Dave Longstaff's Bug

How my Bug arrived
Hello from the Bug Club Web Site author, just a note for you enthusiasts on my complete rebuild of XHP 602 L, first registered on 02 10 72 (should be tax exempt - Historic Vehicle).

I picked this bug up for £350.00, it had been sitting on a drive for 3 years due to a brake switch problem. Unfortunatly rust had got into the chassis in such a bad way that a complete stripdown and rebuild was required.

So far I have:

  • Welded the chassis (£100+)
  • Completely re-wired from scratch, all electrics are fixed to the chassis.
  • By cutting out the drivers footwell, all hydrolics have been replaced. This means that the bodywork can now be removed simply by unplugging the dashboard, front & rear electrics and about 24 bolts.
  • Repaired the bodywork from the underside and started to prepair the top ready for re-gelling.
  • Picked up a second hand 850cc engine, thanks go to John Wooton for his assistance.
    • All that is left to do now is put it all back together again - HELP!!!!

    Update, September 1998

    Well the engine worked, for about 20 minutes, then the radiator proceeded to empty via the pressure cap overflow. It would appear after inspection, that the head was cracked between both cyliders 3 and 4 to the middle water port.

    Fitted a new Cylider Head off of a 750, thanks again to John Wooton. Unfortunatly I couldn't get any compression, the rockers were the wrong size and were compressing the valve springs.

    Fitted a rocker arm off of a 700, works OK.

    Just to recap, I now have an 850 block with a 750 head and the rockers off of a 700. It needs a bit of a tune up but appears to work OK.

    Link to MKCCC