Modern Vespa

Use the original slot head screws. They may look funky now, but later on you will regret tossing them and using the Chinese made hardware store junk. Believe it not, but there are people (like me) who scour eBay looking for the exact original cadmium nuts, bolts, screws, and even washers. Feel fortunate that you already have them.

Are the ends of that bar crossing left to right on seat going to poke a hole in seat cover? Looks like pointed ends are going to poke through cover when pulled tight.

You're right. This can't be it.

Ah., I have another seat I can check.

I know this bus guy who has a pristine original engine compartment. No zip ties or hardware store fixed. Everything in there is stamped with the VW part number and absolutely correct as it was when the dead Krauts placed it there with their sacred hands. I appreciate his trip, but can't live up to this standard myself.

I'll try to clean them up. I can see the utility of the flat head, and the length is perfect. The ones I got were 5mm longer, and that makes a big difference.

you are a man possessed, and frankly, I am 100% here for it.

love the work.

It's torture.

But al least almost done. The bike will be back from paint next week, so hoping reassembly is fast.

And that's why it will turn out better than any pro resto. That's the kind of love that you can never pay someone enough to give.

The perils of seat.

Great work Hjo. Attention to detail above and beyond.

don't install the rivet. 74 Rally didn't have it.

Great work!

Thank you so much! That makes it easier!

Leaving it overnight. it seems to have molded better. I can attach the bottom now.

On the original seats, they used an adhesive. I've never done this when replacing covers. Is it necessary?

re-stacking the foam to put the softest on top will give the smoothest look, not sure it makes any difference in comfort.

I would not bother with adhesive, if things move you can always glue it later.

Some progress.

It looks gorgeous. I love it.

It's a little orange peel-y, but the paint shop said that's the character of the single stage paint. I could polish it out, but I think I will keep. It's probably closer to original.

The color is more ivory than it was, but I think bc it was so sun bleached.

Wow! That looks fantastic. Your weld and fab work came out great, because you can't see it.

I color sanded the living heck out of mine a few times... single stage.

But you wont even notice (and neither will anyone else) after it is all together.

Can always color sand later

Very nice!

Congrats!

Lovely.

Thank you so much for the paint! It's so nice.

The photos don't really capture it, but I guess that's how white paint is. The color and gloss is perfect. I'll try to capture some that catch the reflectiveness.

So excited to be at the reassembly point!

Dont forget to run tap and die through all studs and bolt holes.

Wow looks great well deserved with ocd prep. Looking forward to to assembly it's so satisfying.

Also, to echo everyone else- fantastic work. Really.

looks good! now the hard part starts!

I'm hoping it's easy!

The only hard part left is the wiring. I have to build a harness from scratch. But I have the old one to use as a template, and found all the parts.

The engine and fork are done. And I have most of the parts, but will probably run into lots of small ones I need to order and wait for.

A couple more shots in lower light. It captures the reflectiveness and texture better.

The texture is something I think I'll keep. The paint shop really loved it. They said that two stage paint comes out perfectly smooth, and called this single stage "character." It's thick enough to polish, but actually seems fine.

That paint looks pretty darn glossy to me. I'd just run with it. Maybe give it a coat of polish before you assemble, but that's it.

The hard part is getting all the little bits n' pieces right, plus trying not to scratch anything in the process. All the hard work so far is paying off, though. It's gonna be gorgeous once you get it finished.

Ya, this. Lots of tape, cardboard anything to keep things safe. My P and My SS have the scars to prove I didn't...

Love the white! It's an asshole color though if you want to use the scoot. Every little speck of dirt and grime is almost like highlighted on it

Good side is that fact it forces you to wash the scoot often

The paint does look good. I love the look of single stage paint on a vintage ride. I have always used it on my bus. I'm sure factory paint had more peel. Just a little looks right.

It's going to be fun putting it back together…everything clean and new…every new piece making it pop a little more.

Getting a project to the stage you're at is huge. So easy to stall out in the prep stage with everything in bits.

So...fair warning... you will chip paint at some point. It's OK. Grieve for a minute, use your best string of expletives, and then move on. It is the way of restos.

(Also... having some touch up paint handy helps. ) I always found the opposite to be true? Black and Navy always seemed dirtier and/or harder to keep clean. White always seemed to look better longer after a wash. (Exhaust soot at the tail being the only exception.)

It's true. I did this when I clamped the camera to my VBB's legshield, despite putting protection on the clamp. I'll fix it at some point and after a little color sanding it'll be good-as-new, but it still sucks.

Side note: I'm still not sure why the paint was that soft after three months. I got something wrong in the mix, I guess.

loooks amazing can't wait to see it come together

the fun part.

This shot is so helpful.

Looking for the screws. It's a different regulator than mine, though. Interesting. This one is also a 1974.

the regulator in my picture is the Vespatronic (at the top) with a 3D printed cover to make it look more stock.

It looks original!

Is that a closed cell battery?

I'm lookign for an LED flasher. These 6v parts are hard to find. There are flashers, but they don't look like the original ones.

Cleaning little parts.

Very slowly and methodically.

Any experience with those Clauss Studios center mats? I honestly struggled with it, and gave up for the day.

I find the center mat often has to be pulled into place. I coat it with grip glue and let it get tacky. then place it and put the rails and screws on, not tight, it will be pulling on the loops in the mat. then work pulling it to one side and tight the screw some, then the other side...

I'll try.

These always seemed to fit, but parts these days.

Does a Rally have these things under the screws on the side of the fender? Is there anything like this?

Think the fender might just bolt on.