The Big Year End Review-2021!

[Volktales]

So just like last year, exactly what did I accomplish on my projects this year???


January:  January first began with a special "time-machine" Coke, and I think this will become a permanent tradition...  The month started off doing non-VW stuff, as I had to continue with the dreaded stairs project.  This went on and on but was eventually completed in mid February, only 2 1/2, months later...




At home the Ghia back up engine continued with the air filter being fully restored thanks to spare parts from Reagh.  This finished off the back-up engine that had been partially disassembled for over six years at that stage...  




Also got around to finally fixing the starter on the '69 Chevy truck by making one out of two damaged units.  Worked great and cost less then $5 to fix.  Nice!


Feburary:  Another milestone was completed as I FINALLY registered my Savannah Beige '70 Beetle project into my name.  Lots of issues with this and it still requires a safety inspection, but at least it is all MINE!





Still hiding at Reagh's and waiting until it can finally come home...





The other unexpected project was the Bosch EFAW 193.  Brent spotted this for sale and figured that I needed it.  I did!  Did a cosmetic restoration on it including a new perfect handle from Don to replace the missing original and Tony supplied a glass lens pre-cut to fit!  Still need to try this device on the Fasty some day...


March:  Then it was full bore back onto the Ghia again.  It made a very cold windowless trip over to Dad's garage.














Fun things such as removing the nasty remains of old glue from the roof rails, stripping off the dashpad, and prepping and painting the roof red was fun...





The snowball effect meant stripping out all the wiring and instruments because now the dash would be refinished as well.  Because I can't help myself...  


Continued...

[Volktales]

April:  Again Ghia all the way, except for one quick trip out in the '62 Beetle, sadly one of the very few times it was driven this year...















Lots on the Ghia got done though.  The dash was welded up, Bondo was laid on and profiled, luggage compartment was painted, luggage compartment painted again due to poor colour match...    Steering column was restored and the complex fresh air mixer assemblies were rebuilt.  And I just might have ordered some very expensive disc brakes for the front end...  


May:  Continued on the Ghia prepping the dash for paint, but then something momentous happened on the fourth of May...





Reagh managed to somehow find my "dream" Corvair that I have always wanted since sitting in one over 30 years ago.  It turned out to be exactly that same car and you can't imagine how blown away I was by this.  Oh and did I mention he just gave it to me as well?   Could barely sleep that night I was so excited!  








Throughout May I took stock of what the Corvair needed, and was pleasantly surprised it was not as rusty as it could have been.  Did a lot of little jobs like fixing various latches and windows.  Acquired some better stock rims and temporarily installed them, then later my hot rod buddy Terry donated some decent rims and tires from a 1980 Camaro.  They may not stay but are OK for now.















Meanwhile the dash was finally finish painted, the column rebuilt and reinstalled, the wiring harness cleaned, repaired, and reinstalled, and just enough parts put back on to make the trip back home to my garage...  Once home, it was time for a little hiatus with the Ghia...  May also ended with a trip up to see Reagh's Funbugs museum.  It was great to see everything in place in anticipation of the official opening.  Sadly as things turned out, this did not happen and we must cherish those memories of the trips we had made in the past...










Continued...

[Volktales]

June:  Most of this month was Corvair fun time!















I poured over the manuals that Rob S had given me and dived into the realm of the Corvair engine.  Going over the good carbs that came with the car was the first step, and then prepping the engine with oil poured down the bores.  Breaking out the bench starter proved the engine would crank over, and it started right up with little effort!  Smoked and leaked somewhat, though...  Later this month bought a used engine which also ran, but had extreme levels of blow-by.  This purchase did yield lots and lots of useful parts.  The huge rat condo, less so...





Another momentous occasion was Victor somehow cracked open his wallet and managed to buy Don's mid-life crisis Scion.  He was well smitten, just like Don was.  I also threw some new parts into a  free Tercel to try and extend its life just a bit.  My nephew is driving it now and surprisingly it has not blown up quite yet...

June also ended being mind numbing hot.  It was 37 C in the shop on the 28th, and was 35 C in the house at 11:30 pm that night.  Cozy...



July:  Still stinking hot, but still Corvair fiddling...














One of the first things this month was getting the car registered in my name; again used Mark Zomar for this procedure.  The missing linkages were transferred from the spare engine, the park brake was kinda "fixed", as was the throttle pedal pivot and other boring but necessary things.  Krud Kutter gel was used to get surface rust off with great success.  A "new" fusebox made from old Toyota parts was installed, and many other components from the spare engine were installed.  The car then made its first and only trip from the side yard to the carport to allow me to avoid the extreme summer heat.  As you might expect, the Ghia was being ignored for awhile...


Continued...

[Volktales]

August:  Was another hot and busy month with a lot of things going on...











The Corvair was now running a bit better everytime, but there were issues with both the charging and starting systems.  The alternator was taken apart and tested, and the regulator was found to be faulty.  One of the few brand new parts was installed, but this needed some tweaking to actually function properly.  The starter was erratic and found to be poor inside.  Fortunately the spare was in excellent shape and now good cranking all the time was assured.  The dimmer switch was also installed and pretty much all the lights now operated correctly.  The muffler off the spare engine was installed and now the car was much quieter...








Other fun stuff in August including finally having a meeting at my house.  And shortly after was an amazing trip to Dave's in Port Alberni, which was the highlight of the VW year for most of us.  We were all stoked about Covid ending soon and going to shows again in the future...  You know how that part ended...  And it was a rare long trip for the GTI which was lots of fun.  The shifter linkage ball disintegrating on the trip back, less so...


September:  Corvair tiddling continued...











It felt good to finally get the air filter assemblies back on properly, the oil was changed at last, the distributor was unseized, rebuilt, and timed correctly.  It ran the best ever and I was happy.  Right up until the right bank cut out completely...   The excessive blowby unfortunately did not improve despite the addition of various magic potions, and the oil leaks are excessive.  A partial rebuild is the minimum necessary, and there is no way around this.  Kinda bummed me out and this project is on hiatus for now...


But something VERY important did happen this month...





Yes I finally sold one of my "good" VWs.  My good friend Brian has wanted it for years, and it finally happened.  He is very happy with what he bought, and already he has big plans for it.  A fuel injected 2 litre and six rib transmission are going to be providing the power and performance he needs for the intended cross-Canada trip this bus is going to be making.  Lots of practical mods to the interior as well, and it is going to be very cool once it is completed...


October:  With the Corvair on hiatus, it was back into the Ghia once again...














First the original radio was cosmetically restored, a bunch of miscellaneous work done in the luggage compartment, horns were rebuilt and installed, and overpriced Beetle instrument rings were installed into the dash.  Lots of fiddly stuff this month...



November:  Same as last month, but fun stuff near the end...


 










Started off by finishing off the installation of the dreaded fresh air valves, and then started thinking about the Blaupunkt Derby I have had for years.  After much debate, decided to install it in the Ghia and drilled the necessary dreaded holes.  Finished off the dash completely as well too.  And then finally got around to installing the CSP disc brake conversion.  Oooh, shiny!!!


December:  Here we finally are.  Finished installing the master cylinder lines and reservoir, bled the system a couple of times, and contemplated my next move.  Decided I am going with Newton Commercial carpets out of the UK, and will order these soon.  Have not got much accomplished due to the holidays, and other less then fun reasons, but the next step is preparing this:





This is going to be a weird "repair" but should make sense soon...  If much more gets accomplished before years end, then I will update this...


Continued...

[Volktales]

So like the last year...

Official Car events attended:             1      (Dave's house)
Unofficial car events attended:          @5   (Sear's Parking lot)
Trips outside Nanaimo                      @10  (Port Alberni, Coombs, Ladysmith)
Trips off the Island                            Big Fat Zero
Restaurant meals                              2
McDonald's                                       Lots
Subway                                            2
Pizza takeout                                    @10


The fleet:

1974 Restfalia                                  0 KM
1972 Dorper                                     < 100 MILES
1966 Beetle                                      0 MILES
1969 Fastback                                  0 MILES
1962 Beetle                                      < 30 MILES
1964 Ghia                                         < 4 MILES
1992 GTI                                           @ 350 KM
1969 Chevrolet truck                          < 250 MILES
1991 Terseo                                       @ 150 KM
Free Civic                                           @ 2500 KM
$100 Acura                                         @ 4000 KM
1965 Corvair                                       @ 60 FEET

And there you have it, another year soon to be in the past.  Next year better be damn better!  Please!

[PICTUP]

I am sure we all are wishing for a better 2022 and not a 2020....too. That said, you have made some great progress on all your projects especially with everything else going on. Maybe I will have a shop, but Santa only brought me a red tape in the form of an "area of high potential for archaeological material" from the town and doubts about the new design. Hopefully scissors for that particular tape can be obtained.