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

[Raj]

That event looks nuts! I love it

[Glenn A]

They should have called that event buggies bogged down at the beach. Charlie do us proud, If you make it out to this event don't be the guy that get his buggy stuck in the sand.

[Big_kid]

Back in the day... I used to take a 4 door Caprice with a saggy rear suspension down East Pit Road down in Pasco County, Fl. Rumor had it some 4x4's had difficulty at times on this road. There were a few spots I'd have to hit the sugar sand at about 40MPH to make it across, but I always made it. Always. Other roads are a different story though. I'll do my best to keep it floating on top of the ruts.

I had some service calls on the Outer Banks today. All I had to do was reinstall a few safety deposit locks (2 screws each) so I took my son (8)to work with me. The water was warm and we both had a blast (he said it was "like the best day ever"). I mentioned the Manx/Banx event to him, he's interested. I'm really looking forward to it too.

[Glenn A]

Good stuff Charlie.

[AoT]

as I get it done in time for Manx at the Banx I'll be ok with it, but the sooner the better. (I'm really trying to make it this one)

Having a goal is a great motivator, hope you get there too~~

[Big_kid]

The house can fall apart, the grass can grow tall enough to hold it together, but this is the summer it gets 'finished'(like anything aircooled & home built is ever finished).

[AoT]

The house can fall apart, the grass can grow tall enough to hold it together, but this is the summer it gets 'finished'(.

that's the attitude to get it done, lets see some pics!!

[Big_kid]

Maybe this afternoon, it's a slow day at work but I still have to be available. I have been slacking on the pics, haven't I.

[Glenn A]

Maybe this afternoon, it's a slow day at work but I still have to be available. I have been slacking on the pics, haven't I.

Yup!

[Big_kid]

Today saw the rear lights wired up & lenses installed, tag light mounted, another battery put in the jumper box, all the laundry caught up, the pool chemicals adjusted, pool water clouded up & topped off, cloudiness settled & filtered out, brake lights wired from the bulbs up to the fuse block, I forget why I didn't make that connection tonight but I had some kind of reason. I also realized my tail lights have reverse lights built in, but IIRC 66 Beetles didn't have them. I'll have to look into either finding a switch on/for the transmission, or removing the clear lenses from my tail lights. VA law does not require reverse lights for inspection, BUT- if they're there they have to work.

To make up for my lack of pics:

One of the neighbor kids (notice the lights are LIT!):


The back:


Running lights working:


Signals and 4 ways working as they should:


Fronts working too:


Let there be light:



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

More to come tomorrow (I hope!)

[volksbugusa]

Looking really good...getting all the electrical system to work properly is a task in it's self...good for you...

Matt

[Big_kid]

Today I got the wiper motor wired up, hacked out what was left of the dash opening with a jigsaw & a sawzall, found a yellow marker light from an old camper to use as an oil light (there's NO WAY I'd see the stock one), toyed with the idea of using an 1157 bulb in the dash for the alternator light but decided against it, dragged the windshield out of the shed & realized it's not DOT glass. Hopefully the inspector won't notice (or maybe care?). The first pair of wiper arms I found miss the windshield by about 2". I dug up another pair but didn't try them out yet. I also cut up the dash plate I made to get the speedo mounted. Speaking of speedo... it was around this time I decided I needed a break to cool off so we took a pool break. After that, the sky was getting dark so I packed it up for the day. Not all I wanted accomplished, but it was still progress. Small steps are still steps.

[Big_kid]

Since last post:
Hi-beam dimmer switch verified is bad. Mounted a momentary in the dash. Wired & working, blue speedo light included. Grounded speedo housing.

Brake lights wired to fuse block & working.

Speedo illumination, TS indicator & gas gauge wired up, not sure if gas gauge works yet or how accurate it will be with the tank mounted on an angle. TS indicator glows dimly when ignition is on. Doesn't seem normal to me, but doesn't bother me either.

Windshield bolted down, swapped wiper arm parts/inserts around until I found a combo that works. Wipers work on one speed. They worked once on the other speed, but not anymore. If they were really as slow as they seemed then it's no loss.

Amber trailer marker light mounted over steering column for an oil light. Wired & working.

Bare 1157 in the dash for a generator light after all. Got to have something, can swap out later. I'm thinking red trailer light to match the yellow one, and relocated to the same spot over the column.

Wiring cleaned up, taped up & zip tied up & out of the way. Tag light wired up as well.

Realized I have no brake warning light, hoping the inspector won't notice that either. I'm going to try for antique tags, no annual inspection required but has to be able to pass inspection at all times.

I haven't gotten around to a horn yet, I may try to skate without one for now. I have a musical horn in the garage but dumbass me threw away the speaker/horn for it.


Left to do:
Horn
Reverse lights if I even have a switch for them on the tranny (it's a 66)
Glass up the wiring harness holders under the body lip. I've been putting that off and not looking forward to it.
Paint. I was thinking the other day while I was installing all this stuff that I should have painted it first. Live & learn. The buggy in my avatar will be done properly. This is my 'make your mistakes on the build' buggy.

and oh yeah- get a title. I might look into getting a special construction title, but if a regular title comes along before then I might just go that route.

Several neighbors have been using the same tree guy after some recent storms. Today he came over while I was working on the wires & offered me $1,000 cash for it. I didn't accept (obviously). It felt good to be able to get an unsolicited offer, and better to turn it down knowing how close it is to being finished.

I also went to reattach the throttle cable to the pedal tonight. When I got down there with the 10mm socket & all, I found it still intact. I went to the carb end, found the same thing. Not even on the road yet & already the throttle cable broke. Got to love these things. Will plain old Home Depot cable work?

[Big_kid]

Today the buggy got a new throttle cable installed. When I went to start it- out of gas. Ran to 7-11 & back, put 2 gallons in, and could not get it to fill the filter out back. Disconnected the line & the pump was pumping, but nothing going up to the carb. After too much cranking, I wound up putting a sock over the fill neck & gave it a slight persuasion with the air hose. That did the trick & got it primed. It's still only running on 2 cylinders & has an occasional backfire, but it's running. I still need to tweak the cable some, it doesn't always want to idle down. I think it's because the tube it runs through doesn't make it to the back end of the tunnel and the flexible piece has nothing to butt up against. I had it working before, I'll figure it out again.

I took it for a ride around the block, and found when I got back that my coil is now being backfed somewhere. Nice. At least I know what the general problem is, I just have to find the culprit. I'll start by pulling 1 fuse at a time, hopefully that will clarify the offending circuit.

After all that, I stuck the light bar in the back and started playing with an idea I had for a vinyl top. I have a bunkend canvas from an old popup camper that is no more, so I started cutting & fitting. It's going to take some work to get the rear poles to cooperate, but in due time it will (I think).

After dinner I packed it up, I have lots to do at work tomorrow & need to get my stuff together tonight.

[Glenn A]

nice charlie. sounds like a ride around the block is in sight.

[Big_kid]

Went around twice yesterday.

[Big_kid]

Just got a line on one of the last things I need, keeping my fingers crossed. Hoping to trade an aftermarket 8 track player for it. Not looking like it'll make it to the Manx in the Banx, but it's not over yet. I'm due for a break, aren't I?

[Big_kid]

One piece of paper & two little pieces of metal closer to being done. Time for the insurance agent & a trip to DMV is drawing near... I hope.

[AoT]

One piece of paper & two little pieces of metal closer to being done. Time for the insurance agent & a trip to DMV is drawing near... I hope.

Must be a good feeling after all this time to get it on the road! Enjoy

[Big_kid]

$140 Every 6 months for insurance doesn't seem too bad. $202 @ DMV got it and my trailer registered. A quick stop at Frank's Bug House for a fuel filler neck & cap, got home, it's out of gas. 6 gallons later, I still couldn't get any fuel to the carb. Time for a new filter tomorrow' I suppose. Maybe a state inspection too. It's always going to be something, isn't it? After 9 years 8 months it's legal, and now won't start.

Gotta love it.

[Big_kid]

I removed the filter from between the pump & carb, primed it, and it ran better than it had in a long time. The throttle not returning was/is due to interference between the return spring & the linkage (34pict3). I managed to break the upper mounting point for the spring so it's improvised for now, but working better than it had been. I also noticed I never wired up the choke, that could explain why it likes to stall at stop signs. I still need mirrors, you don't realize how much you look in them until they're not there. I also need to adjust the shifter, this things a real pig to change gears. Reverse is hard to find, and I have to press down to get to 3rd. I'm almost hoping to have a bad shifter bushing. Once that's all adjusted, I need to make a cover to go over that hole. Right now it's wide open and all kinds of stuff is falling in there (pop rivets, my cell phone, etc).

Hopefully tomorrow will see me put some more krylon on it so it's all one color. That would be a help too. Confidence miles would help a lot as well, maybe I can run up a few more and possibly go a little further than around the neighborhood.

Maybe.

[AoT]

Looks like a fun ride charlie! Knock out that punch list of do to items and you'll been having some fun!

Your hard works is paying off!!

[Raj]

Charlie... looking good! Thanks for the pics. It helps bridge the gap from imagining what it is you are working on. Keep us posted!

[Big_kid]

I didn't get too much accomplished today. I hung a rear and a side view mirror, got to find replacement glass for the passenger side. You don't realize how much you use the mirrors until you don't have them.


I also got it covered in rustoleum so the exterior is all one color now. it's a 50' paint job at best, but it's better than what it was. I'll roll it. The light spot by the driver's feet is where the glass was cut out & replaced 3 or 4 years ago. it had been deformed for so long that when we straightened out the fender it buckled. I'm planning to hit the sides with some black paint for now. Eventually I might put a splatter across the hood in Scooby Doo/Mystery Machine green, maybe carry some of that green through the rest of the buggy. That's long term plans though, right now I'm still getting ready for state inspection.







My favorite-

[Big_kid]

Just got back from a FLAPS run, picked up clamps, a horn button, and antifreeze of all things. I need to adjust the clutch and the shift coupler. I went for 3rd and got 1st- not good in traffic. I still need to wire up the choke and check for air leaks, I think the intake boots may be leaking.They're the ones that were on it when I bought it 9 years ago. It likes to stall at lights and stop signs. Maybe Santa will bring me a carburetor or two this year, the Solex 34pict3 on it now is shot. The solenoid mount threads are stripped and I broke off the throttle return spring mounting point. I also want to check the transaxle fluid, it just felt like it could have shifted better.

Aside from that, it was a fun run!