Switches and Gauges

Nice metal kit from Limebug

Tank position

This is where I'm planning on sitting the tank with the air hoses coming out of the back (to keep it tidy looking). The compressor will sit behind it. I was going to fit a panel to sit it all on but the  decided that the frame that Limebug sells will look much nicer. 

Bloody hot

A scorching day meant that the gazebo was broken out. Much needed shade for the front end!

Out with the tank

Well, that was a doddle. Tank was sat on a small riser which was bolted down. The tank was held on by only one of the back bolts and none at the front. Gravity was all that was keeping it still, pretty much. The riser is needed for cars that been dropped so that the tank doesn't foul the steering components underneath. Took the bonnet off too as it was just a faff to keep ducking. Started to take out all of the underbonnet bits just to clean around, hoover the flakes out, pull out unnecessary wiring etc.. all in all, not too bad condition for a car that is 56 years old. 

Front end..

and off we go!

Temporary install

After stripping overything out, it suddenly dawned on me that I need to be able to lift each end, just to get the trolley jack underneath. It sits about an inch from the floor when aired out so pretty difficult to lift without assistance.

Here you can see the compressor and tank enjoying the passenger floor. I also have the solenoid sitting in a cardboard box to keep the live cables away from the body. I'd also run a separate air line to each rear bag as I picked up the car with only 1 line feeding both through a splitter. It was running on 3/8 lines through a manifold which made for fast lifts and great dump hisses. Having each rear wheel not independent meant for a slight wooly ride and any cornering forces made worse. I'm not an expert but most seem to agree that having each corner separate is the way to go. 

So, from two electrical switches, one gauge, and manifolds to four paddles switches and two gauges. Simpler and each circuit is separate. I also wanted to move the compressor and tank to under the bonnet as a) who uses that for luggage anyway (answer:nobody) and b) I can then have interior looking standard. 

Bits on the bench

Now I have a bench full of bits that may or may not go back in. Will probably just reuse the compressor, tank, solenoid, and pressure switch. The rest of the manifold stuff will be put in a box to sell later. 

Work Commenced!

Seats out and now ready to pull out the air-ride hardware. Plan is to relocate this under the bonnet and then tidy up the interior in here. New seat bases to fix the uncomfortable feeling of springs stabbing your backside. They are DEFINITELY on the shopping list. 

VW Beetle

As we still in lockdown due to Corona virus, I thought it about time that I took the Beetle out of the garage and let it bask in the UK sunshine. 

I'll be putting some time aside over the next few months to sort out the tasks that I've been trying to get to. First up is the leaky air-ride. 

Year of Code

One year of code. 365 days of code. If you've read all of the reasoning behind the popular '100 days of code', you'll know that it's all about the persistence and habit forming nature of coding every day for 100 days. That's pretty much it. Pick a language, start on day 1, and then share your progress. 

I've tried this approach and fell at the first hurdle. I only have a limited time to spare due to family duties and at the end of a long day, a long day of staring at a computer screen, my eyes are just exhausted.  Plus, I was also studying for the Salesforce admin certification and that just meant that time was something I had precious little of. 

So, TL;DR is that I'm finishing up with the Salesforce studying at the beginning of the year and need something else to study. I've decided to enroll on the Google course that teaches Python. Officially named "Google IT Automation With Python Professional Certificate", it certainly looks the part. 

Roll on 2020. As Michelangelo once said, never stop learning.