Saturday, December 31, 2011



After the extra bars were added for the cage we needed to do something to cover the holes, since I got the car I have wanted to have a rear seat delete panel, this seemed the perfect time to combine both. 
So we made a start on the templates today, we got them OK in card and have started to transfer them to aluminium, once we are happy with the fit of the aluminium version we will put a design on them with the bead roller which will help make them more rigid.


Thursday, December 29, 2011





Didn't find anything untoward and it is/was a 1776cc, so now we need to decide what route to go with the rebuild?
This could possible become the new engine for the Westy.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011


Time to strip down the 'old' engine from the Green car and see what's inside????

Monday, December 26, 2011



Another little job done, upgrade on the rear lights.


Another job today, re-installed the original speedo, this was restored almost 3 years ago by
Orange Empire Speedometer, reset to Zero, in preparation for a new engine.

Well it seems that even naughty girls get Christmas presents,
I just took it on it's maiden voyage, happy days :o)

Sunday, December 25, 2011


First time the clutch pedal was pushed down the tube in the tunnel broke away and left us with no clutch operation Sad Huh
It sounds good, seems to run well, no leaks, but I can't drive it!!!! 



Making up the oil line, and found a good place to mount the oil filter.


Berg Traction bar ready to be fitted.
 Out with the Old


New engine ready to go in.


Saturday, December 24, 2011

The new 1985cc Engine for my 1959 VW Bug - my first engine build :o)


After a lot of tinkering with the carbs and making several jet changes, we ran the engine again last night, and now todays job is to get it in the car

Just picked the car up from Welding Works, extra bars added, another job ticked off the list for racing next year.

Thursday, December 22, 2011


It runs!!!!!
Got some tinkering to do, with the carbs, then hopefully get it into the car.
 Can't believe, it goes round and round and I built it!!!
 :o)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011


Almost there, hopefully be running later today
:o)

Monday, December 19, 2011

Starting to make progress, fingers crossed it will be in the car and running on Christmas Day.



A few more parts prepared to the turn key stage.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

and the next stage of assembly begins, head studs onto case.

 Pistons ready to attached to rods,
 Pushing wrist pins in place.
 Pistons and cylinders in place, time to lower on the shiny new cylinder head
 Preparing the pushrod tubes
 Pushrod tubes in position, time to torque down the head
 Next stage Rockers!!
With push rod length and rocker geometry 'sorted' for me, it was time to fit the rockers, torque them down and adjust the valves.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Collected the heads for the Green '59 today from Steve Tims.
Great service, on waited 1 1/2 weeks, what amazing service.

Monday, December 12, 2011


Red car is all stripped out, ready to go to Welding Works tomorrow, getting the passenger door bar put in and also the other 2 bars that are needed for the NHRA cert.

Saturday, December 10, 2011


Made a little more progress on the new engine for my '59, this week.
I had the pistons balanced (thanks Shawn, for the quick service Smiley ) there was 6 grams difference from lightest to heaviest, so they definitely needed doing.
I also got my stage 1 kennedy cover and a super daiken disc, so they can go on as well

Monday, December 5, 2011

With the racing season pretty much over, it time to do some jobs on my daily, the green 1959 Bug.  For some time I have been collecting parts for 1985cc engine, so now it's time to start the job!!!






and another record was set, Kris Lauffer in the VW Paradise 'Hater Maker' ran a 7.99 @ 177 mph.  This was the first backed up PRA legal 7 second pass, a historical moment.


Then in November it was time to go to Arizona for the VW Nationals at Speedworld in Surprise.

I managed another PB, this time 11.56 @ 117 mph, sadly no usable video :o(



and finally the last European event of the season Das Drag Day 9, in Bitburg, Germany.

Euro Finals

and then back to the UK for Euro Finals, at  Santa Pod.




The following weekend it was off to Tierp Arena, Sweden to Bug Run Classic.
Tierp Arena is a brand new facility, and probably one of the best we have ever been to.