Ella - The 1985 Mexican Bandit

Possibly? Im not sure.. He just keeps telling me that it doesn't fit..
On the other hand, finished the other half of the floor today all painted with special stuff so ready to be carpeted

I have no idea ,but i wonder if the new g box needs a modified or special cradle

it just needs a bigger hammer

currently it all fits in but the rocker covers seem really close to the inner wing bits , one side is ok like for clearence but the other side is closer, kinda hard to measure up but the engine is standard width 69mm crank so i know its standard size on the outside, one side you can fit a S/S scat rocker cover , the other side you cant as it hits the body :C, i have checked and the gearbox cradle at the rear the bigger on which bolts to the frame horns is exactly the same a stock size so its def o not that mount, the only thing i can think is i have this adapter plate on the front gearbox mount which consist of a 2 bolt rhino mount which is bloted to this adapter.




originaly the car came with this mount as standard




which bolts horizontal to the floorpan

with me trying to up rate everything i want a rhino mount




as you can see this is for early style floor pan i think IIRC ?? well any way found this adapter thing which i think is doing the job of allowing me to use the rhino mount




this bolts to the floorpan then the rhino mount to the adapter, im not using the poly red mount in the pic as the rhino mount is in its place

the gearbox is a rhino case and from what i understand this is a standard type gearbox size just stonger

been playing around with mounts and spacers to adjust gearbox height and angle to get this engine fitted ! test fitted a few bits , exhaust and a wing and wheel roughly

looking good mate. just a few more hours to go then and it'll be ready

Good work Wizbiz, I shall have to pop round and have another nosey!!.

Please can you get this thing finished so i can see it?
Looks ace!! Gonna look ard' as fook on those rims.

Wizpop. You sort those surface rust bits out and get that paint on ready for re-fitting the engine and gearbox in the morning?
Lets get this badboy back on the road soon!

yeah .....get on with it skinny !!

he was not going to be ready at 8am ..... and no paint on the rust treatment areas, instead he'd "watched a film" with mrs wizbang last night.

so I rang him at 7:45am to wake him, and work commenced at 8:45am... lazy git!


done today:

rust areas done, zinced/red oxied...(apart from the airbox drain hole)
Gloss black top coated them.

Fuel tank, sender, filler and breather in and done. and wizpop got all wet

Z-bar in, greased up bushes and fitted.

gearbox mount front spacer painted and fitted.

gearbox rear mount painted and fitted.

gearbox fitted - needs adjustment when engine in.

nearside new lowered spring plate fitted, with new poly bushes. thanks to iPhone level and angle meter in one

driveshafts attached and rear end built up: shocks, z-bar, bump stops and discs attached both sides.

wheels on both sides and axle nuts torqued up.

bug then rolled out into the sun

all done by 1pm.

so all you gotta do now is:

paint inner wings, paint front drain hole

Fit engine, fit fuel filter and pressure regulator. bolt on carbs. sort out breather position

center gearbox. fit exhaust.

run wiring for engine.

Fit rear valance and wings.

fit front seats and seat belts

build up callipers and get brake bias kit. fit these and bleed brake system

fit battery.

sort out front wiring and dash, wipers ready for glass

fit lights all round.

get tyres on those porka wheels: check clearance on front wings (or just sent it in on the ATS set)

get it to the MOT!!! and tracking sorted.

then get Matrim to sort inner door paint, fuel filer cap paint, then he can fit headliner and fit glass all round.

then: interior: carpet, stereo system, gauges, door cards, sort out electrics to the seats.

Then we can sort out a photoshoot for Ultra VW!!

So leave Mrs Wiz Pop alone and crack on!!

yeah i'll look after mrs wizpop for ya dude .........now crack on

P.S tango van ...........after you finished with wizpop ....fancy building a frid? ......lol

nomates... only if you put a big motor in it

wizpop - same time tomoz then! so then engine in etc... and I'll bring the bus around to get you motivated.

Mate I'm on the case ......only about another grand on engine bits .....plus I'm toyingwith red 9 designed front wishbone suspention .....I think dan (lowrider bug ) mentioned here was a rear set up now too

One thing .......how / why does the gearbox need centering? are the new mounts adjustable? .......and would it be easier to do this before the motor goes in dude?

he's had to adjust the mounts with some spacers. there's not much play to be fair, just wanna make sure it all sits square etc. will measure and check it before engine is in.

He's not far off really. just the change of wheels and pattern will mean new discs and xdrilling etc, as well as working out the tyre size.

just the front wheel wing assue to

thanks for help today rich


notmates do you mean the kit which replaces the whole front beam or just the coilovers with rods that go through beam

the whole kit ,full wish bone ..............any good?

dunno im running the coilovers kit with the bars that go in the beam had it since red9desging started making them, no complaints at all, car used to drive like it was on rails ! , im guessing the whole front end will be evan better, !!

the whole front end kit cost about 1 k though !!!

1300 actually ...................LOL

Wizpop actually working on his beetle!!!





will get some more tomorrow