Neil's bubbletop volksrod build

[nshaddox]

got the steering wheel installed. shaft trimmed down another inch or so, splines for quick release welded. replaced rubber rag joint. seems to work ok. a lot of play in column right now since its not yet clamped to dash.

back to tiling bathroom...

[VeeDubWolf]

Looking good, kick that bathroom's butt!
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Two Bugs-
'70 rust-bucket sunroof sedan
'69 PO hack-job special
-Plus a wide assortment of various parts'n'junk

[caleb0101]

Looks great! I thought you were going to make a steel bubble for the roof? You need to a place to incorporate a iron cross somewhere on this thing!!!
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Ruby red 1967 beetle sedan with a 2021cc
1967 beetle sedan baja project
April 60 euro spec ragtop beetle with a 1641cc

[Derek Cobb]

Don't park that thing in the sun! You'll cook!
Amazing fab work! Can't wait to see it done.

[nshaddox]

Toilet and sink going back in tomorrow. One more day of grouting. Light at end of tunnel for bathroom project. Probably only a few more days.

Really would be awesome if someone knitted a beanie for me to throw over the bubble to keep the sun issues at bay when parked. Not sure what else I can do but park in the shade. It will be hot but should flow through pretty good when driving. Pretty well vented. We will see if ac is necessary in the future.

So ready to get back to work on this thing. As fun as house projects are, they just don't compare to building weird shit out in the garage.

[henry roberts]

if you are worried about the heat you could get a second top done and cut it to be a targa top (911 style with no centre brace).

awesome work so far, I can't wait to watch this develop further.

[nshaddox]

Bathroom project done. Finally.

Had a friend help me move the bubble into the living room. Going to take it out of the ring tomorrow morning and then start figuring out the hinge mechanism. Ready to be back in the garage.

[gr8cobbler]

We've been patient, glad your plumbing is in order and you're back on the Bubbletop.

It's been like waiting for the next movie in a trilogy!

Now on with this masterful build.
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Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money.

[VeeDubWolf]

Stop!- Bubbletime!
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Two Bugs-
'70 rust-bucket sunroof sedan
'69 PO hack-job special
-Plus a wide assortment of various parts'n'junk

[TDCTDI]

You would have made the ultimate batchelor pad if you moved the top into the bathroom. Then again, the living room is good for the group get togethers.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[HeidelbergJohn4.0]

[nshaddox]

have any links to those sunshaded Messerschmitt's?

started back up on the project by tackling something that has been bugging me for a while, the hole in the hood around the filler neck. an idea popped into my head for how to form a nice ring to clean up the jagged edge. bent some 8mm rod around an old vw cylinder which worked out perfectly with some encouragement from the vice, a hammer, and torch.

even got lucky and didn't have to remove the hood to weld it in because the inner panel of the hood kind of held it in place.

then I moved on to figuring out how to do the bubble hinges. not sure but I think that the closer the hinge point is to the level of the bubble, the less forward/backward movement there will be when the bubble just starts lifting up. this is important because there is only 1/8" gap between the bubble frame and body so it needs to lift up before arcing forward to avoid hitting the body. I dropped the hinge mounting location on the bubble frame about twice as far as I original was thinking about doing and lifted the hinge point up slightly from there to try to get the lift arc where I think it needs to be. we will see.

mounting plates made of 1/8"x4" strip, shaped, then doubled where hinge bolts to give a bit more meat to tap to secure the bolts. can't have anything extend beyond the seal lip on the body if its going to open, so no weldnuts here. also clearanced for fingers on stock hood hinges.

mockup

pie cut stock hinges to correct for angle of flats on bubble frame and get the hinge locations more parallel rather than trapezoidal. not done yet but good starting point for tomorrow morning. all the angles and curves make your brain hurt after a while.

[eyetzr]

I see people put tin foil shields on the windshield to redirect the sun. Just carry some foil wrap and fit it into the dome. You may find some 'others' joining you for a trip to the mother ship.
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I think he meant "rare", as in "not well-done"

[nshaddox]

So first attempt on hinges failed. Bubble peak hit body at about 4" of lift in the back. Pretty sure hinge point has to be moved forward of the peak. Problem is any amount it moves forward also requires the same amount to be added as a drop in the swoosh part of the hinge to clear the body in the lifted position. Trying to hammer form some longer/deeper swoosh pieces to splice into the stock hinges over the next couple days. If that still doesn't work then I've gotta figure out another solution. Any ideas? Might have to make a trip to pick and pull.

[gr8cobbler]

I'm wondering what you have in mind for latching the top. I'm thinking that the motion you are seeking in the top resembles many car hood arrangements where the latch is popped and the hood actually rocks forward/lifts before/as it travels up on its arc. Yours would be 180 of that of course but the action may be right. The looks of those units isn't as appealing as what you currently have bu you may be able to hide or disguise it somehow.

Maybe less appealing but a thought is hinging in the rear and latching in the front? Not sure if the rear provides a better arrangement or not but I kind of envisioned a safari vent option on the bubble for keeping it cool.
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Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money.

[Keith]

[eyetzr]

You may need an articulated hinge. It lifts and pivots. I have a small set, I do not think they will handle the bubble top

Something like this may help. I think you could build something that would work.
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I think he meant "rare", as in "not well-done"

[heywebonya]

Reverse hinge the hood? ie flip (or flop) forward.
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If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy!

[mfergel]

Maybe hinges from the Buick with the reverse opening hood? They allow you to keep it parallel while it also tips back.

https://www.google.com/search?q=buick+reverse+hood...HQ#imgrc=_
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My 1970 Standard build thread - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=564935&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[mfergel]

Here is the hood in action


Link

_________________
My 1970 Standard build thread - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=564935&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0