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Michael Davis replied to the topic Installing caster shims! hoo boy! in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 7 months ago
The VW wiring is extremely basic. No electronic gizmos, no safety circuits, no relays unless you want one for the headlight dimmer, and the voltage regulator is very basic. Just one flasher module. Ground circuits can be a bit of a challenge, with the fibreglass body, but patience and plenty of quality wire will clear that hurdle.
Now a modern…[Read more]
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Installing caster shims! hoo boy! in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 7 months ago
Thanks Paul. No rivets in the grill, but several rivets held the body in place to a metal frame work around the grill opening. It would have been an easy job save the stinking headlight bolt on the passenger side.
My next challenge is a total rewire. I’m not going to save a thing, except for the pig tails from the individual light sockets. The…[Read more]
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Michael Davis started the topic Installing caster shims! hoo boy! in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
Installing caster shims on my Duchess. Here is the process.
remove grille. Nope. Jacked up bolts on the headlight mounts.
loosen grill enough to raise it to allow access to top torsion tube bolts. loosen bolts.
loosen lower bolts. not easy as a steel skid plate is in the way, and is held on by the torsion tube bolts. ⊙Be careful not to back th…[Read more]
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Tips for Cutting Fiberglass? in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
If you are cutting from the “good” side, use a jig saw with a very fine blade, but one that cuts on the down stroke, not the up stroke. The teeth point down. These are available at hobby supply stores and woodworking sites. They are fairly easy to find. Plus use tape to protect the surface.
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Duchess front ballast question in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
Ok. I cut and installed a new panel behind the grill, to replace the battleship anchor box, cut and installed a new trunk floor,and new front shocks. After a test ride, i put 70 pounds of sand in the trunk. (Inside a nice gym bag, so it can be taken out easily and just looks like luggage. This set up seems to be best. Nice ride, good stability.…[Read more]
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Duchess front ballast question in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
So, I removed the shorty shocks and yep, the suspension rose dramatically. The shorties were keeping the suspension in dang near full compression mode. Drove it around the block a bit with no shocks to let the suspension settle. It is sitting at half stroke, just like it should, so I wont be removing any leaves. Perhaps that has been done…[Read more]
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Duchess front ballast question in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
Im familiar with pulling torsion leaves from my early days of lowering Bugs on the cheap and letting them sag to the bottom. Thats not what Im looking for now. What I want in this car is a normal suspension ride and height. How many leaves do you reckon I need to pull to get the car to have the normal amount of suspension sag? Im not looking for a…[Read more]
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Duchess front ballast question in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
How is the braking with no ballast?? Do the front wheels lock up easily?
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Duchess front ballast question in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
At one time it had bolts that attached to a metal frame that is under the wood brace that supports the grill top. But they had rusted off. But the damn thing was so heavy I didnt know it wasnt attached. Im going to replace it with sand bags that I will strap down. This will give me access to the headlight and horn wiring, which was the reason for…[Read more]
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Michael Davis replied to the topic Duchess front ballast question in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
I got it out. Thanks!
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Michael Davis started the topic Duchess front ballast question in the forum General Discussion 4 years, 8 months ago
Hey all, does any one know how the fiberglass ballast box is secured to the car? I am referring to the one in the front trunk behind the grill. I need to remove mine, but it is filled with hardened concrete! Who ever filled it did leave a lifting lug/loop exposed, so I am thinking they were thinking it may need to be removed some day?!
If it is…[Read more]
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Michael Davis became a registered member 5 years, 10 months ago
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