How to build in just 12 years: My Glitter..er.. KC Clipper

[Big_kid]

Here's a few pix of the buggies. The Glitterbug ran when I removed the carb to rebuild it, I've not finished reinstalling it yet. The Tuff Tub isn't on the stove yet, let alone a back burner. The only reason I picked it up was because it was local, I had the cash at the time, and was the first one I'd seen in the 3 or 4 years I'd been watching for a full length body. I'm thinking of copper or dark orange when it's time for paint.

Tuff Tub


Glitterbug

This one has been moved to the garage where it can sore more crap than in the shed. The tank in the pic came with the tuff tub.

[Raj]

Have you started working onit again? Lets go buddy... we need some progress. lol

j/k

[Glenn A]

Now that you posted the picture I do recall seeing that picture before . I must have been slumming at the time . Good luck with it . Get one of them up on the oven . Just get it running and have fun with it .

[Big_kid]

Well it was in the upper 50's/60ish today, so after the kids got their rooms cleaned I hooked up a lawnmower gas tank and got the Glitterbug fired up. I drove them twice around the yard and shut it down, don't want to run it until I get metric fuel line on it. The local bug house is closed on Sundays . After that I laid some fiberglass in the holes where the tail lights were before putting it back in the garage.

It may be small, but it's progress!

[Raj]

any work on your bug is good work. I'm glad you tinkered today. Watch for pics from Darios later tonite.... big time buggy motivation on there.

[Glenn A]

Hey Rome wasn't built in a day . keep at little at a time . Start a thread in "long term projects" . Did you take some pictures ?

[Big_kid]

Hey Rome wasn't built in a day . keep at little at a time . Start a thread in "long term projects" . Did you take some pictures ?

I thought this thread was *IN* long term projects?! The rate I'm going, your SC will be done before my buggy.

I saw the pix from Darios, looks like it was a good time. I want that same copper color the buggy there has for my Tuff Tub when the time comes.

I didn't take any pix today because there was nothing special being done, just filling in holes where the tail light/tag lights were. That, and I'm not that great with fiberglass yet. Hell, given the temperature & age of the resin I wasn't even sure it would cure. I mixed it pretty strong, and it took a while for it to set up. The mix never did get very warm, but it did eventually harden.

(BTW- fast food drink cups and dollar store paint brushes seem to do the trick for mixing resin fairly well & cheap)

[Glenn A]

I thought this thread was *IN* long term projects?! )

It sure is ! The name of the thread threw Me off . My bad !

(BTW- fast food drink cups and dollar store paint brushes seem to do the trick for mixing resin fairly well & cheap)

I get these from harbor frieght . Once in a while you'll see them on sale for like 7 bucks for a case of 36 . And plenty of disposable gloves !
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=4182

[Raj]

gloves are key.

keep on plugging away bro..... !

[Big_kid]

Well, I got off my lazy ass again today and put a little more glass on. I finally got to the bottom of the gallon of resin, but still have more to do. Maybe Santa will leave me another gallon and some hardener.






I also started on a crack and some holes by the battery, but didn't get pics. I also got some CORRECT fuel hose & a new filter for it. They're on the bench for the time being.

Slowly... but it's progressing.

[volksbugusa]

charlie
looking good.....keep the bubbles out ......dont rush

matt

[Glenn A]

Great work charlie . It's nice to see someone out in the garage . You ,Tom get to carry the torch for a little while ! I've been taking a break from the SC for a while . You guys are giving Me ants in the pants to get out in the garage again !

[Big_kid]

I'm glad to be an inspiration!

I'm an inpatient SOB, I'm going as slow as I can with the resin. It's taken 7 years to get this far, how much slower can I go? I'll rough up any bubbles I find and get them sanded down & taken care of. I'm at the point where sloppy progress beats no progress.

Seriously, what I'm seeing here is a MAJOR motivator. Thanks guys, I really do appreciate it. I need to get motivation from somewhere, and there doesn't seem to be much of a buggy scene down here. I should probably ask at the Bug House, they'd know where to look. None of my local friends are into buggies/VW's. I DID find a guy a few blocks away from me who is building a tuff tub also. We've emailed twice, his is still in a shop getting painted.

Gotta go watch The Grinch with the not so big kids!

[Big_kid]

Alright, 2½ months later, and I finally got some resin & mat. Nothing earth shaking for progress, but all the baby steps seem like they're starting to add up. I actually started thinking that the end of glasswork could be in sight. I built up the tail light areas some more, filled in some small holes where there likely was a light bar at once time, added a few more layers over the relief cutout by the drivers feet, and a little more on the left fender.

Not too bad considering I was using the waterpumper/aircooled combo in the garage in between layers of resin.

Raj, you're right. Gloves ARE key. I'm getting used to them(I *HATE* wearing gloves).

Corner by battery was cracked


CB antenna? Mystery hole right of center above engine, not on horizontal deck area.


I added another layer on all areas after the pix were taken


Area by driver's feet. Guess I mixed it too hot or worked too slow. The last of this batch started to gel on me.


Up from under the lip on the driver's side. I want to glass in a few chunks of pool filter hose in here for a wire chase to the rear.


The whole gallery is here:
http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg20 ... litterbug/

It's supposed to be over 80* here tomorrow. I NEED to do some work on the camper too, I don't know if I'll be able to get to both.

[Glenn A]

Nice ! Fiberglass is fun to work with . And baby steps are cool . couple minutes here and there is better than waiting weeks to spend a whole day on it !

[Raj]

nice bro.... slow and steady wins the race. keep up the good work.....!

[Big_kid]

Alright- today saw the hood come off & the hole that some damned current owner cut in it for the late tank was filled after he found 2 early tanks in the shed. One of them is pretty gummed up inside but is solid, the other is NICE inside, but has some epoxy around the bung. I then realized the PO ran 5/16 steel line along the floor NEXT TO the tunnel. I looked by the frame head & saw this:


Seems to me there should be a steel line coming out there. Anyone have thoughts about drilling a hole & running a solid piece of 5/16 steel line inside the tunnel? I've got the line, just looking for input from those who've been there before me.

Any thoughts? I'd like to make some "real" progress on it this weekend.

[Raj]

Steel line should be inside the tunnel... put i have seen / ran lines inside the cabin before.... it works. Its better than under the car, below the pan..... people do do it. I think someone recently post an article on how to replace the fuel line in the tunnel... do a search for it. Doesnt look like fun. Keep us posted!

[Glenn A]

Silly Question, Is the OG fuel line there? I can't see it because the tie rod is in the way in the picture you posted. You won't need 5/16 unless you are running a big motor. I would run a new one where the old one is. Just clamp it in nice. Or glass over it for protection.

[Big_kid]

No, the OG line is nowhere to be found, not even a hole for it. I just double checked on the other pan, and it's there on that one. I guess I'll run what's in there now since it's already in there. I'm getting the itch to get it going now that I have even less time than I did before. It'll be a fun car to putz around in once it's at that point. I'm going for something I can drive around and not care if I get a scratch on it, not a show car. Maybe take it on a cub scout camp out or two.

Back to work on it (and the Astro)...

[Big_kid]

Alright- Last weekend saw a few chunks of pool hose glassed in before I was called away. Today I D/L the wiring diagram from TheSamba & made a collage on poster board out of 6 pages of full sized images. I think I got most of the turn signal/ignition switch wiring figured out.

The new diagram, covered in clear packing tape to keep my paw prints off it-


Why I don't seem to make a lot of progress on any given day


HI beam dimmer relay?


Again- it ain't much, but it's progress.

[williamblanda]

Wiring diagrams intimidate me.
Right know I'm going to quote the classic 1994 film Muriels Wedding.

You can't stop progress!

Keep chugin' along.

[Big_kid]

I'm not intimidated by it at all, I have a 2 year degree in electronics. It's trying to associate the colors on the diagram to wires that don't quite match, and trying to figure out which wire is which. Add in that I was born & raised on Chevys and this is my first VW venture, makes it interesting. It WILL happen though.

[volksbugusa]

Charlie
Looking real good..Just keep at it...Keep the pics coming..

[Big_kid]

Couple more pics here:
http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg20 ... litterbug/