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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
Posts: 589
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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 Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:46 am Post subject: Dieter: My 1970 RHD Beetle |
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I just realized I never started a build thread for Dieter. My 1970 RHD Beetle.
So I figured I was get one going. Most if this took place starting in 2004 when I purchased the project.
I have decided to post up a ton of pictures of Dieter's resurrection. Dieter was the second beetle I looked at when I started my search. The first one was in much better shape but it didn’t call to me. Then I went and saw the second beetle. It was looking a little sad but it had everything that I was looking for in a beetle. It called to me – “Buy Me”. So I did.
I have owned the car since June 14, 2004, and have slowly started working on making it a resto-custom beetle. Shortly after find the D3 gang, his name came to me, Dieter.
Picture at the PO home.
Arrival to his new home.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
Posts: 589
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:47 am Post subject: |
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A week after he arrived. The tear down began.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:48 am Post subject: |
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Here are a few pics of the pan (before shots) Some are also showing the beginning of the right hand drive conversion.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Will post some more pics for the pan, when I find them. I did replace both pan halves. Then sent it to the powdercoaters.
I then started working on converting the front beam from LHD to RHD.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:51 am Post subject: |
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The freshened up pan arrives at home. I was able to put the whole pan inside my doge caravan.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:54 am Post subject: |
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From here I added all new everything. New rubber, shocks, and brake system - all 4 corners got disk brakes.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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While the body was off the pan I shaved the door handles. Which will have to be redone. I also shaved off the trim.
Got the body on. New rear fenders, new sport head lights, euro tail lights, new side mirrors, New front seats (Dodge neon). Engine got installed and I put in the new wiring system from Watson's streetworks.
I just realized that I didn't take any pics of the RHD conversion. Oh well..
lowered the rear. But as I pulled out the drive way I ripped off the muffler. So I had to raise it up some.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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Then I traded my stock rims and hubcaps for some black 8 spokes. They were free, and I liked them better than the stock rims. But I was looking for some centerline racing rims.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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The first engine I put in Dieter was an 1835 with a single webber progressive. Man it was fast but I couldn't get it to pass emmissions. It was also way to much power for me... I was a crazed driver.... Doing way too many things that was very dangerous.
Then I took that engine and had it turned into a 1776 with dual 40 webbers, and the Porsche fan kit. Just enough power for me, without getting myself into too much trouble with it.
the new rims, I traded the 8 spokes for these centerlines (fakes, but still way cool).
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Zacharysayre
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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Got this for a great deal. I love the way it look on Dieter...
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Zacharysayre
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Ok I gave Scott, My welder, a new set of doors to fix my mess of trying to shave the door handles. He did a better job than what I did.
Still need to do a little clean up but they look awesome.
Then Scott started to do the customization of the doors. I asked him to round the corner.
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Zacharysayre
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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Scott got the new doors on Dieter and filled in the side view mirror. Still working on rounding the corners of the door. He also started on shaving off the drip rail.
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Zacharysayre
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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One of the mods I started doing was to remove the side gas door filler. I saw this gas cap filler on a 1970 Dodge Challenger and figured it would work on Dieter.
So I first removed the door. Will need to finish cleaning and smoothing it out.
Then I took the chrome trim ring from the Challenger cap and laid it where the VW emblem goes on the hood. It was the same size. I cut a hole where with emblem went. I fabbed up a simple bracket to attach the new gas cap filler.
All that is left is to do is modify the gas tank to make the new filler functional.
The Dodge cap is functional but there will be a second gas cap inside. That will allow for the hood to open and close without any problems.
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Zacharysayre
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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I used bug selecta to create a starting point. Then I used photoshop to edit the image. The final look for Dieter.
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Zacharysayre
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Joined: July 03, 2004
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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I am including this from http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=207824
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This mod was conceived while I owned a 2001 Dodge Caravan. The caravan had power pop outs in it when I purchased it. I figured I could try my hand and put them on my beetle for a really cool mod.
First off I had to find out how the Dodge caravan pop outs were configured. So I popped off the rear panels and saw how it worked. The setup is as follows:
* simple bracket and gears attached to the window
* 2 cables running to a motor
* motor was tucked under and near the bottom of the panel
I didn't think to take pictures of the setup. I plan on going to the junk yard again and take a few pictures of the setup installed in the van for reference. But I knew what I was looking for now.
I went off to the junkyard and searched for a Caravan with out any rear damage. Hoping that with no damage back there, that the mechanical parts would still be in good shape.
I lucked out and found at least 4 such donor vans. I went to work taking out the needed parts. I kept all the nuts and bolts that I pulled off so I could reuse them on the install. But then changed my mind on reusing them. Be sure to take the button off the window, that way you can use it to attach the bracket to the window. Then I thought to grab the switches off the door but they were already missing. But I realized that I would want some new ones anyway. That way I could match them to the rest of my interior.
When I got home, the first thing I did was to test them to make sure that they both worked properly, they did. I connected them to my accessory fuse on the fuse panel. one hot and one ground. they moved in one direction. I flipped the wires and they moved back the other way.
Then I crawled into the back seat and started to visually place and check to see how the brackets would fit and line up. They will fit in there just right, and look like they will not stick to far from the inner panel.
Then I created a mounting point for the pop out bracket. I needed to create a bracket that had studs on it to mount the bracket on. Since the original way the bracket was attached on the van had nuts welded in place. Note that the bracket was designed so I could have some minor adjustment capability, I didn't want to have it done and have it bind on me.
Once I got the bracket fabricated I started working on the exact placement for it on the quarter panel. I attached the button to the window, then the bracket to the button. This was done to make sure that I got it aligned properly.
Then I started drawing the area to be cut. This is mostly by eye, with some measurements. I measured the original bracket. From the swivel to the edge of the window frame. Trying to align the new bracket in the same position. So it won't bind up. I did use the bracket to try to make it as level as possible. Then I started cutting the inner panel to install the bracket. |
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Zacharysayre
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Power Pop out shots. Note: Scott (my body man/welder/painter) is worse than me in getting the power pop outs done. He had one done when I got there on Saturday. I told him to wait for the other one so I could shoot pictures.
The measurement is 1.5 inches
The same as the new setup. I was measuring the swivel point. to make sure that the new swivel point lines up.
I am working on the video I shot and will get it up real soon.
And a side note: Yes the doors have been suicided, and the drip rail has been shaved. |
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Zacharysayre
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Zacharysayre
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Scott also started to make suicide doors.
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Zacharysayre
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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These pictures are of Scott installing the remote unit and hooking up the remote for the power pop outs.
Ok, here are the final pictures of the install of the power pop outs. The view of where the units will be installed
We attached the bracket to the arm and then attached everything to the window. Using the window helps us get the unit in the proper place. Then marked the outline of the unit.
We retraced the outline so we could see it better.
We then took some measurements to verify that we had it in the proper place.
Once we were satisfied with the placement. We broke out the power tools and went crazy cutting the opening (not really). We love power tools 
Ok so now we have a hole in the quarter panel.
Then we test fitted the bracket. Had to do a little trimming and cleaned up the area so it will be ready to weld in the unit.
The opening is all cleaned and prepped.
Doing a few final adjustments to the positioning.
Finally we broke out another power tool of sorts. The welder, and got the bracket welded in place.
The pop out is in and working great.
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Zacharysayre
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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Here is a list of thing I am doing or going to do on Dieter. I think it is complete.
1. Converted to right hand drive
2. Scat short throw shifter
3. Narrowed beam
4. Dropped spindles
5. Sport headlights with built in fog lights - foglights used as turn signal
6. Shaved turn signals on front
7. Shaved trim - both sides, hood and decklid
8. Watson's Streetworks Custom Wiring Harness
9. Euro style sport mirrors (installed near the top of the door)
10. Disc brakes all around
11. 1776 engine with dual carbs and Porsche fan kit, full flow system
12. 1970 Dodge Challenger flip top gas tank filler, modified gas tank
13. Power pop out windows
14. Frenched in dual power antennas
15. Power locks with safety latch
16. Remote entry system
17. Suicide doors
18. Shaved doors
19. Original 50's Fender pole with working lights
20. Frenched in tail lights
21. New interior
22. Custon Seats front - Rear as a built in arm rest (custom)
23. Porsche carrera 2 deck lid spoiler (functional)
24. Shaved rain gutters
25. Door top corner rounded-off
26. VW emblems in fenders for horns
27. Centerline Racing Wheel
* Front - 15 * 3.5 -- 145's
* Rear - 15 * 7 -- 225/50/15's
28. Custom dash and gauges
I think I got it all. Most are done but a few of them are still in need of completing.
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