Our BuddyBug Project

[andeez01]

Buddy's dog, Chip, loves to be around when we work on the car. Here he is checking out the carpet. We couldn't resist getting a sneak peek at the carpet.



Matt restored the wiper motor and assembly.

[andeez01]

By the way, thanks to Jon at Chirco or getting me straight on the carb jetting.  Stock jetting on the progressive is 135 primary and 147 secondary. He suggests with 1776 042 heads (40mm x 35.5mm) at sea level 130 main primary, 135 main secondary. He says if it runs lean to use the 135 in the primary and the 137 in the secondary. I have to buy one 130 main jet.

[ncbuggy]

Boy, its lookin' GOOD

[andeez01]

Boy, its lookin' GOOD

The anticipation is killing me! The paint shop says March 15th. We are quickly running out of things to do. We still have to restore the seats, headlight buckets, door handles, mount the front bumper then send it to the rhino guy, remove all of the switches, relays etc. from the donor car, label the wiring harness, plus make sure the paint job is right. I'm sure there is more.  whew, I guess I better get to work!

[Mike9300]

Boy, its lookin' GOOD

The anticipation is killing me! The paint shop says March 15th. We are quickly running out of things to do. We still have to restore the seats, headlight buckets, door handles, mount the front bumper then send it to the rhino guy, remove all of the switches, relays etc. from the donor car, label the wiring harness, plus make sure the paint job is right. I'm sure there is more.  whew, I guess I better get to work!

sounds like you got plenty to do......keep rockin on man looks great!

[andeez01]

Decided today to use the organ donar medallion on the hood in place of the chrome VW logo.



Buddy was an organ donar. 7 people received transplants. Two received one of his corneas and were able to see. 3 of the transplants were life saving.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Wow!! That is so awesome!!!   

[andeez01]

Dzus fasteners were given to the body and paint shop today.

[andeez01]

With the downtime I figured I would post a couple pictures of Buddy.
Here is Buddy with his grandmother. She restored the speedo.

This is Buddy leading the "sports" section at a VBS.

This is Buddy after a day of work in Iraq.

[ncbuggy]

Thanks Buddy for your service    

Which branch of the service?

[andeez01]

Thanks Buddy for your service    

Which branch of the service, Navy?

Buddy was in the Marine Corps. He was an electrician on the EA6B Prowler. His unit was VMAQ-1. Thanks for the kind words.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

All my best to y'all!!  This is a great tribute to a hero!!  

I've been to both "places" more times than I care to remember, and some of the best people I met and worked with were our Corps brothers.  

My nephew just made E4 in the corps (tried to get him to go Air Force, but for a medical reason he could not get Para-Rescue "PJ") he loves the Corps, and we all support him, even his dad who is a retired AF Colonel.  


Can't wait to see the results!!

[andeez01]

All my best to y'all!!  This is a great tribute to a hero!!  

I've been to both "places" more times than I care to remember, and some of the best people I met and worked with were our Corps brothers.  

My nephew just made E4 in the corps (tried to get him to go Air Force, but for a medical reason he could not get Para-Rescue "PJ") he loves the Corps, and we all support him, even his dad who is a retired AF Colonel.  


Can't wait to see the results!!

Give your a nephew a hearty "yut!" from me  (He'll know what I mean) I spent 14 years myself in the Corps. My younger son, Anthony, leaves for boot camp in June. He will be playing in the Marine Corps Band in Quantico.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

All my best to y'all!!  This is a great tribute to a hero!!  

I've been to both "places" more times than I care to remember, and some of the best people I met and worked with were our Corps brothers.  

My nephew just made E4 in the corps (tried to get him to go Air Force, but for a medical reason he could not get Para-Rescue "PJ") he loves the Corps, and we all support him, even his dad who is a retired AF Colonel.  


Can't wait to see the results!!

Give your a nephew a hearty "yut!" from me  (He'll know what I mean) I spent 14 years myself in the Corps. My younger son, Anthony, leaves for boot camp in June. He will be playing in the Marine Corps Band in Quantico.

Great family tradition!! 

[ncbuggy]

My dad (WWII- pacific campaign infantry) and my 2 older brothers (Viet Nam infantry) were all USMC.
Once a Marine always a Marine my dad used to say! 
And he is right

[andeez01]

ok Here are some pictures from the paint shop....
Bad news first. The rhino came off of the body and doors. None to worry though, it will be replaced with rock guard paint. Should look better than the rhino anyway

Next is some pictures of the side of the body. It's hard to tell from the photos, but I am sure some of you body and paint gurus can appreciate the great work they are doing.


Now the really cool part.... They custom made a hood bracket for the three dzus clips. They are going to paint it and everything.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

What happened with the Rhino?  Did it "just come off" or did it need to for body work?

Lookin good!! 

[andeez01]

What happened with the Rhino?  Did it "just come off" or did it need to for body work?

Lookin good!! 

I think the surface was too smooth. The shop should have roughed it up more with some 36 so it would bond better. The rest of it is fine. I'm kind of glad now because I would have been worried forever about it coming loose.

[andeez01]

A motorcycle fender painted by Prestigious Metal (our paint shop) It was dusty and you can still see Mark's reflection and mine taking the picture.

[andeez01]

Renault headlight buckets cleaned up and painted. The chrome was scuffed up with 100 grit sandpaper, primed  coats and painted 3 coats with semi-flat black.



Kelly working on driver side seat frame.


Seats almost done. Need to tighten up the driver side seat cover. 

Cats ran across the seat 

Windshield Wipers

Carpet on back of back seat.

[andeez01]

With the downtime I figured I would post a couple pictures of Buddy.
Here is Buddy with his grandmother. She restored the speedo.

This is Buddy leading the "sports" section at a VBS.

This is Buddy after a day of work in Iraq.

Please excuse the length of this post...

I just thought I would mention about about Buddy, realizing that there are probably lots of philosophical backgrounds here, that to Buddy's credit, he was a great Marine, and technician, and big brother. He was a devout and devoted Christian but respected and cared for his friends who did not believe as he. He spent many weekends being a designated driver to ensure his fellow Marines returned safely to the barracks. Thanksgiving two years ago he called home and told us that he had duty and couldn't come home. The base is only 30 minutes away. We were angered by this till we learned that he volunteered so that others in his shop could be home. His rational was that he was already so close and he would be able to spend the rest of his weekend with us. If he hadn't volunteered, another Marine would have had to spend the whole holiday alone on the base. He was a very caring and special young man.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Sounds like you raised him well.   

[andeez01]

Ok.. some good stuff.
First of all the axle are installed. Chrissy greased them with a grease gun and syringe. This works great. You just have to find the right angle to get through to the other side, then pump it in. It worked great.

[andeez01]

First coat of primer went is on. It has to be blocked, primed again, then the base coat. Note the dash vents. They were welded up.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Can't wait to see the outcome.... No really, I can't wait!!!