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Bashr52 Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5666 Location: On an island in VA
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:46 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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That looks really nice? Is there a way for you to dim the taillight portion so it is not as bright as the Brake? You want a dimmer running light than brake. |
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nshaddox Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Hammatramma, MI
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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i added a resistor in the tail light circuit, so it is actually a bit dimmer. you can kind of see the difference between the photos with the tail light circuit only and brake light circuit only. i might also add physical dividers between the tail light and brake light sections of the board to keep the brake light from bleeding over. not sure if its worth the effort or not... |
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nshaddox Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Hammatramma, MI
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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More progress this weekend. Figured out how to mount tail light in a way that seems kinda factory and solid. Might tweak it a bit more in the future but it's good enough for now.
Here is the basic concept. Mounted the cone to a slightly trimmed ebrake.
This way the cone can ratchet up for access to distributor, fuel pump, and oil filler. Pushing the button releases the cone to normal driving condition.
Welded the ebrake to a modified stock type 3 center pull linkage tower. Made a bolt on bracket to fix the other end to the fan shroud. It's really stout. It all still comes apart too, but I might redo the bolt on side by the shroud to make service/disassembly easier.
And up
From the rear in the down position you can no longer see the plate. I'm going to leave the plate mounting locations in the bubble frame in place in case I ever decide to install a pair of tail lights rather than the single rocket tail light thing.
Had to make another bracket to relocate the plate for now.
New bracket
You can still access push button and engine timing markers from behind plate. Kinda hides some of the engine busyness which is good.
Also fitted the LED array to the tail light housing cone. Had to cut the original stop light housing all up. Cut out the back of the reflector, cut a hole in the back of the housing. Riveted new hinge between front and back of original housing. Wrapped outer lip of lens in electrical tape to replace original cork seal. Assembled the whole thing so it now looks like so.
Also welded a little tray in there to hold the flashing relay for the brake light. Complete with grounding location. You can see it in there.
Ran wires out to cone too, just have to complete the connections. |
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timcurtis67 Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2013 Posts: 87 Location: Carlisle PA
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 3:26 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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I like the look of the new taillight setup!
One question though, If you hit the brakes quickly, will the tail light flip up? And then stay up due to the ratchet?
Maybe you have it locked down in position? _________________ 67 Desert Fox Spoiler |
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nshaddox Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Hammatramma, MI
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 5:02 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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Yes, if you look at the 3rd picture up from the bottom you can see that there is a pin at the rear of the light to look it in position. Detroit roads are terrible so was concerned about it ratcheting up from potholes. |
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nshaddox Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Hammatramma, MI
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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finished wiring up the tail light yesterday. works pretty well now that the brake light spade connectors aren't touching...
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nshaddox Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Hammatramma, MI
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 4:58 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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headlights wired up last night. one low beam didn't work until i twisted a fuse. must have bumped brake light fuse too because it stopped working. figured it all out this morning and drove to work. |
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heywebonya Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2010 Posts: 823 Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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Did you drive the Bubble Boy car to work?
Please get a video! I would love to see a side view camera watching other cars looking at this awesome machine.
Kickin' butt! _________________ If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy! |
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nshaddox Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Hammatramma, MI
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 6:59 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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yea i drove it to work. bubble isn't installed right now though.
lots of gawkers but I'd have to have a pole to mount the camera to to see other peoples reactions from the side. way too far below their beltlines to see otherwise. |
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nshaddox Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Hammatramma, MI
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:46 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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entertaining my 6yr old neighbor.
size comparison next to my friend andy's miata.
top installed.
cruise to moped monday through downtown detroit a few days ago. Andy took some footage while riding his moped around, have to credit him for the picture.
lots of little details to sort out still, but its more or less complete now. I've trimmed the gasket for the bubble since the last picture. hinges for bubble still need some tweaking to be perfect, but I have it installed in 'safari mode' right now to maximize air flow. works pretty well actually. still need to sort out turnsignals. lost my homemade church key somehow so i made a new one out of a spare transmission hockey stick. had to pull apart engine tin on oil cooler side because cooler was apparently not tightened enough and I had a bit of a leak problem. Also had the accelerator cable slip out of the barrel adjuster while trying to impress the moped guys down on fort street, but it wasn't much trouble to fix and get home.
depending on whether i get a window in the rain today, I'm supposed to drive this thing out to ferndale to be featured on detroit public TV's coverage of the dream cruise. |
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vwjetboat Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2017 Posts: 1732 Location: Florida
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:12 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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your nuts... love it.. totally blown away by the outside thinking |
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Jacks Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2006 Posts: 2348 Location: San Clemente, Ca.
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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vwjetboat wrote: |
your nuts... love it.. |
That doesn't sound so good. Did you mean "you're nuts"? That is a contraction of "you are nuts", abbreviating the "you are" to "you're" as opposed to saying "your nuts" referring to Neil's actual physical nuts. Perhaps you had it right the first time.
Anyways, some folks think that punctuation and spelling is of little consequence.
For me, I don't care to be misunderstood when referring to someone's nuts. _________________ Jack Staggs
Actual name |
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vwjetboat Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2017 Posts: 1732 Location: Florida
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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Jacks wrote: |
vwjetboat wrote: |
your nuts... love it.. |
That doesn't sound so good. Did you mean "you're nuts"? That is a contraction of "you are nuts", abbreviating the "you are" to "you're" as opposed to saying "your nuts" referring to Neil's actual physical nuts. Perhaps you had it right the first time.
Anyways, some folks think that punctuation and spelling is of little consequence.
For me, I don't care to be misunderstood when referring to someone's nuts. |
I flunked english.. |
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heywebonya Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2010 Posts: 823 Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 5:30 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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So amazing!
What about windshield wipers?
Have an awesome week _________________ If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy! |
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jwold Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008 Posts: 2088 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 10:26 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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Excellent work. |
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VOLKSWAGNUT Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007 Posts: 11056 Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 10:39 am Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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heywebonya wrote: |
What about windshield wipers?
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Rain X.. and done.. (or lens wax in this case).
I have not turned on wipers in a VW in over 30 years.. .. hell.. not much in my other vehicles too..
It's great stuff.
Looking far out man..
That shot from the back in the city is killer..
.
. _________________ aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited |
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vwjetboat Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2017 Posts: 1732 Location: Florida
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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want to really impress people ? add A/C |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12858 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
heywebonya wrote: |
What about windshield wipers?
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Rain X.. and done.. (or lens wax in this case).
I have not turned on wipers in a VW in over 30 years.. .. hell.. not much in my other vehicles too..
It's great stuff.
Looking far out man..
That shot from the back in the city is killer..
.
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DO NOT apply Rain X to ANYTHING other than glass without testing in an inconspicuous spot or on a scrap of it first, it does not play well with acrylics & plastics.
That is so frickin awesome, glad to see you out & about in it!!! _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.
Last edited by TDCTDI on Fri Aug 18, 2017 2:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vwjetboat Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2017 Posts: 1732 Location: Florida
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
heywebonya wrote: |
What about windshield wipers?
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Rain X.. and done.. (or lens wax in this case).
I have not turned on wipers in a VW in over 30 years.. .. hell.. not much in my other vehicles too..
It's great stuff.
Looking far out man..
That shot from the back in the city is killer..
.
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DO NOT apply Rain X to ANYTHING other than glass without testing in an inconspicuous spot or on a scrap of it first, it does not play well with acrylics. |
agreed .. and I think you can use one of those new wide wiper blades.. single.. they bend well to curves |
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VOLKSWAGNUT Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007 Posts: 11056 Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 2:40 pm Post subject: Re: Neil's bubbletop volksrod build |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
heywebonya wrote: |
What about windshield wipers?
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Rain X.. and done.. (or lens wax in this case).
. |
DO NOT apply Rain X to ANYTHING other than glass without testing in an inconspicuous spot or on a scrap of it first, it does not play well with acrylics & plastics.
! |
I stated lens wax.. in this case.. ...
Yes.. one should always read directions.. and chemical cautions..
. _________________ aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited |
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