replacing pans

[gobo57]

is it easier to replace pan halves with the body on or off the car. i have been given conflicting sides of diong either way. thanks for yor input

[Mr. Bungle]

imo, it's easier to replace pans with the body off.

but, if you dont plan to take of the body for any other reason, i would leave the body on. it can be done with the body on. it's just a little more difficult because there is more stuff in the way.

[EvilMogan]

agreed, to me it was soooo much easier with the body off. The body isnt hard at all to remove, and being able to see the "whole picture" makes it a lot easier. I just welded in two new halves on my 73.

[Lee.]

Would you replace the rocker panels before the pan halves?
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[Caqfatboy]

You can do it either way..Get a hold of a "Bug Me Video" floor pan replacement, Rick Higgins show's you how to do either a body on or off replacement...It's a must video!
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70 Beetle (Standard)

65 Beetle (Project)

65 Beetle - R.I.P.
67 Beetle - R.I.P.
68 Beetle - R.I.P.
71 Beetle - R.I.P. (Super)
74 Beetle - R.I.P (Standard)
71 Beetle (Super)
70 Beetle (Standard)

It is what it is!!!!!

[rusty57]

I decided to leave the body on because i did my convertible. I was afraid of body twist and re-alignment. It would of been a lot easier to do with the body off. regardless, it was not that difficult to do. But , it did take all day.,
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67 Ghia coupe, Retired military.
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[gobo57]

i will remove the body. i was looking and the front bulkhead of the car needs a little work as well. should i weld in a brace before removing the body?there is a fai amount of cancer in the channels. can i bend the body?

[Caqfatboy]

Unless you are replacing pans on a convertible, you won't need to put braces in/on... The sedan body is very strong and doesn't require any additonal support.
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70 Beetle (Standard)

65 Beetle (Project)

65 Beetle - R.I.P.
67 Beetle - R.I.P.
68 Beetle - R.I.P.
71 Beetle - R.I.P. (Super)
74 Beetle - R.I.P (Standard)
71 Beetle (Super)
70 Beetle (Standard)

It is what it is!!!!!

[Gary]

I suggest you read this thread in the Ghia Forum before you start something you're going to regret.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=106146
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[Iozzio]

This is a major undertaking. This really depends on your abilities to perform the work properly because not getting everything lined up right is going to cause problems later when trying to align the body with the pan. At the shop I work for, we only do pan replacement one way and that is with the body off. But everyone we do is for a complete resto or one that will be restored eventually down the road. The job just comes out better and looks completely factory when finished. If a factory looking restoration isnt in your cars future then by all means do them in the car. Rocker replacement though will be done with the body off. You must brace the door jams before you cut the rockers loose. I have made special door jigs that bolt in place to both early and late door strikers. With a 'vert I would also do one side at a time. Take several measurements before cutting anything and document it. Good luck. Keep us in the loop about how its going.

[sconord]

I did the pans on a 61 Beetle. Took a couple of hours, 1/2 work 1/2 BS.

I did it body off and it was not difficult. The hardest part is removing the old metal off of the rail.
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