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Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:54 am

BugMan114 wrote: i completely understand. here its only getting down to around 40F (~4C) and i still have to force myself to go outside, and work on my bug, lol.

It wouldn't be so bad if it was more upright scarf and gloves type work, but to be crawling around underneath and getting wet 'n smelly - just far too much like the honeymoon for my liking.

-7 Degrees C on the car this morning on the way into work and is now snowing heavily.

Fri Dec 03, 2010 10:53 am

As much as you love working on your car and showing all of us your accomplishments, I'm sure that given the time of year you, as well as most of us would much rather be in your warm house spending time with your family and planning out your next project on the car.

Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:58 am

i remember rebuilding the original engine for my 67 beetle. i did it during the winter in an unheated polebarn. i'm in the northeast of the usa. even though i had a large kerosene heater right next to me it made no difference. i will never do it again. great work.

Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:09 pm

I did my subzero time as well. I now worship the patron St. Lennox in my shop (who weighs in at a bold 140,000 BTUs).

Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:20 pm

jvulich wrote: I'm sure you would much rather be in your warm house spending time with your wife
Last Triumph wrote: getting wet 'n smelly - just like the honeymoon

Fixed :wink:

Sat Dec 04, 2010 2:54 am

Last night saw me in a major custody battle for the computer with my wife....

Her closing argument (which was carefully worded and elegantly put whilst swinging her handbag) was that due to the recent inclement weather and lack of garage based activity, I'd somewhat monopolized the laptop which in turn had thwarted any attempts by her to navigate the numerous websites and forums that mothers of two normally frequent....

My counter argument of 'how about a nice beef sandwich and a cup of tea, luv" was met with a somewhat disappointing response which, lets just say saw me vacate the computer whilst I still had walking privileges.

After a few minutes twiddling my thumbs on the strange, alien, cold, ill fitting and unfamiliar end of the sofa, I was left with no alternative but to put on 3 T-shirts, 2 sweaters, 3 pairs of socks, two pairs of pants and a woolly hat and see what was occurring in the garage.

At this point I fired up the camera to discover my 5 year old daughter had flattened the battery whilst taking 132 hi-res pictures of various parts of the furniture....

I'm afraid this little update will have to be descriptive only, until I can take some retrospective shots of the small amount of progress made.

Job 1) Somehow, I'd managed to damage the threads on the end of the main front to rear brake line union nut just enough to prevent it going into the NOS master cylinder. I'd put off the job of rectification for a long time now, and as I couldn't face crawling underneath the car, as well as not being able to fit due arctic expedition clothing making me look like the Michelin man, I decided to tackle this little issue.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't beg steal or borrow a fine thread die of M10mm x 1.0mm pitch to clear the threads on the union nut, so I ended up having to buy one which arrived in the post yesterday. After a quick clean up, I managed to get the thread started correctly, but not before having to undo the nuts and bolts securing the M/C to the chassis to give me wiggle manoeuvring ability to allow the threads to start.

Once that was done, I liberally coated the M/C in my sealing wax spray to prevent it turning orange...

Job 2) With the tank out the car again whilst I worked on the M/C, I decided now was a good time to clean the bottom of it and then coat it in the sealing wax to prevent further corrosion. Gave it a good drenching. Things are now ready to be 'closed up' at the tank end once I've got the front brakes / hoses done.

Job 3) Had a long close inspection of the rear solid brake lines and am delighted to report that they are more than serviceable and after a quick clean up, are ready for re-installation once the frame horns are finally clean.

As I say, pics to follow when I can get the camera re-charged.
At this point it was midnight, I had work in the morning and the condensation from my breath was starting to freeze on my glasses...

Stay tuned!

Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:51 am

Just wondering if the Job 4 was to eat the beef sandwich and the cup of tea ? You deserv it ! Happy end story ? :wink:

Sat Dec 04, 2010 4:39 am

Flavio wrote: Just wondering if the Job 4 was to eat the beef sandwich and the cup of tea ? You deserv it ! Happy end story ? :wink:

No happy ending I'm afraid..... but my lunch box this morning was bursting with a fine fare!

Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:02 am

Nice family ! Good humour !

Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:33 am

hey LT, your a funny dude,,,thanks for the entertainment, its great :lol:

Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:33 pm

My wife has just read last night's post and is most upset that I failed to mention that she brought me a nice hot cup 'o tea and despite shivering her little self half to death in her slippers, agreed to stay for 10 minutes leaning into the tank area holding the master cylinder in place whilst I tightened the securing bolts behind the pedal assembly....

What can I say about a wife like that?

8)

Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:43 pm

Last Triumph wrote: My wife has just read last night's post and is most upset that I failed to mention that she brought me a nice hot cup 'o tea and despite shivering her little self half to death in her slippers, agreed to stay for 10 minutes leaning into the tank area holding the master cylinder in place whilst I tightened the securing bolts behind the pedal assembly....

What can I say about a wife like that?

8)

Anything she wants you to say..... 8)
I imagine you have heard the Yankee saying
"if Mama ain't happy,
ain't nobody happy"

Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:51 pm

Dave wrote: Last Triumph wrote: My wife has just read last night's post and is most upset that I failed to mention that she brought me a nice hot cup 'o tea and despite shivering her little self half to death in her slippers, agreed to stay for 10 minutes leaning into the tank area holding the master cylinder in place whilst I tightened the securing bolts behind the pedal assembly....

What can I say about a wife like that?

8)

Anything she wants you to say..... 8)
I imagine you have heard the Yankee saying
"if Mama ain't happy,
ain't nobody happy"

Haven't heard that one, but in the UK, our simplified version is "Happy wife, happy life"

Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:37 pm

Right then..... normal service is resumed!

Even though it was -5 degrees and looked like this in the garden....

I wrapped up warm and headed on outside for some Oval loving!

To recap on the previous work done, here some catch up pics.

Repairing the threads of the fuel pipe nut and getting it back in the master cylinder. Don't worry, I'll replace the grommet where it passes through the chassis.

And the bottom of the fuel tank protected in sealing wax.

I used my new bench grinder with a soft brass wire wheel to clean up the rear solid brake lines. Quick before and after shot...

I've been collecting a few parts recently which look very nice indeed waiting patiently in the departure lounge.

Here's a few of the bits n bobs I've acquired.

Correct screw type brake switch.

And yes, of course I did! (it was rude not to)

Cork gasket for the oil filler.

New rubber grommets for the heater cables and clutch bowden tube.

Which of course wouldn't be the same without a NOS heater cable.

Here are my new shocks against the old ones.

Some correct 'wind up' style OEM Porsche 356 (same item) axle boot retaining straps.

New nose cone selector shaft boot.

Which is correct according to all my manuals and parts books, yet this is what I removed from the car..... strange.

Almost tempted to super glue the original cable conduit boot back together, but I might just buy a new one.

I bought a new rubber grommet for the fuel tap lever which I fitted next. It is shiny and golden as I'd just sprayed it with sealing wax.

Which will be connected up to my new genuine VW fuel tap.

A nice new pair of OEM rear transmission mounts.

And a new 'OEM' front trans mount.... I'll come back to this in a minute...

I offered it up to the transmission to find this...

OEM? ?? ??? Whatever! What is disappointing is that the reputable supplier of this part assured me that as it was much more expensive than similar ones on the market, it was the real deal and fitted correctly. I beg to differ.

Anyway - I wouldn't insult my car by even showing it to him, so it'll be going back in the post tomorrow.

Whilst the rear mounts had indeed gone very soft, I'd always thought that my front mount
was very usable. Yes, it was a little perished around the edges, but it hadn't gone hard as I first suspected, and was';t all soft and chewy either, so I decided that I'd rather have a used but serviceable original one than a new piece of crap and set about cleaning up the old one.

I couldn't resist cleaning up the earth strap with a little oven cleaner - you know, for old times sake.

And after giving the original bolts and washers a clean up on the wire wheel, mounted it back home on the trans to fight another day, covered in sealing wax of course...

Spot the difference in the fit?

That's all for tonight folks - just a quickie before my 'nuts' froze!

Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:44 pm

Oh yeah nice and square 8)

Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:37 pm

thats strange, I bought an aftermarket one and it was fine, i wonder if there is a difference.

as for the input shaft/nose cone to chasis seal, the original flat one is correct, the bulbous one is for tunnel trans cars from 1961 and newer, plit case used the flat one

Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:41 pm

i bought a cheap $8 one from my local VW shop, and its lasted me a long time. fit perfect too. you must have just gotten the one bad one from the pick. unless the quality has gone to shit with in the last few months, lol.

Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:44 pm

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111301289

Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:39 pm

The bottom of that tank looks really good (as does the rest of the car). I would give anything to have scored a car like that. Great Job!!!

Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:08 pm

As for keeping your nuts warm, might I suggest using a sheet of coragated cardboard between them and the floor. I doesnt look professional, but works great and clean up is a snap.(throw away or recycle)