Mar 25
- 15:11
- Posted by Jon Gilbert
- comments (2)
Jon makes some headway on his Beetle project

Despite the snow over the Easter weekend, Jon was determined to get some work done on the Ragtop!
It was a fairly nasty weekend for working outside on the Bug. Not only was it bitterly cold and windy, there was plenty of snow too.
It wasn't really settling at first so it made the ground rather wet but by Saturday evening it had got a lot colder and there was about and inch of snow covering everything.
Then the cloud passed and froze it all.
That made Sunday a bit of a no goer on the car (it was all wet and cold - no ta!), and being Easter Sunday, I figured I best put in some family time. Good job too as it snowed most of the day and, because it was warming up a little, was making the previous nights covering turn slushy!
Oh well! Despite the weather I managed to get on quite well during the other 3 days of the break. I can happily say the rear end of the chassis is now complete - the gearbox is in together with the drive-shafts, axle tubes, shocks, refurbished brakes... even the wheels are on and the axle stands on the back have been removed!
I even bolted the pedals back in and hooked up the clutch cable and new master cylinder.
Now it's a waiting game! Waiting for my beam to be ready in order to finish the rolling chassis and waiting for the painters to call so I can collect my 'shell.
I can't wait! I'm all excited just typing about it :)





April 01 15:03
Jon Gilbert
Hi Scott, Yes I remember reading that also. I was in two minds when fitting the gators of whether to fit them horizontal or vertical. In the end I went with vertical as these repro versions didn't have the best seal along the bolt line and I really didn't want gear oil seaping out. I did a test by lifting the axle tubes and they didn't crease or pucker. I will keep an eye on it. You are right though, they are supposed to be horizontal. Thanks for the comments, take care. Jon