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Bryan67
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2003
Posts: 2962
Location: Fresno, Ca.
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 Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 7:08 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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.
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Bryan67
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2003
Posts: 2962
Location: Fresno, Ca.
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 7:09 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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And finally we fitted the NOS Lucas turn signals.
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If you`re going to do something, do it right. |
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fl59bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2005
Posts: 2072
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 9:33 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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Finally, someone going "back to roots" with the cal look! 
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 |
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vwuberalles
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2003
Posts: 1479
Location: Richmond, VA
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keary_lewis0303
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2003
Posts: 98
Location: St Petersburg FL
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 1:36 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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nice I'm doing a cal look as well just won't have the big engine lol. Going with gloss black trim, tbars
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fl59bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2005
Posts: 2072
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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| 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
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Lookin' good! |
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fl59bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2005
Posts: 2072
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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| 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! |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79586
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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Bryan67
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2003
Posts: 2962
Location: Fresno, Ca.
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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.
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6182
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Bryan67
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2003
Posts: 2962
Location: Fresno, Ca.
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 6:52 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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.
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slave1pilot
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2010
Posts: 1127
Location: Yuba City CA
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 8:02 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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
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Currently:
1959 pan with a 64 body and a 63 ragtop grafted in Herbie replica
Previously:
1967 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1970 Beetle |
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fl59bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2005
Posts: 2072
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 9:07 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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! |
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Mark Evans
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2004
Posts: 1930
Location: Alsea,Oregon
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 10:25 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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| 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.
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'63 Ragtop |
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Corney13
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2014
Posts: 265
Location: Castaic, California
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 10:44 am Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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| 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.
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slave1pilot
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2010
Posts: 1127
Location: Yuba City CA
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| Posted: Wed May 30, 2018 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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| 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
_________________
Currently:
1959 pan with a 64 body and a 63 ragtop grafted in Herbie replica
Previously:
1967 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1970 Beetle |
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57BLITZ
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012
Posts: 2392
Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed May 30, 2018 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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| 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! 
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?
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6182
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2018 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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!
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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kokanee
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2007
Posts: 329
Location: Washougal WA
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2018 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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  |
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Bryan67
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2003
Posts: 2962
Location: Fresno, Ca.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: 1963 Cal Looker |
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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.
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