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Tue May 22, 2018 7:08 am

Also smoothed the firewall since I wont be using the factory tarboard insulation.

And deleted the heater ducts under the back seat. Won`t be needing those either.

Tue May 22, 2018 7:09 am

And finally we fitted the NOS Lucas turn signals.

Tue May 22, 2018 9:33 am

Finally, someone going "back to roots" with the cal look! :D

I LOVE what you're doing with your '63! It was a '63 ragtop that gave me my lifelong obsession with VWs.

Keep up the great work and I can't wait to see your progress - Ted

Tue May 22, 2018 11:14 am

Looks great so far! I've always loved traditional Cal-Lookers. The plan for my 66 is to keep it stockish, but there's still a part of me that wants to say screw it and do it OG Cal Look style.

Tue May 22, 2018 1:36 pm

nice I'm doing a cal look as well just won't have the big engine lol. Going with gloss black trim, tbars

Tue May 22, 2018 1:48 pm

keary_lewis0303 wrote: nice I'm doing a cal look as well just won't have the big engine lol. Going with gloss black trim, tbars

Lookin' good!

Tue May 22, 2018 1:56 pm

vwuberalles wrote: Looks great so far! I've always loved traditional Cal-Lookers. The plan for my 66 is to keep it stockish, but there's still a part of me that wants to say screw it and do it OG Cal Look style.

I'm starting to go Cal-Look with my '59. I've even installed (gulp) a 4-panel wink mirror and have baby Tornado mirrors for driver and passenger side. These are as much for safety as they are to carry me back to "in the day". Got tired of the tiny inside rear-view mirror and only a driver's side door mirror!

I say it semi tongue-in-cheek, but I just need a dropped (but not narrowed!) front end, some Honda Seats, tunnel-mounted fire extinguisher, a Formuling wheel, blacked out trim and running boards, cal-look rubber, and those Bronze-colored 8 spokes and I'll be on my way. Right now my car has Chromies I traded some parts for. With the exception of a potential de-chroming, I'm careful to not make any mods that can't be reversed if I (or the next owner when I'm gone :-) ) choose to do so.

One day I may go for the traditional big-engine, but for now I'm running a '65 big bore 40 horse and have a 36 hp backup engine.

You guys are an inspiration, keep up the great work!

Tue May 22, 2018 1:59 pm

Why hack the inner fender wells? You just need a few small holes to access the spark plugs.

Here's the quintessential 67 Cal Look... John Plow's Euro 67.

And proof you don't have to cut huge holes to run a larger engine.

Tue May 22, 2018 3:11 pm

I know you don`t have to cut big holes. But honestly, what`s the difference between mine and yours? Holes are holes. I will make sheet metal covers. And removing the carbs is way easier this way too. I would hardly call this a hack.

Tue May 22, 2018 4:18 pm

Frequently some effort is spent trying to get more air into the engine compartment. Perhaps a cover with a bit of extra baffling could be made to keep dirt out but let some air in. Then the carb access holes would provide a second benefit.

It is real tempting to Cal Look my '57! Im already planning on the T-bars, but I did go off the look path with the slotted mags. An oval looker was the VW I wanted as a kid, but couldn't afford.

Wed May 23, 2018 6:52 am

Thanks everyone. I have to say that it`s nice to finally build that car that I want. Instead of one that everyone else will like... and buy.

Wed May 23, 2018 8:02 am

argh...
The stuff you are doing to your '63, I am trying to undo on mine LOL
Filling the holes for the chrome, the grab handle removal and filling, the cutouts on the rear apron being smoothed out, filling the over rider holes, the front turn signals being removed , etc.
would have been great to cross paths before . woulda saved us both a bunch of work

Wed May 23, 2018 9:07 am

I like the t-bars you mentioned. I think these look great on cal-look rides. These or some trick buggy bumpers front and rear will work (just don't want to get rear-ended lol). On mine I'd also run dual quiet packs (merged 1 5/8 merged style if running a 1776 or larger engine instead of the Phat boy mufflers currently in vogue. Nothing wrong with those mufflers I just like dual quiet packs as they "fill out" the rear of the car visually and sound great.

Look forward to more updates as you make progress on this '63!

Wed May 23, 2018 10:25 am

slave1pilot wrote: argh...
The stuff you are doing to your '63, I am trying to undo on mine LOL
Filling the holes for the chrome, the grab handle removal and filling, the cutouts on the rear apron being smoothed out, filling the over rider holes, the front turn signals being removed , etc.
would have been great to cross paths before . woulda saved us both a bunch of work Funny, I was born and raised in So Cal with the "Cal Look". Now I can't stand it.

Wed May 23, 2018 10:44 am

Bryan67 wrote: I know you don`t have to cut big holes. But honestly, what`s the difference between mine and yours? Holes are holes. I will make sheet metal covers. And removing the carbs is way easier this way too. I would hardly call this a hack.

I find having access holes are very helpful. I installed Gab-Fab "Weber Windows" The metal frames keep the strength and integrity of the panel.

Wed May 30, 2018 12:49 pm

Mark Evans wrote: Funny, I was born and raised in So Cal with the "Cal Look". Now I can't stand it.

Yeah, I grew up all over (mostly NorCal) .
same story, but I can't hate on it too much. I feel it had it's time and place. Still better than the "patina look" that we have now

Wed May 30, 2018 3:31 pm

Bryan67 wrote: . . . it`s nice to finally build that car that I want. Instead of one that everyone else will like...
I'm lookin' forward to seein' more progress, Bryan! 8)

I'm glad you are able to handle the knuckleheads in here tellin' ya how yer building YOUR car wrong . . . Glenn wrote: Why hack the inner fender wells?

Thu May 31, 2018 3:06 pm

That is coming along nicely. I wonder about welding up the heater tubes. I know you don't want heat now, but they could be just covered, and heat seems like something you may change your mind about over time.

Are you planning for 1 piece door glass? I've always thought it looks great, but that part of cal-look never really caught on in western Washington. Are there any good kits? So many people have complaints with the fit and/opening and closing.

It is inspiring to see a looker build once again!

Thu May 31, 2018 6:27 pm

It's not a early car but it's a 70 cal look with early hood deck lid and fenders

Cal look is what got me in to these cars and I still like it now :twisted:

Fri Jun 01, 2018 2:58 pm

Out of the 30 some VWs I’ve owned, maybe 4 or 5 have had heat. This won’t be a daily driver and if you know about Performance VW’s, big engines and big exhausts don’t mix well with heaters. Plus, i prefer the simplicity and cleanliness oh having no heater boxes, hoses or controls. I’m planning on deleting the dash vents too.