Steering test

Just to prove it all works here is a quick video showing the steering working. Sorry about the poor video quality, but hopefully you get the idea !

Steer today, steer tomorrow

My car has a steering wheel, briefly ! Have got the dashboard/steering support frames back from the metal fabricator and they work a treat. I found the steering the most annoying part of my buggy build so am determined to get it right with this project. I don't want any flex or movement on the column so have had two frames made up in 25mm steel box section. These run along under the dash pods and support the shortened steering column in two places.

They will ultimately bolt to the floor, the side fibreglass panels, the centre tunnel and the bulkhead.

As you can see they are pretty sturdy, and once bolted up should hold everything together well.

I also hope to be clever and run some of the wiring inside them to the steering column and switches - well that's the theory !

The dash slips over them and between the front brackets and the bulkhead, which also helps secure this, and once fitted the dash pods cover the cut outs on the dash.

Whilst it will never be seen, I will know the job is done properly. I have a stack of new stainless nuts and bolts to lock it all together, and have a new universal joint section for the steering column, designed for the 1303 beetle. This couples up to the new steering box, and the shortened original column.

This is another part of the jigsaw worked out and ready for final fit. Tomorrow the body comes off the pan again to allow for final repairs and paint on the shell. With the chassis exposed again I will be plumbing in the twin circuit brakes, pedal box and hydraulic clutch. I really feel it is getting there now as there are not many unknowns left. The sunshine and light evenings is a big help too! Off to the Detling Kit Car show next Saturday to get some detail pictures of Novas and maybe a few brake parts. More soon, Jim

Nena gets in on the celebrations

As well as the weekend being the Volksworld Show it was my birthday.

This obviously distracted me further from the car, but a good time was had by all - thanks have to go to Sarah for arranging a surprise party, and to Roy, Lu, Anna, Tamara, Simon H, Simon B, Nick, Romano, Diana, Mum & Dad for all heading down to Esher.

Was the car forgotten during the celebrations ?? Of course not, she even got her picture on the cake !!

A welcome distraction

Well this weekend I could have been working hard sanding and painting. But instead I have enjoyed a weekend away at Esher and the Volksworld Show 2007.

Saw some amazing cars, which has spurred me on to get mine finished, and used the opportunity to work through my shopping list for the car. I will do another post soon with details of all the goodies I bought, but for now enjoy the cars:

Right, better get on fitting these new parts ! Jim

The next car is going to have doors !

No I hadn't fallen asleep - I was trying to fix the dash in place. I am still trying to decide on the exact seating and steering position so decided the dashboard had to go back in. To get as much leg room as possible (I am 6ft 3") I wanted the dash as high as possible. Sarah had the sensible suggestion of putting the canopy on to be sure it all fitted together, and it didn't !

So the dash was removed, the canopy refitted and then the dash re secured.

Once the dash is more securely fitted I can start on adapting the steering column to fit. Once the steering column is in place I can mount the pedal box. Once the pedal box is in place I can run the hydraulic lines - you see how it all interlinks !

Once I am confident that I have the steering right I may remove the body to clean and paint the underside - I have spent the last few weeks filling holes and prepping but have limited access to certain areas of the underneath. In an ideal world I would like to turn the shell over, sand and smooth any patchworkrepairs and paint the underside in a black chassis paint.

We shall see if I have the resolve to take the body off again!

I also need to start work on cleaning and prepping the canopy which still bears its original red paint. At least all of the bodywork (except bonnet and side panels) is one colour now. It all seems like slow progress at the moment, but once the weather is brighter I hope progress can be stepped up.


Right, off to e-bay to search for steering columns and deep dish steering wheels !