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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Dec 9, 2017 20:22:38 GMT
Ive also done a few cosmetic improvements....    Repro tax disc and politically correct sun strip. |
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Post by chris1850 on Dec 10, 2017 10:51:05 GMT
I can see the headlines in the Sun......... "Man squashed by flying Bug!"  |
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Post by Derek UK on Dec 17, 2017 21:51:27 GMT
Do the diffs swap over from the low to high ratio? Depending on how the mods need to be done it might be cheaper to swap the diffs and weld up new brackets.
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Post by Father Ted on Dec 17, 2017 23:37:10 GMT
The Bug is still running a Dynamo, and it just cant cope. At idle, it does not charge at all, and at night at speed you have the choice of lights OR wipers, or both and run the battery down.... Not very brilliant. I got given a Lucas ACR alternator, and attempted to fit it - no chance. Theres just enough room for the Dynamo, the extra width of the Alternator meant it was hard against the bodywork. Later Bugs had alternators as standard, and revised bodywork with a bulge in the footwell to clear it. Most people in the Bug Club make a bulge during restoration - but i didnt fancy hacking mine about now its painted... Then at the NEC i found this:  Its a "Dynamator" by Accuspark. Same size as a Dynamo but an Alternator inside.  Fits neatly onto the existing mounts and looks original.  As its an Alternator and has its own regulator built in, the dynamo control box is redundant and needs bypassing. This can be done by cutting and joining the wires, but as my Bug has a brand new loom and the control box is quite visible in the footwell i wanted something a bit neater... So i found that AES do a dummy box that looks standard but is internally linked correctly for an Alternator.  As a bonus, inside it has a replaceable 50A fuse that protects the charging system. More protection on a GRP car is always a good  !  Does it work? With the engine ticking over, and the headlamps, heater fan, and fogs on, we have a decent voltage at the battery. Happy with that!  Very interesting. When (if?) I put the Zodiac back together I am intending to fit a "dynamator" and was wondering what to do about the voltage regulator box as I want it to look original, and the fuse is a bonus as the Zodiac does not have fuses at all!
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Jan 7, 2018 20:12:02 GMT
A brand new fan popped up on eBay, and as it was only £12 i grabbed it... The old one was very dirty, stained, and had a chunk missing. Its helped with the general appearance of the engine bay, or i think so anyway!   Next task is to swop the diff i think. |
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Jan 18, 2018 19:43:25 GMT
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Feb 4, 2018 12:04:56 GMT
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Feb 17, 2018 14:55:20 GMT
Still waiting on wheel bearings, having been supplied some no-name chinese crap that i would not fit to a pram...
Im assured they will be here shortly...
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Mar 18, 2018 19:06:01 GMT
 Finally done! I had a nightmare getting the right wheel bearings and halfshafts, but its all done now and is nice and quiet. Passed its MOT yesterday so hopefully its ready for another year. |
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Apr 4, 2018 20:49:25 GMT
Some people may have noticed it at the NEC restoration show last weekend... James Walsh of Practical Classics asked to borrow it, hes a nice bloke so i could not say no really....
Typically, it broke down within 1 mile of being collected, the air duct fell off the carb and melted flat on the exhaust manifold, meaning it got no air. With that bodged up, it drove the 160 mile trip to the NEC in James' hands no problem at all. I picked it up from PC in Peterborough a few days after the show.
The trip seems to have done it some good, its running lovely now, and the axle ratio change proved to be worthwhile, its much happier at speed now.
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Apr 4, 2018 20:52:37 GMT
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Post by Matt of the Vivas on Apr 22, 2018 7:37:40 GMT
Well.... Ive sold it.
Reasons included not enjoying working on it (its a little pig), and being intimidated with the value of the thing.... It was bought as a cheap car to have fun in, but the prices have risen to silly levels. Its gone to a collector in Newcastle for a decent price, and ive "invested" a quarter of the price of it into a slightly scruffy Triumph Herald Convertible..... Pics to follow!
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Post by genegenie on Apr 22, 2018 18:49:09 GMT
Well! I never got to see it but hope you made good with it, and also look forward to seeing the pics of the Herald convertible!
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Post by bent8rover on Apr 25, 2018 10:54:07 GMT
It did look superb in the NEC photos and has been properly restored from the ground up, so not surprised. Herald Convertible must be a better all-rounder though! I know what you mean there. You can't relax when you are having to look over your shoulder for some dimwit to either clout it or steal it.  You have lived the dream! |
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