Al,
Chicago is a no-nonsense town with a bar on every corner, and often 3 or 4 in-between. It's got some of the best blues in the country. It's got pizza that weighs about 3 lbs a slice. The citizens take beer very, very seriously. It's a world-class city with a feel unlike anywhere else. There's not a lot of pretense there-- Chicago is legit.
Love it or hate it, you gotta spend a bit of time there. If you do-- go up to Wrigleyville to the Kingston Mines blues club. Prepare to be blown away.
Stan Galat posted:Al,
Chicago is a no-nonsense town with a bar on every corner, and often 3 or 4 in-between. It's got some of the best blues in the country. It's got pizza that weighs about 3 lbs a slice. The citizens take beer very, very seriously. It's a world-class city with a feel unlike anywhere else. There's not a lot of pretense there-- Chicago is legit.
Love it or hate it, you gotta spend a bit of time there. If you do-- go up to Wrigleyville to the Kingston Mines blues club. Prepare to be blown away.
Charlie Musselwhite.
After a two month or so hiatus, Scott Hansen has caught up with his own work as is getting ready to start on my engine. Last night we had an un-packing part, no beers were harmed in the process, looks like we forgot to order a oil cooler. Here’s a few photos. BTW, Scott brought home top honors at our local VW SHOW. Two years in a row...Best in Show and best in his category.
Looks like Christmas time !
Rich Drewek posted:Scott brought home top honors at our local VW SHOW. Two years in a row...Best in Show and best in his category.
The category being "ridiculously cool builds"? Scott Hansen is the man.
Wow, it looks like it has been a long time since I updated progress here. I find it a little easier to post a few pix every once in awhile on Facebook. This takes a little more effort. But the effort put out by Scott Hansen has been amazing.
Way back in March he rolled the chassis out of his shop and the vision was starting to look like reality. Shortly after that he had the body back united with the new chassis by early April. It was already agreed upon that once he got to that point, a hiatus would be necessary for Scott to catch up on some of his own personal work.
So April and May has come and gone, Scott took home a best of show and a best in class for his Speedster, well deserved awards and not surprising, the second year in a row for him and those honors.
Now that we are halfway into June, the attention on my Ghia is back on again. A couple of weeks ago the two of us had an un-boxing party of the 2276 CB Performance engine kit. Scott is now wading into the waters, we are collecting a few items that we have over- looked in the ordering process, but some of the case is now on the stand and real assembly will start ramping up soon.
in addition to all of Scott’s work, I managed to get the 911 seats reupholstered and retreated back into the wheel choice. First, I vapor blasted the EMPI wheels that came with the car, getting rid of the ugly paint job. Those were going to be the wheels for the initial ride, but then common sense kicked in and I found a set of staggered 16” Fuchs in 6” and 7” widths. They were purchased in New Hampshire, delivered back here to Wisconsin by a friend who just happened to be out there saving at least one shipping leg.
Speaking of shipping, I found a good vendor; https://www.shipnex.com/Intern...0EAAYASAAEgK3N_D_BwE
Half the price of FEDEX and the odd thing, you can drop your boxes off at FEDEX, UPS and I think USPS with your preprinted labels from NEX. Why these other shippers can’t deliver at this half-price is a mystery to me. My wheels got out to Anaheim, Al Reed Polishing in 5-6 days. Check them out, I think you can even arrange for them to pick your package up at your home...I took mine to FEDEX.
So, here’s some photos of the progress, with good luck, it should be on the road sometime this summer yet.
Nice choices made in your build Rich. I am curious to see the mandeola units at Carlisle next year. I have never experienced those suspension bits it would be nice to know. You'll need to get a 5 speed tranny in that thing 
Oooh, I just realized I did post the un-boxing party already. Good, I don’t have to repeat that.
so, here’s some fresher stuff. Yesterday I managed to sell the ‘69 Beetle, which will help freeing up some funds for this project. It obviously isn’t cheap.
The Fuchs pictured here are not my actual wheels but similar. They currently are with Al Reed Polishing. I found out about him and his well respected services through Scott. Al runs a pretty good shop as I am told by him. You can actually talk to a guy who seems to really enjoy doing the work he does, revinishing wheels from around the world and at a fair price. No flashy web page, just a phone call away. And he really knows Fuchs and pumps up there quality. He found on of the 6” wheels had a “bump” on it. For $85 it’ll be fixed.
BTW, I’ll probably put these EMPIs will probably go up for sale once all the dust settles on the project. Let me know if you might have any interest. 15” x 5.5”
Love Fuchs.
Hey Ray, that 5 speed will be on a wish list. Not high on the list right now.
Well you could go with a 3:44 final ratio and get away with 4 speed and 70mph at 3K rpm. I had that in my IM 2110cc and it was a good tranny. In any case with a typeI engine you cannot go below 3K rpms at 70mph so 5 speed is only 4 close gears and 5th overdrive but it has to be done so the rpm stays around 3K for highway cruising.
In my new DDriver, it turns below 2K at 70mph. that would kill an aircooled engine.
As far as the Fuchs, I came very close to going with the RSR look and finish. But I got a call from Al Reed on Wednesday to confirm my decision. It got me thinking real hard again and finally decided to go with my favorite finish; the simple satin, anodized rim and all black painted centers. I sent that photo of the 4 wheels above and Al gave me even more confidence pointing out the black in the photo was too glossy (I had already recognized that before his call) and he would be using the Porsche satin spec.
BTW, he turns around a set in two weeks, no prolonged wait.
IThere are many, many Ghias with Fuchs and many have total polished or petals and rims polished or painted. Not as many in the finish I have chosen. Here is ome with the polished rims, but I personally like less bling. I was always happy with this style on my first 911.
I have also started to concentrate on the engine and bay look. I want to keep it simple and here is a little rough Photoshop study. I’ll be using that third wheel belt, this ohoto I found is the general direction I’ll be shooting for. Scott can do a very clean job of engine bays as his Speedster shows. He cleaned and painted mine and I’d like to show that off.
Nice progress Rich ! Are the Fuch's a 5/130 bolt pattern ? What brakes are you using all around ?..............Bruce
Here's another engine option to consider, Rich.
It may be a tight squeeze, but dropping the carbs and going to FI helps to maintain that clean look you're going for.
Power and low-end grunt will be better, too. With a 4.9 liter 12, you shouldn't need a five-speed.
Sacto Mitch posted:
Here's another engine option to consider, Rich.
It may be a tight squeeze, but dropping the carbs and going to FI helps to maintain that clean look you're going for.
Power and low-end grunt will be better, too. With a 4.9 liter 12, you shouldn't need a five-speed.
I regret that I have but one "like" give that comment.
do the doors as well for soundproofing
I love all the room in that Ghia engine bay, wow...I'm jealous!
Sacto Mitch posted:
Here's another engine option to consider, Rich.
It may be a tight squeeze, but dropping the carbs and going to FI helps to maintain that clean look you're going for.
Power and low-end grunt will be better, too. With a 4.9 liter 12, you shouldn't need a five-speed.
Just drooled into my keyboard.
Aircooled Bruce, yes 5 bolt, Scott is going to re-drill my rotors, the front brakes are WIllwood and the rears are EMPI if I am not mistaken. I had to save a few bucks and give up on the high end brake package that Kevin Zagar offers. Something for future upgrades perhaps. With my driving skills and habits these days, we felt my choice would be fine.
You guys are just kidding about the 12 cylinders, eh? It seems a tad excessive to me, but I’ll trust your experience and start checking the Samba want ads. :-)
No. Dead serious. Those engines are everywhere. It’s hard to go to a garage sale without stubbing your toe on one.
Just remember that you’ll need another one up front to properly balance the car.
Stan Galat posted:No. Dead serious. Those engines are everywhere. It’s hard to go to a garage sale without stubbing your toe on one.
Yup. I picked one up at my local junkyard. Cut it in two, and now I have two spare six cylinder engines for my car...
had a BMW 850 12 cylinder POS, couldnt get out its own way....Porsche 6 banger with turbo from now on..
Rich Drewek posted:As far as the Fuchs, I came very close to going with the RSR look and finish.
BTW, he turns around a set in two weeks, no prolonged wait.
I was on the fence with the RSR finish too. I decided to go with an OEM factory anodized finish and black paint.
When did Al start turning around wheels that quick? I'm going to have to give him a call because I have another set of flat fuchs than need to be restored.
Nice looking Ghia!
ZFNHSN, when I first contacted him about 2-3weeks ago, he was right up front about the price and the immediately said it would be 14 days...from the time he gets them. I guess I didn’t push him any further, I don’t think he meant work days. But I did deal with another CA guy that was taking 6 weeks. Al also seems to have a little cheat sheet to quote from. These 16” will be $225 a wheel. As I recall he wanted like $243 for the frost RSR look (I think).
Scott Hansen, doing all the work on my Ghia brought home another Best of Show for his Speedster at a local car show...check out the cool trophy.
In between bringing home the loot for his Speedster, he still manages time to continue work on my Ghia. After sorting through all the parts and double checking some technical issues with the CPP kit, ha started assembly a couple of weeks back. It’s all starting to come together now.
I missed a refurbed one last week it sold. .... as if I needed another project
I was browsing through a neighborhood yard sale the other day and came across this K-5 Twin Turbo. Didn't have the proper size waste-gates, so I passed on it. 
Sorry pic is so small, it's only 20kb.
Tarboards @Rich Drewek hey I saw this site that has Tarboards for the original look in the engine and they also sell floor insulation pads that are pretty awesome looking you might want to look at their store. Enjoy
MusbJim posted:I was browsing through a neighborhood yard sale the other day and came across this K-5 Twin Turbo. Didn't have the proper size waste-gates, so I passed on it.
Sorry pic is so small, it's only 20kb.
Those horizontal fans make the most awesome sound. Don’t stand too close though, could suck away all your guaponess.
IaM-Ray posted:Tarboards @Rich Drewek hey I saw this site that has Tarboards for the original look in the engine and they also sell floor insulation pads that are pretty awesome looking you might want to look at their store. Enjoy
I wonder what you guys think of these Tarboards, @Alan Merklin @Gordon Nichols I have been in contact with the guy and he is willing to cut them larger4 so that we could use them in our cars. It looks like a black tar / rubber insulation or sound deadening.
IMHO Tar boards look ok on a Beetle stock restoration, but your Ghia is calling out for something custom ~ A few Speedsters I used black aluminum panels that are on enclosed cargo trailers....there is a a lot of different materials you could choose from,
I did something similar but with different materials. The first material was essentially shop floor 3/8" rubber cushion 3-M glued to the inside of the engine compartment. That lasted a few (maybe 7?) years and then the glue let go. It was a great sound deadener, though.
The next stuff was more like Dynamat, black, but thinner. It's still in there, isn't as good as a sound deadener but the glue on it ain't lettin' go for nuthin.
Those tar boards would be pretty slick in a Speedster IF you intend the engine compartment to be black and IF they really stick - i can just imagine ingesting one into the fan at 3,000 rpm.
If you're doing something like Rich is doing with a detailed and color-matched engine, then a color-matched compartment is the way to go, but the noise level will be higher (Vanity, they name is "car shows")...
I believe in older VW they hold with clips but in this case you would have to glue them. Thanks.
If you like the look of carbon fiber, Autobadgez sells a vinyl carbon fiber look material to cover a variety of surfaces.
Ray, you could used “Mushroom caps” similar to what’s used in a modern car to hold noise blankets to the underside of a hood. NAPA calls them hood insulation retainers
