While I doubt if I could get the fronts off the ground, that 180+ hp I generate with my 2.3L engine does incite some puckering in certain places, especially if you don’t know it’s coming.My car has the same hp to weight ratio the shelby does. Scary isn’t it?I also doubt the chevette rear would sustain the stress of a well turned out engine, and I…[Read more]

Larry,
A year or so ago I met a retired man who said he had worked at the Classic factory and told me the factory built cars came with Chevette rears unless they were specifically ordered otherwise.  He said the Chevette rear suspension was a drop in compared to the Fords which required cutting the leaf springs. Ringo40197.8939583333

 Paul, I know I’m getting off the topic, but your comments about the delivery of your car brought up a question that I hope you or Ringo can answer. If you want to move it to a new thread I understand.
 Were the duchess front engine cars with Ford engines built with Chevette rearends? I seem to remember reading something about the chassis being a…[Read more]

Back in the day…1982…when Classic Roadsters Ltd. delivered my Duchess kit (with their own staff, and on their own trucks!), the delivery guys told me they were running a front engine V6 Duchess around at the factory.I forget the details. But even with the additional engine weight, they said it would get the front wheels off the ground if you…[Read more]

I’m thinking those Ford-powered cars must be wicked fast, especially compared to us stock VW folks. I’ve got maybe 50 horse, and that feels like it’ll do just fine. You’ve got to have double that at least with only a bit more weight. I wonder if anyone’s plopped one of those SVO Mustang turbo engines in one of these. . . only drawback I can…[Read more]

Ed
It’s a manual progressive linkage so it basically starts when my foot gets about halfway into the fast pedal.  Before the rebuild it felt like standard, normal acceleration. The big differance now is that when I punch it, it starts winding up at 1800 to 2000 rpm and gets to 3500 and climbing so much quicker than before that I may need to lighte…[Read more]

Way to go Ringo. At about what RPM does the secondary kick in?

That’s hugely helpful. Thanks to you both.

Ed, Lookin’ good nice to sneak it out for a spin when ever possible. Larry and Ringo are right. Check your grounds and if they are good then the master cylinder is accessible behind the driver side front wheel built on to the master cylinder. My Migi is a 69 VW and has a dual master cylinder with two brake light switches. Mine is also accessable…[Read more]

 Ed, to be honest I have never actually seen a BCW VW based car but on my London Roadster VW if you jack up the front end ,turn the wheels to the right and look behind the left front wheel you can see the master cylinder with the brake light switch attached to it.These work off pressure from the brake fluid in the system instead of being…[Read more]

Thanks for the kind words, y’all. I will def. check the brake switch first. Hadn’t thought of it; was thinking fuse, bulb or connection. Now, to find that switch! Me manual has a schematic, but I knew that info. already. Me olde Nova had it up under the dash, in a bracket above the pedal, so the pedal arm could “unpress” the button. Where is it on…[Read more]

 Dick  I also have a chevette engine in mine she also ran hotter than i wanted it too, the fan was to far from the radiator i solved that by making a fan shroud so it would not lose suction through the radiator my fan was 6 inches from it,,, i made a shroud from a 5 gallon mud bucket, cut to size now,, on a hot day 100 + degrees she never gets h…[Read more]

Ed,
Awesome. The car fits you perfectly. Lookin’ good
Ringo did a really neat thing with his third brake light. You might want to cruise his pics.
James

Nice car!  It was 62 degrees here yesterday,  couldn’t resist going out.  Still can’t get the grin off my face.  I’ll put in my 2cents on the brake switch.  Probably gummed like Larry says, but if the switch checks out, check the grounds.Ringo

Ed:
Nice looking car, kind of makes me miss Mrs. Peel who is on vacation in Florida.
Mel
 

 Ed, The more I see of your car ,the better it looks.Glad you had a nice day to take it out for a spin. Having Karen along to enjoy it with you and make the pictures was extra special I’m sure.It won’t be too much longer till we have more nice days.
 Regarding the brake lights,sometimes the brakelight switch will get ”gummed up” from old age o…[Read more]

That’s a pretty little car Ed.
The British Coach Works is such a nice replica. 

I have the shop manual for the volkswagen engines for that time period. Have you confirmed the year of your motor and floor pan. motor # can be found on the carburator stem and Pan # can be found generally under the seat stamped into the tranny access panel hole towards the front. I’ve got the book n adobe if youwould like it email me and I’ll…[Read more]

-Bob  Welcome to our group .  this is the only club that i know of . there are a lot knowledgeable people that will point  you in the right direction , most of the manufacturers have long gone . But the good part is that parts are available for the donor car engine manufacturer, VW, Ford and chevy at all parts stores. body parts are harder to find…[Read more]

We took our car out today as well. It was about 60, windy, and cloudy, but great fun!Greg