Picking up Bits and Pieces

Following on from getting Myrtle back from LVH Engine and Restos and being contacted by Leanne from Limebug as she saw some of the pictures I had posted up on social media. It soon became apparent that something was not quite right with my little bug.

Washed, dried then put under a cover

I sent a few pictures of the underneath of Myrtle to Leanne and she reliably informed me that the "relocators" I had not only had to be bolted in place but also welded to the arms. Apparently, there are some new Limebug versions that just bolt in place. Leanne also went on to say fitting the "relocators" it was an easy mistake to fit them around the wrong way. I'm no mechanic and as far as I am aware there were no instructions so I couldn't say if this was the case when I looked

I immediately contacted Paul over at LVH and he informed me not to worry he would sort it. In fact, now that the new trailing arms have arrived from Cage66 fabrications I know once they are fitted to Myrtle she will be sitting pretty, and I will not require the other damper relocators.

Extended Arms from Cage66fabriactions, all painted gloss black

So after getting Mrytle back all I have done is wash her, dried her off and put her under a cover, awaiting a time Paul can fit her in to get some more work done on her. The short break gives me a little time to save up some more cash, man this is proving to be quite an expensive hobby. I have just spent yet another £800 or so quid on various bits and bobs for her this last week.

This includes a new Powerlite 75 amp alternator. The old dynamo just couldn't cut it when coming to power the dual compressors for the Air Ride system. I kept getting a low voltage warning on my mobile when activating the ride height. I have also had to buy a new fan shroud to take the alternator. Whilst I was on I thought I may as well "Bling" Myrtle up a little in the engine bay so purchased an MST Black billet Serpentine pulley, "Dizzy" stand and fuel pump block off, all from Limebug. Also after getting some good advice from Max Edwards over at Eva Resto, I opted for a Facet electric fuel pump and a Filter King. I got a complete setup, including fittings and line from Machine7. Max had informed me that the pump was best fitted under the tank and upon visiting his website I discovered he had a ready-made bracket, that looks spot on, so I invested in one of those, powder-coated of course.

A few bits and bobs

Facet Fuel Pump and Filter King Ooh and a grab handle and sun visors

Powerlite 75 amp alternator and some MST Billet Kit

Since purchasing Mrytle I have had an idea of how I would like her to be, she will be by no means a "purists" car, however, she will remain classic looking. I think her Mango Green colour adds to this. Slowly I have been buying the odd bits and bobs, quite a bit of it for when she is in the final stages of completion. So things like replica Porsche 456 headlight guards, or the Limebug parcel rail. Stuff for the car is quite expensive for instance £38 just for genuine interior light and as yet I still have to find a hole to put it in without wrecking my headlining, saying which long term I will probably have all of the interior done. I already have ideas and a plan in my mind for this, so have been thinking of colours. Somewhere it will involve red, so I have purchased a full set of seatbelts, 3 points for the front where Paul welded the extra mounts in my lower B-pillars and 2 points in the rear, not very often I have people in the back anyhoo.

Red belts and the Eva Resto Fuel Pump Bracket + a rather expensive interior light

The DWP has been in touch just yesterday asking me to provide quotes and a driving assessment report. I have tried explaining I cannot go for an assessment as there are no vehicles currently in the UK employing this type of semi-auto Syncro clutch. I do have one quote and I am awaiting another, so fingers crossed when it comes and they take a look at it they will be willing to offer help support me with my Access to Work application. I will let you know how I get on with that.

I love my little Myrtle

What an exciting morning, the day had come to be reunited with my little 65 Bug Myrtle. The guys over at LVH Engine and Resto, Paul and Rob have been hard at work fettling a few things for me. The biggest of which was Myrtle's suspension.

Myrtle

As mentioned in a previous blog entry I had purchased a full Limebug Deluxe Swing Axle kit, which included a 4" narrowed beam and 3p Airlift management. Other jobs included putting in extra seat belt mounts at the bottom of the B pillars, popping in a new passenger-side door seal, sorting an engine oil leak Oh and fitting a very nice looking and sounding Vintage Speed Sports Muffler, alongside a few other bits n bobs.

Vintage Speed Sports Muffler

Vintage Speed Exhaust sounds Sweet

The new Air Ride system works a lot better than the old set up, however, does need a bit of fine-tuning. Once I get to grips with the new-fangled Bluetooth set-up and what pressures to run, Myrtle should ride pretty sweet. 

How to get her lower?

Whilst I can tinker on with cars I am by no means a mechanic, so not sure of the exact set-up of Myrtle. I was expecting her to actually sit further on the floor as she has dropped spindles and Atom rear spring plates.

Twin Viair compressors

I am now awaiting a complete set of torsion arms arriving from the US from Cage66 Fabrication. These arms should help the front wheels clear the inner headlight buckets and also help with positioning the front wheels centrally when Myrtle is dropped.

Lengthened Arms

I have chucked a small fortune at Myrtle so far and as yet she is way off even being half done. Now time to save up some more cash and maybe get a few little jobs done before next year. She is definitely a work in progress.

Ern still driving Myrtle as I can't

  Oh almost forgot upon our drive back from LVH, Ern and I called into Bewick Mobility. They have a very friendly team and it was good to eventually meet up with Matthew Burns who I had been chatting to and emailing back and forth about the required clutch conversion to Myrtle. One of Bewicks technicians checked Myrtle over whilst she was up on the ramp and we discussed various options for to have a semi-auto clutch fitted. 

Heading up on-ramp

   Just hope I get some assistance from the DWP and the Access to Work scheme, as the cost of the job will be around £4k. Being disabled sure does come with more penalties than just the disability itself. Never mind when you have a passion, there is always away, and it always feels good to bring something to fruition with your hard-earned.

Testing

Only my second ride out in Myrtle with my dad at the wheel. The first test ride out, being somewhat a fail. Ern has been hard at work, tinkering with various things upon Myrtle, my or should I now say "our" 1965 Volkswagen Beetle. I think Ern has grown quite fond of her.

Been for a ride in Myrtle

OMG! we have grounded on a sleeping Policeman

Things have gone from bad to worse concerning poor old Myrtle. So the story really starts with a simple horn malfunction. I mean going from not having a working horn, and spending £6.99, waiting weeks for it to arrive from China (I didn't realise it was coming from China, obviously when I ordered it from Amazon) then go on to discover that your suspension is basically all to pot, as the track rod end is catching your shocker. Removal of the fuel tank showed
up why the shocker is being hit by the track rod end. Omg someone has bolted the shockers to the body of the car, my front beam doesn't actually have any shock mounts.

Ern has tried to strengthen where shockers have been mounted, a temp fix

Oh Dear Quick Streer Kit, Not Good

We thought strengthening the body where the shockers were placed and fitting a quick steer kit may help resolve the problem until such time as I could afford to get a new front beam and possible Air Ride setup...Well after poor  Ern slaved away whilst I was at work and thinking he had Myrtle sorted. When I got in from work he asked did I fancy a tootle out in her . Of course, I jumped at the opportunity and even grabbed my camera to take some shots.

Just not right

Anyhoo needless to say we got over the first two speed humps in our back lane with the most dreadful scraping noise. The car is way too low, even more so with 2 people in it...Hey, don't call me Fat! As we turned to go out onto Durham Road and set off down the road, there was the most awful "screeching noise". Ern had to pull in at the end of our street and we made our way back up the back lane. "Oh no more sleeping Policemen", don't ask me why they are called that, it's just what Ern calls them. We managed to get over the first one near Carol's shop with metal to road noise and me gritting my teeth my head pitched to one side and my shoulders all hunched. As we got to the next one, Ern driving at a snail's pace, in fact, I think a snail passed us, also gritting his little teeth. Anyhoo we got beached. I figured one side of the hump was lower than the other, so poor Ern had to back up, with more metal to road noise....not good. We eventually got over the lower side of the hump and made it back home.

 

The car's steering is absolutely terrible. Put it this way in order to get out of our back yard Ern had 3 attempts as each time he was heading for the pavement on the opposite side of the road. The front wheels appear to be catching the inner headlight cowls under the wings. I am still not sure what the god awful screeching noise is. Wor Kyle had come out by this point and he identified that one wheel was turned inwards more than the other, so maybe a tracking issue.

Ern has again taken Myrtle to bits, so fuel tank out and adjusted the track rod ends. He fastened 2 sections of 90-degree angle to the wheel drums, these where then sticking out the front of the car and he was able to track both wheels a little more accurately and adjust the track rod ends. I know the tracking will not be perfect, but it has to be a little better than before. As for Myrtle catching, not sure what is up as the shockers are in the same place.


So trying to sort Myrtle out as cheaply and efficiently as possible has not exactly worked out as planned. Yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and spend almost £4,000 on a full air ride system which includes 3p Airlift I then have to get it fitted so have approached LVH Engines and Resto's who are happy to carry out the work. So that is new beams back and front. I have opted for a 4 inch narrowed beam, and not this horrendous 6 inch which is currently on. Bit gutted as discovered the new heat exchanges we have just put on will have to be replaced with J Tubes, so there is another £300 wasted.

Limebug complete Air ride Setup

  Oh and guess what tops everything off... The bloody horn is still not working properly, it either "Beeps" all the time or not at all, depending on whether I have the earth wire on LoL

Things that have gone well....Loving the Rear Led lights I invested in

 

Led rear Lights Now

Super Bright and Funky

  Moral of the story, know what you are getting yourself into and do your research before buying bits n bobs. I have no regrets about buying my little car, her body is sound and I always planned to air ride her, just I thought I may have got to have had a little ride around in her first. I still haven't got the semi-auto clutch fitted yet.

Just seem to get one problem sorted...

Following Ern getting my new horn working on Myrtle I was over the moon with her little "beep beep". Well, that was until I came in from work and Ern informed me he had had to move Mrytle in order to get some stuff out of our back yard.
 

New Horn hiding behind the grill

 Ern went on to explain that as he drove Myrtle out of the yard and around the block, each time he turned Left, her horn would blow, and continue to keep sounding until the steering was straightened up somewhat. Huh! Wtf is that all about?


Anyhoo on closer inspection, we have discovered that upon full lock to the Left, the track rod end is hard up against the right shocker. 

Oh Dear

This in itself is a huge problem, however as the shockers are in rubber mounts, this should not be causing the horn to beep. As we delved deeper into the problem it became apparent that Mrytle at some point had had coil-over shocks installed. I can only assume that when she had her front beam narrowed the springs from the coil overs would not fit, so someone removed them. The shocks installed have the threads for adjustment, however, no collars or springs to do so. Not only that but the shockers on both sides are pressed hard up against the bodywork, hence why when turning left and the track rod end hits the shocker the horn is sounding, as there is a complete electrical circuit.

After much head-scratching and doing a spot of research on the interweb I showed Ern an image and information on a quick steer kit. Plus we also looked at obtaining the correct shocks (lowered to match the drop spindles).

Quick Steer Kit

Lowered Gas Shocks

I kind of begrudge spending money on the shocks as in the future I quite fancy air ride, but hey ho I just want Myrtle up and running until I can save some more money to get the more expensive bits sorted, such as wheels, suspension and her interior.

Other small jobs we noticed whilst on with the car, were that the petrol pipe appears way too long and the brake Flexi's also appear quite long, with the potential to snag, so will try and sort these out in the near future.

 

Pretty long petrol pipe

Ooh almost forgot a job we did get done. After installing new heat exchanges, we discovered that the demister pipes were missing out of Mrytle. This is a bit of a nightmare job as you just cannot get to where the pipes originally go, well not without cutting into the front panels on the underside of the front arches. Ern made some holes that were already in the footwells a little larger and we were able to guide the hoses in from under the bonnet and down the side of the wings. One side had something just say blocking its path and we could remove whatever it was (felt like a piece of metal, covering the area where the heater pipe fits. We improvised and made a smaller pipe, that fits snug, so fingers crossed once all fitted up, Mrytle should have heat and demisters.

Made for the Job

Oh and as a side, not the Retro Boombox we have been tinkering with is starting to take shape, so I will be posting a few pics and a write up when that is done and working.

Nothing is ever straight forward!

After purchasing Myrtle my classic 1965 Volkswagen Beetle, a few weeks ago, both Ern and I have been "jobbing on" and sorting out things that either the old girl needs doing, or things that make her that much more comfortable to live with...Oh and just little personal touches, like my Dubtastic Custom Mini Surfboard keyring. The Joker is also there on my keys.

The Joker

Custome Dubtastic Design

So far as mentioned in an earlier blog I have replaced all of Myrtle's locks and we have tried and tried to get the wiper motor to sit in it's parked position, however, this has proven to be one of those occasions where we have had to admit defeat. I am now quite happy to have the whole wiper motor and switch put back in the car and just treat the operation of using the wipers and turning them off when they are in a suitable position as one of Myrtle's quirks, a part of her personality lets say.

Speaking of wipers I had ordered 2 new wiper arms along with blades, period correct. Man the hours I have spent trawling the interweb to try and discover what is period correct. Anyhoo upon fitting one of the wiper arms, the place where the grub screw goes in just exploded. Have to say Just Kampers the place where I got the arms from were superb when I contacted them telling them of my problem, as they agreed to get another one out to me at no extra cost. Can't ask for any more than that.

Oh Dear

Moving on that is not where our frustration ends. After discovering Myrtle did not have any heat exchanges I ordered a Deluxe kit. This came with everything we needed to fit new heat exchanges. I was also very excited as I had purchased a new Vintage Speed Stainless Steel Sports Muffler...My she looked fine. Imagine our horror when we went to fit her up and she just would not go near. There were a few explanatives from both Ern and I. Ern got his tape measure out and upon measuring from centre to centre the Vintage Speed Muffler was 610mm, whilst the Heat Exchange pipe was only 595mm. Needless to say, I have had to send the Vintage Speed Muffler back to VW Heritage, which has been quite the chore. Further to that apparently the exhaust I need is not stocked and will take anywhere from a month to 6 weeks, good job I am not going anywhere in Myrtle soon. Oh and whilst I am on about Vintage Speed I am also wanting one of their Quickshift gear sticks, however, no one appears to have them in stock. I can't see the Guidosimplex semi-auto clutch set up fitting on my current Gene Berg set-up.

 




 

Will have to order up another one and then wait.

The style I am looking at, will have to wait and see how the Guidosimplex auto clutch fits and works.

 Whilst lying under Myrtle we have also discovered an oil leak, so it is on the list of "things to do"

Oil Leak

Ok continuing with minor problems and patience being tested. The Heater Tubes I ordered, upon going to fit them yesteday, guess what? Yep, they did not fit. So they are now bundled up and awaiting confirmation to get sent back and we have had to do more measuring and more research to find a pair that will fit, and I have had to order these. Now awaiting delivery.

Dam it they don't fit

Oh, and I am not finished there. In order to get heating and demister to work correctly, we have encountered another problem. The heater tubes/pipes running from the sill and up inside the inner wing, where it's practically impossible to get to without cutting a huge piece out of the car, well they are missing. Both Ern and I tried in vain yesterday to get a piece of the flexi hose onto the bottom of the sill mount. Ern has made a hole that was originally there, a bit larger, it's on the inside of the inner footwell, and we have been trying to twist the pipe onto the mount without success. I have now ordered some slightly larger tubing "Original stuff" and hopefully we will have more success with this. I am gutted as when we have removed the carpets from the footwell is has taken some of the paint off the inside of Myrtle. I mean once the carpets are back in place you will never see it, it's more to do with my "OCD" LoL. I am actually fancying new carpets, something custom, as the car is never going to be a  totally "Original 65".

OK have to stop looking now it's making me anxious

A few other various shots of Myrtle and bits and bobs we are on with

New Door check strap and light switch on order

Apparently, you can no longer get these pipes anymore

I will get interior sorted at a later date when I have more Wonga

Awaiting a new horn push kit

 Some of the engine "tins" removed to gain access to exhaust and heat exchange. I also ordered the wrong seal for the "Popes Nose" Number plate light, however just as well as Myrtle did not have a seal on the small light anyhoo. The "Popes Nose" is from an earlier year Bug, a 64 I am guessing.

Some of Engine Tin removed

Got a seal to pop on here, just going to sort some new studs for lens

Trust Haynes Manual

 A Few shots of Under Myrtle

New Heat Exchange

Looking a bit stripped out, probably best left like this until I get the seatbelt mounts fitted. Heat cables on one side routed through and fixed to the heat exchange. Also awaiting a nice new Handbrake boot.

 

So today and over the course of next week, expecting a few parcels to arrive. Once I get reimbursed for my Vintage Speed Muffler I will order up, what I  hope is the correct version.

Almost forgot I have no interior light, so have ordered up door switches and a top end Wolfsburg West interior light. Only problem being I do not know exactly where it fits, and I am slightly worried about my roof headlining. I may have to get it sorted by a professional along with my throttle pedal, which at the moment is a roller throttle pedal, which is a little cumbersome for me. Oh and I still have to get the seatbelt mounts sorted as there are none at the bottom of the B pillar. I have checked and checked again...Nope, none there.

A few bits arrived for Myrtle Today

After having a bit of a go over of Myrtle, my new/old classic 1965 Beetle I discovered she was in need of a few bit and pieces and yesterday was spent doing a little research, asking various questions upon Classic Bug forums and also contacting some VW suppliers to make sure the parts were in stock and that I was actually buying the correct said parts.


There are so many differences from year to year on these cars, so it is essential you do your homework. Picture of Original and new handle

Handle Removed

New One Fitted with keys

Anyhoo first things first. Upon getting Myrtle home I soon discovered that the key for the ignition would not fit either the driver's side door lock or the rear deck lid. This meant I could not lock my little car. I did a spot of research and figured out if I took the rear deck lid lock off I could potentially file down the tumblers and get the ignition key to work in the lock. Huh! easier said than done. The lock came off ok, however, could I hell get the chrome surround off the end of the barrel.

Ah well plan B. I went online and checked out how much it would cost for a complete lock set. I soon discovered that to buy a whole set was really expensive. So what I did instead was purchase 2x new door handles and an ignition barrel complete with matching keys (2x) I then ordered a separate deck lock with 2x keys. This means I now have a set of keys for the doors and ignition which match, and a separate key to open the deck lid and get in at Myrtle's engine. 

 

It has been some time since I tinkered with a car. I used various Youtube videos as guides to help me complete the tasks at hand. Firstly I thought I would have to remove the door cards to get in at the door handle, soon discovering that the actual door handle is held in place by 2 screws in the side of the door. Ah well, at least I figured out how to remove the window winder and door release handle.
Once I knew what I was doing the job was easy and didn't take long at all. I now have a locking drivers door. i didn't put the other handle on the passenger side as the passenger side locks from the inside and has no key in the original handle.

Next, I decided to do the ignition barrel. The ignition is situated on the dash in Myrtle. Mmmm, how to remove the ignition barrel. I could see a small screw under the dash. i removed the ashtray, nope no access there. I then opened the glove box, again nope couldn't get at it there. I then figured out it must be under the bonnet. So I pulled the release lever and had a look under the bonnet.

Neat little touch

Myrtle is very tidy under her small bonnet

Myrtle is very neat and tidy under her bonnet. She has a lovely custom cover and inserted in this cover is a violin case. The case is old and empty, but just looks cool sat there. Sure I will figure out something to pop in there. The custom cover was easy to take out, being held in with about 6 screws. Once the cover was out I could see the ignition barrel switch. At this point, I went inside Myrtle and disconnected the battery. I am not good with electrics and didn't want to either inadvertently short the car out or worse still cause some sort of a fire or get an electric shock.

I took a photo of the new ignition switch and carefully replaced each wire from old to the new one at a time so that I knew which one went where. One of the wires came loose from it crimped connector so I had to find a new connector. I then spent about 45 minutes searching in Steptoe's Shed, that's my dad by the way. Seriously, everyone, where he goes there is just mess. The shed is utter chaos, and no not even organised chaos. It was originally built to store a buggy I bought back in the day. Ern then took control of it and now it is just one huge eyesore, a total shit tip. I ended up using a pair of huge pliers to crimp the new connector onto the wire and then attached the last wire to the ignition switch.

Now for the fun part trying to pop the ignition switch in place, so that I could go inside the car and fasten in the one small screw to keep it in place. The job would have been easy with a helping hand, however doing it all on me todd was a nightmare. Each time I went to put the screw in the bloody switch fell out of the hole in the dash. I had to go back to the front of the car and under the bonnet and place it back in. Never mind eventually got there. I reconnected the battery, popped the new key in the ignition and turned it. Myrtle fired into life and nothing went bang or caught fire, well chuffed.

Next on my list was to fit the deck lid lock. This was easy, only 3 screw holding it in place. I had to adjust the catch slightly to get the lock to fully lock and open, but no real issues.

Getting in and out of Myrtle is a little difficult with my stupid leg. I had the idea of installing some copter tape on the inside edge of the door frame. My thoughts, this will stop my foot from marking up the paintwork if it catches it. I applied the copter tape and smoothed it out. I then thought I should probably heat it up to get all the excess moisture out and to stretch the thin layer of tape. So off I went and got my hair dryer. Oh, I need the extension, so it was back into the chaos of Erns shed. Another hour looking for an extension cable. In the end, I gave up, that fecking shed depresses me LoL It's like when a job should take you 5 minutes, however, it takes you 4 hours. 3 hours 55 minutes to find the gear and 5 minutes to do the job.