My 62 Rag thread

[MaddBaggins]

I'll post about my build in this thread to keep stuff all together. Lets start with these pics.






Yeah, I got a motor!
1776cc turbo with fuel injection 

[MaddBaggins]

So...I'm gonna start first with wheels, bearings, brakes, boots, suspension and tires. Make sure it's ready to roll, then I need to clean the fuel tank and get a sending unit. Clean out and prep the engine bay. After that, get the motor in and get the car running. Then a new ragtop.


I'm still hoping one of you Dub veterans will come by and give me some pointers. I'll try to make the next Matinee and shake hands and make friends.

[Don]

I love these kind of posts!!!
Keep it going and thanks for sharing.

[MaddBaggins]

So, I know a few things I need to get it running and I've been browsing the Chirco store online. I need a crankshaft pulley, gen. pulley, flywheel, clutch pressure plate and disc. Question - how do I know which one to get? There seems to be lots of choices for these items.

I'm planning on getting her onto jack stands this weekend and checking out the wheels, bearings and stuff like that.


EDIT: I should say I am looking for semi-performance but leaning toward reliability/longevity.

[talon2load]

So, I know a few things I need to get it running and I've been browsing the Chico store online. I need a crankshaft pulley, gen. pulley, flywheel, clutch pressure plate and disc. Question - how do I know which one to get? There seems to be lots of choices for these items.

I'm planning on getting her onto jack stands this weekend and checking out the wheels, bearings and stuff like that.


EDIT: I should say I am looking for semi-performance but leaning toward reliability/longevity.

As far as flywheel and clutch/pressure plate, I would go with the performance ones.  If it is a strong turbo motor, I would have a 12 lb lightened flywheel (make sure your crank has the pins for this), and a Kennedy 1700lb clutch/pressure plate. I would get rid of the generator, and replace with an internally regulated alternator. My 2 cents.

[MaddBaggins]

That helps. Thanks Talon!

[BMAN]

Good to see you got the motor already Alvin. Brought a little tear to my eye to see pics of my friend sitting in someone elses garage. I'll be watching this thread and scruitinizing you every step of the way...

[MaddBaggins]

Good to see you got the motor already Alvin. Brought a little tear to my eye to see pics of my friend sitting in someone elses garage. I'll be watching this thread and scruitinizing you every step of the way...

LOL, you stalking me? Don't worry dude, I'll treat her right, with a little help from these cats.

[MaddBaggins]

I started messing around with her today. Put her on stands and removed the wheels and tore into the front drums.

Some front end pics




rear





tranny, pan and gas tank

[MaddBaggins]

So by the looks of the front end, whats missing? It sits really low and I would like to raise it up a bit. I want to use 4 165 tires, but have a slightly lowered front end, not slammed.
Now when I get the rear hub nut's to break loose, I'll take the drums to my buddy and have them turned, then rebuild the brakes and wheel bearings and boots. I'm still up in the air about whether I should replace the tranny before I put the motor in or try it out and see if it's OK.

[VIN]

does it have drop spindles? cuz i dont see any beam adjusters.  shouldnt a 62 be a linkpin?!?!?!
the body 62, with a 66 or 67 pan?

[MaddBaggins]

does it have drop spindles? cuz i dont see any beam adjusters.  shouldnt a 62 be a linkpin?!?!?!
the body 62, with a 66 or 67 pan?

66 pan 62 body. Yeah, it's obviously missing something up front cause it was way low, couldn't turn the wheels more than about 2 inches. So I need to raise it up some. Did I mention that Bugs are new to me so I don't know whats missing. If it was a Landcruiser with solid axles, I would be all over it. 
Looking forward to learning though.

[Rick G]

I am not an expert although I sometimes play one on the internet, but the angle of your trailing arms looks off, Mines has a down angle when sitting on the ground, yours is having an up angle while unloaded. Smiling Bob would be proud. I do not know the reason for this but I am just making the observation.

I have read that some guys back in the dark ages used to remove leafs from the front torsion spring to lower car, but I don't see how this would change the angle when unloaded.

Here is shot with best view of mine not too good for what I want to show but you can see it.

[VIN]

from the pics cant really see if there is drop spindles.  but from this pic.  the center o the drum looks pretty well centered in the two arms so my guess would be no drop spindles.  could be a cut and turn job, but i dont see any welds.  so im with rick, they pulled some leafs out.

[MaddBaggins]

OK VIN, I see what you're looking at, so I went out and checked the front end flex. That picture is at full droop. The shock is fully extended at that point. Shocks to short? Front end suspension missing?
So forgive my ignorance, but I laid around under there for a bit and I can't see where leaves would go, at least not leaf springs I'm familiar with.

[Rick G]

The front beam has a bundle of leaf springs in each tube upper and lower that act as torsion bars. I don't know why they went this route, and I have not taken mine apart yet, but it is like that. The leafs are anchored in the center with a screw and the trailing arms are mounted to them.

Here is photo of the leaf spring pack




There are adjustable beams available to give you easy adjustment just like tweaking the front torsions on an old mopar or early 80's caddy (my 83 seville had em on front.) The adjusters are also available separately if you like to cut and weld.

Here is adjustable beam, note the adjusters in the center.



 or you can go with a drop spindle set up which give you a fixed drop normally like 2.5" but does not impact the ride like adjusters would.

Rick

[MaddBaggins]

Leaf packs inside the beams, interesting. OK, need to open those up and take a look. And then I can check into some adjusters. Maybe easier to get a new beam ready to go.
Thanks Rick!

[VIN]

Maybe easier to get a new beam ready to go.

if your not going to narrow the beam, adjusters are a piece of cake, and cheap.  if your missing some leafs you can find those cheap too.  if your going narrower with adjusters, its more time consuming and gotta get everything perfect or the beam wont be square, but its not to bad.  check this thread out, mainly the 1st page.

http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/smf/index.php?topic=3384.0

[MaddBaggins]

Some more pics. I spent the afternoon pulling the beam out. Only 2 leafs in the top and one pulled right out. 3 leafs in the bottom. O found a one inch piece in each end that looked to have been ground out.

.

[Don]

We missed you at the BBQ

[MaddBaggins]

We missed you at the BBQ

I forgot that was going on until I was already sweaty and greasy. Next time.
I need to get the girl going. At this rate I'll be lucky to have her on the road by my birthday (October).

[BMAN]

Hey brother... Your phone broke? I said "CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS".

I coulda told ya that the car had pulled leaves (I'm pretty sure I actually did when you were picking her up) and what that meant and how to check and... and... all kinds of other good junk about that car. She did live with me for 15 years afterall. I can walk you through every process you're going through. Any reason you have the beam off other than trying to figure out how to raise her back up? Dude, I know that car inside and out, just friggin ask.

[Don]

We missed you at the BBQ

I forgot that was going on until I was already sweaty and greasy. Next time.
I need to get the girl going. At this rate I'll be lucky to have her on the road by my birthday (October).

Saturday the 25th at Sonic.

[Spades72Ghia]

We missed you at the BBQ

I forgot that was going on until I was already sweaty and greasy. Next time.
I need to get the girl going. At this rate I'll be lucky to have her on the road by my birthday (October).

Saturday the 25th at Sonic.

Just to confirm for everyone Don, what time at Sonic? 6pm?

[MaddBaggins]

I really need to get this thing going. Don, I'm gonna drag you over here for some drinks and make a list, my Whiskey Tango brutha! I soooo wanna drive this dub.