Build: Zippy the Wonderbug

[schwim]

I'm waiting on some tools and parts to come in the mail but I managed to install the fuel pump and install the hard line/connect to the carburetor.

While I'm waiting on the stuff, I'll start welding in some metal just so I can put the two halves back together.

[Maddel]

Nice progress Jason!

What happened to the brake pedal return spring?

... Virginia allows "antique" tags which don't require vehicle inspection. It's intended for cars that only drive rarely, like Sunday drives or to car shows...

Damn! Now I'm really envious!
Over here you need a special vehicle inspection to get a "historic" tag.
It's biyearly and the car needs to be in original factory condition.
If any only period correct aftermarket stuff is allowed.
Not to mention other mods like lowering or engine upgrades.
This sucks to the max.
Of course Herman doesn't qualify for such a tag...

[schwim]

What happened to the brake pedal return spring?

I had moved it over to the clutch as I was having problems getting the brake pushrod connected to the pedal arm again but moved it over after the pic, or do you mean the coiled part? It's working well to return the brake arm but the way it's coiled so ugly, I thought for sure I put it together incorrectly.

Damn! Now I'm really envious!
Over here you need a special vehicle inspection to get a "historic" tag.
It's biyearly and the car needs to be in original factory condition.
If any only period correct aftermarket stuff is allowed.
Not to mention other mods like lowering or engine upgrades.
This sucks to the max.
Of course Herman doesn't qualify for such a tag...

DIfferent states have different restrictions, some require an initial inspection, some still require annual inspections and some states don't inspect any cars(Florida, for example) and you just hope someone doesn't lose their brakes and drive their backyard creation over your child while they're crossing the street.

Here, in Virginia, it just seems to be if your car is 25 years old or older, you're eligible for the antique tag. Here in the rural farm area, if you have a farm, you can put a plastic tag on your vehicle that says "farm use" and drive it everywhere with no taxes, no inspections, no renewals, nothing. Those are usually the jankiest vehicles. Then you have "commercial fisherman" with their tags and the same lack of regulation as the farmers. You can spot them from a mile away though because their truck is almost always rotten from the salt water rust.

[Super_Randy]

in CA we don't have vehicle inspections. but for vehicles newer than 1975 we do have smog testing. frankly i wish they would do away with the smog testing and start mechanical inspections. as it's pretty easy to fudge and get a tire fire to pass smog if you know how and where to take it. also new vehicles are exempt the first 7 years (which you're taxed for) then it gets tested every other year. people don't seem to keep cars more than 10 to 12 years and seeing something over 15 is getting rare. when you do it's usually a work truck.
and if you saw some of the vehicles i have to share the road with Maddel would probably shit himself with what he's used to bad wheel alignment, tires wobbling, bald tires, bungy cords and ratchet straps (hell sometimes just string) holding hoods and trunks shut. missing body panels, driving down the street so staggered i can see the lock in the door from behind the vehicle, broken windows, broken lights. non working lights (i was behind a small SUV the other day that had one working brake light). you could take a car from the demolition derby and drive it on the street here as long as what came out the tailpipe was compliant.

[schwim]

Well, I've been doing a lot to zippy but it's been piecemeal, uninteresting and quite ugly. My current task is to weld in any patches that I wouldn't be able to do or would be hindered by having the body bolted to the pan. I think I've gotten all the welds in as of today and am only needing to finish grinding the scale off and painting the cavities under the gas tank and rear parcel shelf. Once I'm done with those two spots, I'm going to lay the gasket and sandwich the body and pan back together.

Chloe has been tackling restoring the gas tank.

[schwim]

Today marked wrapping up what I need to do prior to the great sandwiching. I found what I think were markings from Zippy's manufacture(two X's on right front wheelwell), I found a cross between the punisher and an alien under the parcel shelf and made enough dust to make it look like the garage was on fire. Also included in the images are some shots of the massive damage... well, everywhere.

[Super_Randy]

looks like half the car is on the ground in the last pic

[schwim]

looks like half the car is on the ground in the last pic

I've got an 1/8 of Zippy in each lung.

[Super_Randy]

so you have 5/8 of a car on the lift then?

[Maddel]

Awesome job & fantastic progress!
Given his origin obviously Zippy can look back on an eventful & turbulent life.
It's so cool to see that throwing in the towel isn't an option for you with this long lasting project (over a decade?).

... I found what I think were markings from Zippy's manufacture(two X's on right front wheelwell), ...

To me these markings read like "44"...
Well "42" would have been a blast!