1967 VW Variant.

I always tackle the mechanicals first as I know i have a driving roadworthy vehicle. No use in having a trailer queen that performs badly.

Back on the resto trail. Unfortunately my workshop has been taken over by a squatter, who believes he can scatter his assortment of special effects tools all over my area for a short term letting. he is packing them for his next global trotting enterprise...back to film work in Canada.

Which means my work environment has been reduced ten fold for a short term. So as i can only work in a small area, I chose to start cleaning up the metal tinware that I have managed to collect over the last 9 months. This involves cleaning the muck off them, and wire brushing the paint and rust on the big lathe. Its going to take a few days as there are approximately 30+ pieces.

Surprisingly enough yes they did. I used a 150mm wire brush on a 3 jaw chuck in my woodturning lathe. I have some smaller brushes too that will get into the small parts I cant reach. I would have been happy to have a cabinet sandblasting unit, but I dont have one. I tried to buy an advertised new unit on donedeal, but they wont actually have one until next year. I considered the large pot type portable unit, but I dont want sand all over creation

One more done, and many more to go.

Off tomorrow to work on a lads beetle to get him back on the road.

Dont tell Jim....sssshhh...

I have been slaving away on this chaps beetle with himself getting involved too. Progress is good. New soft lines and shoes as well as new wheel cylinders all fitted. And after numerous issues with the lack of brake after bleeding, I discovered a knackered internal bore and seals in the master cylinder.

So new part has been ordered for next week hopefully. So in the meantime little progress on the squareback, but thats about to change tomorrow. In the meantime due to the lack of any up to fate variant pics, here is a pic of the historical vw vehicle banner I received from Paruzzi.com, a great source for rare type 3 parts that I use

I have to put on my central heating hat today because I need to replace a coil operated contactor relay that switches on and off the pump. The constant on/off clicking has finally given up the ghost. Along with me bypassing the relay yesterday and going past the working pressure of the system and blowing off a domestic push fit waterline, and flooding the kitchen twice. And i am way too old, fat, and stiff to be laying down on the floor under a sink and reaching upwards with 2 damaged shoulders into inaccessible areas to swing spanners.

Give me a rusty old vw any day.

Just got word this morning the owner has received new master cylinder, clutch release bearing, low pressure reservoir feed hose's. So back to the brakes tuesday morning. I am off this morning to look at a VW Karmann convertible that is in a sorry state of repair. I will be taking a few pics and video to consider getting it or move it on to someone in the club. But it will be a resto that requires the same skilset that was on my 2 VW's.

So it will be interesting to see.

New clutch is already fitted onto the engine by the guy that fitted new seals to the engine. Karmann conertible is a left hooker from California. Brought to Ireland many years ago, had a few owners, and the current owner has it lying idle for the past 10+ years outside which is a pity. From a distance it has suffered from the elements, and probably wont be a financially viable restoration due to cost of replacement parts and labour if getting someone to do it.

I would only take it with a view of seeing it restored by someone, but thats gonna be hard to find a volunteer for it. He would need to have all the skills that were used on the vw's I have. And i dont know anybody as crazy as me for hardship . As for parts, its probably got a seized engine, but its 1600 so is worth something. I will keep you posted

Hey Jim , its not that type Karmann, Ghia. Its the Karmann convertible beetle

Happy new year folks. I am going a bit off topic on this post. Its the 75th Emmy Awards this weekend, and we have the first Irish nominee for leading prosthetics make up artist for his work on the now famous television series " The Last Of Us "

Its off topic, but he is my son, and it makes me proud to say that.

Nothing like a proud dad for sure to both of my sons and my daughter in law too.😍😎

I believe its on live at 1 am sunday morning at 1 am. Champers is already chilling