TheSamba.com :: View topic - 66 bug "kinda cheap to the street" Finally Done!

Wed May 28, 2008 4:36 pm

Bike is sold.... Ordering narrowed beam in the next few days ... can't wait!!!!

Fri May 30, 2008 2:00 pm

Beam has been ordered and should be here in a few days. I went with a 6 inch narrowed beam with adjusters rotated 20 degrees to keep the bottom adjuster off the pavement. I'm also ordering a set of drop extension plates from NOK for the rear. I'll give everyone a run down on install and fit & finish when it happens.

I'm getting excited now. ... I wanna drive this thing!!!

Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:32 pm

Parts are in!!! It is now time to get busy!!! First thing first, front end is coming off tomorrow so i can get my new ball joints pressed in Monday and reinstall it by Wed. and get the drop extentions and new axle seals and brakes on the back by Friday. Hope to drive it this weekend ..hope being the key word!!

Here she sits .. still on jackstands

A few of the new toys...

The drop extensions from NOK are very well constructed ...

And my 6 inch narrowed front beam from Keoki

Time to get dirty!!!!

Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:41 pm

I have that exhaust on my vert, good one for a slammed car.

Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:58 pm

very good work.

i cant wait to have kids and make them work on a VW. yes... MAKE them. lol. i'm gonna buy them a broken VW and tell them 'if you can make it run and stop, its yours'. lol

i know the feeling of having to sell motorcycles to fund VW projects and vice versa. but its cool, bikes come and go... a good VW project is a ton of fun. (and safer - yes i said it).

<---thinking of selling the old Yamaha Seca II to get a new engine for the Baja....

Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:30 pm

Had a nice busy day!! We got the stock front end off and disassembled, the drop extensions on and now waiting on Monday so i can get my ball joints pressed in. I had a blast out on the drive way banging hammers and cutting steel with air tools!! Sweet music (if i could just get the ringing in my ears to stop). Here are a few pictures ....

Since i just got the brakes assembled, i just pulled the spindles, that's OK right?

With the drop extensions, you need to cut off the bottom stock shock mount.

Here they are in, just have to pick up a few bolts to finish up the install

I will be driving my little low pile of rust soon!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:08 pm

HAHAHA ... just picked up my arms with the new ball joints pressed in. When i walked up to ol' Bob he had an air hammer, torch and BFH by his press. I asked if he had a hard time getting the old ball joints out, he glared up at me and said ... and I quote... "Never again" ... hahaha best $40 dollars I’ve ever spent.

Since everything else is new up front, i went ahead and picked up a new steering stabalizer today also. Tomorrow morning the new front end goes in and the back brakes get started, maybe finished. I hope to have her on the road Saturday!

Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:59 pm

Well, no pictures yet cause my wife took the kids to the beach and she has the digital with her. But I will get some up tomorrow.

Back half is done! Soft brake lines, wheel cylinders, springs, clips, shoes and such. I think i have to replace the passenger side rear drum, I adjusted the pads all the way out and they are barely touching the drum. I just had the drums turned and I think that one is done. I will measure it in the morning and see, but it has to be too thin with the adjustment all the way out and barley rubbing. Oh yeah, axle seals are in also.

Also, I was assembling my front end and they pressed one of my ball joints in upside down. I was pissed!! I could have had it on the ground tomorrow morning, but now they have to press it out and fix it. So I will pick it up in the morning and install the new front end then and hopefully bleed the brakes. Then all that is left is the easy stuff. Exhaust, oil change, shift coupler, Hurst shifter, window rubber, wash, wax and last but not least roof rack. Still shooting for a Saturday cruise!!!

Wish me luck!!

Rick

Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:22 pm

DAM IT MAN!! I took some pictures but didn't have time to upload before work. New front end is in along with all the trimmings. I am going to have a major rubbing problem with the 165's i have on the rims right now. I can only get about 3/4 to 1 turn on the wheel and it hits the inner fender well by the pan. Oh well, will have to get some 145's in a week or so.

We started bleeding the brakes but i have to go pick up a couple new drums before i can finish the brakes up. But the good news is no leaks in the brake system!! :lol:

One question, with the drop spindles, my lower ball joints are alot lower and it only gives me about 1/4 inch clearnce between the rim and the ball joint. I guess it will be OK, the ball joint won't move any closer as i can tell and we bounced the front end a bit and the distance stayed the same. Is this mormal with 2 1/2 inch drop spindles?

pictures tonight or in the morning, should be driving her tomorrow.

Rick

Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:36 pm

Do yourself a favor and run a wider front tire on that wheel. maybe a 195/50/15 You will like it a lot better for braking and driving in the rain than a 145. It is also a lower sidewalled tire. 135's & 145's suck IMO.

Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:45 pm

my65vert wrote: Do yourself a favor and run a wider front tire on that wheel. maybe a 195/50/15 You will like it a lot better for braking and driving in the rain than a 145. It is also a lower sidewalled tire. 135's & 145's suck IMO.

So a 190/50/15 is lower over all than my 165? I will need a shorter tire to make room.

Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:31 pm

Yup.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:43 pm

195/50/15 They fit nice, last a long time and drive and brake very good.

Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:47 pm

Sigurd wrote: Yup.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Nice link!! Very cool calculator.

Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:13 pm

OK, here a few pics i snapped today...

Back brakes ... check!

Drop extensions... check!

Front end ... check!

Adjusters down ... check!

And a sneak peek at the tuck ...

Tomorrow morning i'm off to the DMV to regiester my 1966 FL tag and transfer the title, then pick up the drums, finish the bleed job and RIDE OUT!!

I am so ready!!!

Rick

Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:19 pm

More pictures!

Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:23 pm

Also, with that 6" narrowed beam when you actually drop it all the way down with the low profile tires your passenger side tie rod is going to scrub your gas tank.

You will probably need to dent it in a little to clear it.

Might even hit the body of the car a little? Depends. Most 6" beams require a little notching of the inner fender well for the tie rod clearance if you are going real low. Sometimes even the drivers side too.

Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:26 pm

Nice, lets see it on the ground :D Oh and I'm running a 175/55/15 tire and it sits nice and has a good amount of width too

Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:35 am

BigHerc wrote: Nice, lets see it on the ground :D Oh and I'm running a 175/55/15 tire and it sits nice and has a good amount of width too

same here. I'm happy with that size tire.

More pics!!!!!!!!!! 8)

Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:19 pm

WOW!!! After and 9 hour day under the bug, i was finally rewarded with my first drive in her. I'm in love again!!

We started by finishing up bleeding the brakes, installed the shifter and coupler, adjusted the clutch, installed the new exhaust,fixed the multiple oil leaks, and exhaust leaks around the heater boxes, installed the new air filter and gen belt, did an oil change and finally put the wheels on for the last time!! Here a few pic's and then the big reveal!!

On went the exhaust, i hate the yellow guts in it, but for $49.00 i couldn't pass it up. Cheap... yes ... quit... hell yes!!

This took care of 80% of the shifter slop!!

This took care of the other 20%

ANd then on went the rims ... then the soap and water .... and then ...

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wait for it
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BAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

LOL ... i know, she's no show winner, but i am so dam proud of the work we got done!! I feel so great right now it's incredable!! My son and i took a small ride and he loves her too!!

Thanks to all you samba members, i've used post after post to solve problem i've had the past 3 months and now it's all come to a head!!!

Well, i'm off to grab a bite to eat... thanks again to all!!

Rick