CLAIRES
COVIN BUILD
4th MARCH 2004 My Wife CLAIRE GETS A
COVIN
By
Darren Parker (Club Technical Advisor)
February 29th 2004 I received a telephone call from a local Covin owner
offering me an irresistible opportunity to buy a second Covin for a very good
price. The Covin required a certain amount of work and was an early Beetle based
kit on a Q plate. I pointed out to the current owner that even in poor condition
he could get a much better price than he was asking and I suggested putting it
up for sale on the Covin Owners site but his reply to that was "I simply want
rid of it NOW" So naturally I was very interested and asked him to give me a few
days to see what I could do. The solution was simple, 1 hour later my old
faithful Sierra Cosworth that I built myself in 1994 was put up for sale on the
RS owners club web forum and the following day an e-mail came in from someone
wanting to buy it. Talk about a quick sale. But there was more.... It turns out
that this guy actually lived 3 streets away from me so he came straight round
that day gave me a deposit and then paid the balance and collected my Cosworth
on Thursday 4th March and I collected the Covin on the very same day as it was
only 5 miles away from where I lived. This was also the first time I'd seen the
this Covin due to the price I was not worried about condition, but when I saw it
I couldn't believe my eyes, it turned out to be the very 1st Covin I'd ever
tried to buy way back in 2000 but it was being sold when I called to enquire
about it. Who'd have thought 4 years on I'd end up buying it ? It's a funny old
world.
Once
I'd bought the Covin and got it home the only thing left to do was to tell Claire that it was to be her own Covin and not to expect a birthday
present that year as she's looking at it..... She was naturally rather pleased
and so the re-build began.
TECHNICAL SPEC
| OWNER |
CLAIRE PARKER (FUFINA) CLUB MEMBER 129 |
| MODEL |
COVIN 911 TURBO COUPE C2/C4 KIT/993 FRONT, BEETLE CHASSIS |
| COLOUR |
PORSCHE BLACK |
| DONOR VEHICLE |
VW TYPE 3 VARIANT FASTBACK AND BEETLE |
| ENGINE |
MODIFIED FORD CVH 1800 |
| GEARBOX |
STANDARD VW 4 SPEED |
| GENERAL |
ELECTRIC WINDOWS, CENTRAL LOCKING, REMOTE DOOR ENTRY |
| WHEELS |
REVOLUTION ALLOYS 15" x 7" FRONT 15" x
9" REAR |
| TYRES |
205/60 x 15" FRONT 235/60 x
15" REAR |
| HEATER |
MODIFIED HEATER/DEMIST UNIT |
| ELECTRICS |
MODIFIED HARNESS TO FORD / PORSCHE CONTROLS |
| INTERIOR |
PORSCHE 911 TRIM WITH HALF LEATHER SEATS BLACK/GREY |
| INSTRUMENTS/CONTROLS |
PORSCHE 911 |
| BRAKES |
STANDARD TYPE 3 (Not for long) |
| SUSPENSION |
FULLY ADJUSTABLE COILOVER SHOCKS/SPRINGS |
| COOLING SYSTEM |
OWN DESIGN REAR MOUNTED COOLING SYSTEM |
| DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS |
OWN DESIGN AERODYNAMIC UNDERTRAYS FRONT & REAR |
 |
 |
| It might not look like it but
this Covin has had a hard life these last few years. It's a shame because
the evidence is there that clearly shows that a good build was carried out
up to a point but It's been very neglected and had many failed attempts at
repairs that resulted in making a minor fault worse, most of the
damage and problems have been the result of so called mechanics not having a
clue about kit cars. The things they've done you simply would not believe.
Incompetence is an understatement and a word they probably couldn't spell
but obviously excel in.... For example, the passenger side window stopped
working so they tried to fix it. The result of this repair was the window
now has no motor, is held up with a block of wood, the door lock doesn't
work, the trim won't go back on as all the holes for the screws are worn out
and you can't open the door from inside.... Quality repair ? Not likely...
This is just 1 example from a huge list of problems of which 90% are the
result of incompetent so called mechanics... They should stick to oil
changes and leave it at that. |
 |
 |
| The rear end of the Covin is actually rather
good and has escaped the butchery the rest of the car has been put through.
The exhaust system is a little odd and resembles an octopus with pipes going
all over the place. |
There's my Covin in the background, tucked up
in the garage |
 |
 |
| Notice the gap in the door ? I could get my
hand through the biggest bit at the bottom and touch the inside of the
car.... 2 inches
wide. |
Another bad fitting door but this one was not
as bad as the drivers side at only 1 inch. |
 |
 |
| One butchered passenger door, a
simple window motor change has resulted in so much extra work due to
incompetence. |
Hmmm.... Not much to say here other than the
engine is actually very good under all that grot and the cooling system pipe
work a wiring is worthy of scrapheap challenge. But at least someone had the sense to
fit the radiator in the BACK. |
 |
 |
| Not to bad under here, just requires a tidy
up and a few things changing around. |
The front end of the interior has seen the
most butchering, the electrics are a nightmare and hardly anything works as
simply not connected up. WHY ? Don't ask me . . . |
 |
 |
| Once again the rear end is fine and well
finished but it all had to come out for sound proofing to be fitted. |
Porsche interior, someone has done a good job
when the car was first built before these idiots messed with it. |
 |
 |
| Notice once interior removed I had to cut the
inspection hatch into the rear of car to access distributor which had never
been touched in over 4 years . . . . . Strange. |
Cleaned all the floorpan and treated with
copious amounts of waxoil for protection prior to fitting soundproofing to
full inside of car. |
 |
 |
| Double layered soundproofing with extra bit
of underlay added to help muffle the sound of the engine. |
All glued up and carpet going back in.
Remember the more soundproof you add the harder the carpet and trim is
to fit back in. |
 |
 |
| Just the front to do now. Please note that
when you come to glue in sound proofing/carpet even if your working outside the glue
stinks so don't stay in there to long. |
Cleaned up and waxoil aplied ready for
soundproofing. If you have electrics to do this is the time to do it as with
the seats removed access to under the dash is much easier. |
| Due to the front
suspension being Beetle someone has attempted to lower the beam but cutting
out,
turning and welding the torsion bar centre bolts like you would do fitting
£12 sway away adjusters. Why they didn't simply fit these I don't know. The
end result is the car now has no suspension at all and sits on the closed
shock absorbers. This has caused lots of damage to the front bumper and
wheel arches as the car scrapes over speed bumps etc and also sends
shockwaves through the car when driven. Adjustable coil over shocks will
cure this once and for all. |
 |
 |
| The damage caused by having no front
suspension. |
The complete bottom of bumper was
shattered having hit every speed bump and lump in the road so required lots
of work to repair. It just needs finishing off now and some paint will make
it as good as new. |
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 |
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Porsche Fuel flap pull middle, his and hers
home made items I knocked up on my lathe left & right. |
|
|
UPDATE - CLAIRES COVIN
The first main job to do in 2005 is engine/gearbox removal as the
gearbox suffers a second gear problem so requires changing, while I do this I
think a complete top end overhaul of the engine would be a good idea as the CVH
engine suffers badly from valve stem oil seal going hard and burning oil as a
result, easy job and only costs about £20 for gaskets etc.
Check out Part 2 for further information.
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