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Trying to get the body off
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slack874
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 5:24 am    Post subject: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

Hi all

I have a 1970 bug called Dave and I need to get his body off..

I have undone all the bolts apart from the two on the shock things at the back which are just blobs of rust - I'm thinking of angle grinding them off, unless there is a better way?

Also, it looks like the previous owner welded the body to the chassis at the front and I cant figure out where to cut - does anyone have any photos of the body as it comes off the chassis so I can see where to cut?


Thanks
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andk5591
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 5:40 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

Pictures of what you are talking about would help. The rear is easy to understand, but not sure about what you meam about the front. What you do in the back depends what you are doing for the repairs. If the mounts are bad and need replaced, then just cut. But if you just want to separate it, a sawzall between the pan and body mount would be good. There was a rubber cushion in there at one time, so you should have room. Obviously you will need to drill out the bolt from the pan.
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theKbStockpiler
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 7:11 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

https://www.google.com/search?q=vw+pan+bolt+locations+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

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slack874
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 3:33 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

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offshores
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 11:50 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

If the bolt on the back is rusty you can put a socket on it and break of the head pretty easily.
Is the other side of the front welded? If not, lift up on the front and follow the seam to where it ends and cut. Or lift up the back and follow along heater channel and cut if both sides in front are welded.
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Mike Fisher
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 12:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

Better to cut bolts/welds with your sawzall/grinder where necessary than lifting too high and bending up the body/pan metal for no gain!
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offshores
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 1:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

That's the point, to cut the parts that are welded, but he doesn't know what lines to cut. By lifting up you'll see real quick where you'll need to cut. You don't need to lift that much and risk bending anything.
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theKbStockpiler
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 2:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

I'm not seeing evidence that the heater channel is welded to the floor pan. Confused

Use map gas in a plumbers (turbo torch); has fins in the nozzle, to heat the top of the bolt up. If this does not break it free heat the bottom instead. If you can find a 'jewelers torch' which can make a small precise flame it will make tearing down a rusty car much easier. I use one on brake lines quite often. Anytime you feel you are pushing the strength of a fastener, hit it with a torch regardless in a safe manner.

If you round off the top of the bolt in the back, hammer the next sized smaller socket on it.
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slack874
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:00 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

My plan was to get the rear bolts off first, then try and lift the rear and see what happens - there is so much crud there I cant see what line to cut. You are right, the heater channels arent welded so hopefully I will see the gap easy enough

The rear bolt head is just a blob, cant get a socket on it at all.. If I cut the head off, how easy or hard is it to get the bolt body out? Drill?
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CiderGuy
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 7:39 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

slack874 wrote:
My plan was to get the rear bolts off first, then try and lift the rear and see what happens - there is so much crud there I cant see what line to cut. You are right, the heater channels arent welded so hopefully I will see the gap easy enough

The rear bolt head is just a blob, cant get a socket on it at all.. If I cut the head off, how easy or hard is it to get the bolt body out? Drill?


A better idea might be to pick up a set of those sockets which will grip just about anything. They saved me hours of time and frustration.
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slack874
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 7:47 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

Those ones with loads of pin heads on? I tried one of those, didnt work unfortunately Sad Maybe I'll try again with heat
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CiderGuy
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 9:16 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

slack874 wrote:
Those ones with loads of pin heads on? I tried one of those, didnt work unfortunately Sad Maybe I'll try again with heat


Those are available also, but the ones I used were 12 sided sockets and gripped anything I put them on. Mine are made by craftsman.
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bobbyblack Premium Member
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 9:32 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

From memory, my gas tank had to come out for me to find some of the bolts up front. Got a picture from under the tank?
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slack874
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 10:16 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

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offshores
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 1:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

If you have a chisel and a sledge hammer you could shear that rusty head off too. Or cut it. It's only a 10mm bolt so getting the head off shouldn't be too hard.
As for the remaining bolt that's left in the hole, get some drill bits and a tap set. I start out by using smaller bits and working up to larger ones, and making sure I drill down the center. Centering is important and using a punch and a hammer first to make an indent for you drill bit is essential.
I'm pretty sure the bolt size is a 10x1.5 so you'll use whatever size tap and chase the threads once you've drilled the bolt enough.
I've also drilled enough to where the bolt shaft was so thin that I was able to bend it toward the center of the hole and remove the rest not even needing to use a tap. Some are super easy to get out while others are a pain. Drilling down the center is key though. Check YouTube if need be.
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BotanyBandit
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 6:04 pm    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

My 2¢ is to soak all bolts in PB blaster or nutbuster for a day or two . When separating my body from the chassis I sheared off atleast 3 bolt heads before I realized that drilling them out would be a huge pain. I soaked them all per some advice on here and not a single bolt fought me after that. I eventually replaced the heater channels but the PB blaster saved me a lot of work. If that doesn't work the other ideas are all on point. Good luck
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mac2881994
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 5:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

slack874 wrote:
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Don't forget the two bolts on the front side of the gas tank opening. They go into the top of the front beam and should have rectangular rubber pads on them.
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volksbug70
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 5:52 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

slack874 wrote:
I have a 1970 bug called Dave


Ha! I'm Dave and I have a 1970 bug!
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jeffinohio
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:15 am    Post subject: Re: Trying to get the body off Reply with quote

The 64 I am working on had similar repairs tying the body/frame together.I used a cut off wheel on a 4 inch angle grinder to cut thru the old repairs and remove the body.SUCKED,but got it.
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