64 aftermarket ragtop deletion?

[1964bug]

I have a 64 that I purchased with the aftermarket ragtop that I would like to remove and weld back in the missing roof metal. Is there a specific year range I need to stick to for a donor roof? All I want from the donor roof is the metal piece to fit directly into the missing ragtop piece, not the whole roof clip. So I just need to know if the curvature changes on different years. Thanks in advance

[grandpa pete]

Make shure you measure the donor roof numbers against what you have ..I got in a jam replacing a roof on one project . There are different roofs for large rear window cars .
Isuggest you put your new piece from gutter to gutter and separate the roof along the front under the rubber
Look here on how to use a spot weld cutter for the front edge ;

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...ile+rolled
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63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

[allsidius]

[1964bug]

Ok thanks for the help. I guess by doing the whole clip would be less welding and a smoother job. So just the outer skin then by drilling out the spotwelds then right? Not just chopping it off at all the door posts and reattaching it. Can you buy such a part?

[[email protected]]

Replacing the clip into the window openings, and peeling back the gutter crimp may end up with a cleaner repair with less welding, but to me, it is a much more involved repair. Simply repairing the opening is as simple as placing a slightly larger cut of a roof section over the hole, tracing the overlap, and either butt/flange weld the new section in. Yes, you will have more "filler" finish work, but none of the gutter/window openings need to be touched.

You're not going to find a roof panel new anywhere, and will need it cut from another car. And unless you want to pay an outrageous amount for shipping, preferably find a section you can physically get/pick up.

[1964bug]

Great thanks. I tend to agree. Much less involved.

[1964bug]

So I think I may be able to get a '60 roof. I like the idea of replacing the whole clip as I've done a ton of welding already on this car including cutting out lots of spot welds. I've basically replaced the bottom six inches of the entire car plus both front and rear clips. Now my question is how the heck do you uncrimp the gutter lip to get the top layer off?! That looks impossible without destroying it. Grandpa Pete, maybe you can weigh in here as you've done this before. This looks like the hard part to me. I've not tackled this problem yet.

[[email protected]]

The big Blue 61-65 Bentley manual has some nice detailed sections on body repair. I would get one of those if you decide to open up the gutters.

[grandpa pete]

[[email protected]]

I can see the pros, and cons of doing it that way, but it may be the way to go if you can get an alike roof section from a 60.

[GB2S]

Why don't you graft in a factory ragtop?

Geoff
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1963 Ragtop

[1964bug]

That's a great idea except I don't know where I would find a donor roof. Im having enough trouble trying to find just a full roof. The `60 I had in mind I found once I went and looked at it had a hole in it for a sun roof.

[[email protected]]

Try placing a wanted ad for the roof section. I found VW enthusiasts less than an hour away I never knew existed when I've place ads for certain things.

[hitest]

Wrecked later beetles with steel sunroofs sell around here as shells for $100- vs. $1000 for a ragtop car. If I had a '64- that's the way I'd go.

I've "needed" a '64 for a decade to complete my model collection- already have the rag; vert and hardtop. Now I need a steel sunroof '64 for my life to be complete.
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[1964bug]

So I have come across a complete 57 oval roof clip. I know everyone cringe... None the less has anyone removed the entire roof cutting halfway down the windshield pillar and removing everything right back to the engine bay. By this I mean separating the c pillar, top of rear side window completely from the roof structure including the inner rounded structure and removing the rain gutter complete with the roof.

[67ctbug]

That's a different size windshield, it won't work.
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'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[SBD]

I think it can work if you're willing to rework the windshield opening to accept an earlier windshield. Seems like somebody was doing something similar to the windshield opening on a recent thread. It's definitely not just a cut & past sorta' deal.
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"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"

[1964bug]

Is the windshield just lower at the top, which was my understanding or is it narrower too? Thicker pillars.