Low down Hillbilly

[slalombuggy]

The complexity of this build is amazing, but I gotta ask. Why did you even bother to use the VW pan.?

[OCD Garage]

[NJ John]

On the Toronado trans, did you go mid or rear engine. I understand that you flip the trans around and turn the diff upside down. I had a site on it and can’t find it. Thanks
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[slalombuggy]

Got ya. Did you ever come to Saskatoon with your Toranado squareback? There was a car like that running at SIR at the 1st VW Show I ever attended.

[OCD Garage]

NJ John: I used a mid sixties Eldorado/Toronado tranaxle which was normally fwd and so, the motor/transaxle package was just relocated to the back of the chassis, running in the same direction as ususal. I suspended it over the stock irs pan with a 2x3 tube subframe, which ran the length of the car (not unlike my current buggy). The stock axles required shortening and custom machined adapters made to go from VW to GM pattern. As long as you didn't expect to burn it off the line, the stock CV's held up fine with both the 305 and 350.

This is exactly what I built but sunk it into a TIII chassis.
https://barnfinds.com/v8-roller-1980-kelmark-gt-chassis/

[OCD Garage]

Salalom Buggy: I've been a West Coaster most of my life and have never had the urge to be 'running back to Saskatoon' with that car (in particular). My squareback had the whole roof chopped off with a removable soft top that covered the cockpit and 6 point cage. The rear area had a sheet metal tonneau style cover which opened for easy work access to the drive train. It ran a big, wide 3 core rad where the spare tire would have been. With the top off it looked like a 90's TIII mini truck. A day at SIR would have been a hard no as those poor CV's were only originally intended for 60hp, one big launch off the line at the dragstrip with the 350 would have noodled them

[NJ John]

Thanks for the info. Now get to painting!
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[OCD Garage]

Today I finished the 3rd and last coat of black single stage on the chassis. My plan is to paint the interior section/console/steering support/roll cage and seats in metalic silver.. Once the black has cured and been scuffed up, it'll get a coat of grey primer followed by 'Volvo Lava Sand Metallic' and likely House of Kolors flat clear to finish.

[OCD Garage]

Almost looks like I stripped the paint off again. I was going to do the interior floor/tunnel in silver as well, but I think the added contrast looks good too. The floor will be covered in butyl sound deadner (foil backed generic Dynamat) and industrial rubber mats over that. Another coat of base colour and I'll clear coat the whole chassis together.

[OCD Garage]

Shot the gloss clear on the chassis today after scuffing the 3rd coat of black, things went well, I'm quite happy overall. So far it looks much deeper/glossier than before. Once it sits overnight to cure, i'll be able to mask off the chassis, shoot flat clear on the interior area and that will be it done. When the rear control arms are assembled, I'll finally be on the road to completion.

[OCD Garage]

Yesterday I finished the top side of the chassis. Now the interior is done in satin clear, the rest of the chassis in gloss and the body will be Dove Blue L31 covered in flat clear. The seats and roll cage will be painted to match the console/steering support.

[OCD Garage]

And so, it begins...

[OCD Garage]

The fuel line and air lines from all 4 corners up to the switches are in, along with the pressure sensors for the gauge. Seat belt holes are drilled and the sound deadener needs a little trimming before final application. The e-brake cables have been threaded through, but won't be shortened until the rear brakes are assembled. I'll make up the brake lines once the rear control arms are back on, as they have to be re-routed around the bags and were waiting for me to change the fittings of the proportion and residual pressure valves which came with SAE fittings.

[OCD Garage]

After installing the control arms + brakes, I went to finish up by connecting the e-brake cables to find the cable housing to be about 35mm too short to reach to the bracket on the backing plate. I'm pretty sure I ordered the right ones for the year of the pan, so decided to make a couple of extensions from scrap laying around my work bench. If I'd painted it black, you'd likely never notice.

[OCD Garage]

The rear tailing arm bushings, axle bearings, seals and brakes are finished, but still need the e-brake cables shortened. The rear shocks are temporarily mounted to support the weight of the control arms until I can pick up the correct length bolts. Most of the remaining small parts including the spring plate deletes, axle shafts, extinquisher mount, etc are now primered in anticipation of colour matching them to the interior, tomorrow. It'll soon be back on the ground with some additional work/paint to the front beam.

[OCD Garage]

The four spring plate delete pieces, fire extinguisher bracket and drive axles have now been base coated silver, currently waiting for a second coat/clear as it was raining today and I couldn't paint outside. I did however dissolve the old axle grease using Gunk and followed up by scrubbing the CVs clean with Simple Green, which was very effective. They are now ready to pack with grease and install along with new boot kits. The black one on the upper right appears aftermarket as the other three are shiny silver and have VW symbols on them. All the CVs seem to be in good condition and move smoothly/freely for their age.

[NJ John]

What color is the body going to be?
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[OCD Garage]

I've owned the shell for more than 20 years, I don't think I can envision it as any other colour than a shade of blue with a white roof.

As the build is themed along the lines of a 'custom resto-mod-sorta-low buck race car from the late '60s', I've been planning to paint the body, gas & air tanks a flat-cleared period colour like L31 Dove blue which was common for the VW bus at that time. The bomber seats, roll cage, a few suspension and other details are being painted Volvo Lava Sand metallic to match the console/steering support. I will likely have the exhaust Cerakoted at a local shop as it's still way cheaper than a good stainless steel system, I like the look of the glacier titanium coating which fits well with the grey/silver metallic aspects of the build. I'm mixing the gloss, satin and flat textures in with basic solid colours and metallics to add some attitude to the look without it looking too 'rat rod-ish'.

[Kafer_Mike]

[OCD Garage]