Das Volks Vintage Volkswagen Gruppe

Car looks AWESOME. You got the stance just right. I'm not into this scene where guys need this stupid extreme camber to pull off the low-look.
The wide 5's look right too...
I didn't even notice when I passed you yesterday, damn... I need to pay more attention!

Nice work though, I love these projects that have immediate eye appeal.

Looks great! 100 times better Jay. Long live the wide 5!
What paint scheme you doing the rims?

My only 4 lugger is the 69 baja that I plan on swapping over to all thing this winter. Then I'll finally be 4 lug free.

Well I do like the two tone. I may go black and white. Or I may go off-white/ivory/silver and black. Not decided on whether I will go standard scheme or reversed. I painted one wheel ivory today and I think it goes well with the green.

New wheels really made a big change in the look. Hard work to get the original look back on the vw paid off!

So I started experimenting with colors and combos on my wide five wheels. First I just re-sprayed the outer lips in Krylon Almond gloss. The centers were decent original paint. But the lips looked less than fantastic. My father gave me the idea for the almond and I ran with it. So far I'm liking it. I also shot one wheel with a satin black center as it was originally all silver. After the almond cures for a few days. I think I'll spray all the remaining centers with it. I'm not sure if I'm gonna flip the colors like I did with the super beetle wheels yet. For now this is just a quick clean up to freshen their appearance.
Here's an original wheel

A quick cleaning and sanding

Almond gloss applied

Final product

Here's a few pictures of the wheels that only got the lips sprayed.
Masked and painted

final product

I also played with the hubcaps. I don't ever recall seeing the centers painted on a 67 or later cap. I'm sure it's been done. Just never seen it. So I tried it.
Start

Paint desired area exposed

Paint being applied

Unmasked

Mounted

Keep in mind this was a quick job. If I wanted it to be permanent I would have scuffed the chrome for better paint adhesion. But I'm happy with how it came out. And supprisingly easy to do. Thoughts?

u converted to wide 5?

Converted back to wide 5. The car was converted to 4 bolt before he purchased it.

Jay,
The car looks a million times better. The white outers are def the way to go! Keep up the good work bud.

Wandered around with no sense of direction or purpose with my lady today and ended up at this tiny little beach somewhere west of Port Jefferson. Fun little ride

Awesome pic. So many little spots like this all over the island. Would love to get together for a club meet and BBQ at one.

Engine compartment work begins. Replacing my crusty old engine compartment seal, installing a thermostat, linkage and flaps in my fan shroud, Hoover bit, properly sealing oil cooler tin. Being that the engine was engine out. It was the perfect time to replace my rear tranny mounts although they were still in great shape. So I started with them and also wired in a 3-2 wire trailer light harness to go with my trailer hitch. Still working in the tin and the engine compartment seal. But that should be done tomorrow.


All new mounts

Great stuff. Always a good time to bang out these jobs out while the engine is out.

I almost couldn't believe it. The transmission mounts had turned into like a silicone gel type consistency needless to say they were shot.

go jay!!

Recent purchase, late 66-early 67 HO case 1500 single port with many 67 only goodies. Better pics to come when it's out of the back of my truck.

Nice Jay. The car will look sweet with that motor all cleaned up to match.

Cool!

So among a million other things I'd like to do. I want to do something different for my 67 this year. Which I've decided to change up the wheels. I'd like to run a some different wheels. Just not sure which. I've always loved the 5 spoke Empi wheel but they're quite common. I'm stuck between either....

A. A widened rear set (probably 6") factory 66-67 wheels with stock size up front.

B. Silver BRM replicas 4.5 front, 5.5 or 6 rear

C. Replica 5x205 Fuchs also staggered sizes.

Thoughts?

VwJay wrote:Wandered around with no sense of direction or purpose with my lady today and ended up at this tiny little beach somewhere west of Port Jefferson. Fun little ride

You are East Beach. It is a Port Jefferson resident only beach near Mt. Sinai harbor on the Port Jeff side. Beach is a mess from Sandy and has been closed for bathing until they fix it. Don't park and leave the car if not a resident for the village constables will love to ticket you.

VwJay wrote:
A. A widened rear set (probably 6") factory 66-67 wheels with stock size up front.

B. Silver BRM replicas 4.5 front, 5.5 or 6 rear

C. Replica 5x205 Fuchs also staggered sizes.

Rims completely change the look of the car and with the recent increase in choices in the wide 5 family... choices are plentiful.

The BRM replicas are dirt cheap lately but all of the above are great choices. Worse case... do what I do... get a few sets and swap them around to keep it interesting!

So as most of you know, I refurbished and installed a trailer hitch on my 67. Ever since I've been itching to use it. So yesterday an oppurtunity arose. Friend of mine from work offered up a much needed free couch. So I hooked up my homemade trailer and Tiff and I went on an afternoon adventure.

All loaded up

Found this cool place in Yapank on the way home.

All in all it did well. With a healthier engine it would be a bit nicer. But it works.

nice! Love using my VW's for the all round purpose vehicles they were built for.

So over the last few weeks. In my spare time I've been prepping the 68 1500cc Single Port engine I picked up earlier this year to go in the Beetle. It was very complete, and very period correct. And having been a late 67 build for the 68 model year. It has many 67 specific goodies on it. I began by pulling the spark plugs, fogging all the cylinders with WD40 and letting them sit a bit. Even though the engine did already turn over by hand. Pulled most of the tins. Checking for nests or debris. Pulled the distributor, cleaned and lubed it. Put some new fuel lines on it. Changed the engine oil, checked the timing. Hooked it up to a spare tranny and a battery. Turned the engine over a bit to build up oil pressure. Then I re-installed the plugs, gave it some fuel and went for broke. The engine fired in less then 2 revolutions. I was shocked. Ran it for a minute or so and shut it down. I ordered all new heater boxes, muffler, tail pipes, exhaust gaskets and such. Which I installed over the last few days. Swapped out my tired 1600dp and installed the 1500. Re-adjusted the valves played with the carb a bit. So far I've probably put 100 miles on it. Between some short trips and quick longer distance jaunts. It seems to run well. Other than a slight hesitation and a leak from the fuel pump base. It's been good so far. No oil pressure issues at all. Light goes out quick on startup and has yet to come on even after 45 miles of highway driving. I was told by the previous owner that the engine sat since the mid 80 stored in his garage. I think it was rebuilt at some point but not certain. I'm shocked the gaskets and such are still in such good shape. No leaks and this engine is clean. Save for some surface rust from sitting it's nice. I'll most likely end up rebuilding and cleaning the carb. Or the 30 PICT 1 I have on my 67 1500cc. Not sure yet. But the car seems to run a little better each time I drive it so I'll wait.