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57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project
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Erik G
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:37 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Gorgeous


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0nebadbug
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:08 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Wow! She's gonna look stunning when finished... ...envious Cool



What kind of lock strip or clips hold in the windshield? Been in the business 30+ years, if I'm familiar with it, maybe I can give you an installation tip...
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 8:25 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Thanks for the compliment!

Going on 3 1/2 years, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Yesterday I got the whole wiring harness in and functional.

I wanted the front parking lights in the headlights to be parking and turn signal. I used a trick like is standard for VW brake lights. Instead of running the brake light switch to the turn signal I ran the parking light signal. Then, I switched the front and rear lights on the switch after running a separate wire to the back for the brakes (brakes are now separate from turn signal switch). This now lets me have the turn signal switch the paring light function in the front. I used higher watt yellow turn signal bulbs.

The dash is coming together nicely. I'm still worried about getting the windshield in but I will mount the body to the chassis first.

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JeffL
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 8:13 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Got the seats mounted to the rails. Just need to put in the dome light under the dash and we are ready to move the body onto the chassis.

The dash all checked out fine. I started with one of the best repro wiring harnesses but still had to cut it apart to get it to work right. Basically I had to build the whole harness from scratch.

The interesting thing about this Alken was that it was one of two "splash" cars that were fully assembled by the Alken Corp. This means that I got some extras like the aluminum bumper spears, wiper mechanism cut down to fil under the dash, and some brass prop rods for the hood and deck lid.

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splitjunkie
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 8:48 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

looking good.

Make sure that the foam you are using for the pan gasket is closed cell foam and not open cell.
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0nebadbug
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 10:18 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Popcorn
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 1:27 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

A few more items for today.

Had to sneak in a 56 Ghia NOS dome light.

The Alken D2 script came out great.

Under the hood we were done, I thought, but need to secure the spare tire. Note we are running a "mini spare" to get the hood to close.

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JeffL
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 8:35 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Sunday was a great day. My brother and son helped me get the body on (two of us could still pick it up) and we bolted most everything together.

I went down to summit racing and picked up some 2 inch heater duct and this should work to connect the heat from the rear firewall pipes to the outlets below the dash.

Only the windshield and interior remain. The Alken started right up and no pesky carbs leaking this time.

Not sure if I want to run hub caps or not.

The engine fits in well, when I had to replace the fiberglass cut for the batteries I sized the opening for the 58 Porsche 1600N.

Went down to the BMV for plates. I got a vanity plate that says "A 455 S" so that it matches the vintage ohio plates. I think I'll just run the vintage plates and keep the correct ones in the car. It was nice to see the numbers where available.

The cream/yellow leather was picked to try and match the steering wheel and controls


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BulliBill
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 11:45 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

WOW! simply WOW!

Bill Bowman
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 7:23 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Thanks for the compliments.

Still nervous about putting the windshield in. It was an "airy" test drive without doors and windshield. Seemed to run fine.

I was going to leave the doors off until the carpet is in but I think now I will put them one to assure all fits well. I have the new door cards but need to cut holes for handle/rope to mount them.

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Erik G
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 7:47 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Awesome! Really came out beautiful
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Rich's 50
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:52 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Cool
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 7:05 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

One step closer. Doors and with door cards on that open and close. Put on 6 highway miles today. Without the windshield it was a little windy.

Looking to finish the windshield and interior in the next week or two and we should be complete.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:40 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Finally a windshield. Thanks to those with tips on installing the locking strip. Of all the jobs I do I seem to dislike this task the most.

This early British Ford Consul windshield has a locking strip unlike VWs. I still need the trim to arrive from the chrome shop. The glass is original. when the Alken was built the glass was about 5 years old and the cart sat in a warehouse for 25 years so it is in good condition with a few minor chips.

The last step is the carpet. There are chrome tips to cover the opening/closing rope coming too.

We put about 20 miles on it the other day and it ran OK. I need to read up on and set up the carbs and the rest seems great.

Here is a shot too of the suicide doors.

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veedubman72
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:08 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

This is pretty fantastic. great job! Applause
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Rome
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:24 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Simply fabulous, Jeff! Tremendous effort. You will hopefully be cruising by Memorial Day!

As to hubcaps- how about some emblem-less nipple hubcaps, early '60's EMPI accessories, which I call "UFOs"? Visually more interesting than a baby moon. Like these-
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Though these have the 3 small holes for the dang emblem- https://www.mecatechnic.com/en-GB/chrome-plated-wheel-hub-cap-for-porsche-356-a-and-b_RS11647.htm
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 8:35 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Rome wrote:
Simply fabulous, Jeff! Tremendous effort. You will hopefully be cruising by Memorial Day!

As to hubcaps- how about some emblem-less nipple hubcaps, early '60's EMPI accessories, which I call "UFOs"? Visually more interesting than a baby moon. Like these-
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Though these have the 3 small holes for the dang emblem- https://www.mecatechnic.com/en-GB/chrome-plated-wheel-hub-cap-for-porsche-356-a-and-b_RS11647.htm
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Nice idea!
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templeofspeed
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:41 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

I do have four of these, I can't think of a better car for them:


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:30 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Personally, I love the look of early Porsche wheels and drums with no hub caps.

If I had to go with hub caps the fake knock offs that temple of speed posted would look great on your car.
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Rome
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:44 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

temple, is that an old photo? I remember it from several years ago. What car are they on? How long have you had them? Did you by any chance buy them in spring 1985 at a VW meet in northern OH which was held at a VW dealer? That's when and where I saw the first set in person. Guy asked $80 for the set of 4. I passed, because my '64 Ghia was already converted to stock 4-lugs on a '70 pan.
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