Construction Manual For Technic 550 Spyder

Your Technic 550 Spyder will be delivered with the body and floor pan mounted on the chassis. These are secured temporarily for transportation and positioning. We recommend the following sequence of construction:
1. While the body is still mounted on the chassis, fit the steering column, instruments and switchgear, bonnet latches, fuse box, and screen. All these operations involve cutting or drilling fiberglass and performing these first gets the messy work out of the way,
2. Remove the body, rivet the aluminium floorpan to the chassis, assemble all mechanical components, brake, clutch and fuel lines etc. on the chassis.
3. Replace the body on the chassis and permanently fix into place.
4. Install the remaining components, wiring etc.
Work on the body
Steering Column
The VW steering column can be fitted complete with steering lock and indicator and wiper control arms, by cutting a hole in the dashboard as shown on the template. Alternatively if the steering lock and control arms are not required the column can be modified as described below.
Remove the steering wheel and undo the four screws holding the control levers and remove the levers. Next remove two screws retaining the lock assembly cover; if these are of the security type without slots they can be easily broken off with a chisel. If you have the ignition key the lock barrel is easily removed by inserting the key and turning clockwise while pulling back, the lock should then slide out.
If you do not have a key the lock can be removed by inserting a feeler gauge between the lock and the column which depresses the tongue and should allow the lock to be removed. The shroud and lock holder should now be cut away with a hacksaw leaving just the bearing carrier, the column is now ready for installation.
Instruments and Switchgear
If using Technic replica instruments mark the gauge and steering column centres using the template supplied scribe the holes to the correct diameter and carefully cut out to give a snug fit when the gauges are pushed into the holes. If using alternative gauges we recommend making a template of the dash area and drawing your instrument layout on this before cutting the dash.
Switches are installed through the dash panel in whatever position suits the builder. Depending on the type of switches used it may be necessary to grind away behind the dash to reduce the thickness of the panel locally to the switch. This can be done using a small grinding stone on an electric drill or die grinder.

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