63Ragtop

Finally got my old 1950s drill press finished. Had to make up this small plate to mount the toggle switch. Please with how it turned out, looks the part. all wired up thanks to my mate Darrell, and ready to go for another 70 years.

Nice, didn't realize it was big enough for two cars! Block much light to that narrow window? Gud jurb!

I've got those bedside table/bookshelf!

Nice.

That seemed to work ok!

Except terrible.

Shoulda just got a vw motor&box mate! Just like a baby Porsche. Look forward to updates, if anyone can do it, it's you and Hannah! Never contemplated a Subaru engine? WRX-IMP.

Exactly! Bro in the background "wtf that clown takin photo of that fooking thing?"

Nice work polishing that turd, looks a fuck load better! I know a family friend who bought one as a mid life crisis and did nothing with it. Red with pealing clear coat that's just sitting in a shed. There is a few cool ones I see around aucks, they look real cool with sweet wheels, roll bar, flairs etc.

Oh the studs on the heads? Possibly, it is actually quite a distance along the system from there, if you know what I mean. The muffler part bolts on to front exhaust stud with a short hanger just visable in that photo if you look on the inside of the right 180 bend. I've have trouble with this one in the past, the thread just seemed chewed out on the other one. Something to think about though. Thanks man. Really needs a whole new system, guy on TM sells a great looking one, similar style to this but a rip off of the spendy CSP python exhausts. And finally give up on having a working heater system.

Yeah they rub on the edge of the body mount as well, always have. Fine once tyre has self clearanced. Just shaves the lettering off. Old drums did many miles with no problem for good old German steel. Edit: you probley right, shoulda bought 195s instead of the 205s.

When the car was at Frank's, his mechanic commented on how sloppy the shifter was. You just need to know how to drive it mate! Truth is if be having trouble with it for ages. So I left to do the school run and get to work, about a week later, hooked second and WTF? It jumped into neutral and the stick itself forgot it's H Pattern and just flopped about like a spoon in a mixing bowl! Turns out the base held together by these four long pop rivets, until it wasn't. Was a easy fix, even had the right size nut and bolt combo. Actually pretty funny. That my sharns for today. chur.

Wheels look so good, to good! Almost need to do the truck now!

So here we are again. I've said it before but this thing is farkin loud to drive around in, one of the exhaust studs had pulled out way back, so has been on the list of things to do for some time. Still even with all the leaks, I started noticing a weird noise from the rear end, wheel bearing? Drove around for a week or so and it was not getting better. My hatred of vw rear hubs is as high as ever, so I dropped it off at Frank's because fuck vw rear hubs with their 300pound foot of bullshit. Turned out both rear drums had flogged out and where fairly close to falling off! I think these new drums are made of cheese? So we'll see how long these new new ones last? Don't think the last ones did 10k? Realized I had a M10 tap and some threaded rod, dunno if this was the right way to go but thanks to the drums and fuckin covid it will have to do! Can see all the carbon on the head there. Removable rear valance made this job super easy! Engine is still going well, sounds very tappy tappy and the bottom is covered in oil. I would like to install a better oil breather system as it doesn't really have one, I'm sure this would help keeping the black stuff inside the case. My long term plan was to built a nice new engine before this one fucks out and straight swap them, I have also had naughty thoughts of a nice modern sohc Subaru engine, minimal chopping to install and an easy 200% power increase. Thanks for watching.

Hey man, good luck with the rebuild, body and the engine. Those cracked heads are very common on the old twinports, time to replace. Do your research, if the bore is to large the cylinder walls can be to thin and this can lead to problems. These things are strangled from the factory so carbs, cam and exhaust can improve things a lot. Like any engine, cooling is very important, all tinwear and seals need to be in place for the air to flow correctly. Oil cooling is also important, your engine has the later doghouse style oilcooler, with is the best, extra cooling and filter can add a good couple liters of oil to the system.

Jesus Christ! That parcel tray! Good work cleaning up these many hack jobs on this cool car.

Looks like that will push the beam out a inch or so, no good for a sedan but might be okay for a buggy?

Swaping the pan head is possible, as long as it's all straight and strong.

Yeah nah, the torsion tubes are different a spacing so nothing will fit between link and ball. The good news is ball joint cars handle better, unless you want to go off roading? Because link pin has more travel.

Nice work, your dream car is also my dream car. Well done just saying fuck it! They an't making any more!

As always indeed. Still blown away over the 29inch panther you built, but this old school race bike is very cool, does it have any brakes?

Stripes look fucking cool man. Well done.

But first, more important things! As I don't have radio, I've just been plugging my phone into this 222Wattts of retro power! With speakers in the front now, I was keen to get them going, luckily I have two 222Wattts amps. After way to much time trying to somehow fit them both under the back seat, I realize there's heaps of room behind the back seat, I was going to but this behind the back seat. But, without drilling holes in my floor there's nothing to anchor it's considerably weight to. So. Ye ol 6x9th, shall suffice. Tidied up the wiring. Been fiddling with settings, running the low pass on the 6x9, not bad. Had a stupid idea of just mounting the sub like the 6x9s as that rear area is pretty good box. Took the family out for a drive over to Devonport, they weren't that thrilled about not taking mums limo. Well not limo, but a 04 Odyssey is infinitely more comfortable that this tiny smelly noisy little car. Started off great, got on the motorway, had gone about 2kms and the engine stuttered and we're outta gas! Fortunately I always carry spare gas. Are we making memories yet! Had a swim and drove home our wet toggs with an ice cream, i always have to turn the car off a drivethu, cant hear the little man in the box! By the end of the day we all a most excellent day out.

New ragtop cover for the ragtop time. Brought the bug inside work, took the old cover off and had fun removing all the sticky duct tape glue, fuck that stuff. All the parts layed out. Cut the new cover on the esko, perfectly square cad cut. Sewed the hems over and added slits for the bow to sit inside as factory, the old cover didn't do this so you had to be careful not to end up with a parachute attached to the roof. All mounted, I added some thick felt to the front bow, not sure I like it, if it doesn't pack down I might remove it, looks to chunky. Looks sweet folded back. Will now start thinking about the inside headlining.

I have been in a stock as a rock old lady car years ago, was much quieter. Could have a conversation at highway speeds, very hard in mine, keeps the kids quiet!