1970 Fastback "sympathetic restoration"

[akokarski]

[akokarski]

Today I wrapped up reupholstering the backseat. It’s a good project to do inside while we are having a heat wave. I did bottom a while back and was working up to the backrest. That was a beast. I think you have to be an octopus with experience in massage and shoving watermelons up a monkey’s ars.

I still need to get a couple black brads for the cardboard behind the arm rest and figure out why the bottom won’t go on the pins. But not being an upholsterer and done this a few times before, I think it came out pretty well.

Feels very comfy and less smelly. I think original owner was a smoker so that and crumbling horse hair didn’t make it a pleasant cabin. Plus it makes me itchy.

Next front seats, which will need folding knob sorted out. I was able to pull them off but clips stayed inside, and replacements are way too short

[Scotty D]

Looks fantastic. Well done.

I’m glad my late Squareback doesn’t have a rear seat arm rest to worry about when I attempt to recover it. Seems you’ve handled it quite well.

[akokarski]

I forgot to mention another required skills for this job, climbing barbwire fences. Not sure if it’s the same on the square backseat but there are plenty of spikes on the fastback to get snagged on.

[Bobnotch]

[akokarski]

While searching for some bits for invader project, I dug out this!

I don’t believe it’s functional, but now I will need to find someone who can restore it.

[akokarski]

Making progress on the front passenger

A while back I replaced the foam but jet original covers, they are officially clapped out…

All stripped down and clean

I used .5mm plastic to get the cover on

Bottom needed a little tlc

Tiged on both sides and backed it up with a 20 gauge strip

I think it’s missing some springs I am guessing that the lever on the backrest is supposed let the sit slide forward

The backrest is not tight enough to finish it, need a bit more time in the sun. And I ran out of jute, another roll and it should cover the floor as well.

[Scotty D]

Nice work. The seats are coming along nicely.

I'm guessing the lever on the backrest is used to allow it to release it from the locked upright position and lean forward.

The driver side lever is non-op on my '73 Squareback front seat, I'll be taking it all apart eventually as all of the padding needs replaced, along with new seat covers.

[akokarski]

Today I wrapped up as far as I can the passenger seat. I still had to pull the cover over the spikes on the back rest and assemble the whole thing.

Here I am using old cover to find location of the wires for the buttons

Luckily my buttons are mint but if somebody needs a part number here it is. I don't think they are available.

back side looking top notch

and so is the front. I got them back where they were originally and right on the lines just below the stitch

After assembly here is the result

I was a bit bummed out about the bunching up in the bottom middle in the back rest but after 30 minutes in the sun everything went into it's place!

this is almost stock looking except there are supposed to be 9 lines not 7. I think i can live with that!

Now onto the driver side
this is what we started, very clapped out original.

This is the kind of crap that is all over the car, it's not fun to have that flying around and getting it in your eye.

still had original tags!

not sure if it says jun or jan 1970, I think the car was built in august or something later in the year.

These bent needle nose pliers are best for unbending some of the spikes

It was not fun ridding in this seat, when I flipped it over, sprints were nearly through the horse hair pad

To my surprise and delight new foam is not the light foam that is more of craft store variety but molded proper auto trim type. Buttom pieces are too narrow though so that causes small bulges just below the top.

after test sitting the passenger I figured I would add just a tad more lumbar support, on the passenger side just added one layer of jut and here I did two.

Now I am at the same progress with driver side as I was with passenger this morning. I have both sides covered but I need to finish the back rest. I want to give it a bit of heat before doing the final pull.

I still need to sort out forward knobs as they won't stay on the levers. And at some point find replacement buttons for the inner sides of the pivot bars.

Should have driver seat ready tomorrow!

[Tram]

REALLY coming together nicely!
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[Bobnotch]

Agreed. Nice work.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[akokarski]

Driver is done as well!

This is what the backrest of a sandwich looked like before closing up

I think I got front it a bit more over than back and it was a mother of vinyl to get the back side over the spikes. Over all it came out with less wrinkles than the passenger

I took a short drive and I am actually fell like I don't exactly fit in the car. even the steering wheel is a bit in the way. Bottom cushion is a bit too plump but back is hella supportive, my kidneys loved it.

[Scotty D]

Those look showroom fresh. Awesome job.

[akokarski]

Thanks!

I don’t know about showroom but it’s not bad

Anton

[Clatter]

I found the same thing with drivers seat padding.
Once refreshed, you’re sitting way up high,
Head against the headliner.
Also it pushes you forward- belly against wheel.

Ended up pulling it all,
Shaving down seat foam and modifying seat rails for more rearward slide.
Also modified the recliner cam area for more recline.

The seating gets super nerdy once you install new foam!
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Bus Motor Build

I have excellent news for the world...
There is no such thing as patina.
It does not exist!

[akokarski]

I don’t think I’ll be pulling and shaving the foam, I’ll break it in. Heck today I broke my little craftsman seat so this should be a piece of cake

But on serious note, I think it’s fine, it’s just feels different, if I put a little smaller steering wheel like 14” it will be just right. Sitting farther back or lower will put me in less than optimal position with respect to dashboard, steering wheel and pedals

[akokarski]

Today I braved a longest drive since the engine swap. I did a run to everett farm in Soquel about 18 miles one way with 1300feet climb, and 2300 feet descend one way. It was pretty toasty at home, probably in the 90s and at the farm it was pleasant temp as it’s closer to the coast. I was able to get into forth gear going down the hill and going back up.
This is a nice route with gentle twisties through redwoods.

Car did pretty decent on power wise, but I felt like it was rather stock feel than a bit more. But I don’t have a good reference to judge this as I am mostly driving a v6 tacoma.

Here are some shots from the farm itself

Going back up the hill

Head temp didn’t even touch 350 and I could see it going up and down depending on the load. Afr was mostly around 11 deeping into 10s. It’s rich and I am wondering if I am loosing some because of the richness. Also the bumper seems to indicate that we rich

[Tram]

Yep- it's rich. You want to idle at about 13 fully hot, and go into a cruising range of 14 being leanest and 12- 11,5 richest. As with a carbureted car, being off on your ideal mix one way or the other will certainly affect things. Now- that said- if your timing is a few degrees too advanced and/ or dwell is off, this will make it rich too. Ignition and fuel need to play perfectly together. It's not unusual for a new points rider to wear quickly at first throwing things off just enough.

So- verify ignition first, then charging system output and valve adjustment for good measure on a new engine, THEN mixture.
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[akokarski]

After cam and lifters breakin I readjusted valves and set the timing to 0. I don’t have 100 miles on this engine. Should I go back and recheck the valves?

Also what should I set my timing to? I am used to setting it into 0 but there were 3 different specs dependent on the engine number and this is not a stock displacement now…

Thanks,
Anton

[Tram]