Ed glad to hear you made it home safe.  I’ve limped home a couple times too.  But none the less still had a good time.

Bill,
Post a picture when you get a chance.  I agree pretty cheap set up, been wanting to do something to change mine too. 
Love your interior the red MG octagon really sets it off. 

Sounds like you had a memorable trip. Later on the good trips will make this trip fade away into the what notto have happen on a trip. Glad shes running and you got home safe.

Lafers all came with front-hinged doors and glass side windows. As I never drive in any precipitation heavier than a light mist, mine spend most of their time stowed in the garage.

Glad you made it home – it is an adventure – later you will remember the
good parts and the bad tends to dim w/ time.

Rocky,
I don’t know where you live, but I wish I would have used a new donor on my
speedster project as it was as rusted as yours. My local VW guy has IRS
frames w/ title ( he strips them as he gets them ) for about 150.00 here in
Va. – mostly bear frame
I spent huge time welding etc. and am still not ready to drop the body – I
wish I had just…[Read more]

@monte – pulled the top when I redid the interior.  

@world – did the pliers thing, got the wipers off!  Was a bit surprised on how the spline attached to the post – pretty cheap.  Got that off too, and covered the posts with a bright red bolt cap.  MUCH cleaner looking windshield now.  Thanks for the suggestions!Sorry to interrupt the moun…[Read more]

Rocky,I’m using a 71 Beetle Donor. The Car has an IRS Frame and transaxle. Body by rust . Here’s a link to mine if you think it’ll help.
http://public.fotki.com/Allen1209/mgtd-build/building-my-vw- base/newkitman40791.4188425926

BillDid you mount your doors with the hinge in the front or is that the way the Lafer comes?I like the side curtain in that it is clear. Does that improve visibility any?

Switching out the standard transmission to automatic should be illegal, unless there is a compelling health reason.

So if I were to consider a more robust donor frame where would I start to look for one.So far my search has only uncovered full cars at full price.

Thanks for advise. I purchased the kit, the spacer, and stand ,and oil filler.

 
While you are evaluating your frame options, don’t forget the TDReplica.com grill badge. It’s a beauty. Available in the “Our Store” link on the left side of the screen.

It’s not that bad.My only consern is the rusted out area on the main center tunel in the pick.If thats the worst of it you should be ok.Be sure to price out all your replacement sheet metal,I went with 14 gauge sheet steel myself.turned out to be a cheeper route,a little more work but stronger than vw floor pans.check my photo album.
The frame for…[Read more]

I have mirrors on both doors, and manage to see just fine. (Note: Ill-fitting top has since been replaced.)

Will an IRS, disk brake chassis fit under a TD replica? That would be a sweet ride. Add sway bars and you’d be giving the Porsche replica guys fits in the twisty bits.
The VW automatic is another issue. It didn’t sell well, probably because it turned an adequate engine into a marginal one. The uneven gear selection in the manual gearbox makes 50…[Read more]

BDriver, cmon.  I’m trying to stay positive about this.  Especially considering what I paid for the “car”.  I figure if my son the welder says he can repair what I have then I’m in.  Besides, it’s a VW…I can find parts anywhere.Anyway, I haven’t had a good challenge in a long time and this will be a good distraction from desk job.

 I agree with BDriver. You might want to consider a different VW donor. It will be a ton of work to rebuild this one as so much of the structural parts are rusted away. I’m also concerned with the Fully Automatic trans. My understanding is they were  only made a couple of years. If you get every thing restored and the trans messes up you are fa…[Read more]

Aah. That’s the lightweight competition option. Once thought very rare, it has become more common with time. 
The VW slushbox is rare.  
This isn’t a frameoff restoration. This is a frameless restoration.
Is that a swing axle suspension? That’s lot of rust. This would be a really good time to make some big decisions about what you want to ride on…[Read more]

Dude, I thought you said this car was rusty.