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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 4:18 am Post subject: Sterling Kit Car |
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I am currently in the process of building a Sterling Kit Car. The car # is S069 and it was built in the mid 70's. I have owned the car for about a year but only recently began the restoration.
I'm not new to Sterling's or VW's. My first VW was a bug I bought in 1982. I have owned a Sterling for about 10 years (car #310 unfinished project). I finished car #114 about 2 years ago and have been active on the Sterling Kit Car site. I make several of the cars parts myself and have average mold making and fiberglass skills. I do all of my own work including paint, body and mechanical.
I'll start this entry off with a few photos of the #114 car that I already finished and is currently a running / driving car.
I'm not new to the site but typically do not post in any of the forums.
My name is Roger and I'm in Tampa Bay Florida.
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jmacgreg Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2017 Posts: 14 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Very nice. I love the color and black accents. What motor/tranny are you using? |
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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jmacgreg wrote: |
Very nice. I love the color and black accents. What motor/tranny are you using? |
Thanks! Color is Dodge Destroyer Grey. Motor is a 1600 I believe. I didn't build this one. Dual Carbs, runs good. Its a swing axle car, trans ratio also unknown.
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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The dash, center console, seats and AC shroud are all custom pieces I made in my shop. I also made the ground effects, hood, rear wing, rear spoiler, inside pockets and the entire lower rear section of the car.
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rubenski Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2014 Posts: 100 Location: belgium
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Wow, super nice car!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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weasel_ugs Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2012 Posts: 721 Location: Prescott Valley,Az.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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nice |
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LesbleuBuggy Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2017 Posts: 18 Location: ZA
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:20 pm Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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That's very cool ! |
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:59 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Thanks Guys!
So this new project, car #S069, started last year when I made the road trip north to buy the car from one of the guys on the Sterling Kit Car Site. I didn't need another project for sure but, I'm kind of addicted to Sterlings. I had just finished the Grey car above and was also building car #S068.
#S068 is another car I had bought earlier in the year but ended up selling to a local guy who had contacted me on the Sterling site. Since he didn't have a place to build it I had agreed to work on it for him.
Like all new toys it got my attention for a couple of days while it sat on the trailer. Sanding off some recently sprayed primer so I could see what was underneath and access what needed to be done. Doing some repairs to the fiberglass, filling holes etc. The paint had been stripped with a heat gun and a straight razor which created a lot of extra work.
Then the car got covered up and sat for about the next year.
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:07 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Fast forward to this July, more because it was in my way, I started to look over the car again. Then the wheels start turning and the old toy becomes new again.
The new plan for the car was to try and keep it on a budget in regards to time and money spent to finish the car. Not getting too carried away trying to make it original again, just deal with what is there or should I say not there. I started at the rear of the car, trimming up the body, sanding and priming so it looks like something was accomplished.
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:10 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Moving on to the front trunk area, this is back breaking work. Lots of gouges to fill and working on all of these concave shapes is murder.
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:22 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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July and August have been pretty much all about fiberglass repairs and body work. A couple hundred hours worth so far.
I won't bore you with all the details, that is available on the Sterling site: http://www.sterlingkitcars.com/members_n_forums/bu...069-a.html
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:30 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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I make a lot of changes to the engine compartment and rear wheel well area. Enclosing the area to make it look much cleaner then original.
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:33 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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More recently I have been working on the canopy hydraulics. The original plan was to use electric actuators however this proved to be more of a pain in the butt then originally thought. So plan b is just do what you already know. The pump is a marine trim pump, pneumatic cylinders and some misc plumbing items.
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:38 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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I make the steering column for the Sterling pretty much the same as I have for the buggys I have built in the past.
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:44 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Yesterday I reset the rear spring plates and worked on the rear shelf area behind the seats.
That gets us up to speed. A more detailed write up is on the Sterling site: http://www.sterlingkitcars.com/members_n_forums/bu...069-a.html
From here forward I'll try to keep this current. |
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WMAGRU Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2013 Posts: 28 Location: St. George, Utah
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Very Nice! |
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BL3Manx Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006 Posts: 6767 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Very cool. I remember seeing the Sterling factory in San Lorenzo |
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Rockbound Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2017 Posts: 303 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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looking good! |
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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BL3Manx wrote: |
Very cool. I remember seeing the Sterling factory in San Lorenzo |
My #310 car came out of that factory. I have been in touch with the original owner who ordered it and had it delivered. |
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ratrog Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: Holiday, FL 34691
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: Sterling Kit Car |
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Only got a couple of hours in the evening. Started fitting the center console cutting out the area for the e-brake. The console is a part I make in my shop. Still some trimming to do. The rain slowed me down from cutting glass outside.
Welded in the nut for my harnesses and then started making the rear seat support. The seats are original type Cimbria kit car seats which I need to make a mold of so I can make a few extra sets. They fit pretty nice in the drop pans. I'll have to make the covers as well.
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