Newbie from TX

ALB posted:

The car would look pretty cool without it- have you thought about leaving it off? 

I would leave it off. It won't fit your build style (I believe) you are going for.

If you are building classic/traditional look speedster, but slammed to sh$% - yes add the trim and everything else that a classic/traditional speedster has.

If you are building an outlaw speedster - ditch the trim and moldings.

For me, my Speedster is the classic/traditional look. I tried to keep it as original looking as possible. For my Coupe, it is an outlaw build and won't have any trim or moldings. I "might" put the Porsche name in front and back... but that would be it...

As someone else stated, the trim should have an arch from front to back with the rear being a bit more pronounced.

I had mine done by Vintage after Jim picked up the car in Seal Beach.

Looks a little better, still might not install the trim. 

You can always add it. Once it’s on, you are committed. 

I'm with Stan, and also of the less is more camp.

Stan Galat posted:

You can always add it. Once it’s on, you are committed. 

x2 what Stan said. Drive without for a while to see if you like. You can always add them on down the road. 

The deco trim on the bumpers and along the rockers looks good to me.  The upper trim is up to the owner.  I've already stated mu opinion, but I've seen some nice looking cars with it as well.  I was scared off by the difficulty in getting it right and wound up happy that I left it off.  Like Stan said, you can always add it later.

Leave it off, I do like the deco trim though.

Really clean job on the grill, by the way. 

deco trim seals.  like this? 

Do i need to glue the deco gasket? Doesn't want to stay in place.  

I need to get a shorter wheel mount, New blinker and figure out how to mount it to underside of the dash.

The turn signal lever looks like it is somehow reversed.

Yup, it's on backwards.

Nope not backwards. Forgot to put the blinker back together. Here it is without the gap. I was thinking of making a loop that connects to the bar that's under the dash that I can Bolt the steering column 2.

It definitely looked reversed before as arm point forward not back?

I used the stock VW clamp that came with a '71 steering column.  I guess you could use a U shaped muffler clamp.  There are billet aluminum U clamps available too.

i have the clamp. The arm is broken i taped it on for the second pic. I need a new one. 

Go with the vintage look with an early -- pre'67 bug or bus turnsignal assembly.  Maybe some one can chime in on best year model.  The one like you have is too modern looking.

Column bracket

i'm looking at these

This is what I was thinking. Just a metal plate bolted to the bar.

i personally like this look. 

TJ,

A CMC has an eye bracket welded to the crossbar and a "T" shaped bracket that attaches the steering column to the eye bracket.  I think bolting a bracket to the crossbar the way you show in the first picture will be sufficient.  However, bolting the steering column only to the fiberglass dash (like the second picture) is going to put a lot of stress on that area and possibly cause cracking.  I have attached the page from the CMC manual for reference.

Is there a turn signal stock in that "Vintage" look that has the pull for high beams functionality?

It's my understanding that we'd need a foot button to go with that.  Am I wrong? 

very true

A '67 VW bus turn signal has the look you want with the high-beam function.

But, a bus steering column tube is smaller diameter. On the side with the lever, I used a drum sander to open things up. On the other side I used an early beetle piece.

What I originally tried was a copper pipe the appropriate diameter for the bus turn signal. I soldered on a piece that increased the diameter at the top for the steering shaft bearing.

Vintage Motorcars makes a custom one that looks very original and fits the standard beetle column... That is what I used in my Speedster...

working on the tail lights

*LongFella posted:

Vintage Motorcars makes a custom one that looks very original and fits the standard beetle column... That is what I used in my Speedster...

What year column did you use? Do you have a pic?

I can't remember what the CMC manual says and I'm waaaay far away from it, but to get the "authentic look" of the steering wheel placement you should be able to reach beyond the steering wheel and pull the headlight or wiper switch on without taking your hand from the steering wheel.  Jus' sayin'.......   

As Mike mentioned, '67 and later steering column has the high beam on the directional stalk.  '68(?) and later has the locking steering wheel gizmo at the dash lip.  

IMHO, mounting the column to the fiberglass dash is a disaster waiting to happen.  Go with the clamp to the frame crossmember.

Tropical Speedstah Guy, Over and Out!

(and Thank heavens for internet cafes!)

3/16 Plate is installed with 1/2 bolts. Need some new bolts and spacers or the vw clamp and then it should be done.

All done with the rear. Installed the plate that came on my 911. Lol

Shaping up very nicely!

Yeah, that looks VERY nice!

Great sruff

ALB posted:

*LongFella posted:

Vintage Motorcars makes a custom one that looks very original and fits the standard beetle column... That is what I used in my Speedster...

What year column did you use? Do you have a pic?

I believe the column is a 69'... I also painted to match the interior color I used throughout the Speedster...

Gordon Nichols posted:

I can't remember what the blah blah blah........................................................................................ .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Tropical Speedstah Guy, Over and Out!

(and Thank heavens for internet cafes!)

I don't mean to belittle what you say, Gordon, as you always write good stuff, but it was the bold type that caught my eye. My apologies if you mentioned it before, but where might you be?

ALB:  Doing a Disney Cruise in the Caribbean.  Mostly cell and wifi black as the cost is prohibitive unless we hit Starbucks.

finished the front. Also pulled everything off the body to get ready or paint. And working on the dash. 

You aren't going to cut out behind the horn grills before painting?

WOLFGANG posted:

You aren't going to cut out behind the horn grills before painting?

i will. I don't have anything to use right now. need to get a new saw.