Hot Rod Beetle Ute

[Retrovan]

[nbturbo]

I am in one of 2 local clubs here and they have a really good annual show each November.I live 400klm's from the city,so it always takes a bit of effort to get there.

[nbturbo]

I bought another pair of Aussie Aero front guards.Made an alloy jig to make sure the holes are exactly 15mm from the top edge.Had a go at making a bumperette for the back from a standard early Beetle bumper.Will have them chromed when I am happy with the finish.

[nbturbo]

Finished my bumper today and mounted it.Cut a piece of 2mm zinc plate to close the end in.Used a stock bumper iron cut down to mount it.Got my 2 inch trailer hitch to weld on.

[Retrovan]

Nice to see progress again,

Looking good, are you fitting a screen back under the tail gate ?

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[nbturbo]

I bought a length of electrical cable tray.Will fab a grille to fit below the tailgate and have it powdercoated in a metallic silver.

[nbturbo]

Forgot I had these.Was the reason I used a Beetle bumper to make the short end ones.Happy now how the back end is going to look.

[nbturbo]

Got my bumper ends back from the chrome plater.Awesome job.Cut the towbar tongue receiver and welded into position.Used the offcut to make a place to store the tongue when not being used.Is in behind where the rear grille will be.

[Retrovan]

Good to see some progress going again....

Love it

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

Any more goings on on this here great build.??

Or is the cold setting in

Love to see her when done.

Hoping to have my "Truck" Build done by Feb next year.

Please post some more pic's we need our fix......

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[nbturbo]

All good. We are just coming out of winter here.Days with 12C top temps.Little bit warmer than where you are I suspect.I have just about finished a minor resto of a 1979 Ford F100.Been at it 3 months.About to get back to the VW project.

[nbturbo]

This is where the last few months dissappeared to.I already have a 1980 long wheel base ute with a fully rusted cab.Bought this one to swap the cab over.Thought it wiser,cheaper and quicker to make this one a driver.Had to rob many bits from the 80.Swapped the factory air con unit,but bought new condensor,compressor,drier etc.Even had to swap over the heater unit.Came with the tray,but no sides.Made new sides and the spare wheel carrier.I scored 3 left side dash surrounds-all broken.Used the best example-glued it and and Dremmel'd all the back out.Used fibreglass resin and matt.Ground out the excess,3 coats satin black and a rough attempt to do the silver.Only a couple more small jobs and it's done.

[nbturbo]

Finally back onto it now for a couple of weeks.Made a frame to support the rear mudguards as well as being the frame to weld the rear sides of the tray.I have made the truck sides in 4 pieces with a join at the narrowest part, just above the guard centre.A lot easier to roll and fold in these sizes.I was never happy with the rear transmission top mount.Cut the lot out and changed to something less bulky.Using rubber mounts from an early 60's Holden car here that had a 149 cu inch 6 cylinder engine.They are very compact.I will also make something using the original Subaru engine mounts to help support the engine.Was also never happy with the finish i did on my aluminium dash panel.Did that again.Still used a gun metal hammertone finish.Also did the inside of my custom rear bumpers.

[Retrovan]

Very nice to see some progress going again.

What is you approx. completion date.

Not that you can go to any shows during this covid thing.

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[nbturbo]

Yes, I am really happy to be back at it. Having to re- engineer and fab new stuff gets to me a bit.Plan is to have colour put on by May/June next year and assembly finished By end October.Will try to keep you updated

[nbturbo]

Rear upper transmission support didn't go to plan.Engine some how was 10mm higher one side.Do I just leave it.No- cut the brackets off,reset the fixed supports and tack weld everything with no load set on the rubber mounts.Now is perfect.Decided to make an engine support using the same mounts in the original Subaru locations.They should be OK first time around.Found the Web site of Small Car Performance who do an awesome ally sump for these conversions.Will order one.

[nbturbo]

I was convinced the original Subaru radiator wouldn't cut it for this job.The core is only 15mm thick.Found an aluminium unit on Ebay with 4 tubes and 45mm thick.Bought an air con condenser that is the same size as the radiator.The unit is to fit a 2.5 lt turbocharged Subaru Legacy.Have never seen one.Had to make all the brackets to hold the Suby fans and condenser.Have decided to fit it on an angle to try to get more air into it.Doing the brackets to hold the rad in to chassis now and make all the sealing panels, to make sure all air goes thru it and not around it.Found a spot to hide the air tank for the air bags,Found a new home for the overflow bottle.

[Retrovan]

Nice to see some progress there.

That's a big air tank you running there, are you not going to run a back up little compressor ?? Or is it a fill and run system.

Have got my project back from paint, here are a few photo's should you be interested.

OK, so here is a small taste of what the paint job looks like.

........ https://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=38278&start=345 ... my project site

Keep up the good work and waiting to see how you go.

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[nbturbo]

Wow-that is very different.Just had a quick read on the link.Will have a better look tonight.When I do a resto on Beetles,I always wire them as if they are an early 6 volt.Everything is simple.Even do the floor mounted dip switch for lights.I always fit a relay to both beams though.I adapt the early steering columns and use the 6 volt flasher switch.Of course convert all to 12 volt.What are you going to cart on the back.Looks like a specific tray for something.Well done.

[Retrovan]

Thanks for that advice,

Yes he is made to carry my 1952 Beetle.

Here are the test fit to make sure the Beetle will fit....

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc