By "that" I mean the very detailed and professional work you perform on your Oval.

---

Oh, I see.

Thanks very much - I can't imagine doing it any other way.

---

Whilst I'm waiting for the weather to improve enough to actually find the garage, I thought I'd post a link to my previous project - an absolute basket case of a '64 with a twist at the end....

Part One:-

https://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/showthread.php?p=2298642 

Part Two:-

https://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/showthread.php?t=456332&highlight=mouse 

Normal service will be resumed soon...

---

Sorry for the lack of progress everyone - the next job to be done is to do the final clean and detail of the undercarriage and frame horns which will require more foetal position action whilst getting soaked in jet fuel and crud..... which sadly, due to it being way below freezing, is just something that after a long hard day at work I just can't build the enthusiasm for - it's just too cold to be getting wet on a concrete floor.

As soon as I'm able to feel my fingers, I'll be all over it again....

---

At the moment in Athens we have 23 degrees outside. Its December and everybody still wears t-shirts. Its a bit sick to tell you the truth, it does not feel like Christmas at all. On the other hand if you have a project like yours, then the weather is excellent.

---

Nice, I'd swap. Here in London its freezing all day, Rattletrap lives under an open car port and his locks are frozen:(

I agree with Last Triumph, the cold just kills it (time spent in the garage). You don't need to apologise for the winter break Last Triumph - your enthusiasm puts mine to shame:beer:

---

It's only until the temperature rises enough for me to feel my fingers... Hopefully next week will bring a reprieve in the weather...?

---

Must be true - you're a tough lot up north:!:

---

Having a downstairs tin bath, an outside toilet and a tripe eating whippet must help?

We still point up at planes in the sky you know.... :lol:

---

Well its handy if they're in the garage with the car, saves having to waste valuable restoration time going indoors. Think I'll put a tin bath and karsy in with Rattletrap:p

---

Last night saw me in a major custody battle for the computer with my wife....

Her closing argument (which was carefully worded and elegantly put whilst swinging her handbag) was that due to the recent inclement weather and lack of garage based activity, I'd somewhat monopolized the laptop which in turn had thwarted any attempts by her to navigate the numerous websites and forums that mothers of two normally frequent....

My counter argument of 'how about a nice beef sandwich and a cup of tea, luv" was met with a somewhat disappointing response which, lets just say saw me vacate the computer whilst I still had walking privileges.

After a few minutes twiddling my thumbs on the strange, alien, cold, ill fitting and unfamiliar end of the sofa, I was left with no alternative but to put on 3 T-shirts, 2 sweaters, 3 pairs of socks, two pairs of pants and a woolly hat and see what was occurring in the garage.

At this point I fired up the camera to discover my 5 year old daughter had flattened the battery whilst taking 132 hi-res pictures of various parts of the furniture....

I'm afraid this little update will have to be descriptive only, until I can take some retrospective shots of the small amount of progress made.

Job 1) Somehow, I'd managed to damage the threads on the end of the main front to rear brake line union nut just enough to prevent it going into the NOS master cylinder. I'd put off the job of rectification for a long time now, and as I couldn't face crawling underneath the car, as well as not being able to fit due arctic expedition clothing making me look like the Michelin man, I decided to tackle this little issue.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't beg steal or borrow a fine thread die of M10mm x 1.0mm pitch to clear the threads on the union nut, so I ended up having to buy one which arrived in the post yesterday. After a quick clean up, I managed to get the thread started correctly, but not before having to undo the nuts and bolts securing the M/C to the chassis to give me wiggle manoeuvring ability to allow the threads to start.

Once that was done, I liberally coated the M/C in my sealing wax spray to prevent it turning orange...


Job 2) With the tank out the car again whilst I worked on the M/C, I decided now was a good time to clean the bottom of it and then coat it in the sealing wax to prevent further corrosion. Gave it a good drenching. Things are now ready to be 'closed up' at the tank end once I've got the front brakes / hoses done.


Job 3) Had a long close inspection of the rear solid brake lines and am delighted to report that they are more than serviceable and after a quick clean up, are ready for re-installation once the frame horns are finally clean.


As I say, pics to follow when I can get the camera re-charged.
At this point it was midnight, I had work in the morning and the condensation from my breath was starting to freeze on my glasses...

Stay tuned!

---

easy fix...buy her a computer :wink:

The Oval has used up all possible 2nd computer funds I'm affraid....

Fingers crossed, most of the money has now been spent, save for a few bits n bobs...

---

Sounds familier! :lol:

It it needs much more, I'll need to start thinking about selling the NOS heater boxes, which is a shame, as I was going to pass them down to my son.

---

Right then..... normal service is resumed!

Even though it was -5 degrees and looked like this in the garden....





I wrapped up warm and headed on outside for some Oval loving!





To recap on the previous work done, here some catch up pics.

Repairing the threads of the fuel pipe nut and getting it back in the master cylinder. Don't worry, I'll replace the grommet where it passes through the chassis.







And the bottom of the fuel tank protected in sealing wax.





I used my new bench grinder with a soft brass wire wheel to clean up the rear solid brake lines. Quick before and after shot...









I've been collecting a few parts recently which look very nice indeed waiting patiently in the departure lounge.





Here's a few of the bits n bobs I've acquired.

Correct screw type brake switch.





And yes, of course I did! (it was rude not to)





Cork gasket for the oil filler.





New rubber grommets for the heater cables and clutch bowden tube.





Which of course wouldn't be the same without a NOS heater cable.





Here are my new shocks against the old ones.





Some correct 'wind up' style OEM Porsche 356 (same item) axle boot retaining straps.





New nose cone selector shaft boot.





Which is correct according to all my manuals and parts books, yet this is what I removed from the car..... strange.





Almost tempted to super glue the original cable conduit boot back together, but I might just buy a new one.





I bought a new rubber grommet for the fuel tap lever which I fitted next. It is shiny and golden as I;d just sprayed it with sealing wax.







Which will be connected up to my new genuine VW fuel tap.





A nice new pair of OEM rear transmission mounts.





And a new 'OEM' front trans mount.... I'll come back to this in a minute...





I offered it up to the transmission to find this...





OEM? ?? ??? Whatever! What is disappointing is that the reputable supplier of this part assured me that as it was much more expensive than similar ones on the market, it was the real deal and fitted correctly. I beg to differ.

Anyway - I wouldn't insult my car by even showing it to him, so it'll be getting back in the post tomorrow.

Whilst the rear mounts had indeed gone very soft, I'd always thought that my front mount
was very usable. Yes, it was a little perished around the edges, but it hadn't gone hard as I first suspected, and was';t all soft and chewy either, so I decided that I'd rather have a used but serviceable original one than a new piece of crap and set about cleaning up the old one.





I couldn't resist cleaning up the earth strap with a little oven cleaner - you know, for old times sake.





And after giving the original bolts and washers a clean up on the wire wheel, mounted it back home on the trans to fight another day, covered in sealing wax of course...





Spot the difference in the fit?


That's all for tonight folks - just a quickie before my 'nuts' froze!

---

How can it be so difficult for a manufacturer to remake a part like this to the correct proportions, it's way out :shock:
So your oval is a boy too, just like Rattletrap 😛

---

Great work as always, this continues to be an inspiring thread.

One thing I would mention though is that the earth strap between the chassis and the gear box is a major link in the electrics on the beetle and on the 6 volt cars in particular it is crucial that it is clean and tight.

I would be very careful to ensure that no sealant gets between the strap and the relevant metal parts that it bolts too. In the pictures it looks as though you might have sprayed the sealant on first and then fitted the strap, this would likely result in voltage drop.

Just a thought.

Mike 😎

---

Very good point, Mike :beer:

On a couple of my cars I've found that just removing, cleaning and tightly refitting the earth strap has helped improve electrical issues alone:o

---

Cheers Mike - I stripped the copper strap clean, especially the mating faces and where they join and I'll be sure to make sure no sealant gets in there.

For the record, I spoke to KK this morning and ordered one of WW's front mounts - might as well whilst it's all apart. Fingers crossed it's a better fit...

---