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Post by vinman on Aug 4, 2016 9:22:35 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 4, 2016 15:42:38 GMT -5
Hi Vinny,  Welcome to the Bradley club!  Looks like you have a pretty complete GT II with a good windshield. The windshields for these are no longer available, so treat it with respect! It also looks to be suffering from "butt sag", which causes the doors to not fit properly. There is a lot of info on how to correct it on this web site. Just do a search for "butt sag". The original plans don't provide for enough support for the rear end, which causes it to eventually sag and pull the roof back out of alignment with the doors. The fix is to slowly warp the fiberglass back into position with steady pressure and some heat, and then give it extra support. The GT II design is also known to recirculate the engine heat, so a heat shield, or baffle, is recommended as in the VW Beetle. You can also cut out the air scoop to help bring in fresh outside air. Gary Hammond,  |
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Post by vinman on Aug 4, 2016 16:50:43 GMT -5
Thanks Gary. The doors have actually not been an issue, but likely just a matter of time. I will defintely read up on the butt sag and address prior to paint.
Where should I search for the proper brake setup? There are front disc brakes on the car, but calipers are missing. I'm wondering what calipers I need and can I get them at Autozone or a VW supply house?
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 4, 2016 19:26:39 GMT -5
Hi Vinny, I don't think any of the regular Type 1 Beetles used disc brakes, only the Karmann Ghia. However, I think the Karmann Ghia brakes can be adapted to the Beetle chassis. And several different companies have made after market disc brake kits for the Beetle. So it's hard to know what you have without comparing them to what's out there.  If they are Karmann Ghia brakes, you can probably get them from Auto Zone, O'Reillys, NAPA, etc. However, If they are aftermarket you may have to get them from an after market source that sells which ever brand you have. As for your doors, it looked to me in the pictures like the driver's door didn't exactly line up with body in either the front or back. That's usually an indication of "butt sag". But yours doesn't look nearly as bad as some I've seen. Hard to tell just from the pictures. Maybe the door wasn't completely latched? Gary Hammond, |
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Post by vinman on Aug 4, 2016 19:56:01 GMT -5
Good eye on the driver door. It isn't attached and I had just set it in place for the pics. But it fits well when I properly seat it.
Regarding brakes - I was assuming the front disc was part of the original Bradley "kit". Hoping they are not something custom to the car but instead something VW based.
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 4, 2016 20:45:02 GMT -5
Hi Vinny, ..................Regarding brakes - I was assuming the front disc was part of the original Bradley "kit". Hoping they are not something custom to the car but instead something VW based. Nope! The "kit" was only the body parts. The chassis came from a separately purchased "donor car" (type 1 VW) with the body removed. And there may have been a few Karmann Ghia "donor cars" used. But if I remember correctly the "Ghia" floor pan had to be modified to use it. There were a few "factory assembled" or "dealer assembled" cars as well, but I'd bet these all had drum brakes. If you have disc brakes I would bet that the builder, or some previous owner, changed it over with what ever he could at the time! Could be either Karmann Ghia (VW based) or after market. Gary Hammond, |
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Post by jspbtown on Aug 4, 2016 20:48:40 GMT -5
Pics of the front brakes...especially the mounting brackets for the calipers might allow us a better guess.
I believe the Ghias had the mounting points for the caliper as part of the spindle. Aftermarket kits (which adapted drums to discs) has their own brackets. By examining the bracket you might be able to see which caliper would fit.
EDIT: Since Gary was posting at the same time as me....AGAIN!
Yes..the Ghia frame would work with Type 1 pans.
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Post by vinman on Aug 5, 2016 6:57:44 GMT -5
Thanks. I live in the Phoenix area and this is the hot time of year. I will need to push the car over onto the lift to get some pics of the brake setup. Will do so one evening when it is less than 100 degrees F outside. |
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 5, 2016 9:54:56 GMT -5
Very cool Vinman. I just picked up a GT2 project . Didnt need it, didnt really want it, but it was a deal I could not refuse lol   |
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Post by vinman on Aug 5, 2016 10:33:52 GMT -5
So I guess I'm wondering what I have. I was told a Bradley GT. Is mine a GT2? Is it a 78 or a 79? How can you tell?
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 6, 2016 16:47:00 GMT -5
It is a GT2 Vinman. The year means nothing. Whatever the title says is most likely the year of the chassis.
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Post by vinman on Aug 7, 2016 11:47:20 GMT -5
Car title is 2016. Long story. Bottom line is I had to get new VIN assigned and DMV assigned new identification number and title. Titled as 2016 Special Construction.
So, if I am ever looking for parts for it, I look for GT2 parts - regardless of year?
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 7, 2016 14:56:14 GMT -5
Yes . They only made them a few years but the design never changed. Best bet is to get Jeff Troys CD with the Assembly manual on in
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Post by vinman on Aug 7, 2016 18:34:09 GMT -5
I"m looking for the manual from Jeff now. What is the current link? The posts I have found are old (2011) or the link is no longer good. Still searching but if someone has the current info on how to get the manual from Jeff I would appreciate it. Thanks.
-Vinny
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Post by horen2tas on Aug 7, 2016 20:57:28 GMT -5
Vinny, here is the info on Jeff:
Make sure to specify that you want the GT2 CD because he also has one for the GT
$35 PayPal to jefftroy@aol.com or send a check or money order to his home:
Jeff Troy
759 New Holland Ave.
Lancaster PA 17602
Jeff amongst other great talents is also a musician, I can tell you that he might be out on tour playing right
now and it might take a few days for him to get back to you. I'd send him an email and make contact with him.
and wait to hear from him as far as instructions. You could also send a pm through this board and see if he responds.
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Post by vinman on Aug 8, 2016 13:15:24 GMT -5
Thanks!
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 14, 2016 15:01:44 GMT -5
No problem sir!
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Post by vinman on Aug 28, 2016 19:11:37 GMT -5
Spent the last couple days working on the car. Flushed and repaired the hydraulic clutch so that is ready. Got all the brakes installed. Need my son to come over and help me bleed the brake.
A friend of mine is an electrical wizard and is going to try and work out the gremlins in the system this week. If all goes wel, will be driving the car over the holiday weekend. Next steps will be replacing broken or missing gull wing door glass. Am I correct in assuming those are flat pieces of glass that just need to be cut to size? Does anyone have templates?
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Post by horen2tas on Aug 28, 2016 21:16:13 GMT -5
None of the glass in a GT2 is flat except maybe the little sliders on the side. If you are referring to the sky-facing panels, they are tinted lexan or whatever plastic you favor. They are also curved but you could accomplish that with a heat gun after you cut them to size. Some 2's I've seen have the rubber seal wrapped on the panel, I like it on the support lip, makes a neater tighter job, Good Luck!
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Post by vinman on Aug 30, 2016 19:53:52 GMT -5
None of the glass in a GT2 is flat except maybe the little sliders on the side. If you are referring to the sky-facing panels, they are tinted lexan or whatever plastic you favor. They are also curved but you could accomplish that with a heat gun after you cut them to size. Some 2's I've seen have the rubber seal wrapped on the panel, I like it on the support lip, makes a neater tighter job, Good Luck! Thanks. So to confirm, the side glass in the gull door is not flat? I have to find a factory replacement or can I use tinted lexan for that as well? |
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Post by vinman on Aug 30, 2016 19:56:53 GMT -5
Very exciting day for me today. I purchased the GT II earlier this year with no motor. I have only started my journey into the world of VW powered vehicles and the motor I built for this car is my second one ever.
After installing the motor, turned attention to adding front brakes, repairing the hydraulic clutch, and attending to some basic electrical. The fruits of our labor finally paid off today!
Yes, I am doing donuts!
Still need to work out more electrical - mainly headlights/tail/brake/turn signals.
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Post by vinman on Sept 29, 2016 8:57:19 GMT -5
Got a new motor for the car today. Out with the old:  New one almost ready for install. Just need to swap the clutch and the exhaust:  |
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Post by vinman on Oct 4, 2016 11:24:30 GMT -5
Got the new motor in last night. Will wire it up and run fuel to it tomorrow night:  |
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Post by kitcarguy on Oct 4, 2016 15:51:59 GMT -5
very Nice!
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Post by vinman on Oct 5, 2016 23:57:39 GMT -5
New motor fired right up!
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Post by vinman on Oct 10, 2016 11:27:09 GMT -5
I worked a little on the Bradley this weekend. The carb that I am using is a 30/31 that I purchased brand new from CIP. The car fires right up but I cant get it to ilde at the proper speed - running way to fast ~1300-1500 rpm.
I've tried adjusting using the processes I've found online - set the fast idle cam, set the smaller adjustment screw on the side at 2.5 turns out, then use the big air adjustment screw to control idle speed. Even with the big idle screw turned all the way in, I'm still getting too high an idle.
Will look for vacuum leak next but definitely perplexed.
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If they are Karmann Ghia brakes, you can probably get them from Auto Zone, O'Reillys, NAPA, etc. However, If they are aftermarket you may have to get them from an after market source that sells which ever brand you have.
