IaM-Ray posted:I guess you should add the roll bar then too
The discussion was about trying to make the car more like an original and a roll bar wouldn't do that. Obviously there are lots of things that could improve safety, but in this case I think an under the dash E-brake is a step in the other direction.
I'm definitely in the "could care less about correctness" category when it comes to replicas.
Do what you like, but factor in safety to your decision.
Now that a good looking floor mounted e-brake. Of course its in a spyder. Wonder how it would look in an outlaw stripped down speedy?
Thank you all for the thoughts! Safety issue- noted, however I agree with Phil, so long as the brake is activated with the same effectiveness as the tunnel mounted system I don't see a problem with reaching under the dash to pull the brake.
For me it just comes down to aesthetically I like the look of removing the brake between the seats.
I hadn't considered heated seats but I think that would be a great addition. Having driven a convertibles throughout my 20's and 30's, still remember how cold it can get and heated seats solve that problem.
That is an awesome looking spyder hand brake I love billet aluminum style stuff, but I think the location is maybe not the best ... in a speedster/roadster between the seats would be best with that style IMO.
My old IM had a forward handbrake location and Bob's is right in the middle of the seats which is the best location for that style I think.
Well, the Emory Boys have used 550-style e-brake handles in their 356 coupes from time to time, and they look (a.) pretty strong and handy and (b.) cool to boot!
Spyder e-brake levers are neat, NDAT. In a steam-punk sorta way. And of course they enjoy the advantage of being authentic, at least when in a Spyder. Have yet to see one in a Speedster, save for the picture provided. Nice. Not my cup of tea (NMCOT), but cool nonetheless.
And I have heated seats also -- very nice.
I agree for safety between the seats ... BTW I like coffee
Here is the frozen land today it is -15C heated seats are glorious.
Hi BW- Like you, I "lurked" for a long time before purchasing. I'm not very mechanical, so I was concerned that I might be out of my league. That being said, three years ago I bought a used ('07 build) VS. It had 1500 miles on it and was in pretty good condition. I learned that no matter if it's new or used, a Speedster purchase is a work in progress. The guys on this site refer to the process as "sorting", and it is fairly continuous. Tony Merjano at Anthony's Classic Auto Werks in Auburn, CA, keeps me (and the Speedster) happy. And it's much cheaper than keeping an old Porsche happy. I have the 1915 engine and standard (not freeway flyer) transmission. I live in the foothills and find the engine has plenty of power to keep me satisfied, though I'm not a racer. At 60 mph the engine is turning about 3200 rpm, so freeway driving at 70 isn't on the regular plan. Also, support from fellow owners is abundant and valuable. Where I live, Terry and Mitch and Noel have been extremely helpful. So jump in, and as they say here, enjoy the madness!
Phil IM356D posted:...We all use our e-brakes twice every time we get in our cars...
Off the main point, maybe, but I wonder if we all do.
I for one - and granted, I'm a curmudgeonly 'one' - hardly ever use it. I grew up long ago and far away, when folk wisdom carried more weight than science. This particular piece of wisdom held that, if parked out in the Pennsylvania winter, the shoe would freeze to the drum overnight and you wouldn't be able to move the car until it thawed.
Never actually happened to me - because, I believed, I religiously left the brake off and the car in gear when parked. But the habit stuck, and for no particular reason I guess, I still don't use the handbrake very much.
Is it just me?
Mike, I thought you were installing Mitch's Freeway Flyer? It is a bit more fun to drive 75 than 60. But I forgot, you are a little bit older than me. I still want to put in a 5 speed but after crashing two of my other cars into each other, it's not in the cards for now.
Mitch-- I can't remember the last time I used a parking brake. Apparently, there's two of us.
Now 3 of us do I hear 4 of us ?
REMINDER:
BW:
There are hundreds of cars that have the under dash e-brake and they have all passed US Safety Standards...
If you are a decent driver and your main brakes go wonky, and if you maintain your composure, you will be able to handle the under dash e-brake with ease!!
if you would like to chat I will send you a private message with my tel number
When I purchased my car I set out to make it as close to the original as possible, that's what replica means to me... here are before and after pics ... many items are authentic .. 400mm VDM steering wheel, All original VDO Guages.. all the knobs are original ( wiper, lights, ignition etc.) As you can see I removed the e brake from the tunnel and I will be placing one under the dash. Even had the interior re done to original spec Oatmeal German square weave carpet and red Vinyl seats, dash and door panels, I even moved the heater vents to the correct location.. And everthing works as it should ...
If you can have these modes done during the build that would be awesome, depends on how much you want to make the car LOOK like the original.
The Wahoo's taco shop cup is not, I repeat Not, an original part....
Tebs
I have the umbrella but I never use it I also have an umbrella that I never use either for rain
Will Hesch posted:https://www.thesamba.com/vw/cl...etail.php?id=1919942
not cheap though...
Will;
And that price doesn't include all of the hardware required.
In my Speedster, I use the e-Brake whenever I park it, even for the winter. Never had a problem.
On my automatic Rogue, OTOH, I never use it. Go figure.
In my wife's Outback, we have an electric e-brake.....just push a button and Bzzzzzzzt! Done. Sounds like a linear actuator pulling on the cables, rather than me pulling a lever. I use it when parking on hills and that's about it. Kinda handy, actually. You can automatically set it to engage when it senses you rolling backward down a hill when you stop in traffic. It holds you there til you step on the gas and then automatically releases to let you go. I LOVE that feature! Could really use that on Pearl.
@Blake I've tossed around the thought of the emergency brake location as well. In the end, I'm just more "bothered" by the large leather boot than the concept of the centrally-mounted e-brake. There are a number of cars from that era that had beautiful e-brakes centrally located. The XKE (although an early 60s car) may be one of the most simple and elegant centrally located emergency brake. I enclosed a few photos of cars with, IMHO, an elegant centrally located e-brake. I have concluded that rather go through the added costly expense to relocate my e-brake, I was going to look for a solution to make it less obtrusive.
@Former Member wow! night and day (before and after). Your interior is amazing.
Teby S posted:REMINDER:
BW:
There are hundreds of cars that have the under dash e-brake and they have all passed US Safety Standards...
If you are a decent driver and your main brakes go wonky, and if you maintain your composure, you will be able to handle the under dash e-brake with ease!!
if you would like to chat I will send you a private message with my tel number
When I purchased my car I set out to make it as close to the original as possible, that's what replica means to me... here are before and after pics ... many items are authentic .. 400mm VDM steering wheel, All original VDO Guages.. all the knobs are original ( wiper, lights, ignition etc.) As you can see I removed the e brake from the tunnel and I will be placing one under the dash. Even had the interior re done to original spec Oatmeal German square weave carpet and red Vinyl seats, dash and door panels, I even moved the heater vents to the correct location.. And everthing works as it should ...
If you can have these modes done during the build that would be awesome, depends on how much you want to make the car LOOK like the original.
The Wahoo's taco shop cup is not, I repeat Not, an original part....
Tebs
How about the earbuds, are they original? I asked because you didn't say it like you did with the cup.
Teby S posted:If you are a decent driver and your main brakes go wonky, and if you maintain your composure, you will be able to handle the under dash e-brake with ease!!
Yup... nothing like yanking on the e brake in a panic. Add in jerking the wheel side to side gives another thrilling element to the situation. It's at that time that you must have your battle cry in good order.
Unless a person continuously practices the action of grabbing the e-brake, wherever it is located, during an evasive maneuver or panic stopping, there is a 100% chance you won't do it when it happens. These cars are driven 3,000-5,000 miles per year and in situations that are almost always recreational and at cruising speeds that would be considered slow by today's standard. Believing you will suddenly remember to do anything but press the brake pedal and steer is wishful thinking.
I like to practice my Jim Rockford 180's.
majorkahuna posted:Mike, I thought you were installing Mitch's Freeway Flyer? It is a bit more fun to drive 75 than 60. But I forgot, you are a little bit older than me. I still want to put in a 5 speed but after crashing two of my other cars into each other, it's not in the cards for now.
Did anyone else notice this?? I want to know the story! @majorkahuna
Coming from Detroit winters, along time ago, I put our car in gear and don't use the hand brake. My 67 VW van wouldn't move one morning without a little hammering
Jim Rockford on money: " I won't steal, lye of kill for it other than that I am open to just about anything."
The umbrella brake must be available from an alternate supplier for sure you do not have to buy an original.
James posted:majorkahuna posted:Mike, I thought you were installing Mitch's Freeway Flyer? It is a bit more fun to drive 75 than 60. But I forgot, you are a little bit older than me. I still want to put in a 5 speed but after crashing two of my other cars into each other, it's not in the cards for now.
Did anyone else notice this?? I want to know the story!
I saw it and assumed when Mitch put in his five speed he offered up his spare bits to someone to move up from a 4.12 to a 3.88. Since the 4.12 vs 3.88 has to to with the rear differential I didn't give it any further thought. Now that I typed it maybe Mitch upgraded his ring and pinion and offered those up to someone.
I think we're not getting the whole story from Teby.
He moved the handbrake to install this cool, period correct desk so he doesn't have to go into work anymore. He spends all day in the Speedster.
The mousepad is German square weave.
Grabbing the E Brake with ease is like realizing to shut the key off if the throttle gets stuck.....Much yardage will pass under you before you get around to ponder WTH is going on then, finally turning off the key. I know this, it happened to me in a 350HP '23 T' Bucket in my driveway no less.
Mitch, that thing looks like it doubles as a cooler too!
Alan, whenever something happens unless you have practiced no one knows how one will really react.
I was in a car doing 70mph with a friend driving, his engine decided to put a rod through the block and the rear end seized and started to drag... he decided to try to put the column shifter of the automatic tranny in park and it was going BRAT BRAT grinding the pin, I reached over and grabbed the shifer to help him and put it in neutral, yelling drive it now and steer to a stop before the rear end comes around with it being seized and dragging.
It was no fun I'll tell you.
ALL:
Let me tell you about the time I had to reach for my under dash e- brake...
True story I tell you!!
Tebs
almost as long as a Stan Galat story
I actually use my parking brake every time I park any vehicle I drive, whether it's manual or automatic. But then again I've been in San Francisco and parking on its steep hills for over 15 years. It's simply instinctive to set the e-brake and curb the tires, even on flat surfaces.
SF-Speedster posted:I actually use my parking brake every time I park any vehicle I drive, whether it's manual or automatic. But then again I've been in San Francisco and parking on its steep hills for over 15 years. It's simply instinctive to set the e-brake and curb the tires, even on flat surfaces.
me too!!
tebs
One of my first mods to Bridget was relocating the e-brake handle. Ironically, TDs came with a proper tunnel-mounted stick. But all of the the replica manufacturers neglected to instruct buyers how to move the VW stick back to where it would do the driver any good, so all the VW-based TD kits got built with the e-brake handle waaaay up under the dash, all but unreachable to anyone but an orangutan. (Sort of like that Emory car with the Spyder stick).
Anyway. Did the job and now I'm a rock star in the TD Replica world. The new location makes the car look a bit more legitimate, plus it's just a wee bit safer.
If I had a Speedster I'd try to get the under-dash job though. Even though it leaves that big, tall, round, not-a-Porsche tunnel all the more exposed, it's still a cool-ass mod.
Bridget, before:
...and in more recent times:
Well, back a few years ago when I was in high school, I used to love driving my Bugeye Sprite in winter. That handbrake got used quite a lot on corners or any other place I could slide around. Of course, bald tires helped a lot. Mine was exactly like this, and was the most fun I've ever had in a car...by myself, that is.
