Oklahoma Vw Cruisers

I finally started working in earnest on getting my Dad's bug back on the road this week. Up unitl now, I've torn the engine down and had all the machine work done. Yesterday and today I replaced all of the metal brake lines and rubber hoses. I also installed new rear brake compnents (shoes, hardware, wheel cylinder). The front is left at the spindles momentarily until I finish replacing the bushings on the sway bar and arms. It will get a disc brake conversion. Transmission mounts have been loosened, ready to jack up the trans and replace all 3 mounts. My garage is a dirty mess and smells of old brake fluid.

Ahhhhh good times!!!!!

So before Christmas, I finished the brake system, bled and adjusted. All of the front end bushings were replaced and the transmission mounts were also replaced. With all of the chassis mechanical work taken care of, I turned my attention to building the motor. In three days I cleaned a bunch of parts, renewed my friendship with Ron daily, checked clearances and assembled the short block. I found cracks in the heads I had rebuilt, so new ones were ordered from Mofoco. Waiting for delivery to see how they turn out. My Dad was real keen on the fact that they are completely American made. Here's some pics of the engine going together.





Here's why the motor got rebuilt:


And one of my nifty homemade tools in action:

Here's pics of the front brake conversion:

if you got those sale 040s, man that is a sweet price.

I've been working on this slowly off an on since December. Here are more pics since the last post

The heads, new ones from Mofoco.


The finished long block


It got a complete new interior. Mike came over and helped one day during the Christmas holidays. Now I owe him headliner help in the future.

I ignored this until after the headliner was in. Made for more careful restoration




Finally I made the rear apron removable for ease of motor access

Here is what the car looked like when I started.


And after a polishing and waxing



I didn't fix any of the banged up body and left it with a patina look. Now I'm riding around town to break in the motor before it heads back down to Texas.

Looks badass!