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!
