TheSamba.com :: View topic - '57 restoration in progress...3/20/09 no progress

Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:09 pm

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum, but not to the VW scene. I bought my 1957 oval back in Oct 1998 for a lump sum of $3k, which I thought was not a bad deal. It had been hit HARD in the front and 'mickey moused' back together by someone with no clue, a large hammer, and a $5 welder (to give you an idea the beam on the passengerside was bent back about 2 inches and the fender well is wrinkled to mid gas tank (but the bulkhead was straight)).
It sits on a 62 pan, with a 1776 dual port and a (as I was told) 'transform street race trans, with close ratio 1st and 2nd and 3.88 ring and pinion,' which I have yet to look into, but I do have a receit saying it is.
It has a 55 batwing which is falling apart under failed prior repair attempts with bondo and what looks like brass. and has had the semaphores grafted into the posts (yet another crappy job)

At any rate, here is what it looked like the day I brought it home.

I have finally gotten around to 'fixing' all the evils of the car, by deciding to do a ground up, body off, resto-mod. The body was stripped by hand to bare metal, as was the pan, passenger pan half was replaced and entire pan coated with Masterseries CT, then topcoated with Eastwoods chassis black. The front beam is a new CB narrowed 2" with EVERYTHING new/refurbished, and will be getting a wide 5 front disk conversion. then its onto the rear suspension. Here is a pic of the project as it stands now.

I have taken pictures thru out every part of this resto-mod project, detailing my progress (which I won't bore anyone with here as I'm sure most of you know whats involved in something like this)

Sorry this post is so long, but I wanted to intro myself and share my progress to this point.

If this post shouldn't be here, please let me know, as this is only my 2nd posting, but I have been reading this forum for a long time. Thanks in advance for any future help I may require in this project.

Robert
r20crazy

Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:07 pm

Welcome aboard! Looks like you're doing it up right!

Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:21 pm

Robert, welcome to TheSamba!

Please do feel free to "bore" us with more pics.
It's how some people (myself included) stay motivated through their own projects.

Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:27 pm

V0LKSWAGENSRULE wrote: Robert, welcome to TheSamba!

Please do feel free to "bore" us with more pics.
It's how some people (myself included) stay motivated through their own projects.

Definitely post more pics of the progress.

Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:22 am

Thanks for the kind welcome guys (and girls if there are any).

Everything I have done up to this point has been done by myself, and I must say it's not to bad considering this is my 1st time taking on such a project. I actually came across this bug when I was going to look at buying a 1957 chevy belair 2-door hardtop (no-post). and well the rest is history I guess, as I brought the bug home instead.

I'll get a few more pics up shortly, starting from the beginning, but I have taken over 500 of them to this point.

Most surprising, is the fact that I have gotten to this point only since January, and without a source of income since then. So progress is beginning to slow as funds are shrinking.

The front end minus the disk brakes will be completed this weekend (depending on the California heat factor).

Thanks again, and I'll get a few more pics up shortly.

Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:56 am

here are a few more pics as you requested....

here is the pan with the passenger half removed for replacement (if you look at the front beam you can see how bent it is to the left of the bulkhead.

here is the new pan half installed (again, you can see the bent beam)

here is the non-rolling chassis getting ready for final prep and painting

here is my sanding progress after one day (and a light drizzle causing the surface to rust overnight)

(skip ahead a week or so, and after all the sanding, metal etching, etc, the MastersiereisCT is applied

then after drying, Eastwoods' chassis black covers the masterseries as a topcoat

then the pan is flipped over and eastwoods rubberized undercoating is applied

then I moved on to the front end rebuild, which should be completed shortly. Pics will be posted when its done.

Every nut/bolt/washer is also being either restored or replaced

Thanks again for your interest. comments/suggestions are welcomed.

:?: p.s. Does anyone know where I can find the inspection cover seal for the front bulkhead (from where you can remove the shift rod)? I have called several places that say its in stock online, only to find it is 'backordered.' I was told I should just make one by one shop after looking at me like I was nuts. Thanks again

Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:02 am

It's just a flat piece of rubber. Cut a new one out of inner tube, using the cover as a template.

Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:06 am

I haven't been here very long myself. Just wanted to say welcome aboard. You are doing a great job and if you are not too careful you might find yourself working in a restoration shop! Good luck with your oval.....................

Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:06 pm

Welcome! Great job so far.

Please keep sharing your photos. Samba folks love restorations shots!!

Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:46 am

well I just got me credit card bill for last months purchases, and looks like I went a little crazy, so this process will be slowing to a crawl for a little while. I got my rebuilt king and link pins back from socal autoparts this week, and will be installing them in a few hours. Then the rest of the front end will be assembled.
Also found out that its the little things that keep adding up on this project (seemingly faster than the 'major' parts tab). Washers/nuts/o-rings/sand paper/ etc.
I'll post more pic in a few days.

EDIT: I changed this thread title from " 'new' guy..." to this. I hope thats not a problem, as I thought it would make those interested in my progress a little easier to find.

Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:40 pm

That is a great project, congratulations on the progress! Doing a resto yourself gives one an overwhelming sense of ownership. When you look back, it kind of reminds you of raising a kid, difficult but rewarding. It seems like it will never end, then when it does you wish it hadn't, and think about how and what you would have done differently.
Keep us updated with your progress and pics!

Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:21 pm

Nice! As others mentioned, keep posting progress photos as time and $$$money$$$ allows!

Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:36 am

Hello and welcome, looks like you are doing a great job on the resto, these projects can definately take some time when you have to budget you finances on it but be patient it will all come together in the end 8)

Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:22 am

Looks like your doing a great job! The pictures will keep me motivated to continue with our 57 Project. It seems like it's not going fast enough for me. Although my husband, who is doing the work assures me it is! Good luck on your Oval Window Beetle![/img]

Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:08 pm

Great work, but it looks like your frame head is twisted, it's up on the passengers side (pic with new beam).

Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:15 am

I agree,

these lines should be parallel.

Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:12 am

Great job on the restoration. I also had the bulk head on my 56 pan bent. As a matter of fact, I sent an e-mail to Hot VW and asked them if they had ever done a "how to" replacing the bulk head and their reply, after I told them how bent it was (3/4 to 1 inch), was to REPLACE THE PAN.. Their reply was on one of the VW magazines. I just don't remember what month.. I had a respectible body shop replace the bulk head and it's now pretty straight.. Just wanted to pass along Hot VW's reply.. Nevertheless, great job and keep the pictures coming..

Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:44 pm

I'm not quite sure I see what you are trying to point out. What lines should be parallel? I hope that isn't the case and thats it's just an 'illusion with the photos' as they are taken at an angle and not dead on. What do I need to measure to check this, and how would I do so? Is it possible to check this with the beam on, or do I need to pull it back off to check? Thanks in advance, but I hope you are wrong for my sanity's sake. :shock:

here is the 'best' straight on shot I could find thus far. (but I can always take more)

Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:21 pm

and if I understand correctly from above these lines should be parallel???

Which on my moniter and with a ruler are, parallel. Please let me know if this isn't right. Thanks in advance

Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:49 pm

The two red lines are the same length.

Lay something straight across the beam, like a 2x4, 2X longer than the beam, stand back and check for straightness.