what do u think of this speedster?

I wondered about those temper glass rollup widows sealing against a std speedster windshield. I can't see how there would be any seal there at all - there is a 2" gap.  Not sure why he thinks an IM frame is any different than an CMC sub-frame (as they are identical). So if shortened only 4" --- it's 6" longer than all the other VW pan based Speedsters out there.

I wondered about that as well, Greg, but the car doesn't look out of proportion; whoever wrote the ad doesn't know what the h*ll he's talking about. 

 

Danny- the car looks nice, but with it being older it might be a good idea for your friend to see it in person before bidding. Al

Seller is doing a great job at being inaccurate. In order to have roll up windows in a speedster the windshield needs to be moved rearward and special fasteners fabricated to replace the 5/16 bolt, spacer  and washer that is usually used, in addition IM does have a unique rubber seal ( see Al Shapiro's Ruby) that is affixed to the speedster windshield and it works .....if it was easy, I would do it.

thanks Al & Guys

I have never purchased any cars on ebay and I told my friend to test drive or see in person before bidding.  He's a Barrett Jackson regular so I think he's been spoiled. the roll up windows are awesome if they actually do work.

Engine spec suspicious too -

 

forge counterweight eagle cam - is a counter weighted cam even made, if so why?

 

Displacement is 1700 cc but not sure how you'd get that low with an 88mm crank - must have lawnmower pistons?

I was about to say there was no way it'd have roll up windows since there was no window crank but then I saw it.  It's almost at the bottom of the door.

The guy (or whoever wrote the ad) doesn't have a clue, Greg. 1700cc's is a 69mm forged counterweighted crank (you and I both know nobody forges a cam!), 88mm Cima (he called them sema) p/c set (no way you'd ever build an 88x88- pistons that small would lose most of their skirts when they were clearanced for the counterweights)= 1700 cc's. Any engine with an 86mm crank is big- with 85.5mm pistons it's almost a 2 liter (1975cc), and with the work involved (case and piston skirt clearancing) there's way easier ways to end up with 2,000 or so cc's.

You know you guys worry too much.  If you just read the ad you'd realize it says its one of the nicest on the planet!  Thats how all of those things can be....

Seller must have read this thread as it's been updated.

"I would like to correct an error in my description, the car is 1700cc engine with a 69mm counterweight forge crank and 88mm CIMA piston and cylinders. Also it was shortened 10in not 4in. Sorry for the confusion!

It was actually shortened 11.8" or 300mm, but at this point close enough...

I missed the door opener............probably because the lever was way at the bottom of the door where it shouldn't be. 

here is a video of car and roll up window

Ah ha! Instead of moving the windshield back during assembly, it appears that you can box in the door panel an inch plus inward to allow alignment of glass to windshield frame. That's something to consider.

Sorry to get off thread, but I see a new door panel vendor coming to PA.

 

Ah ha! Instead of moving the windshield back during assembly, it appears that you can box in the door panel an inch plus inward to allow alignment of glass to windshield frame. That's something to consider.

 

So Alan, how soon will you have a prototype available?

It might align at the top, but it still leaves a hole between the bottom of the windshield frame and side window. Rain is going to curl through that hole and spray you right in the face.

I think it would make the door panel way too thick, but someone in " Design " might come up with something...... I'll go out to the shop this evening and take a look at how it might be able to be fabricated.

 

Windshield seal:  IM has the fix, a rubber seal affixed to the windshield frame and it looks decent too, that might be a reference item to work from ....see AL Shapiro's Ruby.

Jay Leno features an all metal silver speedster that was reconstructed from a junkyard piece of crap 'A' coupe (Yes! a coupe) that retains the coupe's roll-up windows that are sealed at the back edge of the speedster windshield frame with an unobtrusive post of what I assume is hard rubber.

 

As for the glass roll-up window bridging the gap between the windshield frame and the forward edge of the door: I've been intrigued by the function of a convt.Bug's back quarter window. It rolls up at an angle but with the last turn of the winder it cocks forward to tightly close the gap...Huh?... Maybe? 

The guy with the roll up vinders' is going to have a gap you can pass a cook book through, 2" pipe foam may, fill the void:~)

Use Carl's idea from the convert bug's quarter window to help (a little) close the gap, while installing a fixed plexiglass piece to the windshield frame coming back toward the roll up.  Picture something sort of like a vent window on an older car.  That vent window could overlap slightly on the outside and have a small rubber seal to meet the roll up.  Come on you guys with fab skills, get workin on this.  "There's money in them there doors".

Hi guys, regarding the side windows, here's something I've been working on and nearly finished.

http://www.ddk-online.com/phpB...=15&t=51243&start=30

Feel free to browse

Awesome work Richard.  Keep us posted for final results.

 

That's cleaver - shame you and Mango Smoothie are closer to each other!

 

That car on ebay (remember the original thread) - is up to $13,200 with almost 4 hours to go.

Well I'll be darn!...

Did anyone notice that Steele's (SAS) promotion video shows the speedster's windows lifting at an angle, then 'cocking forward to seal?....Just as I imagined such a possibility without realizing it had already been done!

 

I either possess an unrecognized clever imagination, or a potentially shrewd business acumen....So, I've decided to take 'depo$$its' on the eventual delivery of really clever wind-up window kits!!!

 

First come, First served...so get in line early.   

 

 

sold for $15,000 - more than I would have predicted.

Some people must get a hold of some bad weed....  Go to Jay Leno's garage to view a similar outlaw car!

Carl;

 

How much for first place in the queue? Mind you I'm 66, so I probably got another good dozen years, with luck and roll-up windows!  His promo video looks top rate!

 

Art

Hey Art,

I'm returning your depo$$it check minus a 20% 'handling fee'

 

Agreed... That's a slick promo video.

It's one thing imagining something can be done, and actually knowing (seeing) that it has been done! I'm especially impressed that in the full-up position the top of the window doesn't snag - either opening or closing - on the soft top covering weather strip.

 

I've been told that power windows (as these SAS windows are) are mechanically far simpler than winding ratchet mechanisms....I'll bet there were clever speedster owners, like MangoSmoothy, who went to bed last night thinking of off-the-shelf-components for such a modification.

 

Roll up windows (and heat) that turns the iconic speedster into a four season grocery-getter will be a big winner.   

 

 

"Roll up windows (and heat) that turns the iconic speedster into a four season grocery-getter will be a big winner."

 

Yes, Carl, it's nice to have both...

 

 

Bob, the heat output in my old 911 powered VW single cab was unbelievable.  I drove it one day when the temperature was near freezing and after 2 km I had to turn the heat down way down.

 

Roll up window geometry...still doesn't have a decent forward edge to frame seal but it's  start for someone to work with.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTG6MnkPVUs

For Alan Merklin & everyone else reading this!

 

I want you to notice the unique way Steve's window slides open and closed in two movements...Exactly the operation of a Beetle verts rear quarter window that slides up at an angle and then rotates direction and shifts forward to a closed position. An engineered function of its regulator.

 

Adhering metal (regulator) to fiberglass (inside door panel) has been solved. Google <Bonding fiberglass to steel>

 

Maybe Bruce Williams (as he's lounging the winter away in Loreto Mexico) can conger up a temporary-use 'clip on' extension to the speedster windshield frame to close the gap between the frame and the door edge?...or maybe Alan can 'reposition' the frame (as Steve apparently has) to close that gap?

 

Hey, I'm just thinking outloud over morning coffee.

 

 

 

He uses a top that has a semi rigid side flap where our speedsters have the flimsy flap, that would be an issue as well as he still has a gap on body at the rear of the windshield base post and the almighty glass to windshield frame ...I think that can be resolved with a glue on rubber strip as Henry does with IM speeders

Well I'll be damned!!!

 

Bruce, you can totally lounge and relax in Loreto because it looks like Rich Maxwell has solved closing that gap with an attractive temporary extension

Henry has moved the windshield back to allow that thin rubber strip to be all that is needed for roll up windows.  And he has shaped the front of the window glass to fit tight against the rubber strip.

 

You can see how wide the chrome 'insertion' needs to be in this case.  But it's still a great solution for a common complaint.

 

 

 

Carl...Rich's "Gap closer" piece is exactly what I have been thinking about and envisioned. It's a really nice job too! I sent him a post asking how he secures it to the windshield frame. I have been thinking of using a clamp or two but getting them to not be obtrusively "knuckely" looking is a problem for me. I had it in mind to make something that would replace my ugly side curtains. I have not pursued the idea of something for use with roll-up windows. I had in mind to produce an easy retro-fit product compatible with our std. speedsters. Even then I'm not sure it would fit all of  our cars which were made by different companies. Reading these posts from everyone makes that even more clear. This is a tough project to begin with, then producing them in quantity is another.  Upward and onward....I will be thinking about these things while in Mexico sipping a Coconut juice/Rum/Lime Juice adult beverage from one of my own Coconut trees and sitting under my Mango tree. The most exhilarating part of that experience is watching my beverage being prepared on the beautiful brown thighs of my mate! Aahhh...I can feel the warmth of Mexico already.........Bruce

I need to take a look at the IM windshield moved back, the underside of the dash on CMC, FF and VS only allows for slight rearward movement before there is no room to install the windshield post tube spacer, washers and bolt.