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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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And then! thanks to some good mates and my brother...
I don't usually do this but
this guy is a happy ass me!
and Felix thinks it pretty cool.
It all went pretty smooth, except for nearly smashing the new MC fluid res(which is full of brake fluid now!) with the body and forgetting to move the gas pedal and bending the shit outta it, but no scrapes or dents, the shell is much heavier with all the fenders and doors etc, and I can hammer the pedal flat again.
yee haww _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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EMPIImp69 Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2006 Posts: 3374 Location: Dirty Jersey
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 5:49 am Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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Car looks good man _________________ 1963 Ragtop Bug |
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lovethatconvertible Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2008 Posts: 1434 Location: Las Vegas N. V.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 7:53 am Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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Your sunroof Beetle is coming out awesome there. Keep the updates coming. _________________ 1960 Convertible |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13382 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 9:26 am Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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It's looking great! You're on the home stretch! _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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thanks guys!
forgot how tiny it is! I can stand at the front and reach the windscreen!
Honda is allowed back in the shed(can fit back in)
can't wait to get some weight in it and correct the stance.
got the steering box back, looking much better.
fresh out the acid.
and new starter motor, 2 speed wiper switch and many small things, fresh out the metric nut.
ticked a couple more things off the job list.
you can just about see the steering wheel there.
and managed to finally remove the old wiper switch.
shoulda done that before I painted the flippin thing!, luckily no paint was harmed in cutting it out with the dremel.
Cleaned up a couple things.
polished up some other things.
and got the first bits of trim on, swoon. _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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lo-lo55 Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2004 Posts: 61 Location: christchurch New Zealand
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 2:52 am Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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Looking good! She's come a long way Hope you used a cutdown bit of allenkey in the appropriate sized socket or ratchet spanner for all the fender bolts... (Sifter showed me that trick) Doesn't appear winter has hit Auckland yet? |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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of course winters here, it's been below 15 on the odd occasion.
Really lucky to paint it when I did, weather has been shit since.
I did remember that trick, right at the end of bolting the pan down.
good to hear from you lolo, you still got that bug? _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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lo-lo55 Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2004 Posts: 61 Location: christchurch New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 2:38 am Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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Kid's came and the oval's went! 55 is in Auckland recently for sale, 56 ragtop is around down here in pieces still. Still have the 61 bus though, she's a keeper. Your bug is looking really good, good on ya for seeing it through! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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Thought that might have been your old 55, shame about the ragtop, I'd love a oval rag oneday! Bus is a good family car though eh?
all these small things take some much time.
details details details. cleaned up door swtiches.
stuck foam stuff under the tank.
front end looking nearly complete!
this is the problem with my old 67 fuel sender, if It's any where near full it will leak and ruin any new paint.
any suggestions on how to fix this small but important issue, would be great, or should I give up and convert to the electric gauge as my gauge wire thing is bung as anyway. _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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and now for some real fun.
being the incredible tightass I am, I'd only orders enough trim clips that I needed, thinking I'll just reuse the old ones. Well the old ones look like shit, very rusty shit. I also needed to clean the rust off the window scraper clips for the door glass and the metric nut only had a handfull of these in stock.
So, electrolysis is my new favorite word! I was talking to the acid stripper guys about these small parts but he said the acids can take the carbon out of the spring steel and ruin them, then I remembered reading about electrolysis on OS,
did some research and came up with this.
dissolve some of this in water.
fashion a crude metal tray to hold the small clips, optain metal bar for positive side.
hook up 12volt battery charger and watch the fun begin.
this was after 2 hours, didn't do a whole lot to the clips but sure cleaned up the metal tray!
so I left it going all day in a quite corner at work, before/\/\
and after/\/\. seemed to flash rust while drying, so I gave em a quick wire wheel and painted them.
so fresh and so clean.
nice to have all the trim on.
don't think I've posted a pic of the Mighty wildcat in place yet.
started cleaning up the window mechs, they have been hanging on the wall for the last couple years and are very dirty and crappy looking,
was hoping to give them a lick of gray paint, but dunno how that will work with all that grease everywhere?
love the way everything is date stamped, this one must be from my old 67, same date as the speedo I kept.
made by Golde like the sunroofs?
found the next candidate for a swim in the electrolysis bath I think.
Also fitted door rubbers, door switches and interior light and ran the wire up the A pillar to hook it all together.
Installed the glovebox after giving the back of it a quick matthew black to tidy it up, all of which I forgot to photograph, damn. _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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Go a bit more done over the weekend.
zapped those door window winder things for 24 hours in the elecro-bath, came up pretty good!
this process is just amazing! check it out!
got the winder mechs painted and in.
went and found all the seats and stuff, this is were it's been hiding for the last near ten years!
got the VHT vinyl paint onto the door cards, one can used, will need more for the back seat, it says it works on fabric also, so I might do the fronts to match.
I was kind of expecting the seats to be moldy or full of rat shit or cat piss, but they're as clean as when I bagged them up, which saved a job. Darrell helped me out AGAIN cleaned up the ol carpets and bung em in.
big ugly rubber mats coz daily driver
can still see my ass print! haha.
ot bad seats, if you squint they almost look like recaros.
get in that hole you!
door cards ready, spent a bit of time last night getting the window glass to work nicely, so soon.
door scrapers, polished sunroof rails and door glass sills.
sunroof mech, really in need of a full body off resto as well.
all still working well though.
cover has seen better days.
top of the front bow.
back and front together, getting them both drip stripped, hopefully there will be something left?? I imagine these are the most expensive parts on this pile!
And!
Front bumper and runningboards as well as seats and carpets! god damn it's almost a car!
kids had to take it for a spin when they got home.
_________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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I feel the wiring is going to beat me on this thing, I've got 98% all hooked up and I'm sure correct, but the last few details are tripping me up. things like the wiper motor and switch which is because they are 2speed and from a later car they appear to need a couple extra wires, also the Alternator for the same reasons.
Adding to the confusion is the loom seems to be missing a few small, separate small wires, like the one for the speedo light and one for the flasher unit, both of which I was able to salvage from the old looms.
I'll be happy if anything works and it don't catch on fire!
Also had a frustrating night last night trying to get the door window scrapers in, or rather to stay in! very tight work and my fingertips are sore today, was hoping to have the drivers door finished last night, but by 1am I had to give up!
help! _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 10:55 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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I must admit I've been spending quite a bit of time just staring at this thing, is that my car?
it's come out even better than I'd hoped.
nearly done with these bloody windows! screwed the felts in place.
managed to get the scrapers to stay put, factory one piece window anyone?
it's taken a lot of work but they are working well now, no rattles when you close the door, with the glass up or down, only a small 2-3cm gap at the front of the scraper, not bad.
new" black door cards in place, handles on.
I bought these NOS 67' window winders nearly twenty years ago, I get to use them now.
I'm using 67 dash knobs to match these to keep the mostly black and chrome theme but also as a wee nod to my old 67, first love and all that, plus I like them more than the skinny early 60's ones.
polished and fitted the rails the other night also.
started taking the rag mech apart, pretty rusty.
got the bows back today, looking much better!
should look good after a wire wheel and paint.
like the surface of the moon.
orange primer is better than the other orange stuff.
cleaned rear glass, tired to put seal on, couldn't, went to bed.
I finally fixed the lights in the shed, the three lights that run down the middle have always been dodgee as, the bulbs never sat right and never seemed to last very long, didn't really bother as with the spit I could just turn the shell to the light if a needed to see a certain area, a week or so the last bulb popped with a bang and I've been using my phone/worklight heaps and losing everything in the gloom, so after work on Saturday I dropped into the supermarket to pick up some bulbs and bugger me if old school bulbs a hard to find now!?
Anyway I replaced all three fittings without dying, and stuck two(pair were on special) LED bulbs in.
Let There Be Light!!
Jausis they bright, 1400 loomans each, bright white, fuck I wish I'd done this before I'd built the door up! so much better _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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At the risk of sounding like a teenage girl, but OMG!
has it been THAT long??!
I guess so.
this is a shit of a job.
I did get one side window in myself using the ol' cord and dishsoap technique.
closer.
you're next sucker! _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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had some help last night with the windows, cost me a fare few beers but sooooooo much easier!!
Was dreading the rear window, but with 3 lads applying even pressure on the out side and me pulling the cord ( I use a old piece of plastic coated washing line) it went in smooth as butter. plus some dish soap for lube.
The front one was a little harder, lucky for me my car has a massive hole in the roof and I could just stand up on the seats and give the screen a good push or thump which helped alot.
yeah. _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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lovethatconvertible Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2008 Posts: 1434 Location: Las Vegas N. V.
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Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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Dude, your pictures are disappearing, such a bummer. PLEASE save your pic's to the Samba. This thread is going to be worthless down the road, in fact the end has already started. Such a bummer. _________________ 1960 Convertible |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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You can thank photobucket for that!
I belong to a couple forums so a 3rd party was always just the easiest for me to cut and paste between.
Nearly 9 years and over 1000 pic links all gone, bummer alright.
Once the car is finished I might have time to go back and redo everything.
but first!
pics so I remember how it goes back together.
scored some bike wall mounts, made some room.
might be able to get the car out now.
suspension has settled a bit already.
pics coz awesome.
Cleaned up and painted the two bows for the sunroof, I have one screw I can't get out of the front part of the mech, The large part that carries the catch, trying real hard to not have to drill it out, these parts aren't easy to find I would imagine? I've got it soaking in ATF and thinners.
getting close!! _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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A small but important part to getting a car legal on the roads. Really need to be black.
It's funny, this car has been a shell for so long, every time I attach another part it's like I get some kind of shock, I don't like it, it looks so cluttered! after a day or two my brain has caught up the new part look normal again.
uh-oh.
time for a clean and a paint.
and a couple new seals, the inside of the fan shroud has a nice coating of oil.
no rust at least! _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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HUGO bOSS Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2008 Posts: 2602 Location: Madeira Island - Portugal
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:21 pm Post subject: Re: My 63 Ragtop |
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very good! haha.
Testing the CSP linkage
just wanted to check everything fitted and worked together as I bought carbs, manifolds, linkage separately.
managed to turn the engine around and get a good look at the flywheel/clutch for the first time in nearly ten years.
a bit surface rusty, should be okay??
bench looks like this.
car still looks like this, sort of. _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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