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.

The Bug Report by Ernest A Johnstone

The Bug Report

This is not a report about some nasty infestation ravaging the countryside, but rather my first impressions after collecting Glenn’s old/new car from across the border in Scotland. We travelled up to Lockerbie in Grandma, Glenn’s GSR Beetle, to collect his latest acquisition which is a 1965 VW Beetle. It was raining or as we say in the North “Pissing down”, upon the journey up,  the weather then changed for the better, when we neared the Scottish borders and we even saw a little ray of sunshine.

Ern and Myrtle

Tech to adapt a manual car

So as many of you will know I am after a classic Beetle. Thing is it's not as easy A.Finding a decent one, or one I like, and B. with me being an amputee I have the additional problem of being able to adapt a car so that I can drive it.

Awesome bit of kit

That said I upon doing a spot of research I have discovered firstly a company who has made and developed a Semi-Automatic Syncro clutch system, they are called Guidosimplex. The gentleman I spoke to named Gerard was most helpful and has put me in touch with a company here in the North East called Bewick Mobility.

Once I contacted Bewick Mobility, the gentleman there named Matthew couldn't do enough for me and was spot on in offering advice and really made me feel special in his email responses, something I think is lost sometimes these days, when there is no face to face contact.

Being an amputee or indeed having any disability, always comes at a premium, so I am looking at around the £3000 mark to have this piece of tech fitted to a potential car.

Matthew did suggest I look into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - 

Access to Work Scheme. I am in two minds as to try this route, as it involves more paperwork and well like a lot of people out there I do not fully trust the government's agencies. They may deny me in the hope my leg is going to miraculously grow back one day.

And so my search goes on for the next love of my life. I will be sure to blog a lot more with pictures of my next ride, and of course, the clutch adaption, as I think those that follow my blog may be interested and hopefully it is of some use if you would like to follow the same route.

Discovering memories in the loft

Isn't it funny how the smallest of things can bring memories flooding back?

So upon my quest to either save or raise funds for the classic VW Beetle I am after I decided to venture up into our loft and see if there were any hidden gems, hiding amongst the cobwebs and dust. May be I would discover some rare piece of art or at least something worth selling.

Funnily enough, I have not done too bad selling various bits and bobs, things like older electronical tech, bags I no longer use and even a model of a Ferrari, but hey that is another story.

What really got me reliving a mixed bag of memories, both good and bad, was this old Fila shoe box. As I wiped the dust off it and lifted the lid, then peered inside I discovered all these old wrappers from the 90's. When I say wrappers I mean from things like chocolate bars, or biscuits, crisp packets and even Smartie tubes and a old Pot Noodle container.

Various 90's wrappers

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want

You see there is a bit of a story to these items, hence the memories, good an bad.

In 1995 I was diagnosed with a giant cell tumour in my right knee. It came as a total shock. There I was walking around delivering letters as a postman and then "Bang" I start limping visit the docs and I am diagnosed with this horrible, bone eating thing in my leg.

Anyhoo that was a brief history and all I am going to say on that. This is where the bad memories came in. The good ones are of my dear old mam. You see she used to work at a local news agents, Chrisp News, which used to be in the old Stanley Bus Station. My mam would quite often bring me in a different chocolate bar, or packet of crisps, especially if they were new out or limited. It was her way of trying to cheer me up as I was stuck in the house. I started saving the wrappers just popping them in a shoe box, not sure why, but hey I am glad I did as they have really brought a smile to my face upon finding them.

I have now thought about using the wrappers more pro-actively and put them all up for sale. I know may sound silly I mean who wants to buy old wrappers from the 90's right. However you ould be surprised. There are over 80 and people do trade and sell these things.
 

Salt n Lineker

I actually had a great idea to get myself a large clip frame and mount them, possibly creating some kind of retro, modern art design. Ah well will see if they sell and if they do, another memory will be created as I add the funds towards a classic Bug.

If you enjoy walking,rowing, running, swimming or cycling why not join in and get that feel good factor.

 

Summer is approaching and many of you will be out enjoying the great outdoors, whether this is going for scenic walks, attempting to get that beach body by going for a run, or maybe enjoying a nice cool swim or a ride in the country, taking in all the beautiful sights and sound that come with being outside and a warmer time of year.


If so why don't you join in with Arctic ONE's Summer of Sport? It is a great opportunity to discover a Foundation you may never have heard of before. A Foundation that is very transparent and as you follow them upon their page you can actually see where the money you help support them with goes.
 
Each year Arctic ONE attempts to raise enough funds so that they can go on to provide support and assistance to a wide variety of individuals and groups, both able-bodied and disabled. They do this with a grant system, which they call their " Forward Motion Grant". Anyone can apply for this grant who is taking part in some sort of sport. You can find out the details upon their page. All they ask in return is that you help spread the word and help the Foundation grow. The more money raised the more people who can be assisted in taking part in what they love to do.
 
Please find below the link to details of entering Arctic ONE's Summer of Sport. I know everyone and their dog is asking for charitable donations, however, I believe giving to this Foundation is very different as you become part of a family and if you are in turn needing help at some point you can apply for a grant and the guys over at Arctic ONE will definitely look at your application. They have helped people up and down the country with some great projects.

So if you are going to be doing stuff in summer, why not do it and at the same time help out Arctic ONE. Oh and don't worry, if you decide to give they won't be knocking on your door, sending you spam emails and expecting you to donate each month. It is an opportunity to get involved, a one of payment and you can check out either their Facebook Page or website at your leisure and see how things are going and just what your support is supporting people to do. 

Arctic ONE Summer of Sport

Cheers Guys