New '66 Project

[CatBox]

i had to use the force with my EMPI stuff also.  master O-Markwon VWdubonly had to read the crappy diagram and do it for me.  i now try very hard not to purchase their parts.

[BuginU2]

OH... you got a crappy diagram with yours?  Mine came with a SINGLE SHEET OF INSTRUCTIONS and NO DIAGRAM!!!

Almost twenty years ago, I bought my first VW.  The hood had plowed into something, so I replaced it with a new one.  I kept that old hood propped up against the fence with a baseball bat nearby.  When I'd get frustrated with something on that car, I'd beat the crap out of that hood.....

I really miss that hood.

[CatBox]

yup i got one side of one sheet with the diagram taking up about half of the page.  no real instructions though.  

i could loan you an old furnce for your frustrations.  when my wife is struggling with her mother and the fun that it is i give her my largest ball peen hammer and so safety glsses.  point her in the right direction and let her at it.

[BuginU2]

I may take you up on the furnace.... I picked up the rear kit this afternoon.

I mentioned to Mike at DIP how much I enjoyed the instructions on the front kit.  He was suprised that I even got instructions.  Of course then I mentioned that the 17mm head bolt that the kit comes with scrapes against the rotors when installed and that I had to use the old bolts instead and he simply shook his head.  I'm not sure if it will help, but I may write back EMPI regarding the kits they put together and point out this little detail.

[BusDriver]

Now you see what I go thru everyday at work. EMPI is the worst but almost all of the aftermarket parts we have to deal with are junk (About half of the OEM Parts are as well). I spent 30 minutes grinding on a linkage rod this morning just so it would go into the nut, then when I was bolting on the ears to the linkage bar all 4 of the provided bolts snapped. So...Afeter Glenn went out and paid good money for the EMPI linkage kit, he ended up being charged for news nuts and bolts.

That is the real reason Dave gets cranky when he has to deal with aftermarket parts and would rather use all original.

[BuginU2]

There is no doubt the quality of aftermarket parts has taken a dive.  I'm cautiously optimistic that once I plow through these installations that the brakes will end up working!  :)

[CatBox]

we just need to collectivly stop buying and supporting the companies that provide crap.  

the used scat throttle linkage that i have on my car is of a wonderful quality and because of this i will look to them for other parts to put onto my car.  i purchased my brakes before i knew anything about the shoddy quaility from some of the aftermarket suppliers.  

i have enjoyed the parts that are made in the USA for these cars because they work the way the were described too, those being Scat and MSD.  one i recieved a six page booklet with directions on how to taylor it to your car.  the other was used with no directions and was easy to figure out.

[BuginU2]

I traced the grinding sound in my front brakes to a washer making contact with the rotor.  That is now fixed.

Last night I broke the rear axle nuts loose and cleared out some space to work on the back.  The next great adventure awaits!

[BuginU2]

Peter, you were right about the rear brake instructions... just about useless.

I managed to decipher the instructions and have the bracket and rotors installed on both sides.  While I was at it, I dropped the drivers side one (outer) spline and have the passenger side ready to do the same.

Once the passenger side is done, I'll hook up all the calipers.

[CatBox]

make sure the bleeders are on the top!!!!!!

i dont know about the wide five's but i and mark were talking about disk brake kits just today and when he installed them on my car the first way they looked right.  but they didnt function, at all.  when he put them on in the right way they dont really look correct, the brake cables rub on the cv joints.  they are just strange.

yet we keep buying their stuff.

E.very M.achine P.rocess I.ncomplete

E.very M.istake P.asses I.nspection

[BuginU2]

Alright... is there a secret to getting the master cylinder completely bled out?

I have all of the brakes lines hooked up to the calipers and the master cylinder.  I loosened up the connections to the master cylinder, hooked up the reservoir and started punping the brakes.  I get brake fluid coming out of the front wheel ports, but nothing comes out of the back one.

So, how do I get the rear piston bled out?????

[BuginU2]

The situation has improved since my last post.  I was having issues getting the master cylinder bled out to all three ports.  I ended up removing it from the car and somewhat bench bleeding the thing.  I discovered the rear reservior inlet gunked up with something which I was able to clean out.

Once the master cylinder was back in, it was back to pumping the brakes to bleed out the calipers.  Issues with this as well.  After awhile, I stepped back to reevaluate the situation.  Realized the master cylinder was a couple inches above my rear calipers and figured I had a killer air bubble caught up in there.  Raised the rear about 4 inches and amazing.... brake fluid came out of the bleeder screws when I pumped 'em.  Bled out the rest of the wheels.

After we setup for the Spring Kickoff on Saturday, I went home and decided to put the wheels back on and roll it out of the garage.  I torqued the axle nuts and lugs.  But most important...... the brakes work (including the e-brake!).

Cleaned out the garage a bit and then rolled it back in (after wiping the dust off the car).

[CatBox]

those pesky air bubbles are a pain in the tookis.

[BuginU2]

Time for another project update.....

The car is quickly coming together and apart at the same time....

I've pretty much finished welding on the dash.  The speedo section from my other 66 was welded in a month or more ago, but the remaining two-thirds was a problem.  I ended up finding a suitable piece of sheet metal and covered the remaining section of the dash.  Several hours of work with the angle grinder and I'm ready for some filler to smooth it out.

Almost every remaining part that can come off the body (trim, chrome, mirrors, etc) is off.  Once the dash is finished it will be ready for sanding and paint.  

Then comes the process of putting it all together again......

[BuginU2]

Update time again....

Filler and sanding pretty much covers what's been going on lately.

The dash is looking good now.  I've removed all of the fenders to knock out the dings and ripples.

Now for something funny....

I noticed some foam stuffed behind the quarter panels and decided to pull it out.  The person that put it in there put alot of effort into it.  After I pulled a few pieces out I realized that the foam was someone's old carpet pad!  Please do not mix home improvement with auto restoration!