TheSamba.com :: View topic - jniderost 1967 Type 3 Squareback

Fri Jan 06, 2012 5:17 pm

Hey everyone, this is my first time I'm restoring a vehicle. I got the car as a graduation present.

This is where it was for about 20 something years.

Got it home, the body appears to be in decent shape.

As I took out the gas tank, I found this:

It's a radiator of some sort. I don't know for what.

Also, the car was sitting for so long that the seats rusted to the railing. Does anyone know a way that I can take out the seats?

I am at the stage that I need to take off the body. How many screws are there that I need to take out? Besides having five people lifting up the body, is there a device that can lift the body?

Fri Jan 06, 2012 5:23 pm

The radiator like thing underneath was for dealer air.

Read the FAQ sticky at the top of the page, take copious amounts of pictures for us, and order the "blue repair manual" from ISP West.

Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:58 pm

yeah I'd like to see as many pics as you can take regarding the air setup. I have a bunch of parts I've bought that I'll need to put together at some point.

Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:44 pm

for the seats, I had to take a sledge hammer and place a 2x6 against the seat frame and swing away. Also, lots of PB blaster or WD40. Took about 30 minutes to get both seats out. I'm sure someone out there has a more civil way of doing this but hey, it worked.

Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:16 pm

dwoah, thanks for the information. I was able to get the seats loose and slide easily, however whenever I try to move the seats all the way forward or backwards, the seats stop and prevent me from taking them out. How do I take the seats out? Are they supposed to slide off the rails?

dirtsandwich, here are some more pics of the radiator setup:

The lines run along the right side, I'll post more pics, once I get the engine out and see where the lines end up.

In preparation for taking off the body, I have taken out all the bolts running along the floor pans on both sides, the two bolts on the front and the bolts inside underneath the rear seat as shown:

Even with all these bolts removed, the body does not want to budge. Is there any bolts that I'm forgetting?

Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:50 pm

These 2 pics might help you locate all of the body to pan and subframe bolts. The first shows their locations, and torque spec. It shows the locations on the front beam (2 bolts-M10), and rear sub (2 bolts-M10)

This one shows more of the pan bolts (9/side (18 total-M8 + 6 M8's across the rear)), +4 upfront (-M10), and 2 in the rear(under the rear seat-M10).

So, counting them up, there should be 34 or so bolts that need to be removed, plus the steering column, the speedo cable, the brake resivoir feed hose(s), wires to the brake light switch(s), fuel hose from the tank, starter wire from the starter, along with the wires to the generator and coil. If you have all of these removed from the respective parts, then the body should be ready to be removed from the pan. If it still won't go, then the seal VW used (to keep water from entering) is probably holding the 2 together, and will need a little help seperating (might need some prying). I hope this helps.

Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:53 pm

1. There are spring loaded stops on the tunnel rails that prevent the seats from sliding completely out. Have your helper hold the spring stops down with a screw driver, while you push the seat completely out of the rails.

2. Even if you have every bolt out, sometimes the pan to body glue/sealer/gasket will still hold them together. This diagram below from Russ Wolfe's VAST web site might help?

http://classicvw.org/gallery2/d/3961-3/bodytochassisboltlocations.jpg

Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:46 pm

Bobnotch, thanks for the diagrams, they really helped. If things go as planned, I'll have the body pulled of this weekend.

Mike Fisher, I would've never seen those springs if it weren't for you. They blended in so well. As soon as I found them, they were so easy to remove. Thanks.

There is one thing that needs to be removed and thats the steering wheel and column. I removed the screws on the underside of the steering wheel, but that still did not loosen up the wheel. Is there a screw underneath the horn? How can I remove the steering wheel and shaft?

Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:19 am

The steering wheel has to come off first. I've been using my 1&1/16" socket for the big nut holding it on the shaft.

The steering column will then slide off the shaft after you remove the big C Clip holding it on.

I think you can leave the steering shaft/box in place, while you lift off the body.

Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:48 am

Mike Fisher wrote:

I think you can leave the steering shaft/box in place, while you lift off the body.

No, you have to seperate the steering shaft from the box (the box can stay on the beam), or you can't lift the body off. Also, unplug the wires and hoses to the master cylinder, and remove the speedo cable too while you're in there. This can all be done from the opening where the gas tank was (except the speedo cable, as it needs the clip removed from the grease cap on the left front tire). The steering column and shaft can stay with the body.

Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:56 pm

The steering column was removed without a hitch after the C-clip was removed, thanks. Now as I wait for help to lift the body, I'm trying to remove the wiper blade motor thats situated under the dash. I removed the screw connecting it to the body, but looking up, it appears that there are two screws that are attaching it to the dash. They are located at a very awkward angle to remove. Is there an way to remove them that I'm not seeing that simplifies things?

Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:12 pm

jniderost wrote: I'm trying to remove the wiper blade motor thats situated under the dash. I removed the screw connecting it to the body, but looking up, it appears that there are two screws that are attaching it to the dash. They are located at a very awkward angle to remove. Is there an way to remove them that I'm not seeing that simplifies things?

Yes, remove the one small screw that attaches the motor bracket to the "firewall". Now remove both wiper arms, the plastic caps under them, and the top nuts and flat washers. Now push the shafts thru the body. It should come out IF you removed the correct small bolt. :wink:

Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:09 pm

Bobnotch, thanks. It's funny how as soon as I removed the wiper mother everything else seemed to come out rather nicely. Now I just have the what I think is the wiper controls and lights (the knobs next to the left of the instrument panel) I've tried pulling on the knob to remove it, but with no luck. Am I missing something?

With all that done, I am at the stage where I need to take the body off. Besides getting some friends to help me with it, will an engine hoist be beneficial to use instead?

Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:01 pm

jniderost wrote: Bobnotch, thanks. It's funny how as soon as I removed the wiper mother everything else seemed to come out rather nicely. Now I just have the what I think is the wiper controls and lights (the knobs next to the left of the instrument panel) I've tried pulling on the knob to remove it, but with no luck. Am I missing something?

With all that done, I am at the stage where I need to take the body off. Besides getting some friends to help me with it, will an engine hoist be beneficial to use instead?

Turn the knobs to the left, as they screw on to the switchs.

An engine hoist cn replace 2 of your friends, but you'll still need something or someone else. I use the rafters in my shop, and do a 3 point lift, working by my self. :wink:

Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:06 pm

I was gonna buy a motor hoist, but you guys were right with four people being able to take the body off.

We were able to move it this far without taking a break.

The frame, finally free of the body.

A closer look at the motor.

Another look.

A look at the front.

The body looks pretty good.

Another look.

A view from the back.

With all this progress, I'm now looking to unmount the motor, however I can't seem to find the mounting bolts. Can you guys please steer me in the right direction?

Also, I'm definitely going to get new floor pans. When I get them I also want to powder coat the frame to be as resistant to the elements as possible. With this said, should I get the frame sandblasted before I install the floor pans, or after?

Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:48 pm

THIS is what I need to do. Other than finding all of the bolts. How hard was it getting the body off?
(Thanks for this thread. Love the pics.)

Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:57 pm

Nice little project you have going. You can never take enough pictures. I wouldn't sand blast it before since that will get done when it is being powdercoated. I would just clean up the areas where you will be welding to so you have a clean surface.

Tue Feb 28, 2012 7:00 am

can you take some pics of the A/C compressor setup? (if it's still on there?)

I'll buy the brackets and pulley off you if you're not interested in them.... :-))))))))))

Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:42 am

there are 4 nuts. two on the bottom on the tranny side 1 on the starter and 1 in the other corner, this one may not be there.

Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:05 pm

HoldenMyOwn, getting the body off was not that difficult once you have removed all the bolts. Once that is done, the seal is the only thing hold the body, once the seal is broken, you'll be able to lift the body easily. The way I loosened up the rear part of the body was by jacking up the body on the left and right rear corners. There is a flat spot that is a perfect base for this. Just jack the body up (you'll hear some cracking as I did) and you should be loose. One thing I found out is that there is two nuts that you'll have to remove (they are located behind the rear wheels. Also, there is, I wanna say heater tubes that run into the cabin, those will have to be removed as well. They will become apparent as you try to lift the body. Then all you need is about three other friends and you'll have the body off in no time.

bad1916, thanks that makes sense. How much area should I keep for the floor pans to connect properly?

69back, can you refresh me on what the A/C compressor is again? I apologize for my lack of knowledge. Then I'll decide on the parts. :)

vdubin, when these bolts are removed, does it drop the tranny as well, or can the tranny and motor come out as one part?