Ragtop Grafting Process Begins... Wish me luck!

mattsvdub

I'm doing the prep work on grafting a 58-63 2 fold factory Rag into my 67 Resto Custom.... I purchased the section and mechanism and will document it as I progress w/photos....
I've researched allot of hours on this and gotten many great tips from Samba users... So time to dive in... I'm a welder / fabricator by trade but this will be my first attempt at Auto Body weld/fab... Wish me luck and thanks to all for all the good info... Hopefully it will all pay off...

bmtx · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:44 pm Post subject:

Good luck Mattsvdub. Remember measure 2 cut 1. I seem to live life by that as well.

happy hoppy · Samba Member Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 88

I cut it twice and its still too short !?

good luck, pic.s please!
_________________
cut, hammer, weld, drive.
not necessarily in that order.

mattsvdub · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:54 am Post subject:

I'm not real sure how to post pics in the forum? It doesn't work like the classifieds? I'm posting photos on my website, www.mattsvw.com and then I'll link to them here in my posts? Appreciate it if anyone could hint me on how to get the photos in the forums... Not real web savvy like that... Thanks

mattsvdub · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:45 pm Post subject:

For anyone that wants to check them out... I posted photos of the 1st Rag clip I purchased for this grafting.... Check my web-site under projects....
www.mattsvw.com ... I bought this from an ad here on Samba and paid twice what it should have been due to mis-representation or just plain not telling the truth. Anyhow it's mine now and I will choose between another I have on the way... Actually after I trimmed and cleaned the edges of this one it doesn't look too bad... The original owner torched it out but lucckily didn't warp it.... and left enough on to still be trimmed by a competent fabricator.
Once I have it media blasted it should be damn good to go....
Will post updates throughout the process... and photos on here once I figure out how?

keifernet · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:28 am Post subject:

there was a great article in HVW's last year or so on this job... one of the best "how too's" I've seen in that mag in all these years. Can't remember the month and I do not have the mag with me but it had a blue bug on the cover and the dude had a blue and white surfboard painted the same color as the car.

Maybe someone else has the month. If I find the mag I could make copies and send them to you.

mattsvdub · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:41 pm Post subject:

That would be greatly appreciated Keifer, Although even the month would be cool as I need to order a couple back issues anyhow...
I'm still awaiting the arrival of my second donor clip so I may decide which one I'll be using... So I'm thinking it will still be a couple weeks befor I do any actual fabbing... At the same time I'm going to do the tunnel work on the body to clear the nose cone of the Berg 5 speed...
Actual sheetmetal work is my forte'... so that will be the fun one...
I love the subtle custom finishing touches that only true die-hards like myself pick out on a well done car...

mattsvdub · Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:15 pm Post subject:

I recieved my second ragtop section along with the complete mechanism today. Ive started posting photos of the pieces and the process at www.mattsvw.com under current projects, Then under "Mona"...
Should start to get interesting as tomorrow I take all my parts to the metal stripping place and we'll see how they all turn out...
Stay Tuned..

Bklyn63 · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:31 am Post subject:

this is the link you want:

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/gallery/album107

I did it this way also. In my retro fit I kept the front 3 support brackets which helped me line up the section perferctly instead of measuring.

here are my before and after pics.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=84536

mattsvdub · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:57 pm Post subject:

Finally worked out family time to have a full Saturday at the Bump Shop where my 67's at... I was able to do all the Fab work, Measuring, Cutting, Trimming and Welding in one day... What a job..Only needs very minimal spot putty to blend in graft line...
It looks and fits fantastic only one issue... I beleive the front edge of the sunroof sits back approximately a half to 3/4 of an inch further back from the windsheild than normal. Reason being I did not have the factory support tabs still intact on the clip and as I was thinking about it I remembered reading allot about wind buffeting in Ragtops even with Pop-Outs, So I figured It may be better to have the leading edge a bit further back from front than more forward... I can't tell the difference from looking at it.. Only with tape measure.. I just thought with a dumped front end and a rake from rear to front it would dip the sunroof into the wind even more?
Am I putting too much thought into it or what? In any case it looks great and I'll have current photos on my site within a week... Now onto the final prep for the rest of the body...
Thanks again for the support and constructive comments..

mattsvdub · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:03 pm Post subject:

Just for curiosity sake would someone with a factory 2 fold rag post a couple measurements for me please?
From top center of windshield to the lip of the ragtop frame and from the top edge of the rear window to the rear of the ragtop? May be kinda hard with the ragtop on though as it has that hold down strip and mechanism in the way? Close measurements would be fine I guess...
I just have to know how close I am...
Thanks much...


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Body/Paint	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1