Author |
Message |
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:40 pm Post subject: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Been lurking for a long time have a couple Project cars currently a 70' Baja bug and this sedan that I plan on making a street car progress has been slow but I have taken the body off the Pan and replaced the Pan halves as well as install a 4inch narrowed JerFab front beam with all new ball joints and dropped spindles. I looked around at the options for rear IRS kits and was not impressed. I decided to build my own as I have decent skills and tools that can outperform my low level skills But anyways here is some pics feel free to comment and criticize this is a first for me airbags wise and streetcar wise I come from an off-road background so let me know what you think. The rear is almost finished just need to finish the passenger side arm and the upper bag mounts.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
DeathTrap Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2004 Posts: 1757 Location: Sacramento/Vermont
|
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
You lay some pretty welds. Mig? Mix gas? or fluxcore?
No spatter
a little glassy icing(?)
but the browning along the sides like fluxcore
what's the welder you use?
again real pretty welds |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Thanks man. The welds are a work in progress for sure still although the they have come a long way. For all the welding I'm using my millermatic 252 (mig) and all the plate work is getting cut with a miller spectrum 300 plasma cutter. Lots of clean up and grinding work to do because I'm a hack 17 year old but it's coming out ok I think. Any input is greatly appreciated I used 3/16 plate instead of 1/4 inch because it's what I had laying around the shop for free. Hoping that all the gussets will make it strong enough I will be doing similar gussets on the uppers as well hopefully I can get those done tonight. Thanks for looking! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Where's the input?? Seems like airbags are not a hot topic in the IRS community. I had trouble finding much info when I was attempting to research so I just dove into it. Anyways here are some more pics of the car and a few parts running a single Viair compressor and a 5 gallon tank not looking for speed but I can always upgrade to dual compressors later. Working on the body gonna clean up under the hood and decklid. I will be rewriting the whole car with a rebel deluxe kit I have. Going for a patina look on the car hopefully. Most of it is clean and rust free except the luggage tray which I will be replacing soon.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Finished up the passenger side arm tonight gonna paint them and get new bushings installed before I get them installed. I still need to finish the upper bag mounts but ran out of time today. Hopefully I'll finish the uppers tommorow and get this thing back on its feet!
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
iadubber Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2010 Posts: 177 Location: Farley, IA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 4:50 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Good idea making your own kit. I bought the Airkewld kit and wasn't really that impressed for the cost and "guidelines" for installation. To get it all to fit with the body on was a nightmare of taking the body off and on several times and redoing many attempts. Finally got it all to fit after a lot of f'n around. At that point, we should have just went custom, but the kit was bought already. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
TX-73 Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 1133 Location: Texas
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:24 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Very talented, I think this is a pretty cool project, I'm liking the overall concept/patina approach. Structurally, looks like a very solid platform. _________________ My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
Click to view image |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Chochobeef Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2013 Posts: 811 Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 7:27 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
You are 17 and working on cars. That's more than most in your generation. As far as feedback. Don't take silence as a negative, but take it as a complement. I'm sure some here will be negative ninny's, but a lot here will be intrigued by your work and the progress you make. Those are the ones you don't need to impress. All we can hope for is the finished product and how you got there. That's the adventure I like to see.
Here is my feedback: Looks good, keep it up and stay on it. You have a bright future ahead of you in the car world if you can produce results like you are showing. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Boosten Ya(Josh) Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2016 Posts: 173 Location: SoCal
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:29 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Looks good. Did you tack weld everything and make sure there is no binding, or clearance issues?
With your welds it looks like you are dragging the puddle. Is this correct? Looks like you either A) need to turn the heat up a little as you have some "worms" or B) you need to slow down a little.
I'm in Corona. I can come over and teach you a little about welding if you want. _________________ 07' Ford Ranger - New DD.
71' Super beetle - prostreet trans 4.10 gear, 1641cc with dual 40 IDFs, W110, and a 1-1/2qt deep oil pan.
Needs: cage, seats, harnesses, better suspension, new wheels, and rear disc brakes.
Almost there.... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
I did cycle the suspension and check for clearance before finish welding everything. My only real concerns were the design of my lower bagmounts most designs I see are inset into the arms. I choose to go off the back for better leverage and I didn't like the idea of cutting out the centers of the arms hopefully it works out alright. It's pretty impressive that you could tell I was puddle dragging with my welds I seem to have better luck in tight areas pulling the puddle rather than pushing it even though it is wrong. Anyways here's a little update didn't get much done today picked up a few parts that I needed. Got the brake lines urathane transmount and all the stuff to rebuild my CVs hoping to have it all back together by Friday and then work on the luggage tray and hopefully set the body back on!
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:06 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
On a side note their is a meet up real close to me for any SoCal guys it's the grand opening of a ACVW shop met with the guy today while buying some bolts really cool guy wish my street car was done for the event. I might roll down there in my Baja Bug anyways and hang out for a little while. Here's the flyer let me know if anyone is planning on heading out maybe we can meet up !
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
FullFender Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2014 Posts: 647
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Pretty sweet start, looks like a solid build are you planning on sanding the paint down for the patina look? it'll look awesome when done. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:55 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Ok couldn't stop myself so here's a couple pics of the passenger side bag in place. I haven't started work on the gussets or the driver side upper mount but the arms are mocked back into place and ready to get cycled for the other mount. Pretty happy with the results so far. For paint I'm gonna try and use as much of the natural patina as I can. The hood has a little more patina than the rest of the car but I may add some faux patina as necessary. I already sanded the hood down I'll try and get some pics up of that tommorow. Anyways onto the good stuff
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Boosten Ya(Josh) Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2016 Posts: 173 Location: SoCal
|
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
KrepszBrothers wrote: |
I did cycle the suspension and check for clearance before finish welding everything. My only real concerns were the design of my lower bagmounts most designs I see are inset into the arms. I choose to go off the back for better leverage and I didn't like the idea of cutting out the centers of the arms hopefully it works out alright. It's pretty impressive that you could tell I was puddle dragging with my welds I seem to have better luck in tight areas pulling the puddle rather than pushing it even though it is wrong. Anyways here's a little update didn't get much done today picked up a few parts that I needed. Got the brake lines urathane transmount and all the stuff to rebuild my CVs hoping to have it all back together by Friday and then work on the luggage tray and hopefully set the body back on!
|
I do a back and forth method. That's where you get the look of laying dimes. plus it ensures you are getting proper penetration.
I'm down to go to the meet Saturday. IDK if I'll make it by 10 but ill be there by 11. Need to work on the bugs shifter. _________________ 07' Ford Ranger - New DD.
71' Super beetle - prostreet trans 4.10 gear, 1641cc with dual 40 IDFs, W110, and a 1-1/2qt deep oil pan.
Needs: cage, seats, harnesses, better suspension, new wheels, and rear disc brakes.
Almost there.... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
miller0358 Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2007 Posts: 1200 Location: northford,ct
|
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
You have a lot of talent for your age. As far as your welds, it looks like a little bit of under cut along the edges, so turn down your heat just alittle. Also with a mig, try pushing the weld puddle instead of dragging itAnd slow down just a little bit. Nice work. This process is just for thicker metal. Jeff |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Ok was able to knock a few things out tonight upper bag mounts are both placed and welded starting work on gussets as I let them cool. Gonna have to work on the center gussets because I cut them the same as the outer gussets not realizing I need space for the bag port should have it fully welded tonight. But for now here's some pictures of the process!
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
heimlich VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016 Posts: 6621 Location: Houston, Texas
|
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
KrepszBrothers wrote: |
Thanks man. The welds are a work in progress for sure still although the they have come a long way. For all the welding I'm using my millermatic 252 (mig) and all the plate work is getting cut with a miller spectrum 300 plasma cutter. Lots of clean up and grinding work to do because I'm a hack 17 year old but it's coming out ok I think. Any input is greatly appreciated I used 3/16 plate instead of 1/4 inch because it's what I had laying around the shop for free. Hoping that all the gussets will make it strong enough I will be doing similar gussets on the uppers as well hopefully I can get those done tonight. Thanks for looking! |
Very nice beads. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
SBD Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2012 Posts: 3269 Location: SOUTH DAKOTA
|
Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Don't use the red trans mounts. They don't have a very good track record. _________________ "Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"
mark tucker wrote: |
I wouldent waste $ or thyme on building a small motor. build it big so it dosent have to work hard.remember it's only as fast as your foot alows it to be unless you build a small turd then it just stinks as it squishes up through your toes when you step on it. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
KrepszBrothers Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 21 Location: Riverside Ca
|
Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Ok so I didn't figure out my middle gusset problem last night but I finished the other four gussets and got them welded them in thinking about using some flat plate for the middle gusset but we will have to see. What's wrong with the urathane trans mounts? I thought they were the best option to keep the trans alive I will also be strapping the nose cone of the trans. I plan on putting a 2.0 liter with dual Weber 44s in this car. I can go swap the mounts for some others what do you guys recommend ? I plan on putting some power to this car so I didn't want to go stock.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bashr52 Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006 Posts: 5666 Location: On an island in VA
|
Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Airbagged 68 Hard Top BUILD THREAD with Pictures |
|
|
Stock mount with a trans strap, or a mid-mount would be all you need if you're concerned. I have stock rubber mounts and a mid mount in my Thing with a 2232 and no issues. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|