Author Topic: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"  (Read 41732 times)

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Offline Geoff

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June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« on: November 28, 2009, 08:02:58 PM »
This is the start of the resteration of my June 1968 Meyers Manx. In a previous thread I posted how In Oct I found an ad on Craigslist for this manx in San Jose. bruce and I crossed the border at 5pm on friday and 36 hrs later we were crossing the border Sunday 5am with this in tow!
Thanks again Bruce for making the trek with me.

This old Manx has spent the better part of 41 years in the heat and sun, faded and dull but very complete! Most Buggies have suffered the changing trends over the years, the 80's and 90's were not kind to many ;D so many were changed and updated along the way,re painted,modern seats,guages,body mods etc.

This one has managed to survive with only a hood scoop added and a tail light change.
That being said here are the as found pic's. I'll add lots more this week as I get time.



Above shows the orig Manx Tow bar, wrong hard top roof, Manx Bunpers front and rear


Incorrect tail lights, should have the 62-67 lights. It came with the orig Manx steel wheels and Commando tires (not shown)



   I have it all torn down and body work has been started, more to follow.

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2009, 09:48:58 PM »
Here it is on pick up in San Jose....


The start of tear down and inspection....
The hood scoop will be long gone soon!



The tail lights were replaced with these trailer lights at some point.. The orig chrome 61-67 tail lights will go back on.



And tear down begins


The car also came with the orig Manx steel 14 and 15" widened steel wheels with the 1968 Commando tires!



and fresh from three hours of Blasting at Langley U balst...



And after Russ worked his powder coating magic




Offline 70's Looker

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2009, 10:17:30 PM »
i likie well good dude, what did youblast set ya back? ive heard prices all over the map!

 8)
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Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2009, 04:54:01 PM »
i likie well good dude, what did youblast set ya back? ive heard prices all over the map!

 8)

I've been there a few times and it can get costly but they have nice machines in a warm clean shop.

I also used the outdoor sand blasting place (Canadian auto Restoration) in Langley for the pan and large items.

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2009, 04:59:14 PM »
Here's the pan after blasting and a new fuel line and clutch tube.

That's some crazy old arc welding on that shortened pan.....but it's original.



And after some fresh satin black powder coating...





And some of the hardware fresh from blasting and Cad plated.




more soon....

Offline orangecrush

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2009, 05:08:56 PM »
... The paint on the pan is looking good........... sure brings back alot of memories ...... 8)
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Offline Alisdair

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2009, 08:44:18 AM »
very cool project , looking forward to seeing more pics.
66 ragtop bug, 55 Bugaudi 33 dodge 6

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2009, 11:15:50 AM »
More parts fresh from blasting and powdercoating.
The drums are as close as I could get to a natrual cash finish.



One of the few changes/upgrades is the NOS late master with Volvo resevoir



Fresh rebuilt King/link pins, powdercoated brake parts and Cad plated hardware...Fresh rebuilt steering box..



Test fitting a few parts, Orig Koni shocks,hardware and spring plates



More soon!

Offline hawthorne

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2009, 05:09:19 PM »
looks good geoff!!

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2009, 06:22:04 PM »
Unfortunatly the former owner had cut large holes in the tail of the Manx to fit the ugly trailer lights. The good thing was you could see the outline of the orig vw tail lights.

The licence plate are was also trimmed at some point, bothe the light holes and plate area are show here undergoing repair.



A few layers of fiberglass, Dura glass then filler and primer.......Nice!!!



A very very messy shop but i'm makin progress.
A few cracks in the gel on the fenders and some holes needed to be fixed then a coat of primer...



The hood had a large hole cut in it and it had sunk almost an inch in the center. I had to brace the hood from underneath and re glass it to get it back into shape.



Here's a shot from the orig Manx brochure, I was lucky enough to still have these three options on my Manx. The Commando Tires, Wide wheels and steering brakes as well as a few others ;D



More soon!
« Last Edit: December 15, 2009, 06:48:57 PM by Geoff »

Offline Hansk

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2009, 08:15:59 AM »
Wow , looking good Geoff!
Do you have a close up of that steering brake set up?
I'd like to build one for my buggy.
Big fat black fastback

Offline Chris W

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2009, 05:39:46 PM »
looks great so far. What are you doing for the engine?

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2009, 06:47:24 PM »
Wow , looking good Geoff!
Do you have a close up of that steering brake set up?
I'd like to build one for my buggy.

Here ya go Hans,




Hey Chris,
The engine will be an old school performance Manx style motor. i'm just collecting a few parts then I'll post some info on it.

Offline Chris W

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #13 on: December 15, 2009, 06:48:56 PM »
Nice, that e-brake is awesome!

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #14 on: December 15, 2009, 07:02:40 PM »
Well I had a little luck today. After trying many hardware shops looking for the orig style hardware that came with the Manx when new...a little light bulb went on.  Since Bruce Meyers worked on boats why not try a boat building shop We have one very old shop that has been in business since the 50's here in town. After rooting thru dusty boxes a while,Sure enough they had what I needed in regular steel and Stainless! I picked up the hardware I needed in Stainless, pan bolts, dash and windsheild... Here's an example of the orig and the new stainless bolts. I'm sure many of you can get these from your local stores but it proved difficult around here.


Offline Hansk

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #15 on: December 15, 2009, 07:27:33 PM »
Thanks Geoff. so it looks like you would push down on the steering handles ?
Big fat black fastback

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #16 on: December 15, 2009, 07:44:02 PM »
You got it! Old School ;D

Offline KOOL-AID MAN

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #17 on: December 16, 2009, 06:08:59 PM »
Very cool, Looks like your getting straight to business, great progress!

Offline OUTKAST

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #18 on: December 17, 2009, 10:37:45 AM »
Looking really good Geoff  O0

Offline buggy1

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #19 on: December 17, 2009, 07:39:56 PM »
Those steering brakes are too cool, that would be a great find for my baja, anybody with any bright ideas where you could find some?
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Offline Randy

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #20 on: December 17, 2009, 09:23:10 PM »
Those steering brakes are too cool, that would be a great find for my baja, anybody with any bright ideas where you could find some?

Found something on the Samba:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=354384&highlight=steering+brakes

Hope it helps
« Last Edit: December 18, 2009, 06:28:02 PM by tikitime »

Offline pittwagen

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #21 on: December 17, 2009, 10:58:17 PM »
A friend of mine used to make the "pull up" type of steering brake back in the early 70's.  It worked such that two levers that pivoted from the same shaft as the e-brake controlled either the left or right side for steering but when you pulled up on the e-brake it functioned just like the stock one. 

The cable tabs were cut off the e-brake and rewelded on the two steering levers and a piece of flat bar welded on the bottom of the e-brake handle grabbed both independent steering levers (that sit outboard of the e-brake handle) to then work the e-brake.   The levers were made out of 1/8 flat bar and entended from the pivot point of the e-brake to about the beginning of handle area.  A small piece of round stock, maybe 1/4" x 1" long, (extending at a right angle from the end of the lever) allowed you to grab each steering brake with a finger.  Didn't take much pressure to actuate the brake.  Instead of the stock pin that holds the e-brake in place a longer bolt and nut were used to accommodate the extra width of the 2 steering levers.

Back in the 70's I had this setup on a 57 bug and it worked great with 6.50x16 rear tires (later 10x15) even though it only worked the one rear shoe.  Mind you that was a bus reduction box trans so the shoes were a good size.  Used 1950 bus spindles on the front married to the bug trailing arms so the car sat level.  No one had invented the class 11 bug yet but it was a stock bodied bug with 14" of ground clearance.  Later I returned the bug to its stock state and continued to use the steering brake with stock bug rear shoes.  It still worked well if one rear wheel would spin. 

I am thinking of making a similar set up for my current buggy but I have the e-brake in front of the gear shift more like a bus.  This way you can use stock length  cables as well.  Rather than pull the lever up you would pull it to the rear.

The fellow who built the steering brake was Rocky Weinstein.  I believe he lives in S. Langley.  Ran into him at the 09 GCVWS and he still has a buggy with the steering brake setup on it.  Someone on here must know him.


Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #22 on: December 18, 2009, 05:53:30 PM »
A few cool shots from back in the day.
Some taken at the BF Meyers shop








Offline GRK

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #23 on: December 18, 2009, 11:06:57 PM »
Wow , looking good Geoff!
Do you have a close up of that steering brake set up?
I'd like to build one for my buggy.
Hansk you have 78 days to do it all !!!!! Pitter Patter you better get at her!!!! Let me know what you want welded!

Gary

Offline vwshawn

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #24 on: December 21, 2009, 09:38:04 PM »
Looking great Geoff!!!
Your quick getting things done!!, if I could only get that progress done on my 65 beetle...lol!

Have a Great Christmas!!!
Shawn ;D

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #25 on: January 15, 2010, 04:12:45 PM »
Just been busy with customer cars, The trans is out getting rebuilt by Bruce. The Front tires are mounted and the new rears are on the way. The orig Manx header has arrived and I'll start repairing and restoring it soon.
Should be back on it at the end of the month.


Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #26 on: February 10, 2010, 08:40:20 PM »
Well I hope to get back onto the Manx now that some of the parts are back from the Chrome Shop, Cad plating, and trans is rebuilt.  The Pan should be rolling next week if all go's to plan.



Fresh rebuilt 1966 Trans



All ready to go back together



Fresh chrome! This is just the way the original Manx's came, chrome tail lights,lic light, and headlight rings.

Hope to have some progres shots soon.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2010, 08:48:17 PM by Geoff »

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #27 on: March 01, 2010, 06:14:44 PM »


Getting back onto the Manx, Love the new chrome on the tail lights!

Offline Geoff

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #28 on: March 16, 2010, 05:44:48 PM »
It's been a while since I had time to work on the Manx but last friday I sprayed the last coat of primer and blocked it out on the weekend. Monday morning I delivered it to the body shop for a fresh coat of the original Manx Lime green. It was ready for pick up Tues Morning! ;D

Awaiting it's fresh Lime paint




A few hours later...BAM!!!! Thats some bright paint! It's the correct color and matched the small area of orig gel that was in perfect shape.







Now I just need to find the time to put it all back together lol_hitting

Offline billybob57

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Re: June 1968 Meyers manx resto, Project "This old Manx"
« Reply #29 on: March 16, 2010, 06:13:18 PM »
Looking Good Geoff!!


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