07/2023 VMC Speedster Technical SPecs Project

9/10/2023

Stock Shocks

• Front
  
  • Type: Gas
  • Brand: AAA
  • Model #: 34314_3K
  • Price ≈ $35

• Rear
  • Type: Gas
  • Brand: AC Industries
  • Model #: 113513144
  • Price ≈ $35

9/10/2023

Hood handle fastening nut size: 8mm.

Note: if removing, stuff rags on either side of under hood openings so you don't lose the nut when removing or attempting to reinstall.

Cut hole in inner hood liner for the hood handle a little bigger (maybe 1/4" - but I used a dremel grinder).  You can then tighten the nut - and it will not be visible.  Later you may want to use carpet to line the upper hood and the lower area too.

9/10/2023

Jacking up the rear of the car

• Rear Jacking Point: at the base of the wishbone on the pan using a 2x4x12 block of wood (see the green rectangle in the picture below). This part of the pan is lower than the transmission, so the wood will not put pressure on anything but the pan..
• Rear Jack Stand Placement: under the torsion bars or the spring plates (see the green circles in the picture below).

9/10/2023

Headlight Switch

• URL: https://www.jbugs.com/product/113941531E.html
• Retailer: JBugs
• Cost: $19.95

Excellent posts, Joel.  A couple of tips:

1. You probably want to put a washer on the hood handle fastening nut to spread the forces out better and avoid damage to the fiberglass.
2. The red urethane transaxle mount visible above will almost certainly fail, as they always do.  Replace it with a rubber mount or a rhino mount when it does (or before if you're feeling proactive).

@Lane Anderson posted:

Excellent posts, Joel.  A couple of tips:

1. You probably want to put a washer on the hood handle fastening nut to spread the forces out better and avoid damage to the fiberglass.
2. The red urethane transaxle mount visible above will almost certainly fail, as they always do.  Replace it with a rubber mount or a rhino mount when it does (or before if you're feeling proactive).

That's not his car. It's a shot of somebody's VW Beetle. Look at the exhaust cutouts in the body, they'll tell the tale.

That red mount failed the second time I dropped the clutch. Must've been defective !  The second one failed the first time I dropped the clutch. So then I installed a Rhino, a front support and a rear mount, dropped the clutch and Whoopee !  No wheel hop and a LAUNCH nice and proper !..........Bruce

9/12/2023

Rudge-Style Knock-Off Wheel Removal and Mounting

• Knock-off caps on all wheels are tightened and loosened as normal - no counter-rotation needed because caps don't hold wheels onto axle
• Remove caps using a rubber, dead-blow mallet and a rag for padding
• Once the cap is removed, simply tap your finger a few times on the cap covering the lug nuts. It will separate from the wheel enough for you to use your finder to take it off.
• The five lug nuts are 19mm
• Each lug nut was torqued to 95 foot pounds when I first removed them upon delivery; hence, I torque them to 95 each time I remove and mount the wheels.

Make sure you recheck the torque after 25 or 50 miles. That is a MUST do for me. After that, they're good.