Aircooled VW South Africa

Klaus wrote:Nice Hurst repro - you want to do some more for resale?

Thanks, my welding is not good/clean enough to go and make and sell these.
The other thing will also be the cost involved in making them.

Finally managed to shorten the steering shaft. Reason for shortening it is because my steering box sits 4cm higher up, which means my steering wheel has been 4cm higher than what it should be.
So while jacking up the kombi to get the steering shaft out the exhaust hit the ground. Jack out and started to lift the rear of the kombi to clear the exhaust. With a big bang the kombi front came off the jacks and hit the ground. My steering damper did not make it, luckily no one was under the kombi. Just hope theres no other unseen damages.

Quick trip to Dave and a chat there and back in garage with new damper.
Steering shaft came out easily and I didnt have to jack the kombi up too high up. New shaft in and realised my steering wheel is out about 90 degrees to the horizontal position. After a lot of head scratching my dad and I realised that when they welded back the inner shaft that the woodruff key and worm gear is on they didnt align it with the line we made in the shaft to ensure the key opening would face the same way.

I do have a spare split steering wheel and wondering if I could make another key groove in it so that the steering wheel could be in the correct position. Would this work ??

Damper


Shortened shaft

Yes D, it will work, as long as the two grooves are not to close to each other or they will break through.

The most twist is taken by the tapper of the shaft and wheel.

But you can weld up the old groove if you so want, but be careful for the tapper.

Herman

retrovan wrote:Yes D, it will work, as long as the two grooves are not to close to each other or they will break through.

The most twist is taken by the tapper of the shaft and wheel.

But you can weld up the old groove if you so want, but be careful for the tapper.

Herman

Trying to get a place that can get it done.

Took it for a drive on Sunday and what a difference !
The kombi drives soooo much better now. The play is almost gone and its a lot more responsive when turning.
Really happy and should have done this years ago.

Managed to get the steering wheel broached to get it aligned right, so while trying to remove the old steering wheel the hooter wire tore in the shaft, the steering puller chowed through it. What a way to wake up the neighborhood on a Sunday. Got the new steering wheel on and a week later when I drove it I noticed that I managed to put it back on the original key . So took it off again and managed to get it sorted.

Took a trip to Saldanha last weekend. Cold early morning start and Stopped in Yzerfontein and Langebaan on the way. Fuel gauge showed empty on the way back so we pulled over for some coffee and a fill up from the jerry can. Really need to get the rubbers for the pedals, my feet were freezing.








Also adjusted the points gap and looked at the valve clearance. Piston number three's valve closest to piston four was a bit tight so gave it some slack.
The valve cover gaskets were also glued to the covers. I got new ones on but should I also have stuck it on with something ? I put it in dry.

nicely done D. Cool pics too.
I see you took the missus with - good girl.

Putting the gaskets in dry isnt a problem, but glueing them to the valve cover does make life easier and reduces their chance of slipping out.

While checking the valve clearance I took the oppertunity to paint the rear wheel drums.
Also took it out for a drive to Stellenbosch, a friends girlfriend has this chevy kommando that we tried starting up. Its been standing since 2011. She also got stuck in messing about with it.

nice
Drums look good D - subtle so it isnt noticed - the way I like it.

9 years ago

That was a pretty good purchase Donovan

Cool sale-agreement

Took a trip to Darling yesterday , my great grandfather was the first mayor of Darling and also the owner of the Royal Hotel. Did about a 200km roundtrip. The roads are crap and managed to hit the wheels against the wheel arches and hit the front bumper a couple of times on the road. Still had a lekker day out cruising.

This makes me want to finish my panel yesterday

Nice drive D we should drive together someday

cool pics Donovan - I was there recently and took a few pics of the bus in front of that same church

Hows the bus running, is that still the Smithof motor ?

JC Rousseau wrote:This makes me want to finish my panel yesterday
Nice drive D we should drive together someday

A few of the kombi guys are keen to do some kombi only trips, should organise something soon.

jolas wrote:cool pics Donovan - I was there recently and took a few pics of the bus in front of that same church
Hows the bus running, is that still the Smithof motor ?

Yes its still the Smithof motor, the end play is a concern and I'm probably taking some chances driving it like that. No more overheating since Tony helped me with the timing. The engine has 3900 miles on it.

looking slick D