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left_coast*9
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Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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 Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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| nick696 wrote: | Still going for agave ? 
Had the whole black - agave isseu long time ago
but I'm sticking with agave, but still have lot of body work to do.
Love your project btw, totaly the same thing I'm doing only you are way ahead of me  |
Thanks Nick696 -- well as far as color goes, it is absolutely the toughest decision I have had to make with this project. Still undecided. I have been all over the spectrum with colors: agave, black, red, different shades of blue, even orange and maroon. But I keep coming back to agave, or a shade of it.  Of course I really love black, but one thing I want with this car is contrasting color between the body and the stayfast ragtop. Black on black is cool, but I want the fact that it's a ragtop to jump out at you. The interior will be some sort of tan, but I don't want a black car with a tan ragtop. Just doesn't work for me. So I am thinking a lightened agave, with Lebaron Bonney tan wool with white pinstripes (subtle, but classy) interior. Then I'll use maybe chocolate brown piping on the seats and a chocolate brown ragtop. We'll see. I have some time. But not much! 
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Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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left_coast*9
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Ok, made some time to show some progress on the body work. The car is coming along, fellas. At this point Don had finished bodyworking both drivers and passenger rear quarters, as well as the rear apron. We sprayed some wax and grease remover on the panels, looked at the reflection, and sure as sheit, it is lazer straight. Gorgeous. He is a stickler for the details. That ass end fits up beautifully with the rear fenders.
Yes, if you're on top of it, you noticed that the decklid has also been bodyworked and is in primer in the background.
The next step was for me to strip off that epoxy primer from the roof (UGH!) down to bare metal. It's all in the details, blah blah. Even though this car was sand blasted and epoxy primed, neither of those steps occured under his supervision, so he wanted to see bare metal and reprime the car to ensure we KNOW what surface we're starting with. I'm good with it. I also wire wheeled and ground out the rain gutters, and we did some minor straightening of the gutters as well.
Yes, that is a 70s era Toyota pickup bed in the background. It belongs to his 15 yr old son who is a just a great kid to be around! Not a VW, granted, but he is learning body work and doing it all himself!
Even got down to the front cowl:
Primed and ready for the next step!
Slowly but surely.....
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Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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left_coast*9
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:17 am Post subject: |
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The day has come to mock up this motor to the body. Can you say woody!?  I know folks get really tied tight about how to build engines and what parts to use and what goes good together, but again, staying withing my budget, and talking to all the gurus like Thraen, Tiger, Tims, Downs, etc, this is what I ended up with as far as specs on the engine:
AS41 CB Dual Relief Super Case, full flowed
CB 82 Super Race crank
CB 5.4 Unitech rods
AA 90.5 pistons/Cylinders
CB Part # 2246 cam
CB Ultralight lifters,
CB 1.25 rockers
45 DRLA Dellorto Carbs, rebuilt by ACE
Tims' Stage II heads
A-1 sidewinder exhaust with heater boxes, ceramic coated
And here is it on the bench, with tins sorta mocked up (some of them)
Finally bolted into the pan!
Started bolting on the exhaust, and the Tims' port-matched manifolds:
Body back on for the MOMENT OF TRUTH...does it fit?!?!?!?
And the answer is...MOSTLY! No cutting will be required anywhere! WHEW  The good news is that there is no contact between the actual engine itself and the body. Engine builder said this is pretty much a stock width motor, and I think he was right. The muffler very slightly contacts the outside of the right rear quarter, just under the bumper bracket. Easy massage there. The pass (right) side heater box also slightly contacts the rear/underside of the engine compartment, but another easy massage. What really DOES NOT FIT is the f'n engine tins. What a joke. I have been warned in the past that aftermarket tins suck, and I'm now seeing it first hand. More on that later. I wanted to give you guys some eye candy from our efforts. I really love how the A-1 looks....can't wait to hear it roar! Engine final build, fitment, and break-in in the next few weeks  Thanks for lookin'!
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Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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Schwing
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1412
Location: Kent Island, MD
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left_coast*9
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Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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silvertonguedevil
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2010
Posts: 1354
Location: Seaside, OR
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:22 am Post subject: |
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WOW! 
This baby is coming along!!
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-Greg
1965 Patina Bug |
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Schwing
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1412
Location: Kent Island, MD
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| left_coast*9 wrote: | | Thanks Schwing, not to worry, more work done daily. Need to finish this pan up before paint, so when the body is all painted, we can just bolt it up to the pan for the last time and not have to worry about things like fuel lines, fuel pump, bleeding any brakes, etc etc. Unfortunately I haven't done any of that yet. Soon! |
Sounds good boss. Here are some mistakes I made putting the body back on too soon....
if this helps at all.
Axle seals (buttom em up before the body is on, what a bitch otherwise)
Top off transmission fluid if needed
Replace starter bushing, such a cheap part and so easy right now
Replace /clean trans ground
Main shaft input seal on trans, so much easier without the apron in the way
Throw-out bearing, same deal
Tie rod ends/Steering box? I think you are in good shape there as they all look new
Front end alignment is 10x easier with body off
Run those heater cables so its an easy hook-up when the body and engine are all together
Sorry if you already knew this, just trying to save ya the trouble
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My '57 build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=388895 |
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left_coast*9
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:59 am Post subject: |
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| Schwing wrote: | | left_coast*9 wrote: | | Thanks Schwing, not to worry, more work done daily. Need to finish this pan up before paint, so when the body is all painted, we can just bolt it up to the pan for the last time and not have to worry about things like fuel lines, fuel pump, bleeding any brakes, etc etc. Unfortunately I haven't done any of that yet. Soon! |
Sounds good boss. Here are some mistakes I made putting the body back on too soon....
if this helps at all.
Axle seals (buttom em up before the body is on, what a bitch otherwise)
Top off transmission fluid if needed
Replace starter bushing, such a cheap part and so easy right now
Replace /clean trans ground
Main shaft input seal on trans, so much easier without the apron in the way
Throw-out bearing, same deal
Tie rod ends/Steering box? I think you are in good shape there as they all look new
Front end alignment is 10x easier with body off
Run those heater cables so its an easy hook-up when the body and engine are all together
Sorry if you already knew this, just trying to save ya the trouble |
Schwing! Holdy scheit, no this is super helpful man, thnx. Starter bushing, heater cables, alignment and tranny fluid top-off are all things I need to do, that are not currently on my list. They are now!
Alignment: that is just the 1/8 inch to-in, correct?
Heater cables: I assume I can buy a new cable? My car did not come with an engine at all, so I have no clue how to do this.
Throw-out bearing and clips were purchased this past Tuesday.
Main shaft input seal: you talking where the tranny mates up to the pan?
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Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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Teeroy 
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Joined: April 20, 2003
Posts: 2588
Location: Eastern WA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:17 am Post subject: Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build |
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Get cables for a 63-4 beetle, they will be the correct length for your 1600 based heater boxes (fresh air).
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Pres. Rivercity VW Club www.rcvwclub.org
Founder Derr Wheat Panzers (DWP)
ARR #3
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Schwing
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1412
Location: Kent Island, MD
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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Schwing! Holdy scheit, no this is super helpful man, thnx. Starter bushing, heater cables, alignment and tranny fluid top-off are all things I need to do, that are not currently on my list. They are now! |
Nice action happy to hear that!
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Alignment: that is just the 1/8 inch to-in, correct? |
I don't know I haven't done mine yet. I am borrowing a tool where you measure from front to back and side to side.
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Heater cables: I assume I can buy a new cable? My car did not come with an engine at all, so I have no clue how to do this. |
Yep you just buy new. You install them to the heater knob and then fish them through to the back. Listen to Teeroy he might be right about picking up later cables. On the topic of cables you need to run the accelerator cable too AND replace that large rubber grommet at the nose of your trans where the choke and accelerator run through. If I recall the heater cables each exit on their own side (NOT out of the grommet). Some of this stuff might be fiddly but man so much better when the body is off.
| Quote: |
Throw-out bearing and clips were purchased this past Tuesday.
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2min job, nice.
| Quote: | | Main shaft input seal: you talking where the tranny mates up to the pan? |
No, thats the grommet I was talking about earlier at the nose of your trans where the cables come out. Main shaft input seal is the small 1.5" seal that goes around your input shaft right where the trans mates to the engine. It takes a while to fish out the old one and you have to be careful not to push it into the transmission housing itself. I took a screwdriver and bent the end so I could carefully pry it out. the new one just taps in with a big socket, just put some oil on the seal so it goes in easy. Let me know if that makes sense man.
This guy had a cool idea and put some screws into the seal. Really wish I saw that a while ago.
Anybody feel free to chime in here, I don't claim to be an expert.
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My '57 build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=388895 |
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left_coast*9
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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left_coast*9
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Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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left_coast*9
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Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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Body work and the last bit of metal work continues. In the meantime, I spent about 10 hours straight sanding down every inch and nook and cranny in the engine compartment, getting it ready for body work and primer. We also did some welding on the two side trays to get those lookin' good. Have yet to grind the welds on those but even so it looks waaaay better back there. I hammered and dollied out some of the last few wrinkles in the lower rear quarter panels (that noone will ever see!), and grinded down a few welds under there. Plus, if you look where the side tray meets the apron, there is a gap. We fixed that, too.
This doesn't really show the 'after', but this shows at least some of the progress. Very detailed work
Every nook and cranny got sanded to get ready to body work (i.e. apply filler and make it pretty):
I fixed a couple broken/busted bolts where the running board attaches:
There is one big portion of metal and body work left to do on this car, and that's the front end. Stay tuned for that.....
_________________
Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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left_coast*9
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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Well I had one hell of a good Monday 1/23/2012. I bought, acquired, and brought home a mint mint 56-57 hood for the oval. The hood that came with the car was not OG to the car obviously, and was a really nice 4-tab hood, but incorrect for ovals. It's correct for 58-61 beetles. As you all know, finding a truly correct 56-57 hood in decent shape for sale is like finding a needle in a haystack. I am one lucky mofo. I was prepared to run with the hood I had, knowing it was wrong for my car. This is a custom car, and while I want to keep in pretty stock in many ways, like exterior and real German interior, etc., I mean c'mon! Just the drivetrain is in another universe compared to stock! So a little later 4-tab hood wasn't a big deal. But now I don't have to worry about it, this hood is right for my car.
How did I find this hood? Well, it's all in who you know. It was in a PNW VW enthusiast's private collection. It was never advertised on CL, or on the Samba. I found out about it from word of mouth, thru a friend of a friend.
This hood is incredibly dry. Came out of Montana. It's in super good shape. Not perfect, as you can see it has a split nose and a few other little dings and shit that are a no-brainer to fix. The pics don't do it justice. Enough of the rambling already, here are pics
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Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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nick696
Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2009
Posts: 196
Location: Belgium
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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That's truely a nice find
I think it will be much better than the late hood.
If you would have put that one on there, you will always look at it and say
damn that aint right and wonder what if ...
Nevertheless, tried to testfix it allready? Just to be sure
I've had a W-hood for the back (don't know the freaking word in english)
and it just wouldn't fit in a million years.
Ah well, love this project man ! Really keeping an eye on this one, if it aren't two eyes |
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left_coast*9
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Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| nick696 wrote: | That's truely a nice find
I think it will be much better than the late hood.
If you would have put that one on there, you will always look at it and say
damn that aint right and wonder what if ...
Nevertheless, tried to testfix it allready? Just to be sure
I've had a W-hood for the back (don't know the freaking word in english)
and it just wouldn't fit in a million years.
Ah well, love this project man ! Really keeping an eye on this one, if it aren't two eyes |
Thanks Nick for the kind words. I agree, this hood really kinda transforms the project to for me. There are still a few things that are not correct, but I'll have to just accept those minor things.  . I am OK with it....this is a nice resto custom driver, not a concourse show car. Doing the best I can with what I have. And to answer your excellent question about fitment, nope, not yet. *Fingers crossed* it fits nice. Might know something this weekend and will report back if so. The car was obviously in a front end bender, so we'll see. I can tell you that the two front fenders fit really nice so far. This hood is the last and perhaps most important piece of the puzzle. Oh -- by the way, is the work you're lookin' for "decklid"?
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Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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slow36hp
scott wimberley
Joined: August 09, 2004
Posts: 2907
Location: mukilteo washington
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:05 am Post subject: |
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is the squirter for the wipers through the emblem on the new hood
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1958 custom camper
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=483656
1958 deluxe Parts needed
1 rear hatch
2 rear pressed bumper trim
3 locking t handle
4 safaris
5 front hurst |
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nick696
Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2009
Posts: 196
Location: Belgium
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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Ah thank you haha 'decklid' that's it .
Nice that the fenders fit good
Any prediction when it will be painted
Can't wait to see it. I bet you can't either
Good thing you're doing it slow, easy and with an eye for detail. |
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left_coast*9
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Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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left_coast*9
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:04 am Post subject: |
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| nick696 wrote: | Ah thank you haha 'decklid' that's it .
Nice that the fenders fit good
Any prediction when it will be painted
Can't wait to see it. I bet you can't either
Good thing you're doing it slow, easy and with an eye for detail. |
Well who knows as far as paint. We were pretty sure in October that paint would fly in December Stuff just takes waaah longer that we thought, plus life gets in the way. We just had a monster (for us anyway!) snow and ice storm that took down trees and knocked out power. The body guy lost power for dang near a week and lost a ton of trees in and around his house and shop. Couldn't even enter his property. I think the whole Seattle metro area was slowed by that. Anyway, with that said, we hope to shoot this car by summer. Good thing is I have been accumulating parts and have about 80% of what I need to finish the car now. Getting there!
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Jet City 1957 VW Oval Rag Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408791
1965 Sea Blue Beetle Sedan
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=472827&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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I had to go look at that little doo-hicky and make sure somebody didn't actually make that a wiper squirter.