Big Orange Bug

[alwaysFlOoReD]

For the past week I've been driving past a bug with the same color as yours and done similar. I think of your build every time.

Richard

 

[lil'_big_truck]

Cvar, I'm not going to put heater boxes on it. The duct work is there but I'm not going to drive it in the winter. I want to keep it ou of the salt. As far as the seat covers, I know I'm going to get black with a grey insert and it'll probably be vinyl or leather depending on what I can find. I'm going to leave the dash how it is. I like the exposed metal.

Another orange baja? I've only seen around 3 orange bajas online.

 

[cvar]

Parked all winter? You have more willpower than me. Yes, the bare metal look is cool, too. How's the steering box play? Black or chrome wheels?
How's this look (photoshopped rims to black):

 

[lil'_big_truck]

I like the black. I think I'll paint my current wheels so they don't look so terrible. Haha. The steering box has a bit of play in it, but it's about as much as the truck so I'm used to it. I like the picture enough that I'll probably sand and paint the wheels this weekend

 

[lil'_big_truck]

Ok so I painted the wheels black and I have to say that it looks 100x better. Thanks for the idea Cvar!

I've also got a video walk around of the car. Here's the link:

http://youtu.be/IaKSU-zBXY0

 

[cvar]

Sexy! Are ya gonna blacken the front whitewalls? And black dome hubcaps?
And for a touch of whimsy... http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5223/5644197138_d09b4a4a24_z.jpg]

How fast does this kick-ass engine go on the open hwy? Top speed? It looks so cool. Time for some scientific facts!

 

[lil'_big_truck]

How do you blacken the white walls? I'm not sure how fast it goes on the highway. It has no problem sitting at 65mph. I did take it to a drag strip the other day, and with me babying it off the line it was doing the first 60ft in 2.4sec and the 1/4mile in 18sec at around 74mph. But I didn't have the engine tuned as well as I do now so I'll probably give it the beans on the highway one of these days. I can't thrash on it too hard or I'll blow up the cv joints again. Eventually I'll put Porsche joints on.

 

[cvar]

How do you blacken the white walls?

Black magic marker? Black tire paint? Or remount & rebalance tire with white-walls facing inwards so the black side faces outwards. Google it?

 

[lil'_big_truck]

hey all,

So I've started working on my winter projects last weekend. I've begun to replace the steering column because the previous owner broke it and the turn signal levers. So I've pulled the column and now I'm trying to figure out how to put the new column in. I got the old one out by cutting first and ask questions later. haha. I may have to remove the steering box. I just hope I haven't opened up a can of worms. haha I'm also planning on fixing the windshield wipers, putting in a radio, and reupholstering the seats.

the lovely mangled steering wheel shaft:

plate removed:

column out:

 

[pxbacher]

Reversible Whitewalls?

Are the whitewalls directional? If not, have you considered just reversing them on the rims?

(oh, cvar said the same thing - I need to read the whole post!)

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Whitewalls are cool.

 

[lil'_big_truck]

I'm just leaving the tires for now. I got the old column out and figured out how to get the new one in. I just need to get a few bolts from the hardware store and I can do it. I'm also modifying the key barrel (getting rid of it) because it doesn't use a key (battery disconnects etc.). I'm just going to smooth it out into a cylinder.

key barrel cut off:

 

[lil'_big_truck]

pulled the burnt out wiper motor:

installed a new oil pressure sending unit:

Steering column back in:

 

[lil'_big_truck]

I got the bearing seat finished and it did turn out half bad. Also got the steering back together but I need to clean and repack the bearing. It's making a lovely grinding noise that it wasn't before.

 

[cvar]

Nice new steering wheel. Hmm, w/o any key barrel, you're taking it back to nostalgic days of yore. Did you install a push-button dashboard starter, or add a remote keyfob starter?

The steering was the bane of our bug, too. Darn worn-out pinion gear inside the steering box made it too loose, no matter how much I tightened that adjustment screw.

What's that circular wheel thing at your pedals?