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Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:56 pm

The companies that hit me are stalling and I'm afraid they might not pay out as much as they originally stated. I am going to try stripping, and prepping for paint so I can get the inside and outside painted the original Bahama Blue. Do you think these parts can be repaired, or simply must be replaced? They are original panels, that is why I am asking.

Rear Fender

Rear Decklid, license light and bumper (I figured I need to replace support bars.brackets)

Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:37 pm

I'd fix those fenders for sure! Might as well try to fix the engine cover too for now anyway since you've got nothing to lose by trying. Spend your settlement money on the tools/materials and maybe a better engine cover? You can do a better/cheaper job yourself and fix it yourself when it gets dinged up again later! P.S. Get rid of that overspray on your tires! :wink:

Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:34 pm

I would replace the bumper and brackets. The rest of it is repairable. Wouldn't think twice about fixing it.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:41 pm

You should keep your original posts going, if it is for the same question.

This topic/posting has been posted one way or another 3 different times in two different forum categories.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:48 pm

x2! You can just change the SUBJECT line on your Build Thread!

Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:11 pm

Yes, they can be repaired with time, patience, and some money spent on the proper tools. Check out http://www.ghiaspecialties.com and order John Kelly's DVD's on Tuck Shrinking and the Shrinking Disc. The money is well spent. You want to keep your original metal rather than looking for good used or (worse), repops.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:04 am

look here
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...;start=500

Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:17 am

7bug6 wrote: look here
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...;start=500

Absolutely fantastic work. =D>

Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:28 am

Is the passenger door alright? If so, I will trade you out. I figure that since you are going to be fixing the fenders and stuff, another door will be no problem.... :D

My 65 is Bahama Blue also.....

Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:26 am

gasseous wrote: Is the passenger door alright? If so, I will trade you out. I figure that since you are going to be fixing the fenders and stuff, another door will be no problem.... :D

My 65 is Bahama Blue also.....

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa

Thanks for the advice guys, I will definitely try to fix these parts then. I guess I really don't have anything to lose but time, and I have enough of that I guess. I apologize for the re-post, but i gave so many details about ho I got these dents, that people commented on that more than how to go about fixing it :lol: . I do not want to be rude or annoying, but this thread gave me the most advice already. I am going to get a hammer and dolly set and try to repair these myself. Depending on how that goes, I will possibly attempt a Singls Stage paintjob myself as well. I've read at least a hundred threads in this forum and haven't even been in the actual beetle forum for over a week :lol: . I really want to get this fixed, painted, and back on the road so I can go back to the Beetle forum for all the mechanical issues that will come up when I'm back on the road :lol: .

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!

Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:31 am

[quote="Rhunes29 i gave so many details about ho I got these dents, that people commented on that more than how to go about fixing it :lol: . [/quote]

Guilty as charged, sorry :)

Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:01 am

I fixed this to save my 4-tab hood.

I made some small cuts with a Dremel to relieve the pressure.

Weld the cuts. (Good German metal!)

Grind

I did use a little filler.

Save the German metal!!!
I got $1800 to fix this and it took about a day in total hours.

Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:09 am

^^^^ nice work! I love the color :wink: I had some similar repairs on the right front of mine. Not near as bad.

Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:52 am

Gorgeous car "itlives".

Great work!

Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:30 am

That looks good, but for welds like that you'd be better off using gas. It hammers better and smooths better.

Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:08 pm

I would like to thank everybody for their help on this. I will abandon the other, similar threads and only reply and post in this one. The BACK IN BLACK thread was very inspiring, so I will get a Hammer and dolly set, a teardrop mallet, and a bean bag to attempt these repairs myself. I will probably then use a single stage PPG system to primer, seal and paint myself. I used a straight razor to inspect the panels, and all the panels have MANY layers of paint and primer, but grey primer and bahama blue beneath it all. I will sand down everything, then light filler where hammering isnt enough, primer, block, primer, and eventually single coat. I will keep updated on this thread. I can't wait!!!

Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:23 am

Not much of an update, but my first check came in already :D

This is from the first time it was hit and it is $600. I really want to stretch that as far as I can so I'll do as much as I can myself, posibly even paint.

I am going to get the hammer & dolly set from Harbor Freight and the teardrop plastic mallets, does anyone know where to get a bean bag or sand bag for metal forming?

I am also going to get a decent sander from Sear's
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00927673000P?vName=Tools

The decklid will need some serious forming, but i want to go slowly and it looks like "BACK IN BLACK" had a really cool stool looking thing that had the bag built in on top. I just need anything that I can place under. Any suggestions? I'll post before and afters as soon as I start on it.

Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:08 am

Go to a thrift store and get an old leather purse. Fill it with lead shot just enough for it to be firm but also to yield slightly. Then, find someone (maybe Yellow Pages) who can sew the leather shut. Bingo -- affordable shot bag.

Have you checked out the Metal Shaper's Forum?

Fri Nov 07, 2008 5:53 pm

The shrinking disc has to be the coolest thing ever. I can't believe I got these dents out!!!

I bought a ton of tools and supplies at harbor freight because I figure I'll toss them after this job, or any extra use is bonus as someone else stated.

This is my driveway where I will be doing the work, and primer. I will probably get a portable garage with tarps for the primer, and depending on how it goes, I will attempt painting. Stripping the paint is not difficult, but very time consuming.

This car was

1 primered
2 Bahama Blue
3 primered
4 purple :evil:
5 primered
6 metallic green
7 primered very thick
8 Pearl White
9 Clear coated :roll: .

There don't seem to be any dents, but there is a skim coat of bondo in some areas, so I guess i'll have to go to bare metal in these spots, then smooth out as best I can. I do not want to use any bondo at all. I know It's been asked a million times, but I think I'm going to go as low as I can, and if there is no bondo, I will leave OG paint and primer. I will use PPG products and a single stage Bahama Blue like the '64 build in this forum.

I will also invest in a nice pneumatic line sander to speed up the block sanding process. Will craftsmen be good enough, any suggestions?

Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:09 am

While admiral, not using any body filler is impossible for all but the most skilled body men. There is no shame in using the stuff. Also, I would get some durablocks for block sanding because a rigid long block is almost useless on a body that has very few flat surfaces.