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57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 16, 2016 8:55 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Thanks Jacks, I think our oil filter also had a black band.

Here was a fantastic day we loaded the body to get it painted and they have already block sanded it this week!

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Last edited by JeffL on Sun Jan 17, 2016 9:06 am; edited 1 time in total
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 16, 2016 8:58 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Pretty much final digital rendering to make a 3D model. Anyone 3D print an image lately?

Dan did an awesome job on the 3D model. We are not sure what color the tonneau will be until we see a spray out of the paint.

I found an original pair of Ohio 58 plates that I will use and he digitized these. He also did a nice job on the steering wheel and sundial horn button.

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ernstben
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 7:47 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

JeffL wrote:


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That is just cool as hell.

Thanks for the updates; I have to believe you're anxious to see the real thing look that good!
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 9:10 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

ernstben wrote:
JeffL wrote:


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That is just cool as hell.

Thanks for the updates; I have to believe you're anxious to see the real thing look that good!


Thanks we are excited. I also got a call that the 3D printed script for the dash is now at the shop to be polished and plated.

There was a site on line where we ordered two leather hides for the seats and door panels. I probably could have got by with one but I didn't want to hold up the upholstery shop. We will order carpet and canvas this week after seeing a spray out of the paint tomorrow.

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JeffL
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 11:56 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Had some time so I thought I would work on the battery. The electrics are 12 volt and I had the generator rebuilt. I looked for a while to find the right battery and chose a 12 volt out of the early Miata MX5.

For years I have had this VWoA battery. I wanted to use it in my 56 Ghia but could not find a company to restore the battery. I found out there are a all kinds of ribs in the battery that make creating a new one out of it impossible. So, I trimmed out all of the guts (hours.....), cut the bottom out, and slid the Miata battery in! I need to see if I have an extra metal cover and strap.

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splitjunkie
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 1:22 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Azure Blue would look really nice on that car.
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andk5591
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 6:34 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Have a hard time envisioning any color that would not look good on that car....
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:52 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

andk5591 wrote:
Have a hard time envisioning any color that would not look good on that car....


Thanks! I was at the body shop today and we signed off on the Azure blue I think they hit it right on. In the shop they had two TR3s, 68 Coronet, 68 Ford pickup, 70 Charger (Superbird clone just left) and some collision work. I grew up about 25 min from the shop so it is fun to have a friend paint the car.

The shop loved the suicide doors and the clean look without exterior handles anywhere. Even using the parking bulb as the turn signal in the headlight keeps all holes in the body to a minimum as does the mirror on the dash instead of the fender.

We decided on a tan top today. I was thinking blue but the blue stayfast is too purple to the Azure blue. The tan will be a little darker.

Hope to have the engine running again by the end of the week and get the charging system working. Just got my rebuilt/bushed Zenith carb top in the mail Jacks.

Dan who did the model in Brazil too the time to match the gauges, knobs, license plate and even the sundial horn button. He did a fantastic job.

We are excited here to see if we get this completed in the next month.

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JeffL
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:14 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Engine fired up good yesterday. Now need to tune the carbs but overall runs and responds nice.

Here is a look at how some of the parts would 3D print for the Alken rendering. Maybe I'll be able to print spare parts......

The second picture is kind of a ghost view to show all panels are connected and where voids need to be to save on material.


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JeffL
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:20 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

While waiting for the Alken to get painted we worked a little more adding the hardtop option. At least 2 of the remaining 4 Alkens had the hard top option. Possibly the 4th too as it had different door panels.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Updated, new image just in, I kind of like the hard top, remember there was an option for a third cross seat in the back to the roof is a little high.

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JeffL
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 9:17 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

If you remember about a year ago there was another Alken on the Samba. I spotted it about 8 years ago in NC but did not end up buying it hoping for the red one I bought.

Geoff Hacker at Forgotten Fiberglass picked it up and intends to restore it some day. He will go with a late 50s Beetle with standard 36 hp motor. His car has a single Beetle speedo, roll up windows, hard top (damaged in back without rear window) and Beetle tail lights with additional round reflectors.

He had Dan start with my digital model and dress it out the way he hopes that it gets finished. Enjoy..

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PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 5:45 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Here is a look at an Alken with a new 2 seater top. The original top had room for a cross seat in back for a third person. Maybe we should make one.

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Jacks
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 9:00 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

I like that top much better than the Alken original stodgy design with the B pillar post. Raymond would likely approve. Cool
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 6:24 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Jacks wrote:
I like that top much better than the Alken original stodgy design with the B pillar post. Raymond would likely approve. Cool


I agree. I was talking with Geoff Hacker at Forgotten Fiberglass and asked him to investigate creating this top with one of his fiberglass wizards when he restores his Alken.

Body should be back from the paint show this week. No, not the color below but this color makes it look like an old Hotwheels car.

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 2:34 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

First, thanks everyone that sends me a small note of support. When you have a family, this is a hobby, and you spend way more than you think is right those compliments and votes of encouragement are important. Thank you.

Well, there are three of us that own the remain 4 Alkens that we know of. When I had the emblems 3D printed the 3 of us went in to make the production costs bearable. Here is a shot of the Alken D2 dash script before it was sent out for chrome plating.

Today I also shipped off the windshield trim. What were they thinking, a Ford Consul/Zephyr windshield! Talk about a British anomaly. I will try to have the windshield trim straightened and rechromed by a shop in Texas. Trying to get all 50 states involved in this restoration........

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lovethatconvertible
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 2:52 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Popcorn Keep the updates coming, we're watching out for em.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 3:38 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

JeffL wrote:
Jacks wrote:
I like that top much better than the Alken original stodgy design with the B pillar post. Raymond would likely approve. Cool


I agree. I was talking with Geoff Hacker at Forgotten Fiberglass and asked him to investigate creating this top with one of his fiberglass wizards when he restores his Alken.

Body should be back from the paint show this week. No, not the color below but this color makes it look like an old Hotwheels car.

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Snorklestang purple? Razz
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 8:40 pm    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

OK, went out and visited the painter and checked over the job, looks great. We had to buff a few small areas but overall just great. I should pick it up in a week and then work on putting in the wiring harness, install windshield frame and then off to the upholstery shop.

Paint is really dark in the shop, lightens up some in the sunlight.

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PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 6:19 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

looks a lot darker than Azure Blue. Nice to see it painted.
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JeffL
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 7:44 am    Post subject: Re: 57/58 Alken Fiberglass Coachbuilt Project Reply with quote

Back home from the paint shop, now on to final assembly. Seats and door panels are complete too.

A little worried about getting the windshield in, it has some type of locking strip and I have never installed one of these.

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