At it with a Type3 again...

[1972VWJoy]

Skipped DoD5 and got some work done.

Looking good!

[RafCarre12]

Looking good!

Thanks! and likewise; congrats on your award yesterday.

[spoon!]

Looks super nice Raf! Got any details or pics on the coilover install?

perhaps shorter rear axles for rear end narrowing for moar wheel tuckage yes?

Is that really all you have to do to narrow the rear on a swing axle car... bug axles? I wish I had it that easy (IRS).

[RafCarre12]

Looks super nice Raf! Got any details or pics on the coilover install?

The coils aren't even on yet.

They're going on sometimes this week I hope. They're getting installed in the same place the existing shock lives.

[spoon!]

The coils aren't even on yet.

They're going on sometimes this week I hope. They're getting installed in the same place the existing shock lives.

Do you just pull out the torsion bars or something, so that way the load will be strictly on the coils? I'm really interested!

[RafCarre12]

Do you just pull out the torsion bars or something, so that way the load will be strictly on the coils? I'm really interested!

If you are going to go with strictly coils yes, you do exactly that but I decided against that because the stock mounting locations for the shock aren't designed to take the load of the entire car.

Instead, I lowered the car as low as I could get it while still allowing the tires to roll and putting a coil over where the shock would go. I will then adjust the coil so it raises the car slightly so there is plenty of clearance while stiffening the suspension. I'm only talking about a 95ft spring.

[spoon!]

If you are going to go with strictly coils yes, you do exactly that but I decided against that because the stock mounting locations for the shock aren't designed to take the load of the entire car.

Instead, I lowered the car as low as I could get it while still allowing the tires to roll and putting a coil over where the shock would go. I will then adjust the coil so it raises the car slightly so there is plenty of clearance while stiffening the suspension. I'm only talking about a 95ft spring.

Wow, that's so cool! Don't forget to take many pics!!!

I was thinking the same about the stock shock mounts not being rated. So with just a 95# spring, will it actually raise the car up (instead of the spring simply compressing and the ride height staying the same)? Is that's all that's needed?

Let's say the spring on the coil is heavier. That will put more of the vehicle load on the actual coilover and mounts. So you've found that 95# is a happy medium, where it's not too light that it wont do anything, and not too heavy that it will take too much load. Is that the general idea?

[RafCarre12]

Ok, so quick update...

The last wheel is finally sealing properly so that can be crossed off the list.

The next item was coilover fitting. Unfortunately, the upper mount on the car is too narrow to accept the 2.5" ID coil spring so a bit of trimming/notching is necessary.

I borrowed this pic from the thesamba library to show how narrow and close to the support beam the upper shock mount is:


So what I'll need to do is to notch the area on the right of the mount at the same height as the one on the left. I only need about 1 to 1.5" but it'll get boxed in for strength.

Damn these projects

[RafCarre12]

I just heard back from Strange Engineering and they're saying that I can mount the coil upside down as long as I take the provision of checking that there is no air in the tube.

This is great news because it means that I don't HAVE to notch anything.

There is a chance that the car will be together this weekend /*jinx*

[RafCarre12]

lil bit of a tease

[luvaveedub]

Looks great Raff...I followed your squareback thread as well on the samba, this looks to be equally as epic.

Very interested in seeing how the coils work out...will any of the weight be sitting on the torsion bar once the coils are dialed in to have it raised slightly?

[A1steaksauce]

Is that really all you have to do to narrow the rear on a swing axle car... bug axles? I wish I had it that easy (IRS).

yessir. i did that on my fasty in the way back days. i was loving it long before McD's was




Raf, what's the word? the weekend is over!

[RafCarre12]

Looks great Raff...I followed your squareback thread as well on the samba, this looks to be equally as epic.

Very interested in seeing how the coils work out...will any of the weight be sitting on the torsion bar once the coils are dialed in to have it raised slightly?

Actually, most of the weight is going to be supported by the torsion bars. In my application, all I need the coils to do is to carry the last % of the weight that allows for fine tuning of the ride height and shock valving. In other words, all the coil is going to do is to allow me to fine tune the height while stiffening the dampening/rebound.

yessir. i did that on my fasty in the way back days. i was loving it long before McD's was

Raf, what's the word? the weekend is over!

Ha, ride height in the rear is all set. I want to re-adjust the front so its a little higher. The lowest part of the beam is about 1.25" off the ground; my fat as is going to need a little more travel than that.

I started buffing the hood yesterday. I only did the one side with Meguiars M105 before deciding that the buffs I was using just weren't doing the job. I mean, it doesn't look bad but I'm not shooting for 'not bad'.

[downlowmatt]

Looks wicked on the BBS. Good work!

[RafCarre12]

Thanks Matt!

On a tip from a friend, he let me know that there was a 67 fasty at a local scrap shop so I decided to head over during my lunch break.

It seems to have been in a front end accident and yes, those are bug lights screwed onto the fenders.... so I automatically set my expectations way way low...


But lookie here.... Z-ARM RESTS! (both fronts and rears!)


And a little bamboo tray to boot...


These were really the only thing on the car that was worth saving. Everything else was either tore up or extremely dented or rusted through. Nonetheless, very productive lunch break.

[JUS_GT_EYEZ]

Actua
I started buffing the hood yesterday. I only did the one side with Meguiars M105 before deciding that the buffs I was using just weren't doing the job. I mean, it doesn't look bad but I'm not shooting for 'not bad'.

I over achievers. I picked up a orbital buffer years ago, but scared to touch my paint with it. If you have time to train an eager student with time on his hands lmk.

[nemo1ner]

I over achievers. I picked up a orbital buffer years ago, but scared to touch my paint with it. If you have time to train an eager student with time on his hands lmk.

I had a bad experience the first time with an orbital buffer that left fine scratches. After that, I felt safer just putting in the elbow grease and doing everything by hand. :p

[Gear_Dog]

I just use the wax option at the end of the car wash

[RafCarre12]

I over achievers. I picked up a orbital buffer years ago, but scared to touch my paint with it. If you have time to train an eager student with time on his hands lmk.

We can practice on one of Kenny's cars. I'll have spare body panels to learn on when I swap out the doors and fenders on the fasty too. The trick is to stay at super slow RPMs. Like 1500 for the M105 (more aggressive) and down at like 1200 rpm with the M105 (finer polish). Keep the pad flat and that's all there is to it.

I had a bad experience the first time with an orbital buffer that left fine scratches. After that, I felt safer just putting in the elbow grease and doing everything by hand. :p

Yeah, I'm not even using an orbital joints; I'm going straight rotary.

I just use the wax option at the end of the car wash

haha, you wash your car? The square, in 3+ years that I owned it was washed twice. I used up a lot of quick detailer however.

[JUS_GT_EYEZ]

haha, I have a mk2 and Mk3 to practice on.

[cfvwtuner]

Go back to that junk fastback and get those rear pop outs! The molding looks in good shape too.
Rare now and they make driving with the windows down so much better

[bansheelos]

haha, I have a mk2 and Mk3 to practice on.

He will make a pit stop at my house first then hit you lol

[RafCarre12]

Circa 2009

[RafCarre12]

And the hood today.



I ain't mad...

[Gear_Dog]

Nice job cleaning it up, love this pic.

[RafCarre12]

Thanks Kenny.

Here is another what I'm hoping to be the "final" ride height. Its almost time to swap out old panels for the shinny ones.

[Colombian Gringo]

What are shinny panels? Never heard of them.

[JUS_GT_EYEZ]

He will make a pit stop at my house first then hit you lol

We both know you wont need shine for another 4 years.

Oh, and I approve of progress updates in this thread.

[RafCarre12]

Weird ass fisheye shot.

Thanks for the kind words fellers...

[RafCarre12]

Thought I'd clean up the front apron a bit since it was the ugliest part of the car. This is the before



And the marginally better after. I'm not too worried about it since you'd practically have to be on your knees to see under there.



Thought I'd do a bit more polishing. This is what Meguiars M105 on a rotary buffer at about 1500 rpm gets you.

[RafCarre12]

Junk yard-find bamboo tray cleaned up pretty good. OxyClean and a nail brush did the trick.





And a close up of the exposed bamboo.

[A1steaksauce]

i'm lovin the progress...but can a brotha please get some non-fish eye photos of the fasty?

[RafCarre12]

Haha, thanks.

Its the only camera I have right now. I'll dig up the little Canon next time I play with the car.

[Gear_Dog]

Funny I was thinking you had a new lens that you wanted to test out

[RafCarre12]

Funny I was thinking you had a new lens that you wanted to test out

Ok, here are a couple non-fish eye shots...

Took the fender off to get to the spray paint. Happy to find the inside of the fender is in pretty good shape; dirty, but in good shape.



A little all purpose cleaner and a steel wool pad and the paint is gone. That line is where, somewhere in its life, a PO didn't bother removing the fenders for a respray. Alas, its all clean now. I'll polish it next and get the other fender ready to go on.