Summer updates

 It’s been a busy stretch since my last post! Here's a quick recap of what we've been up to:

• Pulled the body off again
• Pulled the engine, too
• Swapped out the transmission nose cone (check it out here)
• Reinstalled the tranny
• Reinstalled the engine
• Mated the body back to the chassis once again

With that ordeal behind us, we finally moved on to the fun stuff. It was pretty awesome installing a front fender for the first time in years! The decklid is on, and I managed to pull a brand-new wiring loom into the car (shoutout to JBugs).

Next up: I’m dedicating a full week strictly to the car to make some serious headway. Stay tuned!

After the reunite

Sorry for the radio silence—new career challenges and life, in general, have kept me off the keyboard lately. However, the garage has been busy! Check out these parts my brother powder coated in glossy black; they look incredible. I also scored a 1963 front axle, which will serve as the base for the upcoming narrowed beam and dropped spindle setup.

Body is off again

Over the weekend, we removed the body from the pan. I cleaned up the chassis and took off the single-circuit brake cylinder, steering, and pedals. I did some touch-ups on the paint and started getting ready for the double-circuit setup.

Ragtop mechanism being assembled

I finished the rear querters

Little zinc galvanization

Steering wheeeeeeeel

 

Test fit with the original bushing

Some polished and painted parts for the doors

The assembled steering wheel. I like the way it turned out. Not perfect, but way better than I anticipated.

L471

 A little painting and assembly. The handbrake and turnsignal are still left to do, but the rest looks stuning. I especially like the steering lock, it was fun to finally finish it.

A quick morning fix before the painting.

Test fit right before the base coat.

During assembly

The finished piece

From the front. It turns like a dream, the key is a temporary one, made by a locksmith since the original one has been lost ages ago by the previous owner

Slow weekend

 

Small steps forward

 I did not have much time in the last weeks so the progress is small but at least not zero. Hood is getting together fine, I mounted the lock and handle together with the trim and crest. I also started to put on the sealings. 

Some progress on the assembly

Since the weather has turned to spring/summer I also allocated some time to spend in the garrage. I started to assembling the bug and had some small progress on the dashboard. It is uplifting to see how beautiful it get together, it again confirmed that the color selection went very well, the mango and chorome are the perfect match! 

I also put on some sealing and door locks but missed to take pictures. Next bit step is the new brak system and the refurbinishing/assembling of the stearing mechanism. I try to speed up with it a bit and put it back to road this year.