Speedster build #23

Alan and TC,
Ever give any thought to using a 914 carcass as a base and putting Speedy skin over it like the Silver Bullet outlaw from Australia that's for sale again. I know its a longer wheel base and he stretched the body in the rear section to do it, but then you've got something you could leave type Vl or put a 6cyl in. Mid engine, great steering,four wheel disc brakes and you could mount a roll bar to where the Targa bar was. Apparently the front end of the body fit fine.What does a tube chassis cost? I've got a 914 and a CMC speedy, I know of other 914's for cheep!
Just wondering....plasma torch....
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MZcQ9j4hETY/STnFMdBfhaI/AAAAAAAAAB0/a9z8uXzkfiM/s400/100_1071.JPG
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MZcQ9j4hETY/STnKcklJLLI/AAAAAAAAAC0/NYesHt8N8ng/s400/the+beast+coupe.JPG
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TC this 07 is Guards Red too.

WOW, that color just sings ! ! !

Thanks for the examples, the Fiat will be that red. No question now.

TC didn't get over to the body shop today but will get you the info Monday PM.

Did a full day in the shop on the speedster build but nothing all too exciting. Wows me the PO spent much cashola on the many powder coated chassis, suspension and brake components.
Installed the 4 wheel disc brakes new bearings, races and seals. E'Brake cables, hood cable and latch, deck lid latch lock, steering box, horns, toggle over ride switch for the cooler stat fan and set in the front harness.

My buddy, Brian (who built the CapeCodster) runs a powder coating shop just off Cape. He does some of the over-flow work for Factory Five some times and is always trying to get me to powder coat chassis/suspension bits and pieces.

How does the coating hold up? Considering the age of the VW parts and the stress on the forward arms and the rear suspension parts, does the coating hold up or crack off sooner than later?

It always looks SO wonderful, but . . .

Kinda curious.

"How does the coating hold up?"

I'll assusme it does but how do I know, I don't keep anything long enough...

Dash, Boxster pedals, LED's

Love those pedals, Alan. Care to share the details on how what's involved?

Boxter pedals were a breeze to install, comes with a dead man pedal too that I am waiting to install after the seats are in. The 4 pc kit is well worth the $90.00 investment and they are high end quality. Pedals came predrilled all I had to do was line them up with the exsisting VW pedal pads, drill and attached the small Allen head bolts and a dab of blue Loc Tite, just need be careful to not to bind the pedal pad against the accelerator pedal hinge. The install took all of 45 minutes tops.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250761165309&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

Alan, that car's going to be stunning when it's finished.

Small diversion to answer TC's question.
TC, the powdercaoting on the Hoopty is holding up brilliantly. It was done in 2006, and I drive the car year-round.

Powder coatings, done correctly, are VERY durable.

We used them on high-wear surfaces on EMC Computers in the 90's and the wear resistance was amazing.

I've also seen early powder coating on street rods from the late 80's still holding up beautifully.

But! It's much like ceramic coating. Chip it just once with some impact and the moisture gets under it and it's all over. The rust spreads from below the coating and makes it eventually (after many years) bubble.

Wiring.... all front and rear lighting is done, I cut down Pontiac Vibe grills for the side intake grills, finished them in rattle can trim black paint,
This afternoon was a quick trip to the machine shop, Randy and I disigned a 16' deck that will make my Kaufman 3 car trailer a four car trailer.

I'd be interested in seeing those inlets, Alan. Got pictures?

I'll get the grills in tomorrow night and take pic.

I love it Alan,you're a true rat rodder....mmmm...I need some grilles ....what's laying around? Oh! Finally a good use for the Pontiac Vibe...parts corpse for a Speedy! Ya I can make those work... Exactly what Ferdinand Porsche would have done...oh wait he did...using VW parts! Here is a photo of Porsche engineers looking for more parts....poor little unsuspecting Kafer!

photo from http://derwhites356literature.com/

Speed Bucket: That picture looks like 2 Gestapo agents looking for an American double agent.

Some kinda cold war hijinx.That bug looks like it has a lift job on it, this must be early 50's by the looks of the 356.

Looks like the guy laying down is operating a movie camera, or maybe he slipped and is about to be run over. If so, his buddy is about to get it too.

Anybody want to caption the picture?

"Yeah, see. She's gonna pop right outta there, see, and we'll have a hit movie on our hands. Now you just lie there, and wait for it."

"What, me, lie right here?"

"Yeah. And those pasties she's wearin' are gonna look like the semaphores on that Beetle over there. TRUST ME ..."

OR ...

A young Geraldo Rivera exposes how the German Mafia hides bodies in the "front trunk" of a 356.

(Front trunk. Who ever heard of that? Later in life, he'd have a highly publicized television expose of Al Capone's vault -- one which would make this disaster a distant memory. EVERYONE knows the German Mafia hides their bodies in Volkswagens ... like the one conveniently left parked right down the road there.)

I'd say that the front "trunk" most likely contains Hitler's bones or Hoffa's remains . . . or possibly Amelia Earhart and the wreckage of her Electra.

But I strongly believe that she survived her flight and was responsible, in part, for the mysterious and untimely death of Bishop Pike, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

Alan, hmmmmmm, whatever are you adding a longer deck to your trailer for?????????

Cory, I did the grill insert tonight and don't like the diamond screen look so I'll figure another material.

Additional 16' foward deck that will allow angle upward for a 4th vehicle = $$$.

Did the intake grill screen inserts, most of wiring and cooler fan over ride circuit is done with only the column still to be wired, everything worked on the first try and no smoke. I have about 90 hours to go on the build.

You say 90 hrs like it's no big deal...that's great! Its a good thing to enjoy your work,after 23 you must have it down to a science and its fun(for the most part) at that point.
Will the next project be something different altogether? Boat,plane,making beer or whiskey?

"Additional 16' foward deck that will allow angle upward for a 4th vehicle = $$$." Got to compensate for that over $4/gal diesel oil!

I keep muttering words from the Bible - "Do NOT covet thy neighbor's Speedster build(s)"

Al, FYI to make those side intake duct work you need the following.
(2)Craftsman 3 in. Elbow item #00921363000 Mfr. model #21363 $3.99 each
3 inch dia air duct hose
two naca duct, that will need to be modified for the proper angle

Thanks Joe !

Put some hours in today...Installed the column in and took it right back out and over to the painters to get the signal switch done in the matching red.
High beam floor switch mounted to the dead pedal, secured and zip tied wire harness, speedo cable in, tightened all brake lines, filled tranny with grease (have the wrong trans cross member mount bolts grrrrr) Made a plywood seat seat base.
Tonight I need to hang the stuff on the long block.

You are a MACHINE!!!

Question. Where do you find these things at? I thought I was pretty fortunate to find mine. You have found 23?! Any chance you have a spyder body lying around somewhere would you? I'm loking ;-)


What oil are you using in all of your engines?

In the past years, NJ Replicar Club, co-workers, SOC, word of mouth, barn finds, SAMBA, eBay.
Brad Penn if you can find it (see posts elsewhere here) I also use Shell Rotella oil.

Sunday:
Finished some wiring and replaced a few parts on El' Diablo today, runs and drives great.....tnx Cuz Vince ~

Installed a reman 3:88 R&P trans into the speedster project, layed out the CMC black carpet kit I had on the shelf. I need to do something with it to brighten things up.... maybe get a couple of pieces of that roll back truck ribbed aluminum truck bed decking and use that in the floor board areas, I need to find where I can buy this stuff.

If you have an ALRO near you, they have aluminum diamond plate.

It's not diamond plate I'm after it's a straight lined ribbed aluminum plate I'm looking for ...

Try Deese Guys:

http://www.mechanicalmetals.com/texturedmetal.html

Newtown, PA close to you? Maybe you'se could visit.....

i have a 356 "vintage speedster" (hawaiian gardens) widebody. what size rims do you run on your wide body or what would you recommend?
amaccorp56@yahoo.com

Newtown is east where 276(turnpike) hits I95. 2 1/2 hours from me. Just about to Joisey.

~WB

Well, heck! The Doctor's heading to Joisey just about every day, isn't he?

2x a week to Port Newark, NJ, I'll call them tomorrow, tnx....