Steve Arndt baja build project

[Steve Arndt]

This is the new headliner that Chip and Chris from Fine Auto Trim installed in my beetle. Super job guys! I will definitely send more business their way. The extra sound deadening installed on the roof made all the difference in noise intrusion. The car has that new car smell again...or it's just the glue fumes are kicking in...

They put my new windshield in, and the next morning it was cracked. The window frame is about 3/8" tighter on the side that hit first when I rolled the car. I could portapower the roof out, but it would muck up my roof body filler and new headliner. I have a friend that runs a glass shop that is going to shave a 1/4" off the top/left corner of the glass so it will drop in without being too tight. Every darn thing is a hassle with this thing lately!







What do you think? The headliner is the only thing on this car that I didn't do myself. It looks perfect though, so I guess it was worth losing some pride and bragging rights. It sure makes my paint job look shabby. I need to get some owyhee county red clay gumbo mud on this thing!

Steve

[bajaherbie]

looks good, nice and tight

[Leatherneck]

Nice Steve, they did a good job..

[turbobaja]

Oh how I dread installing my own headliner...

Looks pretty sharp Steve, now go get some dirt on that thing

[motorbreath53]

Looks clean. I'm convinced that there will be some type of headliner in mine for sure... but the stock one can't happen with my cage "situation"...

[Ol'fogasaurus]

They did a heck of a good job. Keep the wheel side down from now on.

Lee

[Big Dave]

Very nice! Headliners are a PITA to put in in a regular sedan, let alone a baja. Headliners are one thing I refuse to do myself. It's right up there with rebuilding the transaxle.

[Steve Arndt]

Thanks everyone, esp Big Dave's comment. I take pride in doing everything myself, except headliners. I tried in the past, and this was worth it in spades.

Got the windshield ground down and reduced in size. Now it is too small and doesn't fit in the rubber without showing on the bottom drivers side of the seal. Third times the charm like goldy lox. Broke one window. One ground too small. Lets meet in the middle. I'm glad I saved the old one to use as a pattern vs the new too small glass. This will be 7 windshields in 3000 miles of driving!

I pulled the engine tonight. Collapsed pressure plate. I guess that is 1000 too many burn offs. Half the fingers are lower than the other half. I have been chasing clutch problems the last month.

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[Steve Arndt]

I will post pics of the clutch situation tomorrow. I got the bumper, oil lines, electrics, efi, fuel, cables, etc. all pulled and the engine dropped in under 90 minutes start to finish! Solo, and drinking beer.

[Leatherneck]

tick,tock..

[Steve Arndt]

Got the clutch pulled. Collapsed stage 1. The through out bearing ring was angled about 30 degrees with respect to the clutch surface. Half of the springs / diaphragm fingers are junked. I also run a copperhead clutch. It is measuring 7.6mm and wear limit is 8mm.


Going w/ a stage 2 and new copperhead from John at aircooled.net. The stage1 and copperhead wasn't enough. My stage 1 was from 1997 and I have abused the piss out of it for all those years.

Steve

[Steve Arndt]

Got the clutch pulled. Collapsed stage 1. The through out bearing ring was angled about 30 degrees with respect to the clutch surface. Half of the springs / diaphragm fingers are junked. I also run a copperhead clutch. It is measuring 7.6mm and wear limit is 8mm.


Going w/ a stage 2 and new copperhead from John at aircooled.net. The stage1 and copperhead wasn't enough. My stage 1 was from 1997 and I have abused the piss out of it for all those years.

Steve

[Steve Arndt]

As promised, here are pics of my old clutch.

First, the copperhead that is glazed over.




The straight edge is showing how the diaphragm is sprung up on half the fingers, and lower on the other half. This made is impossible to full release the clutch. This was a KEP stage 1. I upgraded to a stage 2 now.





What is the link to that other thread with the clutch discussion? I'll add this content to it.

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[Steve Arndt]

Here is how she looks now.

[Steve Arndt]

Better pic of the dash. I really love all your comments guys.

This thread needs a kick. Here is my dash. Specs:
It has a pair of sand seal switches for lights.
Two big push buttons are for horns and windshield washer pump.
Tech Edge wide band O2 mounted to left of tac
6" Monstertac with tattletale and shift-light.
Refurbed zero mile speedometer from 76 (lots of warning indicator lights to utilize)
Dakota Digital (DD) voltmeter
DD cylinder head temp
DD oil pressure
DD oil temperature
J&S safeguard knock sensor timing indicator gauge w/ O2 combo

I have my pics sized to like 790x593. It still says they are too wide. I tried 8x6 to start with. WTF?





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