TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Oct 20, 2011 3:37 pm

got my paint in, made a booth in my driveway, and did this:

got cheap interwebs paint at paintforcars.com . . plus 75$ in stuff for the booth, and about 200$ worth of filler, primer, sealer, and the other stuff getting ready for paint . . . I am pretty happy with how it came out, considering what a rookie I am, and what my pitiful budget can absorb!

Thu Oct 20, 2011 6:55 pm

Finally, someone that tastefully chopped a top: not too low, not angled. Very nice job.

Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:29 pm

one of the most tasteful chops i have ever seen. very nice work

Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:31 pm

why didnt you finish painting the rest of your driveway ?

Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:32 pm

what color is that?

Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:42 pm

the color is emerald metallic green.

color selection is pretty limited at that site, but this green came in real close to what I had in mind for it, so the budgetary compromise wasnt all that painful

Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:43 pm

bruces wrote: why didnt you finish painting the rest of your driveway ?

LOL!

i already tested, and the overspray on the driveway comes up way easy . . just ran out of time today, so tomorrow ima go out and clean it all up
my paintbooth was this:

just ran out of plastic to put down

Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:26 am

Is that a base coat clear coat? Either way amazing job on the chop looks very nice.. :D

Sat Oct 22, 2011 6:07 am

Looking good! (For a chop top, that is :wink: )

Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:06 am

necessities is the mother of invention, did you get some strange looks from the neighbours.

Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:00 am

Man I envy people who can just paint in the driveway. In Santa cruz ca or at least on my street the cops would be there in ten minutes closely followed by the local air resources board closely followed by the local environmental agencies. Not lying either .Buddy painted his chEVY in the garage with a make shift paint booth . Even with a lawyer he ended up with three fines from three agencies for a grand total of 10,000$ . Most of that was from using a non approved california paint . . JEFF

Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:54 am

Really nice chop, tasteful and clean...I plan on garage painting mine also, so very inspiring

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:30 pm

more and more progress . .
Finished the headliner install, got carpet and glass in too:

Made the front kick panels for the speakers from some 1/4" pressboard I got at home depot.

Carpet kit is actually for i think a 66, but got the whole kit in trade for a flywheel I had in the back yard, so I am happy with it.

Center dome light came out of a random car at pick n pull, I fabbed up a bracket to mount it

the control cables for my floor vents are spare cables I had for frewsh air box control, still need to devise a handle set up for them.

Dash pad is later model, 73 or so I guess, has center vent holes, but again, got it for 10 bucks at pick n pull, it has no cracks at all, and with blank vent doodads in the holes, looks halfway decent.

Radio hole was mangled when I got the car, managed to clean it up enough to fit the box for the stereo there.

next post is some outside shots, plus engine compartment

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:37 pm

Got the engine installed . . yay!

need a battery now (next payday) and hopefully this bad boy with start . . then just a matter of the budget finding room for tires. 150 a month into the bug fund . . slow going :(

Still on blocks for now, until I put the skirt back, add the bead and tighten the fenders, and get the bumper on, none of which happens until I hear it run.

Still need to cut/polish the paint.

Running boards were hash when I got the car, got some 1/8" ribbed vinyl at the restaurant supply store and re-covered them . . . yay budget bug build!

Yeah yeah . . lots of silly little stuff I did on this thing, but hey, I surely amuse the heck out of myself!

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:46 pm

That is absolutely the best looking chop I've ever seen on a bug. Perfect!!

Diggin that headliner too.. I'd have to install fully reclining seats!

8)

edit> You should give this guy some pointers on cutting his C pillar.... :?:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=517684&highlight=chop

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:50 pm

Great job :D
where did you get the material for your headliner?which btw i like =D>
what other plans do you have left to do?
When you bought your paint was there a hazardous material charge in the shipping fee?
You must have some great neighbors to not complain about your paint booth.

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:53 pm

material was some canvas (white) that I picked up at the local fabric store, took it to my friend that has a tie-dye store, and she did it up for me, 50 bucks total for the dye job, and maybe 15 for the material.

I have front seats from a camaro to put uin it, pics in my gallery.

It is pretty much done now, just need to get it running and put shoes on it.

also need a back seat solution . . one that came with it was toast. frame still good, cover shot.

dont know yet what I ill do there, will be a budget/availability/motivation decision, which I will make after tires

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:56 pm

That chop is sweet! Nice and level. Good job man.
I know what being on a budget is like, Just takes a little more time and effort in lieu of cash.

:D

Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:16 pm

Let me say, you did a beautiful job on that car. About the best chop top I have seen on a beetle.

Kudos to you!

Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:50 pm

Perhaps you have heard to much already but yes that is the nicest chop I have seen as well dig that head liner too keep it up.