Progress!

EXCELLENT! Keep us posted with your progress!  @Nadodave

@Nadodave : Looking good!  An odd place to mount a spare tire though...

Well, yeah...

Don't mind old Mayo....chassis looks great. Carry on......

TheMayoMachine posted:

@Nadodave : Looking good!  An odd place to mount a spare tire though...

DannyP posted:

Don't mind old Mayo....chassis looks great. Carry on......

Hey- I was thinking the same thing!

Yeah, excellent job!  

It's tough trying to set the rear spring plates with no body weight on the car.  Nothing to hold it down while you're trying to push up!   But hey, it's rolling, has th spare securely mounted and ready to move to the next step.  

So what's next?

I made a tool out of a 1/2" threaded bar, a piece from a spring compressor, and a really strong eye bolt.  Took a while, but I was able to crank the spring plate up onto the tab that holds it in place.  Bent the threaded bar!  Got the trans in last night which was another juggling match, and might go ahead and mount the engine tonight.  Next is the shifter/shifter linkage, the pedals and cables.  I also hope to have the subframe for the body mounted in a few days !  Separately, I am having a special drivers seat fabricated - I'm a little bit of a widebody (unlike the car), and I didn't think the little girlie seat would work for me!

@Nadodave- is your subframe separate from the body? Would it be possible to weigh the subframe before bolting it all together? I'm really curious as to what they weigh (and the weight savings by constructing it out of aluminum- it would weigh 40% of the steel unit)

I will try to get a weight.  Not lite, for sure.  I would guess in the 75-100 pound range.  It is easy to pick up for two guys, but too unwieldy for one.  One thing I like is how substantial it is.  I suspect it will greatly improve the rigidity of the pan.

Nadodave posted:

I will try to get a weight...

Much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Yeah...don’t mind me!  My sense of humor gets lost more often than not.

”Jokes” aside: you taking this on from the ground up (literally) is impressive!  Keep us posted with pics and progress...I’m sure many of us are eager to see and learn!

Thanks!  In the learning realm:  I have always wanted to build a Speedster and when a local dentist retired and started Kitman Motors I got more serious.  In anticipation of the effort I bought a '71 bug, and thinking I would be using it for the Speedster, I had work done on the engine, and all new brakes installed.  The bug had also been registered in Idaho, and CA registration was north of $500!  Then I found out that the early Superbeetles didn't have the extended dash, and mine was a Super with strut front end!  Groan.  But, it turns out that the pan behind the front bulkhead is the same as a regular beetle, so I bought another beam type pan, and cut them to join the front of the purchased pan, and the back of my Superbeetle.  Then I had to get a beam, which came attached to another old bug.  I was super popular with my neighbors for a while . I am hoping the rest of the build is less exciting, and I am sure to have a lot of questions.

Nadodave posted:

I will try to get a weight.  Not lite, for sure.  I would guess in the 75-100 pound range.  It is easy to pick up for two guys, but too unwieldy for one.  One thing I like is how substantial it is.  I suspect it will greatly improve the rigidity of the pan.

Have you had a chance to put the frame on a scale? Not trying to bug you- just don't want it to fall off the radar.

I need my son to help.  We have been on opposite schedules.  Will get it late this afternoon.

Dave

Ok, so in the far from precise category:  I got 93# balancing the frame on my bathroom scale.  Hope that helps

Nadodave posted:

Ok, so in the far from precise category:  I got 93# balancing the frame on my bathroom scale.  Hope that helps

Ok, I laughed out loud trying to picture this!  90-100 lbs (ballpark)- thanks, Dave, for the info (and the effort!). I thought it would be a little heavier. You are a gentleman, and if we should ever meet I'll buy the first couple... Al

Well, if you are ever in the ‘hood, let me know!

BTW (for all): I attended a Corvette tech session (I was the adult supervision) where the damage that ethanol can do to carbs gas was demonstrated.  I was quite surprised, and immediately started using an additive in my older cars (the ones without closed fuel systems).  But, I am presently draining the gas from my 73 VW panel van to clean the tank and fuel lines - which got clogged.  I am guessing the additive cleaned the tank, and then plugged all three of my fuel filters!  Nice!

Dave