Chris' car (aka, "project on back burner, building Ark")

[Chris V]

Well, I'll have the first 1k miles on the car tonight...been commuting ~110 miles a day as of late Car hasn't missed a beat thankfully, did adjust the valves Monday.

[david58]

Chris V car looks great sounds like the engine will roll the odometer over. I like the killer rack you built.

[Chris V]

Thanks...

Hopefully with the long weekend coming up I'll have time to finish the rack mounts and paint the rack itself and throw it on...Been carrying my spare in the backseat - taking up valuable space

I think the fastest I've had it to so far is maybe 85mph...I can't see really going any faster until I see about swaybar/caster shims, but for commuting it's just fine as is.

[Chris V]

Still haven't touched the roof rack...

Got just about 2k on it now...lost a wing nut to the air cleaner, easy enough to fix...But actually, a couple days ago I tore one of the pieces of tubing right next to the receiver so I had to take off the cargo box...Oh it doesn't ride as smooth, but it's a bit quicker and handles the corners much, much better. Still haven't stretched out 4th yet...it'll use up the speedo in third though.

[Chris V]

Here's a picture a friend got at a drive-in movie night...that's Dad up against the front fender:




BTW, one of my proudest moments to date was when a guy in a mini-van politely asked if I could move from in front of him, as my Bug was too big

[Lotrat]

BTW, one of my proudest moments to date was when a guy in a mini-van politely asked if I could move from in front of him, as my Bug was too big

Now that's funny.

[Chris V]

Well, got about 4k on it now...drove to Portland, OR again last weekend in some of the worst rain I've seen in a bit. When I got there I had two small lakes behind the seats - old rused out fenderwells/heaterchannels from living in Connecticut a portion of it's life, but restored floor pans that hold water well ...Need to see about 'repairing' those in the next couple weeks.

If I get really motivated I may just start to finish the roof rack project and get it and my exhaust to the powdercoater for some coatings - sounds good on paper.

[Chris V]

Started workin' on my intake setup again as it's been raining quite a bit and getting colder...I'm using a Volvo turbo aircleaner setup with a thermostatic flap inside like a stock Beetle aircleaner - so I'll be able to pick-up warm air from under the cylinders on cold mornings.

[turbobaja]

Now everybody is going to think you've got a turbo hidden in that box...

Looks like a good all-weather air cleaner setup for sure.

[Chris V]

One guy already asked if it was turbo'd or blown...I hadn't anticipated the stupid factor.

So far first impressions are good, seems MUCH quieter in the car specifically...I've got it primered right now on my dining room table Hopefully have a good honest drive on it tomorrow...also planning on changing the big 38mm chokes for 34's for winter.

[bajaherbie]

tell 'em that it is a stupidcharger.......

[Chris V]

Well, today the weather was nice...I swapped out the vents, put in 'jet doctors', changed the idles from 55's to 50's, changed to the mini velocity stacks, and put in the little HPMX style snorkels. I don't have an aircleaner element so I drove it down to O'Reilly's (gag) measuring tape in-hand hoping I'd be able to find something on the shelf - but of course it was behind the counter and I got some idiot...so I came home and I think I've pin-pointed it down to a unit from an `87 740 Turbo...So, I'll try again with that knowledge tomorrow. I'll have to try re-calibrating my LM-1 since it's been 'off' for a bit, I think a toolbag hit the calibration button while driving down the road months back

[Leatherneck]

Well, got about 4k on it now...drove to Portland, OR again last weekend in some of the worst rain I've seen in a bit. When I got there I had two small lakes behind the seats - old rused out fenderwells/heaterchannels from living in Connecticut a portion of it's life, but restored floor pans that hold water well ...Need to see about 'repairing' those in the next couple weeks.

If I get really motivated I may just start to finish the roof rack project and get it and my exhaust to the powdercoater for some coatings - sounds good on paper.

Did you get motivated yet Chris?

[Chris V]

Hovering around motivated, the weather here has been unseasonly cold ...and now it's race season for the circle track cars (rain or shine), so more back burner. I did have the exhaust all powdercoated, came out looking sharp.

[Chris V]

Sadly I began working on this project again as it looks like it's going up for sale...Tonight I made the final two roof rack mounts, still need to gusset and finish things, perhaps add a license plate mount, etc. I also installed the first of the nerf guards I've made for the rear fenders.