Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Give details and pictures of your ACVW projects here.
User avatar
Madbones
Oil Cooler
Posts: 357
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:05 am
What model do you have?: 182 Thing
Location: Gauteng
Has thanked: 12 times
Been thanked: 44 times

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Madbones »

Thanks for sharing and what a great achievement. Congratulations.


User avatar
Donovan D
Donor
Donor
Posts: 2229
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:27 pm
What model do you have?: 67 Panel
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=536371512
Location: Brackenfell
Has thanked: 148 times
Been thanked: 73 times
South Africa

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Donovan D »

Great achievement Herman !
Good to see projects being completed, especially custom ones.

:hangloose: :hangloose:
---------- 67 Panelvan -----------
---------- 56 Oval ----------
User avatar
Riaan.N
Oil Seal
Posts: 421
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:23 pm
What model do you have?: 1975 1600 TP Beetle
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 37 times
South Africa

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Riaan.N »

Awesome Herman!!!! Awesome, well done!

How is the engine temperatures looking?
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Riaan.N wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:33 am .....How is the engine temperatures looking?....
Temp runs at 75 C and when pulling at 80kmh up long hill he will clime to 90, but drops down again after the hill.

All gauges are normal when running fast for long times.

Very happy with the airflow via the gills and into the engine compartment.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Busy with all the small things to get MeFusco done,

making sure all is well for the Road worthy test, when all of a sudden it hit me, .....No seat belts. :shock: :shock:

Now this is going to be an issue as we did not ensure the old mounting points where preserved.

So got me a set of seat belts, and now making brackets to fit them,

Will have to peal back some of the upholstery to get fixing points or to make new ones. :roll:

So bear with us as we get this done as there will be no RWC without them,,,,,,, :(

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
Haans
Camshaft
Posts: 893
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2016 7:10 pm
What model do you have?: 1960 ghia
Location: Nelson Mandela Metro
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 107 times
South Africa

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Haans »

Herman,...give yourselves a bells ! And then 2 more for the rest !!. Great achievement I think it came out great. Loved the video

Haans
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Thanks Haans, was wondering what happened to you,

Glade to see you OK

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
Haans
Camshaft
Posts: 893
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2016 7:10 pm
What model do you have?: 1960 ghia
Location: Nelson Mandela Metro
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 107 times
South Africa

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Haans »

Well.......you're right.. a month ago I climbed into the ring with my opponent called. COVID-19 !! Got knocked down hard,..landed in hospital!......bottom line I got up and took the fight to the bliksem,.....and barely survived, but won the fight on " points". Currently at home on oxygen.
Live to fight another day !!!

Regards. Haans
Terry Phillips
Fuel Injection
Posts: 2005
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:56 pm
What model do you have?: T3,1beetle
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 193 times
Been thanked: 121 times
Zambia

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Terry Phillips »

Sorry to hear Haans take care stay safe.
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Haans wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 4:54 pm Well.......you're right.. ......Live to fight another day !!!
Regards. Haans
Very relived that you won the main round, please rest up to prevent permanent damage.

Lost my brother and brother in-law to this little bugger, also have young family still fighting their rounds as we speak.

Lots of respect Nick, may you get stronger every day.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

So on the way to RW the engine moved slightly forward and I lost Revers gear

Turned around and went home, and as murphy's law will have it he stop on the side of the road.

Heard the fuel pump running and looked into the tank, had fuel, then looked at the filter, and it was blocked.

Managed to get home in short bursts, and now to get him ready for RW next week.

Stay safe guys and think of others, wear a mask

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Has a good chuckle to my self after having a look why the gearbox moved making revers gear go AWL

When we had the motor back in the last time,

we left the gearbox front mount loose so that it could slide into place when the motor hanger mount is installed. :roll:

Needless to say, we all forgot to tighten it up again once in place. :oops: :oops: :oops:

So got it all back in place and bolted all 3 bolts up nice and tight.

Now the fuel filter, I drained the fuel, and attempted to suck out most of the dirt in the bottom of the tank.

As this is the old hidden long distance tank from the Bay's checkered past, it had a bit of surface rust which we cleaned out as best we could.

But as it was not painted it still gives off a bit of dirt. the plastic fuel filter cleaned it out but blocked up very fast.

This was a surprise to me, so I opened and found that they use a canister type filter with metal top and bottom caps,

but the gap between the plastic outer and bottom cap is so small that the dirt gets block there instead of the filter it self.

So the fuel blocks up a lot faster as it takes less dirt to block the gap then it would take to block the filter.

So as there still is some dirt to be removed, I replaced the plastic filter with a high pressure metal canister type fuel filter.

So it should now take a longer time to block.

Also I removed the tank pickup and added a short length to the pipe so it does not feed off the bottom of the tank.

The dirt should now stay on the bottom of the tank.

Will take him for a test drive, this week and head back to get the RWC.

Till then

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

So here you go....

Finally have most of the car done, and in its final stage.

Still needs a few repairs, and small unforeseen changes such as too low rear mud guards. :shock:

Also needs a good clean as its got dirt and grim all over from the "adjustments" ...

Repair to assembly damage, and trail bumps.... :roll:

But here is a full coverage of the MeFusco, after two years of work, and fun.

Will be placing a video at a later stage of a walk around as well as the loading of the Beetle.

But this will have to wait as I need to get my family over for a braai, .......(should read get them to help with the video......) :wink:

So here goes ........... :D

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

to all that read my posts, Thanks for the assistance advice and comments during the build, this was part of the fun,

as was the constant think and rethink to get it to this stage.

Special thanks to Dawie, Garhard, and Tony Z for your feedback, much appreciated,

OH !!! The rubber mat on the rear fender was taken out to take the photo's thats why its there, :oops:

Thanks for looking.

Herman

Last edited by retrovan on Sun Aug 01, 2021 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
AlanH
Crankshaft
Posts: 732
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:20 am
What model do you have?: '70 Westy
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 117 times
Been thanked: 86 times
Germany

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by AlanH »

Well done Herman,
Hope you enjoyed building as I enjoyed reading.
Really looking good and hope it brings a lot of pleasure driving.
Wanted parts:
Left sunvisor
Sink faucet
Exhaust to swap for Beetle exhaust
73type2
Pushrod
Posts: 987
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:37 am
What model do you have?: '73 T2 Single Cab
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 141 times
Been thanked: 100 times
France

Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by 73type2 »

I really enjoyed reading your project thread over the past couple of years, Herman. It’s a bit sad that it’s coming to an end, but I’m sure you’ll soon entertain us with another creation.
Post Reply