Author Topic: the '55 Ragtop.....are we done yet?  (Read 101176 times)

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Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #360 on: January 31, 2014, 12:41:45 PM »
Thanks Dave!  its looking ok I guess :67: :67: not done yet....you should Se the seats now (right brian????)  I still haven't seen the car out in the sun paint is gonna be way different colour i have a feeling!!!

motor and trans stuffed in yesterday and lots of stuff going on! think I may have a case of VWADD jumping all over the map.
 setting up some final clearances and trimming engine tin etc. planning out and getting ready to be bent over one more time for a good couple hundy in AN fittings/hose for all my extravagant oil and fuel system... Dave I actually meant to pic your brain about the accusump setup I'm doing kinda like yours....What's your email? wanna send u some pics.
got a little digital angle finder with magnets for getting my suspension all Dialed and 4 wheels aligned. and a bunch of other random crap not worth mentioning....
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline 70's Looker

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #361 on: March 22, 2014, 11:33:57 AM »
Sorry dude, looks like you'll have to take a new direction...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1616119
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Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #362 on: March 22, 2014, 01:04:57 PM »
Gross!
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Stephan Schmidt

Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #363 on: June 17, 2014, 12:50:23 PM »
Bump - any more teaser pics? what wheels?

Looking great Josh!

Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #364 on: June 17, 2014, 09:39:04 PM »
Ya sorry I suck at updates anymore....hows this for one....my 20 month old daughter pee'd all over one of my freshly covered german wool front seats tonight! Dont ask why she was in there buck naked.....

Im still alive and kickin, had back surgury a little over a month ago and am recovering well. I havent touched the car in almost 2 weeks (longest stretch of not working on it for ever!) Whats new.......
Got my stainless header done, it turned out kickass! No off the shelf mufflers fit the spot so im making one from scratch now. Im working on brake hardlines and plumming my ridiculous oil and fuel systems.....only have to spend another $600 or so on AN fittings  :o bought wheels a while ago....erco starcuts with zero offset buble fronts, they suit the car to a tee wrapped in M&H dot radials front and rear.
Transmission is in a million pieces...trying to convert a drag only box into something halfass streetable but still strong. Wiring is almost done for all my electronics under the rear seat, still have to find a home for my accusump if im gonna use it?
Finished fitting tins recently, just have one more paint session for that stuff and a couple other random bits to turn black.
Unfortunately I wont have ready for the GCVWS dammit, something about not working since November kinda throws a wrench into the whole play money thing! Im close but still need a couple G to finish the bitch!

Ill chuck up a few pics soon promise!
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline red snapper

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #365 on: June 17, 2014, 10:29:50 PM »
Take care of your back dude. Hope you recover fast. Familly first .

Offline bwaz

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #366 on: June 18, 2014, 09:15:53 AM »
Ya sorry I suck at updates anymore....hows this for one....my 20 month old daughter pee'd all over one of my freshly covered german wool front seats tonight! Dont ask why she was in there buck naked.....

Why was she in there buck naked? ;) Sorry Josh, what did you use to clean the seats? Hope the back's on the mend....
brian waz

Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #367 on: June 18, 2014, 09:38:03 AM »
Potty training and wife went out handing me a naked kid out in the shop.....car doubles as as real fancy playpen, seemed like a good idea at the time :sign0135: not anymore!

Resulted in a panic call to monsuir snapper and he clamed me down...thx bud.  Mild soap and water (couple drops of sunlight) lots of blotting with rag and this morning no stains thank fuck!!
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline bwaz

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #368 on: June 18, 2014, 09:47:45 AM »
 :freak1: :freak1: :freak1:

Better than being handed the dog I guess! ;)
« Last Edit: June 18, 2014, 09:50:18 AM by bwaz »
brian waz

Offline Thomas

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #369 on: June 18, 2014, 10:17:26 AM »
These things make great stories. A little mark, stain, dent or scratch will happen no matter how careful we are and just add to the story of the build. The day I went to cut the hole to put my sunroof in my dog died as I was getting ready. I took care of the dog and was really bummed out. I thought cutting the hole would take my mind off of the dog. I put the start hole in with the step drill and put it on the roof. I started the jig saw and the vibration from it made the step drill slide off the roof. It hit the rear fender bit first and put a dent in it. I stopped - looked at it and thought not much I can do. It's now called Charli's dent and not sure if I will ever fix it as it reminds me of my dog and makes a good story. Can't wait to see your car when it is done. Thomas
58 Beetle

Offline Jeremy

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #370 on: June 18, 2014, 11:55:30 PM »
Ya. I closed the garage door on my freshly painted rear fenders. Scratch and dent now covered by a convenient rear fender vw emblem.
'59 Beetle
'59 Single Cab

Stephan Schmidt

Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #371 on: June 24, 2014, 08:14:01 AM »
Take care of your back dude. Hope you recover fast. Family first .

Agreed! You only have one back and you can't redo the years as your children age!  Cars will come and go and are nothing but pieces of metal at the end of the day which can't replace the smile on your kids faces when they spend time with you! 


Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #372 on: January 09, 2015, 04:56:05 PM »
95% there :rockon: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:










Bit more wiring, Trans build and some brake bracket fab left......
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline mitchy965

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #373 on: January 09, 2015, 05:40:24 PM »
look absolutely awesome Josh.... you'll soon be vulcanizing the streets!!!! :driving1:
1991 964 turbo- 1967 2007cc beetle-01 95" wideglide-2276cc turbo drag bug

Offline rustybug61

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #374 on: January 09, 2015, 06:21:32 PM »
These things make great stories. A little mark, stain, dent or scratch will happen no matter how careful we are and just add to the story of the build. The day I went to cut the hole to put my sunroof in my dog died as I was getting ready. I took care of the dog and was really bummed out. I thought cutting the hole would take my mind off of the dog. I put the start hole in with the step drill and put it on the roof. I started the jig saw and the vibration from it made the step drill slide off the roof. It hit the rear fender bit first and put a dent in it. I stopped - looked at it and thought not much I can do. It's now called Charli's dent and not sure if I will ever fix it as it reminds me of my dog and makes a good story. Can't wait to see your car when it is done. Thomas
I like that story

Offline silas

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #375 on: January 11, 2015, 09:54:58 PM »
looks absolutely incredible josh. you're so close...do it up buddy!!  :cool:

Offline Project Decade

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #376 on: January 11, 2015, 10:55:05 PM »
Wow you've done an amazing job josh. If you ever decide to sell those rims & tires let me know ;)

Offline Geoff

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #377 on: January 17, 2015, 11:09:33 AM »
Over the top buddy!! Wow!

Offline red snapper

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #378 on: January 17, 2015, 07:46:49 PM »
Great job dude! Cant wait to have a beer with ya and see it in person.

Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #379 on: January 17, 2015, 08:27:11 PM »
Great job dude! Cant wait to have a beer with ya and see it in person.

Still working on this pig 5-6 nights a week....soo much time invested it's not even funny! Finally got all my Transmission parts Magnaflux tested for cracks....all good! Finished tacking my stainless muffler, motor is about to come back out for the final time....the finish line is so close I can taste it!
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline silas

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #380 on: April 20, 2015, 11:58:05 PM »
didnt want to mess up the oil cooler thread in the lounge with my drooling over this car & the work that's being done...but, i need a fix! how's it going bro...?  :cool:

Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #381 on: April 21, 2015, 09:17:53 AM »
She's goin....I'll put together a little update to cure your urges  later :rockon: :rockon:
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline bwaz

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #382 on: April 21, 2015, 09:21:18 AM »
we don't want an update, we want a ride! ;)
brian waz

Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #383 on: April 21, 2015, 10:11:37 AM »
 :driving1: :driving1: :driving1:
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #384 on: April 21, 2015, 11:32:49 PM »
Ton of hours past since last update....don't know where to start?

Fuel system check!
Oil system check!
Brake caliper mounts with floating ebrake check!
-3AN stainless brake hardlines check!
Shatpile of fingerprint burning hand sanding and polishing of aluminum goodies check!

What's left? Sort out some transmission issues, finish the last little bit of wiring, some paint touch ups, paint engine tins, final assembly of suspension.......not much really!

Here are a few random pics.....































































So ya haven't really stopped to breathe.....that was just a little taste.....lets just say I've been having a blast learning how to machine custom one off parts!!!
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline 52 split

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #385 on: April 22, 2015, 03:43:07 AM »
good stuff, whats up with the gearbox that it has to go back.?

Offline s3racing

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #386 on: April 22, 2015, 06:47:16 AM »
Looking Great Josh!! I like the custom machined parts Sweet set up.

Offline 70's Looker

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #387 on: April 22, 2015, 07:23:32 AM »
That's sweet looking man! Over the top comes to mind!

I like the gtv boss you made to fit! Well done kinda makes me like them now!
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Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #388 on: April 22, 2015, 08:58:23 AM »
There lots more where that came from! Yeah the empi hub didn't jive with the early column and red tip semi switch......much mo betta now!!







The factory semaphore switch clamp was a cheezy band thing....looked like ass. Hacked this one out of a hunk of T6061.....was a stupid amount of time but happy with it now. That lead to having to remove the factory horn contact bracket on column....more chip flew of the mill and lathe......

















I'm no machinist and I'm sure someone who knows WTF theyre doing is shaking their head at some of my ways but I'm having a blast learning!! Keeps things interesting.
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline josh

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Re: the '55 Ragtop, 5 years and counting.....
« Reply #389 on: May 12, 2015, 06:59:16 AM »
Epic night lastnight.....wonder how many decades it's been since this old girl has been on the ground on her own 4 feet?









So close I can taste it!
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2