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

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Seriously! We've been waiting like 12 years to see this car! LOL
Looking good, you should wire up the flasher relay from a mustang so they flash in sequence!

[Big_kid]

I've thought about that, but I need to get them bright enough in the daytime first. Everybody has VW, Mustang, Vega, 65 Chevy lights, I wanted something different. I just HAD to be different. Now I have to reinvent the wheel. lol

Speaking of turn signals... the fronts were ok for a beater krylon buggy. Weather checked, krylon oversprayed turn signals up front aren't going to cut it now. I've got tabs open for CIP1 and Wolfsburg West. Is there a difinitive "go to" source for replacements? I'm tempted to just see what my local bug house guy has, his market gets smaller every day. I have to wonder how much longer he's going to be there, the city has been shrinking that industrial park bit by bit.

[Big_kid]

Doesn't look like a lot of progress, but I got the speedometer hole cut today. A huge hole saw would have been nice, but we work with what we've got. I was sweating it the whole time, knowing how much work Matt put into building a new dash panel, and knowing I only had one shot to get it right. The drill bit/jigsaw/dremel combo wasn't ideal, but in the end it worked. I went from an uncut panel to this with a drill bit:



Marked a circle and tried not to egg it too badly, which I did.


It's not mounted yet, you can see my hand holding it up from behind, but this is what I ended up with (Thank goodness I had an old trim ring-phew!)

[Raj]

So what are these tail light out of?

Maybe LED bulbs to enhance the brightness if concerned?

[Big_kid]

They're Jag/MG side marker lights. I put 1157 sockets in them with LEDs, but the red lenses seem to block most of the light. When I had red LEDs in there you could barely see them at all. I've added one in the shallow bottom part, but it's still dim. I'll find something for it.

[Raj]

very cool.....

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Rumor has it someone was out driving today...

[Big_kid]

Rumor is correct, I drove it 6 or 700 feet tonight. I just did the Facebook evening thing, and then came here. I've been planning an update once I had something that resembled more than a baby step. Video is uploading to Photobucket from my phone as I type now.

Where did I leave off... Brake lights- FINALLY got them to be visible, took 2 LED dome light replacement panels in each housing, and hacking off the reflector part of the lens, but they're configured, wired, and working. The 1157 replacements are wired for running lights, the panels are mounted below for brake.

3 days ago I was wiring up the turn signals, the new R/F assembly (which tested fine after installation) developed a short and let the smoke out of the switch. Got that ordered, picked it up from the Bug House today. Hopefully I'll get to it tomorrow.

Night before last I started tearing into the Miata seats after a little encouragement from a L.I. guy in a blue buggy who loves his. I tore the Miata passenger/buggy driver seat down all the way, then realized I really didn't need to (they're switching sides in the buggy for easier recline access and to split the wear). I installed a set of seat haters from Amazon, The instructions were worse than anything I'd read in a VERY long time, possibly ever. I'll just say I'm glad I understand electronics. They'll be wired up soon, winter is coming. Can't wait for my ass to be the hottest it's ever been.

Last week I got the fuel line connected. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but I replaced the patched pieces that were cobbled together before with a solid line, front to back. I didn't stop to think that the new line was larger and standard, the original was smaller and metric. I used a fuel filter under the tank for the front adapter, and the guy at the local hardware store helped me find what I needed back by the fuel pump.

Up front:


No plastic out back, mounted:


New headlights that have been in my storage locker since last year sometime. Not Dietz, but not krylon with rust holes in them either:


There are some pics missing, as we had to upgrade our phones recently. There's an amber trailer marker LED for the generator light (it works and the battery charges) and a red one for the oil pressure (it barely blinks when I turn the key on, I'll look into it more when I can).

I uploaded the video my son's friend took when I took it on the maiden voyage around the court at the end of my block, but it hasn't shown up on photobucket yet. The website said it will take a while for videos to be available after uploading. I PROMISE I will link it when it shows up.

Tomorrow's goals:
driver seat mounted, seat belts installed. (I should probably replace the maroon Chevy belts one day, but tomorrow is likely not the day)
Oil light sorted and working
Hiney warmer switches cut into dash and mounted/wired up
Finish up under dashboard so I can then install the passenger seat
Get the windshield remounted, Garage door bottom gasket seems like it will work well and look good doing it.

Find a smaller battery that will fit in the battery well. I scored one at Kmart for $20, but it's too big. Right now it's sitting on top of the base that will eventually be the back seat bottom, it's tied down with a zip tie on steroids (panduit strap).

If time allows (and I know it won't) I'll pull the wheels off one side at a time and spray the rear drums with blue rattle can flake (I hope there's enough left) and finally get the rhinoliner on the sides of the tub. If not, that can wait for another day.I just can't put it off too long, winter has a way of sneaking up when I'm not looking.


Killing time while waiting for Photobucket, I found this old pic. A trick to hold the washer up when installing a carburetor:


The ad when I first found it:


Just before I took it off the road for a facelift:


Once I finally had an idea what I might want the new paint to look like:


Ok, I give up on the video. Once PB makes it available I'll link it.

Sorry to take so long with the updates!

[elrockk]

nice

[Big_kid]

Thanks!
I don't know if this link will work off of FaceBook or not. Photobucket isn't showing it, and I've uploaded it twice now.

https://www.facebook.com/charlie.liccia ... 398070091/

[Raj]

Im so excited for you Charlie.... its been a long time coming my friend.

[Big_kid]

I started grinding down the rough edges on the tail lights (I know- enough with the damn tail lights already!) and found that the reflectors I had cut off were actually glued on. The heat and vibration from the dremel loosened them a bit, I was able to break the remaining material loose with a razor/small screwdriver. Hopefully this will be the last time I mention them. lol

I taped up some wires and found that I really need to lengthen the main wire to the ignition switch, it's a little shorter than I'd like it to be. It's running directly to the fuse block, I'd like to tuck it along the "firewall" to keep things a little neater. I also made the time to mount the windshield, that's a garage door gasket underneath. 32 feet was enough to go all the way around the pan under the body lip, all the way around under the gas tank, under the windshield, and I have enough left for another windshield.



Left to do is bed liner the sides of the tub, mount and connect the seat heater switches, roll bar/cage, and find something to replace the Jaguar mirrors. They were ok for a beater buggy, but I don't think the look fits any more.

[elrockk]

Road Trip soon

[Big_kid]

Depends on the definition of road trip. I'm almost 100% sure I'm putting antique tags on it. Pay to register once and done. No inspection required, but has to be able to pass one. Only drawback is I THINK there's a 200 mile limit to how far I can take it. The Outer Banks is 150 miles, tops, but Suffolk County is 425. There may also be an annual mileage limit, but I wasn't concerned with it. My Astro van only sees 2k-2500 annually as it is. I do most of my running around while I'm at work.

I found that Wal Mart carries an "Economy Battery" for $48.88, so I picked one up. I shortened the cables, terminated the auxiliary wires, drilled 2 holes and one panduit strap later, it's in. (Inspector said it's legal, he told me to do it in the Astro)

Once I did that, I broke out the electric carving knife, the old couch cushion, the staple gun, and the vinyl fabric we bought the other night. The bottom board has been cut for probably 10 years, I had to make a new top one. With some help from Robin, we managed to get the "seat" made. It's just sitting in there for now, I'll probably put a short screw in each end from underneath to hold them in place. Pics once I upload them.

I finally made time to put the wires on the passenger side in a loom, it's been in the back of my mind for quite some time. It's a little neater, nobody's ever going to see it, but I'll know it's there. The roll bar/cage is on hold for now, Matt had a small procedure done and is off his feet for a day or two. It's at his house. The plan is to get that, sand it, and rhinoline it and the sides of the tub at the same time. No point in getting covered in that stuff twice.

[Big_kid]

As promised...




I picked up some seat covers a year or so ago. I didn't notice at the time, but one has green stitching, the other doesn't.

Oops!

[Big_kid]

Saturday I tried on a roll cage, but it interfered with the seats, was close to the steering wheel, was too tall, and the angles weren't right, so it's on to plan B for that. After that, I moved on to putting another hole in it. I only had one shot to get it right, so I cut the old dash panel as a template. I used it to mark the new dash.



I started to drill the first hole, the bit promptly walked off, and decided for me where the hole was going. If you look closely you can see the red sharpie marker to the right of the black sharpie.



Once I got all the cutting done I wired up the hiney warmers, only destroying one manufacturer plug in the process. Can't wait to have some toasted buns.



Once that was wrapped up I moved on to the outside of the tub. I used some of the Herculiner left from when I did the pan, I think it makes the orange pop a lot more than it did.



It's about ready, next step is a roll bar/cage of some sort. I HATE the idea of putting holes in the sides again for a single bar that will do nothing to help in a roll over, but I don't see a cage coming in the next few weeks either (we have a LOT going on).

[elrockk]

looking good

[Big_kid]

Thanks! Yours is looking pretty good these days too!

[Raj]

looking good! See if you can find some 66-67 front brakes.... that will get you back to all wide 5. ( alternatively.... 68 rear drums to get you back to all 4 lugs, assuming you have a SA.)

[Big_kid]

Thanks! It is a swingaxle, I'll have to look into it at some point. The beam is from a 70, I was told the chassis is a 66. It had 4 lug up front when I got it. 68 rear drums are swing? I thought ... wait.. you're right. IRS started in 69, didn't it... Is it as simple as replacing drums? Brake shoes, backing plates, bearings, seals, spacers, etc are the same?

[Raj]

Thanks! It is a swingaxle, I'll have to look into it at some point. The beam is from a 70, I was told the chassis is a 66. It had 4 lug up front when I got it. 68 rear drums are swing? I thought ... wait.. you're right. IRS started in 69, didn't it... Is it as simple as replacing drums? Brake shoes, backing plates, bearings, seals, spacers, etc are the same?

68 rear is Swing... but not if Semi Auto.

for the front, you'll need 66-67 drums, backing plates, and all internals. If you can, find one being junked or parted. Beams drum to drum can be found for 100 or so.
Thats how I did my slammed rusty thing, used all 66-67 bug front. Things are 73-74 ( US speak) but are wide 5. I actually used the bug spindles as well, to loose the raised thing spindle impact.

but agree.... def not urgent. I'll keep an eye for them too.

[Big_kid]

So, this happened today...



Gassed it up. Gauge didn't work this time, meh- whatever. The tank isn't level, it read empty WAY too soon anyway. It probably came unplugged like it did last time. I'll look at it eventually.



The lights, the curves, the design, the "not VW taillights" all came together here. I wanted different, I wanted THIS:


First run was over to the in laws, picked up junior, stopped for gas, then took a not much longer than normal way home. It's been sitting a while, the engine pops a bit, and it would be nice if it had a little more power. One step at a time though, first thing up is an oil change. What's in there now is probably 3 or 4 years old, it's been sitting for 2.5 years. Time to get that old stuff out then stretch it's legs a little bit. I'm sure the foam air filter could use a cleaning by now too. I'd put something bigger on, but there's not a lot of space up under there.

Feels good to be behind the wheel again.

[Raj]

....how sweet it is....

[Big_kid]

Very.

[elrockk]

well done Charlie enjoy it