TheSamba.com :: View topic - UPDATED- '73 Beetle Project

Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:00 pm

nice project...just one question...what was wrong with the 73 body? just curious if it was beyond repair or you just wanted a early bug/irs pan

Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:13 pm

Lookin good, keep us updated...

Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:40 am

Looks very nice. I've contemplated getting a late model irs pan to drop my 65 onto. I'll be watching this to see how it all comes out.

Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:33 pm

deluxekombi67 wrote: nice project...just one question...what was wrong with the 73 body? just curious if it was beyond repair or you just wanted a early bug/irs pan

The '73 body got sideswiped on the driver's side and was rusting fairly bad in the heater channels. I also wanted the earlier look with later model running gear. I know it will be considered a mutt but I'll enjoy it.

I've been looking at the body alignment and it seems that everything is looking good. All the holes line up well and everything is fitting correctly. At this point I'll be getting into some unknown territory doing the body work. I know for sure I have to replace the front clip (have a stock '66 one), replace the rear apron, and finess the doors a bit. In all, it's coming along slowly but nicely.

Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:06 pm

Wow, it's been a year since I posted and a year since I have really worked on my bug.

So, let me throw this out there...

How do all of you keep your motivation?

In my time away I've lost my job, got a new one, remodeled half my house, and just recently found out my wife is pregnant :D

Now, I've got my motivation back and am looking to make 2010 a big building year. I've had lots of time to think about what I want in my finished product and can know move forward with a very clear mind.

More to come!

Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:47 pm

Here's the shell right as I hauled it home. It was somewhat moist in the air that day so I packaged it up really well.

The shell came out great once it was sandblasted. It was much easier to see all the flaws that now need to be fixed. This has made body work much easier.

In an attempt to fix some nose damage, my brother and I started replacing the front clip. Currently we are fitting, grinding, fitting, grinding...Sometime it will mount up just right. Oh, and a word to the wise, we sleeved the tubes on either side of the gas tank making test fitting a much easier process.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:31 am

Is that trailer you used to haul the body home from the sandblasters one of the "collapsible" trailers from Harbor Freight (or similar)? I need to do the same thing, plus make several trips to the local vo-tech (to use their paint booth) and I don't want to invest in a car trailer for several grand and only a few trips. How did it work out for you? Was it stable enough, etc etc etc? I've got about an hour drive (each way/highway) to the blaster (media, not sand).

By any chance, do you know the total height of the body on top of the trailer? I can't leave the body overnight at the vo-tech, so I need to haul it back and forth....I'd love to be able to just leave the body on the trailer, roll it in to the booth, spray it, haul it home and repeat...just don't know if it'll fit through the booth door.

Thanks!