Bella - 1958 Australian Beetle

Deff one of my favs right up there with the bitch well done guys she looks cool

Carl I was just thinking the exact same thing buddy.. to me this car is right up there with the bitch... utterly awe inspiring, please bring it to a meet son, I cant wait to see her.

nooooo she isn't even in the same league as The Bitch - trust me, I've seen both close up


However if i'd sold her to Andy when he asked a few years ago she could have been!

Righty - we've got the underlay in:




And the carpet:



Adjusted the bowden tube wotsit and adjusted the clutch. Tested it and it was a little juddery in reverse so tightened it a bit more. the brakes were also a bit none existant so we replaced one metal pipe were it seemed to be slightly leaking and adjusted and bled them again. Now got a nice firm pedal but it doesn't seem to want to spring back - still - they work! And the handbrake now works, which is always handy!

Just got to wire in the semaphores now and put her back on the floor and I think that's it!

So does the clutch work now the Bowden is fitted with a 'kink'???

It works much better - yes!

Still a juddering in reverse, but we tightened it a little more so hopefully that has gone away now.

Woo-Hoo, I helped solve a problem instead of making one!!!!

Well she got herself back up the drive (and later into the garage) so it's better than last time cos 5 of us had to push her!

Shamrockez wrote:

Well she got herself back up the drive (and later into the garage) so it's better than last time cos 5 of us had to push her!

..... I am in love with this car!

Ollie i was thinking the same thing............. May be Bella shouldn't make it to CTTP cos there will be kids around and so many grown men in a dribbling mess when she pulls up....


Great work guys

I'm not sure I want to take her now

Shamrockez wrote:

I'm not sure I want to take her now

.... just bring a few spare cloths to wipe her over before you leave, she'll be fine...

must agree.......bella is cooler than a polar bears undercrackers!

Great vid!
And as every one else has said, this car Rocks! Can't wait to see it at CTTP!

I'll back a box of tissues then


fingers crossed for her MOT and registering... it's gonna be tight if she does make it!

Not much has happened lately... waiting for the bushes to arrive before we can do anything else really.

But look at all the shiny new toys Bella has got!

Well the bushes have finally arrived! Not Delrin ones tho just the normal red ones.... I could have saved myself about 6 weeks and ordered some myself!

Anyways - it turns out that the old bushes were cut down because the inner bearings had been left on the beam. How do I get these out?!

could try one of these
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=ViewProduct&method=mViewProduct&productid=6638

or
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=ViewProduct&method=mViewProduct&productid=7266

or a long bar and a big hammer.

did they make the beam from another beam then as if it was a purpose built beam it should not have bearings in?
andy

Well I assumed it was scratch built - but i guess not as all 4 inner bushes are there! He said I had to burn them out???? But slide hammer looks easier...

Any new on Bella Lucy?? Im dying to see her.

xxx

You must be kidding!




I need to burn these bush things out, but first I need to get a blow torch, but before I do that, i need to make sure Steve is better (slipped disk), cos I can't leave him on his own at the min. Perhaps I might be able to go out when his Mum comes over later and get one...

slide a bar in from the opposite end and hit them out (use a big old leaf spring)....i made a pulling tool to get them out but thats no good to you with me not at home

I've made a pulling tool - well kinda... I need to make the inner hole a bit bigger so that it tips enough to get it the other side of the bush, then pull it out with the slide hammer. The beam builder said you can use a blow torch on them then knock them inwards. Not been brave enough to do that yet tho...

Righty - since we're not gonna be able to make Plymouth Volksfest (unless we can go down just for the day), I've decided I'm gonna spend a bit of time on Bella.

So... I has a new list!

* Remove inner beam bushes
* Fit new bushes
* Refit trailing arms and adjust kings
* Grease kings
* Fit new front wheel bearings
* Fit (another) new master cylinder
* Replace rear hub gaskets
* Fit shiny new hubs all round
* Replace rear shoes on one side
* Adjust brakes
* Rebleed brakes
* Remove engine
* Replace clutch
* Refit engine

Shamrockez wrote:

Righty - since we're not gonna be able to make Plymouth Volksfest (unless we can go down just for the day), I've decided I'm gonna spend a bit of time on Bella.

So... I has a new list!

* Remove inner beam bushes
* Fit new bushes
* Refit trailing arms and adjust kings
* Grease kings
* Fit new front wheel bearings
* Fit (another) new master cylinder
* Replace rear hub gaskets
* Fit shiny new hubs all round
* Replace rear shoes on one side
* Adjust brakes
* Rebleed brakes
* Remove engine
* Replace clutch
* Refit engine

......... So what you going to do with the rest of your weekend then Lucy?