I’ll play. I’m new here, oddly… though I’ve been aware of HAMB for a very long time. I’ve been steadily looking at 55 Chevys lately. I see a few people here I know, some only by reputation. When I was 14, in 1980 there was a Hot Rod magazine article (my dad was/is a corvette guy, still has a couple 67s, one a 435 horse coupe. A Hot Rod subscription was available pretty much my whole life) on the cal look VW. As I was at the point of thinking about what my first car would be I showed the article to my dad. His response? “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen”.(he’s not known for his open mindedness). Anyways I was hooked… must be a good idea if he hates it. I feel that in a weird way a hot rod VW is the ultimate hot rod, such a drastic change from stock to fast. I found motorcycles a couple years later, and still have an affair going there… but about 20 years ago I bought this 67 from California, and played with it A LOT. I’m a career machinist/CNC programmer and built my own engines. My best pass in it was a 6.89 1/8, which is like a 10.80 1/4. 11.13 however has been the best I’ve been able to post on one of the few occasions I’ve run it to the 1/4. A few years back I had carpal tunnel surgery which made it so I can ride motorcycles again without my hands going numb. I’ve since done some road racing , trackdays, licensing and competing. At 59, I figure I have a short time to settle whatever business I have with fast motorcycles. But the 67 is waiting (engine less) for me to be done…
I’m in the process of recommissioning this car after it was crashed a few years ago. It has my street car engine in it now(it did when it was crashed also). Sign painter Michael Hall’s Muscle Bug.
Had an ice cream run to the local DQ the other night, a bunch of local cars showed up. This '65 convert was there and a buddy caught this pic. I'd never seen it. The owner is a younger guy, he and his buddies put it together. So, I guess this car hobby thing ain't just about the old geezers...
Got the Fuchs wheels fitted to the Ghia, finally. This was way more involved than I was expecting, given how many people fit these wheels to early VWs. I cheated and used Porsche 356C discs on the front, which are factory king/link disc brakes, but to run VW drums on the rear, you need just the right combination of parts. Namely, 1968 and later drums, backing plates and shoes, (I tried three sets of backing plates, before getting the right ones) but you have to find 1965-66-67 only bearing caps, to get rid of the oil flinger. Although you can buy drums with the right stud pattern, I still had to find someone with a big enough lathe to turn down the snout on the drums.
I remember it when Wayne owned it in Arizona. Same color, but much less quick. It sold for what was big money back then. I owned this Oriole Yellow ghia in ‘21-‘22 and it was super original except for the drivetrain. 13.70’s right off the street with a 2180 and 44idf’s. Pulled out of a garage after sitting for decades. 48k on the odometer, and I still regret selling it.
Calling all VW gurus, I need to find where my sending unit is on my dune buggy. The body is one piece and I need a new sending unit. Judging from my fuel filler, I think I have a 61-67 tank. like this I found on-line If you have a better idea, I'm listening. But this is the best match I have for this shot of my dune buggy deck I need the measurement from the filler over to the sending unit. Over, and up. Can someone provide that please? My plan is to drill a pilot, sight the sending unit with an inspection camera, cut a hole, replace the sender and fill the hole with a marine inspection cover. Measure twice, cut once. I need the initial measurement.
The the sending unit sits in the hole in the middle of the tank, it’s a mechanical unit. Aftermarket ones tend to leak, I don’t know what the modern solution is.
I know it goes in the center hole, but I need one of you VW boys with a 61-67 tank to tell me where that is in relation to that filler neck.
If you had a stock tank (or filler) it would come out like this, behind the headlight. I'm not sure which is the filler in your photo.
Rats. That looks correct for that early 60's tank filler locale. I have a skinny buddy that might be able to slither into the car with a dremel and poke a hole through from the inside. I don't see how that is possible, just wishful thinking. I appreciate your response but I think I am back to the drawing board.
Billy, I hope you got it worked out. Saw this Transporter in the airport when I flew back from Jamaica this spring.
First 2 pictures are of Jim Kurlinski’s ‘67. The next is my good friend Gary Clifford’s stroker Okrasa powered ‘54. Then, there is Mike Preston’s notchback with a Berg 5 speed and big type 3 engine. Last is Dino Mendoza’s street killer.
Saw this this at fathers day car show it's air bagged and had an 85 HP 1600 dual dorlettos, it's was flawless the paint was incredible and he runs it on the street all the time .'73-74 I believe .
Hello, By the time we were going to Baja, Mexico in our custom interior modified vans for our extended stay surf trips, we also had folks wanting to buy those vans we had modified. The commercial market was not active in the modifications that we were doing. Buy an empty commercial van, insulate the walls and cover them with paneling for warmth. Put cork panels in the ceiling for warmth and absorbing moisture. The rest of the empty van floor dictated where and what would go into the finished build. The fixed up VW vans were a big hit with the surf crowd and there was a market for the conversions. But, as we fixed up several vans, we also noted that the amenities did not compensate for the lack of power from the 4 cylinder motor. Yes, we could have added carburetors and a cam, and a stinger header pipe, additional scoops for cooling, etc. But, that added to the overall cost of the custom van. Most wanted a place to sleep, eat and store food/water for a week. The VW Vans got us to where we all wanted them to go. The added plus was that anywhere we went, there was usually a good VW motor mechanic somewhere in town. So, Mexico was no different. 8 out of 10 VW Surf Vans in one of the popular, but busy surf spots in Baja Mexico. A year earlier, it would have been 10 out of 10, but the new Econoline vans were now on the market and two were in the mix. Jnaki One of our friends happened to have one of the earliest/rare VW Vans that had an unusual scoop on the front roof. It did look odd and sucked in plenty of fresh air. It was unusual to say the least. Eventually, to cool the rear engine, folks were adding homemade scoops to the louvered side vents to funnel air into the motor compartment. Then, propped out the motor door to create a smooth air flow. If one thinks about the add-ons or factory stock front roof scoop, it was adding wind block or scoops to an already boxy design. So, slow gets slower with the added wind scoops. But, we found out the best scoops were ones that covered the whole louvered area. That caught the air and funneled it into the motor compartment. Some even put louvers in the rear motor lift up door to keep the air flowing out of the back. But, as one can see, the scoop or scoops stuck way outside of the body. The other modifications were larger rear tires for stability in high cross winds and ground clearance. Which necessitated fender trim to cover the legal, wider tires. Note: At the time, we all thought it was odd, but economically better to get the old VW empty vans to create our own inside arrangements. The drawn patterns were simple and easy to install for a comfortable area. If one could see 4-5 VW Vans with with the side doors open and all in a semi circle on the cliff top, facing the waves for a social “gathering of the tribes,” it was just outstanding. The fire in the middle, burning and a guitar or two playing some songs, just fit the scene. Then the accolades of the surf and riding waves for each surfer’s day’s action came into play. Some made us all laughing and others remembering the outstanding rides in those empty waves, all day and into the afternoon “glass off” waves. The dinner hour was grilled steaks and hamburgers/hot dogs to finish off the day’s activities. It was almost Nirvana…YRMV
Not mine but one of the best looking buggies I've ever seen. Built in the 60's. Makes me want one built in a similar style.
The Jalopy Journal
