Hot Wheels 2 - Pine's new Buggy build thread

[Blitzkrieg]

Damn - Pine, your HW1 has a lot of history behind it

I suppose that the old 14 inch 5 Spoke Tiger wheels (as fitted to some Volvos) would look quite good on a Buggy - widened at the back - but I wouldn't want to take them off road and they are quite scarce...

[Pine]

Pine give me a call for the head work.
Rui 082 830 6493

Thanks Rui, will keep that in mind once the heads are off

[Pine]

Damn - Pine, your HW1 has a lot of history behind it

I suppose that the old 14 inch 5 Spoke Tiger wheels (as fitted to some Volvos) would look quite good on a Buggy - widened at the back - but I wouldn't want to take them off road and they are quite scarce...

Funny you should mention that, as I had a set of those wheels that was originally destined for HW1. Unfortunately I could never find wide enough 14inch rear tyres and decided on the Sprintstars instead. The problem with those wheels are that they are made of aluminium centres, bolted into steel outer rims, so using a tubeless tyre is impossible. You also had to make serious plans to prevent the bolts going through the steel into the aluminium from pinching the tube (much like the nipple of a bicycle spoke pinching the tube). I put them for a while on that horrible '67 Beetle I had, but being 14 inch they never looked right. I had the two front ones for a week on HW1, but that was more a case of emergency. In 2005 I worked in Lesotho, and used to drive early on a Monday morning from Bloem to Maseru (about 180km), and then back on a Friday afternoon. In the week I camped at Ladybrand, and went twice per day over the border into Lesotho and back. One Monday morning I was just about to leave from Bloem when I saw that HW1 had a flat front tyre (a thick nail, picked up after some serious off-roading the day before). I realised that I had only one Beetle-pcd spare, so I put the Volvo wheels from the Beetle up front, with the adapter plates. If I had another flat in front, I could still take one of the adapter plates off, and put the Beetle spare on. This pic, taken with my cell in Maseru, is as far as I know the only one I have of HW1 with those wheels on (note rear wheel angle due to the heavy weight of the camping gear and spare wheel in the back)

[Pine]

Back to the (lack of) progress on HW2

The project is currently at the stage of 'so much to do, where do I start' ? I still have to organise the sequence of what to do on the buggy, and when. My biggest frustration is that my working area is still not how I want it to be, to be honest - it is a mess, and I will have to spend at least a full day to sort that out. I hate searching for tools (that I used moments before), just to realise I put it next to the basin when I washed my hands.

Nonetheless, I spent a few hours after work tonight disassembling the altenator, polishing the outer casing with the wire brush (still not satisfied though), and cutting the right panhalf out of the replacement chassis. The blade of the angle grinder got worn too small, so I had to stop what I was doing for the evening, will carry on later.

Good news is that I have sourced some VERY rare parts for the new buggy today from a fellow Forum member (missing my arm and leg in the process ), but it is something that HW1 also had on and that I'd thought I'll never get again. More info later though.

Probably the only part that was orignally on HW1, and that will be carried over to the new buggy, is the steel window washer nozzle. As can be seen in the center of the pic below, it needs some detailing, but that will be placed on the new buggy in memory of HW1. It is originally from a 1965 'fintail' Mercedes (the Benz actually had two on its bonnet), and formed part of a VDO (yes, seriously!) window washer system consisting out of a flexible water bladder, and hydraulic foot pump. I had the entire system in HW1, and it worked very well except for the fact that I had placed the foot pump directly above the tunnel against the fibreglass 'firewall', and it was a bit awkward to reach with your foot. I believe more or less the same system was used in the early Split buses, except for the fact that you pumped the water with your had, somewhere below the steering wheel.



So I guess you'll be asking - why a window washer in a buggy? Well, the main purpose of any window washer is to to lubricate the window, before the wipers move to prevent scratching. No, you WON'T be able to blast that squashed bug off the window with a jet of water though, but a window washer does wonders to a windscreen in very dusty conditions. Of course it works just as well to empty a bottle of water on the window by hand while driving!

A problem I have with many new cars (especially Golfs) is that if you spray water on the rear window, the wiper start moving before the window actually gets wet. A serious design booboo, IMHO? Check how many hatchbacks have wiper scratch marks on the rear window...

The old pneumatic system of the Beetle where it gets the pressure from the spare wheel was nice, but they age and I have not seen a lot that still works fine - except for making your spare wheel flat. With the Bay you pressurise the window washer bottle with air on a valve that looks exactly like a tyre valve (below the steering wheel, above the pedals.) The water is released when you push the wiper button on the dash.

I'm bending the classic 'rules' a bit, as I will be installing this universal window washer set in the buggy, with the water bottle in the left front of the firewall, and the brake fluid reservoir on the right. I will like to make use of a Golf indicator and wiper arm assembly, so I won't need to install a pushbutton for the electric water pump. (And of course the nozzle can be turned 360 degrees, and deliver two jets of water anywhere, or on anyone you want )

Footnote: Two more of these sets available, see offered section. I bought them recently from a parts shop, they are 'new old stock' and not available anymore!

[Blitzkrieg]

With the Bay you pressurise the window washer bottle with air on a valve that looks exactly like a tyre valve (below the steering wheel, above the pedals.) The water is released when you push the wiper button on the dash.

Type 3's also have the same system. Maximum 2.5 bars of pressure

...on that horrible '67 Beetle I had

Do tell us more

*promises not to hijack the thread again*

[ZeroAxe]

Pine, I would like to see a pic of the bottom side of the cap.... I assume that it has got a 'stubby' that screw into the 'base' where the threads are like in the pic below?

[Chris]

If I'm not mistaken,it fits to the rubber hose and then gets clamped.

[ZeroAxe]

Nah, that I figured out. What I am after is the underside where "GAS" is written.


Oh and Pine, I forgot to add.... I wouldn't realy think that the filler in the middle of the bonnet is practical. Can you imagine having to bend and reach for the filler each time you fill up? I donlt think it looks bad on one side.....

[Pine]

Zero stand by a few minutes so that I can take the pics - the light is a bit khak at the moment, but I'll give it a try!

(The center cap is ALL about the looks)

[Pine]

What I am after is the underside where "GAS" is written.

Here's the pic, note the small 'breathing' holes underneath the cap - hope it answers your question?

[Pine]

wouldn't realy think that the filler in the middle of the bonnet is practical. Can you imagine having to bend and reach for the filler each time you fill up? I

Guess I'll just have to get someone else to do the 'bending' for me, then?

[Pine]

Update - well, uhm... not a lot to say at the moment, it is a bit hard working in the week on the buggy but on the other hand perhaps I should spend less time on ACVWSA

Anyway, did some investment in tools, namely a puller and a ball joint remover. The puller will mainly be used to remove the engine pulley and the altenator pulley - tested it, and it works. The ball joint remover will be used to ... well, I guess you get the picture. Experience has learned that the best tool for the job is the tool actually designed for the job. A hammer is used to moer nails into a wall. Period.



Still haven't found a replacement gauge for the MPH Porsche VDO. The gauge I have, pictured below, is designed to operate from the gearbox, not the left front wheel as a Beetle (buggy). Was fantazising about a similar gauge with an electronic odo - usable for any wheel size - but the gauge is R 2800 and the pickup R 850, so I'll have to make another plan...



The Ranger steering wheel pictured below is officially scrapped from the buggy parts list. It is simply too large (17 inch) diameter, but might find its way into the Bay some day. (He he he, I'm a poet and you didn't even knowit!!)
Looking for a smaller, 3-spoke steering wheel at the moment

[ZeroAxe]

What I am after is the underside where "GAS" is written.

Here's the pic, note the small 'breathing' holes underneath the cap - hope it answers your question?

*looks at the pic and goes "Hmmmmmm" *

That indeed does answer the question. I need something like this for another poject for AGES now.... 'Problem' is, the actual cap is too big.. The part that goes into the rubber hose/tank is perfect. Now, looking at the cap itself.... If the 'big ring' can be machined off, just about to where the vent holes are (on the outside) that'll do fine! However, it then just looks way too easy for the fuel to spill/breathe out onto the paint job. Damn, what to do..... If only I can think of another way for the 'fuel tank' to breathe, then I would close those two little holes....... I am thinking of a 'floating' needle for a breather. You know, like a one way valve. lets air in, but as soon as liquid comes close, it lifts the ball up in the valve and closes the air hole..... Now, anyone knows where such a device can be found?

PS. How much is a cap like that? I dont need it to be BLING. Plain old steel/Ali would be ok.

[Blitzkrieg]

Pine, you are more than welcome to take that GTI steering wheel that you organised for me for the Buggy. Let me know if you want it and I can send it your way

[buggyfan]

I will like to make use of a Golf indicator and wiper arm assembly,

will you be using the steering column/shaft from a golf aswell,??