TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Oct 03, 2024 1:04 pm

Ah! I wasn't aware it was pulling air from underneath. That makes sense! Now worries then, good job!

Wed Oct 09, 2024 3:36 pm

Went to Euro Fest this past weekend.
A couple hundred miles no problems.

Rolled into the "legends" area.... the drive it there cars
Parked in the middle of the "Porsche corral"

Spent most of my time a little bit away from it.
Folks had a big time trying to figure out what it is

Tue Oct 15, 2024 10:51 am

Well look at that...
It's a 1966 antique.
A VW model 166.
And a 1.8 liter

Go figure .....

Thu Nov 28, 2024 2:48 pm

Some more photos.

A road trip to a show in LA (Louisiana).
A couple hundred cars there.

A road trip the other direction down the highway. Over 500 cars there. Actually won best in class at this one.

Thu Nov 28, 2024 8:15 pm

Good going with your class win!

How did the car "behave" on this long drive? And how did it feel, as to responsiveness, power, drive comfort, etc.?

Fri Nov 29, 2024 7:35 pm

Rome wrote: Good going with your class win!

How did the car "behave" on this long drive? And how did it feel, as to responsiveness, power, drive comfort, etc.?

I have driven it enough now that I have gotten familiar with it and am getting comfortable with its sounds
It is odd.... a lot like riding a motorcycle.
It is small and low, you feel everything up close and personal.
The thin poly seats are not comfortable, but so far are the only things low enough.
It handles the curves real strong, but I have not tested its limits.
It has around 200 hp at rpm, very much a screamer, makes you think of a coswell Indy car . It pulls hard. Shifts clunky, it is a 901 side shifter 5 speed.
It needs a lot more tuning. I have it roughed in, but no warm up enrichment (choke). The bottom rpm is rich all the time right now. The Chrysler tps I have on it does not seem to have a very high resolution. A more sensitive tps would make better tuning (I think).

Sat Nov 30, 2024 11:15 am

For seats, have you looked in 914 or Saab Sonnet seats?
Or you could make seats and have them upholstered.

Tue Dec 10, 2024 5:36 pm

I have looked at a few production seat, the 914 being one of them....
have never seen Saab seats in real life.
As I do not have a normal tunnel I do have more width room and quite a few seats fit into the area.
The problem is the height of base. The original kit seats sat flat on the floor in the rear foot well area and had a 2 inch block of foam on top and then was wayyyyy laid back with knees way up. So the total seat thickness was the 1/4 fibre and 2' foam measuring from floor board to butt.
I did not like this seating position, I like to be more upright. My chassis effectively has very dropped floors so I can sit more upright, but the seats have to be thin thin on the bottom. The poly seats are thin bottomed and I barely fit.
So whatever seat that may go on it..... I can handle a little more width than a std VW..... but the total thickness from bottom mount points to top of cushion has to be 2" or less. The 914 seats looked to be way to thick. So far the best thing I have seen is Razr side by side seats..... they are thin and firm but not as hard as poly with slip on covers

Wed Dec 11, 2024 2:09 pm

Have you looked at the padded Kirkey Racing 16 Series seats (or similar)? They're available in 15.5" and 17.5" width. Being aluminum, you could plate and fixed mount them to the floor. And they would fit right in with the style of your car.

Wed Dec 18, 2024 5:14 pm

Yes I have one of those in the dirt dragger. I do not like how it sits, but I have someone younger driving and he likes it.
Bottom line..... the padded cover is about the same as the padded cover for the poly seats.

I have no need to hurry, I have seats, something else will show up one day.

Thu Feb 20, 2025 7:36 pm

Well.... I was in the middle of putting in different seats.... more padding.

But had another stroke and everything is side lined again.

Thu Feb 20, 2025 8:10 pm

OH CRAP! We all wish you a full recovery. Hope it at least was a "mild" one. My mom had a major stroke when she was in her early 70's, which left her in a wheelchair.