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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:24 am Post subject: Fitting a 57 oval body unto a 69 pan (a new dilemma...) |
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So I know it's sacrilege , but it's my plan for now.
I discovered the spring plates aren’t shaped the same through the years, causing my oval body to ride on top of the newer spring plates on my 69 pan.
It really needs coming down a tiny bit further...
I really would prefer grinding off some of the upper tip of the spring plates than hacking my oval body (hopefully it will look a good deal better after sand blasting). I mean – you never know: Some day maybe I can get me a nice oval pan for my body, and it would have been a shame hacking it too much On the other hand I don't want to weaken the spring plate either and maybe causing it to break eventually.
So the qestion for me really is:
Should I cut the spring plate or the body? Could you guys post your opinion on this matter?
Last edited by Mats W on Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ConcreteAce Samba Member

Joined: May 19, 2005 Posts: 862 Location: Spring, Texas
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drscope Samba Member

Joined: February 19, 2007 Posts: 15273 Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:00 am Post subject: |
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Unless your tunnel is shot, the rest of your oval pan can be saved. Floor pans and frame head are an easy fix with the body off. _________________ Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch! |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:11 am Post subject: |
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ConcreteAce wrote: |
looks like you are missing the thick square rubber spacer that goes between the body and the chassis in that spot. it is about a quarter of an inch thick rubber. |
My bad, I did forget the rubber . Thanks to your tip ConcreteAce I went back to my garage:
I put on 10mm rubber...
...which made excellent clearance to the spring plate ...
...but now the body also hoovers 10mm above the rear brace on the right.
No way the pan to body gasket could compensate for this kind of gap!
In fact the gap is almost twice (19mm) at the top of the left rear brace (which I cut in order to replace the left pan).
Is my pan twisted, or what? Is my task a mission "impossible"? |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:13 am Post subject: |
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drscope wrote: |
Unless your tunnel is shot, the rest of your oval pan can be saved. Floor pans and frame head are an easy fix with the body off. |
Unfortunately the previous owner scrapped the entire oval pan  |
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56TIMOTEO Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 441
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:05 am Post subject: |
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Did you move, or remove the body mounting brackets on the inner wheel archs? The ones that bolt the body to the shock towers? |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:20 am Post subject: |
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56TIMOTEO wrote: |
Did you move, or remove the body mounting brackets on the inner wheel archs? The ones that bolt the body to the shock towers? |
I removed those, since they by eye sight where way to low mounted. Otherwise they would have created an even bigger gap. |
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56TIMOTEO Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 441
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:27 am Post subject: |
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Look for a bent lip somewhere (body or pan). |
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john7 Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2003 Posts: 1549 Location: Garden grove ca
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:52 am Post subject: |
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the 10mm rubber is too thick. it is for between the front axle and the body.
my 53 i ordered the rubber from wolfsburg west and they are 6mm thick
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111899119B _________________ Jesus Saves
Slot Mag King!
I accept Paypal, CASH, GOLD, SILVER, COINS, GUNS & money orders. |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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I bought my rubber yesterday from the local dealer who had only either 10mm or 17mm in stock.
I will look for any bent lips. Hopefully it would be an easy fix. |
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Snort Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2005 Posts: 1964 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: Fitting a 57 oval body unto a 69 swing axle pan |
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Mats W wrote: |
So I know it's sacrilege , but it's my plan for now.
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The only sacrilege here is when folks either trash the old pan (you are excused from responsibility on this one it seems), or they fail to properly title the new FrankenBug with the new serial numbers which causes the next owner grief with the Department of Motor Vehicles. |
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Russ Samba Member

Joined: January 12, 2003 Posts: 1560 Location: Langley B.C.
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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sand the rubber blocks down if needed,that may give you the space needed _________________ Cruiser pedals for sale (see my ad's)
55 hardtop finally finished
65 beetle done:) |
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56TIMOTEO Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 441
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Those thick blocks are used for adjusting door gaps on convertibles, too. You can cut them thinner with a razor knife, if that turns out to be the problem. |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: Fitting a 57 oval body unto a 69 swing axle pan |
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Snort wrote: |
Mats W wrote: |
So I know it's sacrilege , but it's my plan for now.
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The only sacrilege here is when folks either trash the old pan (you are excused from responsibility on this one it seems), or they fail to properly title the new FrankenBug with the new serial numbers which causes the next owner grief with the Department of Motor Vehicles. |
Thanks for the sympathy Snort! This "oval" is meant for my son and is going to be titled as a 69 Bug. I don't have any oval title to create a 'false' oval for that matter.
Looks like a rubber less thick hopefully will take care of my problems then  |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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I just took a sharp knife and split the 10 mm rubber in two halves
I worked out just fine ! |
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Stefan T Samba Member

Joined: February 09, 2008 Posts: 102 Location: Ullared Sweden
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Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 7:57 am Post subject: |
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I have some new pics of the fitting af the oval body to a 69 pan
The 69 pan with on side of the floor pan changed
Her's look Mats the body and pan for see if that is necesary to do more to the inside of rear fendes
The body from the front
/Stefan |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:48 am Post subject: |
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I’ve been working on the pan for a couple of weeks now, but yesterday it was finally time to fit the body again – but it wouldn’t quite fit.
Is there any chance you guys could give me a hint here?
My rubbers are 10mm (ca 3/8”)
They would fit perfectly since there are 3mm (ca 1/8”) left…
…which resembles good with the mounting holes…
…since the metal also is 3mm thick.
Anyhow – when the rubber is there…
…the pan still hovers way above the pan.
The gap is ca 13mm (½”) .
How do I get this sorted? Am I to cut the rubber in half at the front also in order to get the body closer to the pan, or are the oval’s “body-to-front-beam-mounts” different from the later ones so that it is necessary to graft them?
I guess I would have to grind off metal on the top of the frame head as well to get enough clearance if you choose to cut the rubbers in half, right?
Any input appreciated. |
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Mats W Samba Member

Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 368 Location: South West Sweden
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Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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I tried one of my theories today:
1. I cut the rubber in half.
2. I grinded the frame head for clearance.
3. Still the gap is too wide, isn’t it? I mean 8mm is more than it ought to be.
It seems it like this operation wasn’t enough. Do I have to modify the front body mounts in any way to make this work? |
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