Oasis's car in the DTM shop for an upgrade

[NO_H2O]

Dennis drove her down from MD to get a 2056/RAT B Transaxle and some gauges, etc. And we jumped right on it. Type 1 is out. old apron is off, new Euro style FI apron is welded in and she is ready to go to the paint shop to have it and the front spoiler painted so we can get bake to the conversion. It should make it debut at Taccoa.

[Mikey]

Pictures!!! :D

[oasis]

Type 1 is out.
It took longer to drive me to the Amtrak station than to do this. ;)

(I found out why Atlanta, home to a monstrous airport, has such a rinky-dink train station. Only two passenger trains pass through each day. One goes New Orleans to New York; the other New York to New Orleans. The rest of the track traffic is CSX freight. Also, within 45 minutes after you dropped me off, it was packed like a sardine can with everyone yelling at each other in something sort of resembling English.)

It should make it debut at Taccoa.
I already have my return train ticket. :laugh:

[NO_H2O]

I will get some pix. I forgot my camera every day so far:eek:
I did get Kevin's wife to take a shot of the car with the apron removed. I hope Bobby can get it in to shoot the apron and spoiler by Thurs so we can get with it this weekend.

[wrenchnride247]

Another GL at Taccoa! This show is looking better and better:D .
Makes me wish mine was ready:( .

[oasis]

Another GL at Taccoa! This show is looking better and better
Usually a show gets me excited because I can't wait to see the other cars. This time I can't wait to see mine. :p

Makes me wish mine was ready
I'm sorry yours won't be ready this time around but I look forward to meeting you. :)

[Massive Type IV]

Good to hear that oasis is finally getting his "type 4 fix"..

It's looking like Toccoa is going to be Type 4 heaven... Maybe even Herbie extreme will be making an appearance there, in front of the RAT booth..

If only Beth's car could be there.

[oasis]

If only Beth's car could be there.
I thought I read elsewhere you were getting up at 0500 so it could be there. :confused:

[massIVe 79 vert]

No, he's trying to have it ready before the Euro Auto Fest show in South Carolina in October. NO WAY it will be finished up for Toccoa :bawling:

[wrenchnride247]

I'm sorry yours won't be ready this time around but I look forward to meeting you.

Oasis, it will be cool to meet another club member in person.

[NO_H2O]

She will be headed for the paint booth tomorrow.:agree:
Too bad it will go on a trailer to get there.

[oasis]

Too bad it will go on a trailer to get there.
Hey, better it is on a trailer with no engine than after it gets one. :D

[yellow73]

Oasis,
Glad to hear that your project is moving forward I am looking forward to seeing all of the GL cars at Toccoa....

[oasis]

Thanks! Things are closer to within budget monetarily even if the timetable has been stepped up a bit -- which isn't all bad. I'll be out of the stock and into new that much sooner.

One week down, two weeks to go 'til I'm Amtrakin' to my DTM'd Type 4. :cool:

[zen]

very cool. i am thrilled for you. you are going to love it. glad you are making it to Taccoa as well. i have to get on my car today and take care of a gasket leak at my alt stand from the swap we did last year AT the Taccoa show. it just started spewing a few weeks ago.

looking forward to seeing everyone. remember to bring your GermanLook.com member badges so those who don't know each other can find each other. then again, you hang out at Jake's area long enough and everyone passes by there sooner or later.

[Massive Type IV]

Yeah, I have a 60' wide spot reserved on the opposite end of the field yhis year, I want to herd all the TIV powered cars in that spot along with the Pinz and Brent's Ghia..

I wanted to take beth's car to show it under construction so people could see the detail under the car, but she said no!

[NO_H2O]

We picked the car up from Bobby's and the apron/spoiler are body color now. time to clean and coat the bay and stuff the big block in.

[oasis]

Reading these updates make me reflex into a "someday, that'll be my car" frame of mind for an instant ... then, I remember it is my car. Very weird.

[EASY RIDER]

Give it a few months and you will be thinking the same way again. It does not take long to get used to the power and then you will want MORE!!

Beth's car is about as perfect as one can get but I believe she too will want more power.

[oasis]

... and then you will want MORE!!

Yeah, probably. :rolleyes: :D

[Massive Type IV]

Hell, I even wanted more when i had the 3 Liter...

I'm getting it.

[oasis]

Happy Birthday, NO_H2O ... and keep the cake away from my engine bay. :laugh:

[NO_H2O]

I hope to be spreading bedliner frosting later today.:laugh:

[Panelfantastic]

Pics! Pics! Pics! :cool:


Jeff-

[NO_H2O]

I am having some computer problems at home. I will try to get some pix this weekend.

[oasis]

Here's a couple in progress. :)

Layers of liner and the new Euro-apron:
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5804/1302newapronontg7.jpg


The engine is poised for entry:
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4821/1302engineready4installmc3.jpg

:p

[NO_H2O]

My partner (Smiff) should have some pix up soon. His wife has been shooting some wiff her new Nikon.
I have had ISP and computer problems lately.

[Bullyboy]

Whats the reason for the bedliner in the engine bay?
More durable surface?

[NO_H2O]

Looks good, kills sound, won't come off the firewall and suck against the fan and kill the engine, easy to clean, durable, etc, etc.

[Scotts73SB]

Where did Oasis end up getting the rear apron from? I never heard or i missed it.
p.s. Great work looks First Class!:agree:

[NO_H2O]

Pix from shop.

[NO_H2O]

More pics from shop.

[oasis]

Where did Oasis end up getting the rear apron from? I never heard or i missed it.
I bought it from a guy in Florida off of the Samba. There is a place that carries them stateside, but were out of stock when I checked six or so weeks ago. There are two sources overseas from America -- one being in Japan. I can dig up the details if necessary.

The guy in Florida had more than one I think, so a search on the Samba may be profitable if in a hurry.

Pix from shop.
What ... a ... tease ... :D

[Panelfantastic]

HEY! Whats with those windows in the wheel wells!?! That's CHEATING.:p



Jeff- :D

[NO_H2O]

Those panels are great.
Everything is in and we have driven it a good bit today. I will drive it to Atlanta and pick Oasis up in the morning. He is on a train heading down here now.

[Bullyboy]

You wouldn't want to give me the dimensions/ location of the panel? I have a 61' that I want to make the access holes in, but I don't have a complete engine to put in there to see where the carbs, spark plugs, etc. line up. :(

[NO_H2O]

I used a 8x8 inch panel and bent it a 15 deg. down the center, then took the upper/aft. corner off. Lay it in the fender well and trace it out. Lay out your cut lines 3/4 inch inside the tracing and cut it out on the inner line. Drill the fastener holes tru both the panels and the fender wall and mount the nutplates.:agree:

[NO_H2O]

I picked Oasis up at the Amtrack station in Atlanta in his car. Just to make an arrival, i hammered it from the traffic light just south of the station so he would know I was comming. He was right out front and had a huge grin on his face when I pulled up. That grin didn't leave his face for the remainder of the weekend. We shook it down some and he went to work buffung and waxing the car for it's debut at the Taccoa Bug Fair were it parked in Jake Raby's area. He got a nice Super 40 trophy for his efforts then headed off for home. I talked to him a little while ago by phone and the car is performing great and the grin is still on his face.
Enjoy your car Dennis.

[Massive Type IV]

Oasis is one happy dude! One hell of a nice guy that is certainly deserving his new baby, he waited long enough!

I was glad to have it in my corral with the 6 other Type IV powered beasts and two more that'll soon be getting TIV power!

[Bullyboy]

Way cool Dennis :agree:
All them horsies in a Super to boot:D

Drill the fastener holes tru both the panels and the fender wall and mount the nutplates.

Thanks NO_H2O
Ahh .... was going to ask about the nut plates
How far from the fire wall is the hole? I was thinking about 1"
thanks Mark

[NO_H2O]

I can't remember how far from the firewall. Make the panels first and they will locate themselves on the bend.

[Bullyboy]

Cool Thanks

[oasis]

Got back to Crab Town mid-afternoon. Still smiling. :D

Dave (NO_H2O) and his buddy, Kevin, did a fantastic job. Speaking of jobs, I have to get to work tomorrow and my alarm will be set for 3:15 AM -- that's 0315, Jake ;) . I will nab my daughter's camera for a more complete photo shoot -- maybe this weekend. Those access panels are just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the attention to detail that was performed. In the meantime, here's a quick recap ...

Everyone was real cool -- making my visit an enjoyable one. And that is saying a lot. I don't typically travel well to begin with. Buying an engine sight unseen is against my general nature and has an element of stress with me. Not only can I not offer enough thanks for the work that was performed but also for all of the advice Dave, Jake and others gave along the way. I'm sure some of it probably seemed like hand-holding at times but no one was ever put off by my countless questions.

Dave even called twice during my journey home wanting to know everything. That meant a lot to me.

My car got a Top 40 award at the Toccoa show. Dave tried to convince me it was because I waxed the thing but I'm not stupid. Most of the show-goers were staring at his handywork.

The trip home had some funny events. For the most part, I wanted to keep running at a steady 65-70 MPH. The 2056 handled that between yawns. What we east coasters would call mountains, the 2056 treated like a mole hills.

When I drove the stocker to Georgia, my maintained speed of 60-65 would trail downwards if I stopped paying attention. Driving back, my speed would pick up from 65-70 if I wasn't careful.

Traffic conditions sometimes dictated for me to pick it up intentionally. Almost every time it happened, someone wanted to get even as if how dare I drive a li'l ol' Beetle at 85 and pass them. Once I got around the crowd, I reminded myself I didn't want to flog the new machine.

The funny thing was most of the people who were offended by me were very atypical for wanting a race. There were older folks -- yes, older than me -- pick-up trucks, minivans, and even a would-be 18-wheeler (trailerless). Once in Virginia, I shadowed behind the passer just to let him know it was no fluke and to let him take the lead on any speeding tickets. As I got closer to home, I took roads that allowed for a more entertaining ride.

The truth is I have no idea what the limits might be. It is also mind boggling to think my Type IV was probably the weak sister of the bunch. What I do know is this set-up is exactly what I was looking for -- very, very driveable; plenty of oomph to disregard hills and slow pokes as obstacles; reasonable fuel economy; effortless at legal speed limits; no weezing when I want to kick it; no running out of pull when the RPM's get elevated; and fun, fun, fun.

Did I mention I'm still smiling? :laugh:

[chug_A_bug]

hehe sounds like you had a blast can't wait to see the pics :)
I can't wait to save up to get my T4 from jake :)

[NO_H2O]

I'm glad your trip home was a fun one. I know what you are saying about people not wanting to be passed by an old VW. I have a blast with folks driving Joel's bus on the freeway. I roll that thing at 70-80 to and from work. RAT type 4's are sweet. If they don't like beeing passed by a Bug,,,,,,, They realy hate beeing passed by a Bus.:D

[Massive Type IV]

Oasis, Thats a great trip report..

The guys on my forum would like to hear about it too....

Soon we'll be doing a radio show on recent type 4 converts- would you like to be on that show?

[oasis]

If it is a Thursday date I can do, I'd be delighted. Unfortunately, many of my Thursdays are tied up. I am hoping to be able to hear your show for the first time this week.

[NO_H2O]

Thanks for the kind words Dennis. We aim to please.
What a month. You are a Type 4 convert, trophy winner and now a shot at being an internet radio star.:agree:

[oasis]

You are a Type 4 convert, trophy winner and now a shot at being an internet radio star.
Very heady stuff. Can you enlarge the driver's door? ;)

[NO_H2O]

We have a saws-all and a few cutting wheels around the shop. If the sunroof is not enough,,,, we can do a vert conversion.:laugh:

[oasis]

Soon we'll be doing a radio show on recent type 4 converts- would you like to be on that show?
The answer is still yes but unfortunately, I won't be able to hear tonight's show either -- back to school night. Sorry, my daughter comes first. :o

(You better not be leaving here. ;) )

[Massive Type IV]

Oasis,
Would you like to be a guest on this weeks radio show? We'll be recording it tomorrow... Let me know ASAP.

[oasis]

Tomorrow? Ouch, that's today! Probably too late on the reply but the answer is yes depending on the time. Umm, I left my cell phone in my other car and PM'ing you my work number will be next to useless today as I will be in and mostly out of my office. I'll check back before lunch. (I hope I was your next-to-last resort at least.)

[Massive Type IV]

Oasis,
I did not receive the email
We'll be doing the show around Lunch today.. Please call me at 706 892 8192 ASAP!

[oasis]

Sorry. I just got back from a meeting and in 20 minutes I have another. It isn't gonna work today. :(

[oasis]

Pictures!!! :D

Engine first ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3810/2056t4el9.jpg


You can sort of see the Euro-valance and the exhaust ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3669/rearqtrlh6.jpg


Lousy pic of an ingenious access panel ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3545/trapdoorsr9.jpg

[oasis]

Dash view ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6421/leftdashwy0.jpg


Interior shot ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5194/interiorun0.jpg


Different interior shot ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1194/seatingxq0.jpg

[oasis]

Side view ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5251/frntsidepf4.jpg


Frontal view ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1448/frontqtrst7.jpg


Overhead view of Kamei spoiler with a glimpse of the strut brace and electric windshield washer container ...
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8384/bootviewwd1.jpg

[Mikey]

It all looks real good!! :righton:

Very nice ride Oasis.

[oasis]

It all looks real good!

Thanks! It is a lot of fun. I have been very fortunate with the advice I have received and used. I hope those who contributed their work and expertise take as much pride in it as I do conceptualizing it and driving it.

I still have plenty of things I would like to do but the four main phases I had outlined are now done. It's funny, though, to realize how many detours this project has taken during its evolution.

[EASY RIDER]

How is the Kamei spoiler in your driveway? Do you still have clearance issues?

[oasis]

How is the Kamei spoiler in your driveway? Do you still have clearance issues?

I have it nearly mastered. I have to enter nose-first (no backing in) at a 40º-55º angle. Any less, I'm scraping; any more, I'm in the rough. Since parallel parking is acceptable on either side of the entrance of the driveway, that adds another element to the drama.

I almost don't scrape anywhere with it anymore. I must say it is a tough little bugger and I am glad it is ABS plastic. If it were f/g or c/f, I would be talking about it in the past tense.

[oasis]

Here are the latest pics.

The first is a pic of my new CSP shifter which I love. It also shows my new ash tray which is three parts coming from three different places. :sleep: Not pictured is my new cup holder with a cell phone pouch. :rolleyes:
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3317/ashtrayshifteryk2.jpg

[oasis]

Next is a pic of my KPH speedometer which I know is a snorefest for our Canadian, European and Asian friends. The neat thing is it was calibrated by North Hollywood Speedometer to measure MPH. Now, you're impressed. ;)
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2581/dashwithkphob2.jpg

Nothing new to see here but snow surrounding my car. :)
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/166/frontfeb07gk8.jpg

[NO_H2O]

Looking good Dennis. I bet that shifter is a nice upgrade. Kevin has installed one in his Oval and he loves it. I think I heard the Scat Drag-Fast shifter (that he upgraded from) go sailing thru the trees behind the shop after he tested the CSP shifter. The speedo came out nice too. How is that tach working out for you? Summit has their shift light on sale right now for $30.99.

[oasis]

Saying the shifter upgrade is a night-and-day difference is almost understating it. It is so solid and smooth, why it has me grinning that grin I'm sure you remember.

A subtle thing about it I also like is I don't have to stretch forward to grab first or third. All gears are comfortably within reach.

Mine is listed as a 40% reduction. I can't even begin to imagine what a 60%'er would be like. It might be too much ... or too little depending on the perspective.

It was suggested I should black-out the surround on my speedo now. I'm digesting that advice for the moment.

The tach works most of the time. The weather backlogged my shop and they got the filter changed and the Royal Purple in the veins as well as the above-mentioned installs. As you can see, it idles at 600 in the cold. After it warms a bit, it idles around 800-900. They will look at the tach more closely the next time they see it.

I haven't forgotten about the light. I'm still conceptualizing where to put it. Maybe I will have a decision by the next time I see you. :agree:

[Pillow]

That is a really cool looking shifter!!! Old school, but clean.

You will have to show it off in Manassas this spring :)

[oasis]

You will have to show it off in Manassas this spring :)

That would be nice. I seem to have the goofiest luck in attending that show for whatever reasons. Your post makes a good reminder to find out this year's date. :)

[oasis]

You will have to show it off in Manassas this spring :)

I was there on Sunday. I was parked next to Granny Smith Apple Green (my name for it) GL 1302. It looked spectacular. I didn't get to chat with the owner. He was constantly wiping every gram of pollen off of it.

Mine was washed. When I got there I wiped off most of the bazillion dead bugs but that's all. Seems like every time I go to Nissan Pavillion, too, I have to clean off the mass grave of insects. Is that why they call it BugOut? ;)

I had to leave at 2, but I got to see all of the cars and all of the vendors. The drag races were still going on when I departed. I'm not sure I understood the scoreboard. It didn't hold my interest anyway.

I was surprised to see a lot of good deals on cars being sold. By good, I guess I mean fair prices for condition, etc. There were at least five cars I would have purchased if I were in the market.

Sorry, no pics. I didn't think to take my daughter's camera. I have ten gigs of jpg's and gif's to purge off my hard drive, so maybe that was in the back of my mind. Or, I was just forgetful. I didn't take an umbrella either. :rolleyes:

My 1302 drove like a champ. I took it to my father-in-law's birthday -- an hour-plus drive each way -- the day before plus the nearly two-hour drive to Manassas. I am happy to report I got a genuine 27 MPG while driving between 70 and 80 MPH most of the way.

I averaged 29.0 on the return trip from Georgia after the engine/transaxle install by DTM. Except for a couple of spirited moments, I was maintaining a pedestrian speed of 55-65 then. That calculation took into account the tire size change but it assumed the speedo was accurate to begin with -- something I did not verify. My current speedo is calibrated specifically for my car and driving through unmanned speed traps have verified its accuracy. I am tending to believe the 29.0 is close to being correct, although Sammy Hagar is coming to mind about maintaining that speed ever again.

[NO_H2O]

Glad to hear you got a chance to hit a show with your GL. Also glad to hear that it is running well.:agree: