The Ragtop Express

[TPB_Karl]

Absolutely incredible cars on site. Both inside the hall:












And outside as well:
Got properly star-struck seeing the Red zeppelin roll in as soon as i got out of my car! And seeing Dean Kirsten himself walking around the area!










There was also a small swap meet on the grounds. Of course, you got caught up in the atmosphere, and i had to buy SOMETHING... Right?


DFL also organized a cruise-night at McDonald’s parking lot in Enschede on Saturday evening. Amazing cars there too and very nice company. A nice sticker was on my car when I was about to head home. Thanks for that! Other Swedes down there were Lars Häsä and Janne Hernebro, whom I got to know during the weekend. Thanks for a great weekend guys!

[TPB_Karl]

Sunday was the same and I got to meet both BossHogg76 and Steve67! Great to meet you guys!
Also huge thanks to my guardian angel who closed my ragtop when it started raining while i was inside the hangar! I owe you a few beers!

After an incredible event, the journey home began. The first day I drove to Puttgarden and the second day to Nyköping. The whole trip home went flawlessly except that it spits out a little oil and rattles a bit more than before I left. The 1200 had to work hard, but of course I’m now very motivated to build a new engine with fresh bearings and preferably a bit more power.



Once home, I just had to test the shifter. 60% shorter throw than stock make the gear changes really quick. Doesn’t look too bad either. But the idea of cutting the original floormats for the sake of the shifter doesnt sit right with me. Looks like a carpet kit is in order..




A memorable weekend and I’m already eager to head down again in 2027. But hopefully with a different engine and transmission..
The trip was absolutely worth it!

[TPB_Karl]

The fifth episode is out, and contains a few short clips from the Airmighty show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79hC7BRgu7A

[TPB_Karl]

A small update before winter.

The Express was driven down to my parents before winter and will be left alone until spring.
Before it was put away, I received a delivery of new rear brake drums that will be replaced in the spring. German-made from Zimmerman.





This winter I’ll mainly be working on my -63 bus, but the plan is a bit of “handling improvement,” if you can call it that.
I’ve received OEM bus snubbers and a camber compensator from CB Performance.




I’ll also be doing some touch-ups the VDM steering wheel and the Berg shifter.



A couple of purchases I haven’t documented yet are a pair of ported 113 heads with 40–35.5 mm valves that I bought on the way home from Holland. What I’ll do with these, I have no idea... Maybe an IDA engine?



The weekends after Airmighty show theres a Swedish VW swapmeet, I bought a turn signal stalk for the small taillights I have lying around.


Otherwise, nothing new! I buy small bits and pieces for the engine build now and then. Of course, I’ll update when some pieces of significance come in.

Otherwise this thread will be fairly quiet for a while.

[TPB_Karl]

Some more pieces for the Express. I've gotten a hold of a NOS decklid handle without a lock. Still unsure if it's for bus or bug though.. (or both)..




I purchased a CB hex bar linkage on a swedish auction site. However it is missing the filters.




Regarding filters i've decided to go with the K&Ns. As they come in different heights i've modelled and 3D-printed some "dummys" for testing what will fit the engine bay.






The other day i took delivery of a set of thick-wall 92s and Grant piston rings.



Previously i've been talking about building a "mouse motor" but at this point its starting to be more in the size of a cat.. Or a Badger?
Whatever the animal i think the next big purchase for the 1835cc will be heads.
Until then!

[Piledriver]

Be certain you use the synthetic K&N filters or run oiled foam outerwears, the classic gauze K&N pass everything much smaller than blasting sand, it ends up in your idle jets and kills your ring seal quickly. There was another filter company making good K&N size synthetic filters, search a bit. Oiled foam filters do work, and exist in most K&N sizes/shapes but be careful what you clean them with, I destroyed a Unifilter ~instantly by spraying some purple power cleaner on it, it self disassembled in seconds.


I ran K&N for awhile, if you use the sticky K&N grease on the upper and lower seals the bigger rocks stay out but the filtration never gets close to a $2 paper filter quality wise. The grease was very similar tack and thickness wise to 3M high vacuum grease, and is sold for purpose by K&N. (similar to urethane bushing grease, very thick, ultra sticky, could be same stuff)

[TPB_Karl]

Thank you for the tip! It appears K&N does not offer the E-3341 in the "DryFlow" configuration. I'll most likely go with the Kartek filter from the US.