Ok, I've been driving the crap out of this rig and all seems well. CSP disc brakes were expensive, but are awesome. A lot more confident with them than the original early shoe/drum set up. 40HP runs great. Very smooth. It's new, and while 40HP's may seem underpowered to some, I've got nothing in the back, so its pretty light. If I put a Z bed and a bunch of camping stuff back there, I'll probably have to go to a 1600.
Bruce broke down the drum to drum big nut tranny set up I've been sitting on and I took the center section to Jim's in Columbiana to go thorugh it. I'm glad I did. I took a chance on the period correct trans I put in my beetle, and got lucky. That one shifts smoothly and doesn't leak!
I wasn't that confident about the big nut. I'm glad I had it gone through. I picked it up from Jim's and it will make for a nice winter project getting it into the '59.
One problem I had was the inner RGB housing on the left axle tube. It had two threads really boogered up. It seems some PO tried to screw American size bolts into the metric holes.
I was going to try to have someone weld it up and re-tap, but decided to look for a replacement.
I looked on the samba for a few weeks, but didn't come up with anything. The one day I didn't look, one popped up and Bruce emailed me and said he contacted the guy in Spokane Washington who had it and would hold it for me.
The seller turned out to be great about getting the thing out to me promptly, but his labeling skills suggest I was lucky to get it!
Anyway, it came in good shape so I'm all set for a nice winter project. (Boogered one is on the right)
I bought one of these "US mail" style back up mirrors for cheap on the net, but I'm not too keen on drilling holes in my roof and side for the instal.