You want some air flow through there but don’t need all that much; the BCW has a couple little slits. Do make sure any “openings around the engine” are not around the tin that forms the “floor” of the engine bay. That barrier is what keeps the engine cool during summer traffic jams. If it’s not there—and a lot of kits are missing it—make it your…[Read more]

Most things we do to these cars to make them look more TD-like makes them work less well; most mods to make them work better compromise the looks. The e-brake shuffle on the VW-pan cars is that rare modification that helps both looks and function.

Proud to be the progenitor of a movement . . . .

Proud to be the progenitor of a movement . . . .

As I recall there is a different front valance and a few other tell-tales. Need a MiGi person to chime in with details.

Great work, John. A lot of really nice detail. Good on you, too, for keeping those kids out in the garage instead of in the basement where they usually end up.

Allen: The original VW float works pretty well—for the original VW gauge and exciter. For the kit gauge you ought to use the kit float and sender: they will have the correct ohms to make that gauge close to right.

As the kit setup is a universal part, made for any gas tank, it’s not surprising that it’s too long (or deep) for your particular a…[Read more]

That IS crazy!

John: pics of your dash? Your way sounds much easier than mine. Good on yea.

To me the aesthetic key is also adding the vinyl welting between the dash and the scuttle (several photos at link). That stuff covers most of whatever banding you use on your dashboard’s edges, hides any number of minor flaws and lends that overall finished look.

Allen. The stock Bug Speedo is 4 5/8 inches across the bezel. I don’t recall the hole size but 4 3/8 is probably pretty close. It’s just a hair smaller than the standard “5-inch” (actually 4 3/4) gauges you can get in the aftermarket. Given that the original TD had a slightly offset mount for the tach and speedo, I don’t think the size difference…[Read more]

Allen. The stock Bug Speedo is 4 5/8 inches across the bezel. I don’t recall the hole size but 4 3/8 is probably pretty close. It’s just a hair smaller than the standard “5-inch” (actually 4 3/4) gauges you can get in the aftermarket. Given that the original TD had a slightly offset mount for the tach and speedo, I don’t think the size difference…[Read more]

Thanks all. Especially Bill, whose excellent son hosted and guided and starred in this episode (to a degree I had not anticipated when I sat down to write it). Sportsmanship will out!

And here’s Bill’s son and 25,000 maniacs heshing up Ocean City. These guys know how to throw a car show.

Comments & criticism welcome.

Speaking of “driving season” I hereby remind everyone that Thursday, November 3, being the anniversary of the death of “Clack,” the more comely of NPR’s “Tappet Bros.,” is The Second Annual Tommy Magliozzi Memorial Drive Your TD Somewhere Day.

This is how things get done. One step at a time. Sometimes even backward… Good on ya.

That’s a TD Replica with like a Model A headlight treatment or something. Cool and different, if you like cool and different (and I do). Those look like Porsche 914 gauges in the dash. Kind of cool but look better in a Speedster replica, imho.

I did not see any kind of asking price on that post (The Samba Link below appears to be for a different…[Read more]

Oh, brother, that is heart-breaking. Hang on, man. We’re here for you.

That looks a lot like what comes on wire wheels now from the factory.

Great report, greg. And thanks for posting photos.

I think it’s teething pains with the new platform. Any other theories?

Great shots, Bill.

Well, another A&A Classic is in the books. Good times. Perfect weather was enjoyed, several plaques we won and one political melee was enjoyed (sort of). Only snafu was a flat tire on Bill’s car on the way in. I will let him tell the story of how he had the spare tube in his frickin’ hand before he left the house, but didn’t bring it.

I made it…[Read more]