More Wartburg progress

Finished the 2nd layer last night. No pics, looks like the first layer, kinda boring.

In related news I need a friggin innertube to mold some rounds for flares. Parts store A I was met with "what year make and model" are you kidding me? I asked the counterjocky if they even knew what an innertube was. They didn't, I feel old. Parts store B the guy at least knew what I was talking about but they dont stock them anymore.

I actually think the original tires from the wartburg are tubed so I may just have to try and dismount one of those.

I would think any good local tire store would still have those.

carzan wrote: I would think any good local tire store would still have those.

Yeah, you would think, but all the good local tire stores have been replaced by NTB. Got a few other places to check, just none of them were on my path last night.

JThw8 wrote: ... kinda boring.

NOTHING about this build is boring. NOTHING!

Man, I wish I was close enough to help.

Jensenman wrote: Man, I wish I was close enough to help.

So do I, the steering stuff still makes my head hurt. :)

Jensenman wrote: Man, I wish I was close enough to help.

Ditto. I've never even seen a Wartburg, let alone had the chance to add one to my resume!

Bryce

What about dirt bike inner tubes? Not the mass you're loking for, but cheap and availible in a variety of diameters.

BTW, the progress pics makes me feel all tingly.

What about simple pool float intertube pieces?

Nashco wrote: Ditto. I've never even seen a Wartburg, let alone had the chance to add one to my resume! Bryce

Yeah, after we got her running and driving around Jim W (The Wake) commented that we now part of probably less than a handful of people in the US who had ever driven a wartburg. It's definitely one for the oddball car resume.

Mental wrote: What about dirt bike inner tubes? Not the mass you're loking for, but cheap and availible in a variety of diameters. BTW, the progress pics makes me feel all tingly.

Tis a possibility, not an urgent part of the project just yet, I just found it annoying that the kids at the parts store didnt even know what an innertube was.

I should have a few from my Fiat, they're 12" diameter and blow up decent but no way a G78 - 15...

waiting on parts but I thought maybe I should put some effort into some cleaning and detailing. Not very BABE or Lemonsish, but to me this car is all about a good GRM showing so I spent time today with degreaser, a wire brush and some paint.

30 years of crud removed from the transmission.

Other updates on the website wartburg.misfittoysracing.com Chassis is being painted, pedal cluster is mounted, plumbing is underway. Hoping to start body fitment in a few weeks so I can get bodywork underway and get the cage built. Never a dull moment.

The Lemons guys dont like it but I think it all is starting to look rather pretty. Clean makes it so much easier to fix if something goes wrong.

JThw8 wrote: The Lemons guys dont like it but I think it all is starting to look rather pretty. Clean makes it so much easier to fix if something goes wrong.

WHAT?! NOTHING is going to go wrong!

Hydraulic clutch?!? Cheater, that makes it way easier!!! So are you going to use the Legacy master, or go with something aftermarket?

Bryce

How did you get that transmission case so shiny?

Nashco wrote: Hydraulic clutch?!? Cheater, that makes it way easier!!! So are you going to use the Legacy master, or go with something aftermarket? Bryce

Because we're not using a full VW chasis and therefore dont have the pedal cluster or clutch cable tubes hydraulic was really the only way to go. Used dune buggy parts are cheap and plentiful so we got a full buggy pedal assembly and the hydraulic slave for cheap.

MrJoshua wrote: How did you get that transmission case so shiny?

Its painted. I shot the whole thing with some mercedes pearl grey basecoat I had left over from when I owned my benz and then I ground the ribs down with a dremel and finished with some 220 grit sandpaper then just clearcoated it with the left over clear from the aforementioned benz.

Jumping ahead a little,,,, are you going to use the stock seats? They look kinda cool with that checkerboard pattern in the upholstery.

DeadSkunk wrote: Jumping ahead a little,,,, are you going to use the stock seats? They look kinda cool with that checkerboard pattern in the upholstery.

I do love the stock seats but for a 3000 mile trek they will not be user friendly (I have a messed up back) and for racing at lemons and autocrossing at GRM they will provide no support.

I have an old set of Jetta buckets we will throw in for the BABE rally and a Cobra racing seat for Lemons/GRM

When all is said and done I may put them back in for cruising but Im not sure they'll even fit with the center tunnel in there now (didnt have one stock)

I am digging this thread Jim. Enjoying the work/progress/project.....

wheels777 wrote: I am digging this thread Jim. Enjoying the work/progress/project.....

High praise thank you. Reminds me I need to shoot you an email about some test parts.

You'll like the follow on to this one too...might involve an SBC

I'm pretty sure Tractor Supply Company should have inner tubes if you still need them. Or the Co-Op. Rockin build

wheelsmithy wrote: I'm pretty sure Tractor Supply Company should have inner tubes if you still need them. Or the Co-Op. Rockin build

Bodywork was making me batty so I put it off to get more chassis work done. There is a TSC somewhere around my house so I'll check that out when I get back to that point.

Right now the goal is to get the main body shell back on the chassis ASAP with as much done on the chassis as possible so we can get the cage put in it. It has to leave my possession for that so the sooner its done and back the better.

JThw8 wrote:

DeadSkunk wrote: Jumping ahead a little,,,, are you going to use the stock seats? They look kinda cool with that checkerboard pattern in the upholstery.

I do love the stock seats but for a 3000 mile trek they will not be user friendly (I have a messed up back) and for racing at lemons and autocrossing at GRM they will provide no support. I have an old set of Jetta buckets we will throw in for the BABE rally and a Cobra racing seat for Lemons/GRM When all is said and done I may put them back in for cruising but Im not sure they'll even fit with the center tunnel in there now (didnt have one stock)

How about stripping the material off the stock seats and re-covering hte center of the race seat with it for that pimpy old school charm?

To keep the Wartburg spirit alive, here's a Wartburg commercial from ye olde East Germany:

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/articles/templates/video.xhtml?articleId=61554&conversationId=87653