassis, suspension, brakes, drive train, and body are done. The body is at the paint shop now. My gauges are being restored and electrical systems are on order. In a month I should be into final assembly.

Thanks again for all the great ideas and information. Your questions and comments are welcome.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg chassis.JPG (61.9 KB, 203 views)
File Type: jpg drivers heater channel.JPG (79.5 KB, 170 views)
File Type: jpg glimmer of hope.JPG (68.3 KB, 212 views)
File Type: jpg 16X6 Fuchs.JPG (79.2 KB, 173 views)
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  #3  
Old June 5th 2004, 17:58
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boygenius boygenius is offline
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Location: Spring Hill. Florida
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Nice looking car... :agree:

How do you like your RLR bolt in cage...
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I love my money pit, uhm, err, I mean my car.
1969 beetle in the works... 2.0 type 4 DTM...
2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 crashed
www.volksport.net Volksport Kfer Gruppe
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  #4  
Old June 5th 2004, 20:52
Bill K.'s Avatar
Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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RLR Roll/Traction Bar

The RLR roll bar is really nice. I don't plan on racing much, it's for my kids (SUV protection).

I went full-on with the chomoly construction, dual door bars, and traction bar. It installed easily without seats in the car. The traction bar bolts onto the curved sides of the rear transmission bracket and to the bottom of the luggage compartment where the rear bars mount (sandwiching the skin). Once installed, the seats drop right in. With stock seat, there is about 1" clearance to the door bar and tilt is a little constricted due to the high sides of the 70 seats. Procar Rally seats have a little more side room, can move all the way back, and tilt further back before hitting the verticle part of the main bar. The door bar takes a little getting used to when getting in and out, but not a big deal. I'm having it powdercoated for a durable finish. I don't have a rear seat. If you did, be sure to warm up and stretch out good before attempting the vault and twister.

Thanks for the :agree:
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  #5  
Old June 5th 2004, 21:10
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boygenius boygenius is offline
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Cool thanks for the information... I too want a roll cage/bar more for protection against idiot drivers than for racing... For some reason people want to park their cars in my engine compartment...
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I love my money pit, uhm, err, I mean my car.
1969 beetle in the works... 2.0 type 4 DTM...
2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 crashed
www.volksport.net Volksport Kfer Gruppe
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  #6  
Old June 5th 2004, 22:03
Bill K.'s Avatar
Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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Rear end safety

Rear enders in pre72 bugs can rip the seat off the rails and send you head first into the rear window as the car gets shot forward. Procar seat rails bolt to the original pan rails and are way more robust than the original. The tilt mechanism is also beefier. Reinforcing the rails-to-pan welds is also a good idea.

Another rear end safety mod is a third tail light and rapid flashing brake light module. The blink really caught my attention on a New Beetle I saw with this flasher module.

Nothing beats luck with good defensive driving.
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  #7  
Old June 5th 2004, 22:19
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boygenius boygenius is offline
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Well my car will be red so I can only hope that people will see me. I thought about the third brake light option. I was also thinking about some LED bulbs for my tailights. Only problem is I don't know if the late 73+ lights have the bulb facing backwards or down like my 69 tailights.
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I love my money pit, uhm, err, I mean my car.
1969 beetle in the works... 2.0 type 4 DTM...
2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 crashed
www.volksport.net Volksport Kfer Gruppe
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  #8  
Old June 6th 2004, 02:53
Bill K.'s Avatar
Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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LED Brake Lights

Good call on the LED brake lights. I'm considering Custom Dynamics 1157 1.85" clusters for my smoked elephant feet. Spendy though at $50 each. Intensity, wide angle viewing, and high intensity differential between tail and brake modes are the factors to check for when selecting a LED tail/brake light. Good motorcycle info here.

LED's would work in all bug rear light assemblies. They all point straight back. It's the reverse light that points down in the 68-72's.
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  #9  
Old June 6th 2004, 13:06
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Timmy_Barns Timmy_Barns is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boygenius
Well my car will be red so I can only hope that people will see me. I thought about the third brake light option. I was also thinking about some LED bulbs for my tailights. Only problem is I don't know if the late 73+ lights have the bulb facing backwards or down like my 69 tailights.

Hey Boygenius, Right now my super is bright orange, and people still dont see it, I almsot had a new Dodge Ram ram me (Sorry for that pun) and he didnt even slow down, the jerk.... had that happen a couple of times.
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  #10  
Old June 6th 2004, 13:12
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boygenius boygenius is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill K.

LED's would work in all bug rear light assemblies. They all point straight back. It's the reverse light that points down in the 68-72's.

It has been too long since I last worked on my bug when it had wires in it.
__________________
I love my money pit, uhm, err, I mean my car.
1969 beetle in the works... 2.0 type 4 DTM...
2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 crashed
www.volksport.net Volksport Kfer Gruppe
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  #11  
Old July 23rd 2004, 03:51
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Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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Final Assembly

Today paint is done! Chassis is wired and sound deadened. Trany is hooked up. Engine can't wait to run. Windows are powdered and tinted. Steering wheel and gauges are in the mail. It's time to put it all together and go.

Enjoyin' the ride,
Bill
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  #12  
Old July 23rd 2004, 10:15
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zen zen is offline
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man you work quick. wish my paint would have gone that quick. then again, very little went/is going right with timing on this car.

congrats! make sure we see some pics of the process.
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  #13  
Old July 23rd 2004, 21:35
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Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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Here's some of the paint:

Chassis ready for final assembly

Painted body off and in pieces

Porsche Lapis Metallic Blue

Smoothed deck lid and rear apron

Filled hood grill

Wiring next -- Watson Streetworks wiring kit plus GM Weatherpack quick connects for engine and lights.

Zen. Ya it's been a fun year and a half. North Highlands Paint & Body took about 7 weeks and I was out of town for about 3 weeks, so that worked out nice. I love making milestones happen. It's great to do things I've never done before and see it all work out. Having this car 20 years has taught me a lot. I've always wanted to do this and I'm thankful for the support from my family and financial resources that were needed to do it.

Keep on keepin' on,
Bill

Last edited by Bill K.; October 23rd 2004 at 10:30.
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  #14  
Old July 27th 2004, 13:16
Kafer_Mike Kafer_Mike is offline
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Hey Bill, any pictures with the wide CCC fenders bolted up. I'm hoping to run the same tire/wheel combo on my '69 . Our front end set-ups are identical. I'm questioning whether I can go with stock front fenders (and a 2" narrow beam) up front and 1 1/2" wider in the rear.
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  #15  
Old July 27th 2004, 13:40
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Bill K. Bill K. is offline
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No pictures yet. But I think I'm going to get a 1" spacer for the front. I'll decide after it's all together and settled. I decided to go with wider fenders so the track would be widened for better handling. Plus I like the wide look. I'll post pictures after I mount the fenders in a few weeks (no spacers yet).
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