bruce's
isetta 
bruce's
isetta
| The following is a mini-photo documentary taken from May of 1999 thru April of 2001. It's primarily a "before-and-after" look at the slow revival of one tired, hammered and abused slider. We'll be adding more pix as soon as the engine is finished and installed. | |
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"It's time
to dust off those Isettas!" Sturgis, Mississippi, May 1999.
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Getting ready
to go for a ride in a pickup truck … back to Austin, Texas
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Hangin' with
relatives.
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Q: What's the
top speed for an Isetta? Q: What kind
of mileage does it get? Q: Where did
they put the engine in this thing? |
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Rust, grease,
dirt, sand, hairball, spider webs … something for everyone! On the right,
it's all shined up and ready to dance. Powder coat, new fenders, bead
blasted and rebuilt chain drive, new donuts …
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Here's what
40 years of living under the house will do to you. On the right, here's
what replacing every nut, bolt, washer and cotter pin combined with an
aluminum oxide blasting job (Thanx! to Larry and Ron at Commercial Services,
Austin, Texas) and matte black powder coat finish will do to you.
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The master
cylinder had a can of brake fluid stuffed into it, face down, before body
was removed. Why didn't BMW think of that? Although it really hurt to
toss the can of fluid, a squeaky clean new master cylinder, plunger, cable
guide tubes and bead blasted, clear coated steering housing won out. Note
VW steering damper at left center.
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The wake of
Isetta "Master Mekanix". Changin' diapers doesn't look like such a bad
deal after all! Right shot shows it's ready for a fresh engine (coming
soon) and transmission (sitting on the bottom shelf of the workbench,
ready for action). No Huggies here!
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Two shots:
One nice grease and spider web shot, one without.
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Same shot,
close up.
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Top of the
left shock tower and suspension, before and after.
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Front shots
of left front suspension.
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Chain drive
prior to and just after resto. "Junior's" old hole-filled fenders are
new and shiny and he's got a new air cleaner to boot.
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Right front
before and after.
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Right front,
another view.
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More right
front.
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Another left
front shot with freshly powder-coated muffler.
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