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ocbugger
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2008
Posts: 96
Location: Orange County
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 Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:27 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the progress updates!
Be careful with that body dolly, it looks shaky if the car starts moving side to side. This movement may happen when you start fitting your metal replacement panels and later in the project when you start body filler/sanding. Finding the right working height will save your knees and back.
Good luck and keep us updated. |
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Mike Fisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 17968
Location: Eugene, OR
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| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:44 am Post subject: |
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That will be nice working on the body/chassis separately! You gonna use a wire wheel to clean up your pan or a sand blaster? You don't have to replace Every part with new stuff! It's easier/cheaper/faster to clean/paint/reassemble where possible!  P.S. Should run 2X4 from driver to passenger bases?
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https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey |
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Keith
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2005
Posts: 3634
Location: Brodheadsville, PA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:06 am Post subject: |
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Yes, run 2x4 from one side to the other on those dollies or you 'll have the car on the floor before you know it. Better safe than sorry.
Nice work so far..I'll be doing the same soon on mine
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Formerly known in the forums as "OVALTEEN"
"I firmly believe that some villagers from Botswana could probably build a better road than PennDot."- Splitty
"If you do anything to your car someone will hate on you for it. People absolutely love to complain and find fault with others. Don't let it bother you. Just live and have fun."- Lind |
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COLOFIRE
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: Ahhhh... |
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Ah ha! Good point! I will tie the bases together.
I will try to salvage any pieces I can. I know the panels I mentioned on the chassis are in need of replacement. I will probably wire wheel the remainder of the chassis. The body is on the back burner until I get the chassis rebuilt and out of the garage. I will more than likely have the body media blasted. On a side note, I was concerned if I had enough bracing with just the doors being braced (along with the factory brace which runs under the front side of the rear seat) But after lifting it, all measurements are still true. 
Thanks for your comments and motivation!
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COLOFIRE
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: March Update! |
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Howdy Everyone!
Things have progressed slowly - work, kiddos, stuff... I just wanted to post some pics on what has been happening. The right side pan half has been removed. A sawzall, die grinder, and air chisel are beautiful things. I placed the new pan I ordered from CIP1 in place to check fit... and all looks like it will be fine! I took some measurements for the napoleon hat and started removing the old one. This also exposed some issues with rust on the frame head bottom panel and tunnel. Something new at every turn as they say . I some new sheet metal on the way and hope to have to both sides completed by the end of next week. I will then start on cleaning up and repairing the "mechanical" parts of the chassis!
Take care everyone!
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"You're killing me Smalls!!" |
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vpogv
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2008
Posts: 230
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:39 am Post subject: |
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Definitely brings back memories. I went through that last fall and boy it was fun.  Keep up the good work. |
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72on18's
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2005
Posts: 117
Location: corydon,indiana
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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| great looking project. I'm getting ready to do the pans on my 74 so the pictures are very helpful. |
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fred69vert
Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2007
Posts: 2200
Location: Home of the US Navy Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VA
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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You doing the heater channels? Here's some fun facts for your resto. I found these out the hard way on my 69 'vert. There are numerous extra support panels throughout the 'vert. Little rounded ones in the door corners. Big ones in the front between the door opening and the front crossmember. Extra panels in the rear that make removing/replacing the luggage tray interesting.
You can't get these parts so take care of them.
I have my luggage shelf out, along with the rear crossmember. Just got the driver's side heater channel out today. And I got holes in both front quarter panels. There was lots of bondo.
Everytime I open one can of worms there are five more inside.
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I'm not losing my hair, it's just retired and relocating further south.
1969 VW convertible, "Heidi" |
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Alby's Dubby
Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2009
Posts: 145
Location: AUCKLAND
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:07 am Post subject: COLOFIRE |
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 Who's are the Environmentally Brain Dead Gas Guzzling full size American utes?
Couldn't you cut one of them up for spare steel?  |
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COLOFIRE
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:50 am Post subject: |
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Fred, I will be replacing the heater channels as well as a whole bunch of other sheet metal. It is a great challenge but at least this little beauty will be road worthy for many years to come!! I too have noticed that there are several bracing panels on the vert... I supposed there are about 8.5 million spot welds to drill out!  Like you I find new surprises at every turn... We shall hold the course and forge ahead!
Dubby, The big black beast is Mamma's family truckster! The big blue GMC pickup is MINE, and the white Ford is my work truck which is my mobile office for the next 4 years. Now, notice the itty bitty little Honda Civic in the driveway? He is sad because I was working on his resto until a bug showed up at home and took over the garage... So with the Honda and the vert, we have a sense of balance on the ecofriendly / gas hog scale. By the way, modern Detroit iron is really of lesser quality than aftermarket bug iron...
UPDATE: Good progress was made over the weekend. I conscripted my father in law since he is a retired wrench turner. The left side pan half is out and the napoleon hat has been removed. Dad repaired a couple of twisted-off 17mm body mounting bolts on the back end while I butchered sheet metal. The new bottom panel for the front frame head is due for delivery today. As you can see in the pics above, the back portion of this panel is gone.  I would like to use the new panel to make a patch panel for his in lieu of replacing the whole thing... Has anyone replaced this entire panel? and if so how much of a pain in the A$$ is it I would GREATLY appreciate any comments or tips you all may have!
Have a great day!!
SB
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AZ65CalBug
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2001
Posts: 708
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:45 am Post subject: |
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Looking good so far! I started my '67 - yet to get anything done on it for about a year but I hope to start it up again soon!
Keep up the good work and keep us posted on updates!
I did a web page / blog to keep picture and updates and show friends and such.. Take a lot of pictures. It is fun to look back on them for sure!!
www.1967calbug.com is mine if you like to check it out!
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please like the page to get updates as they happen. |
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COLOFIRE
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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Mike,
Your project is awesome! Truly inspiring! So your a hockey dude? I'm a D-man on our FD's team.... Thanks for your comments and the link to your site!
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COLOFIRE
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:39 am Post subject: Lots of progress |
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Howdy,
The last two days have been quite busy and for the first time in several weeks, I feel much progress has been made! We started with our frame head repair. To make more room to work, we removed the axel beam and had one of those oh crap moments. The bottom rear ends of the "uprights" were rusted through. Luckily I was able to secure a rebuilt beam in Denver for a reasonable price... A short drive saved a bunch of time and shipping costs.
The frame head was repaired, painted, and the new axle beam was hung. I cleaned the tie rods and hope to have them rebooted and installed this weekend. We even managed to get the left side pan in. The fit was pretty good and all lined up to spec. I will finish welding it up after I get the right pan installed. Thanks to the Father-in-Law for all the help!
After I get the pans all buttoned up, I am going to remove the engine and tranny. There is alot of gunk to clean up on the back end. Thanks everyone for you comments!
SB
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CanadianBug
Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2008
Posts: 222
Location: South Western Ontario
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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No frame rails welded to those pans?
The pics don't show any.
Interesting... all the cabrios I done had 'em, including the 61 I'm doing now. |
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Bart Dunn
Samba Consiglieri
Joined: May 09, 2004
Posts: 2354
Location: Sea level (Mid Atlantic)
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| Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| CanadianBug wrote: |
No frame rails welded to those pans?
The pics don't show any.
Interesting... all the cabrios I done had 'em, including the 61 I'm doing now. |
If you mean the reinforcement rails, those are welded to the body under the heater channels, and not to the pan.
Looks good, BTW. Where in Northern Colorado are you? I'm doing a '58 convertible and would be happy to compare notes.
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Not enough car seats fit into my:
'58 Beetle convertible
'58 Beetle sedan |
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AZ65CalBug
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2001
Posts: 708
Location: Arizona
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RAMZROD
Hammered™ Apparel
Joined: February 06, 2004
Posts: 6959
Location: Hammered Apparel design studio
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COLOFIRE
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:20 pm Post subject: A little update... |
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Howdy!
I thought I would post an update on my project. Both pan halves have been installed - FINALLY! The front end is finished. The process did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. The rebuilt axle beam came with disc brake spindles... Now I know you're thinking "Hey why not just install disc brakes?" I thought about it but it came down to the bucks. So I changed out the spindles, cleaned the backing plates and drums. put on some new shoes, buttoned it up and got the front end back on it's wheels.
I removed the engine and will be taking the axle out later this week so I can get the hind end cleaned up. Then I'll get crazy with some rust proofing gunk, do some painting and call this chassis DONE! I can't wait to get started on the body!
Take care!!
PS: I know I have to take the jacking points off and install them on the support rails... Just haven't done it yet.
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Bart Dunn
Samba Consiglieri
Joined: May 09, 2004
Posts: 2354
Location: Sea level (Mid Atlantic)
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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Pan looks good! FYI, just toss the jack points on the pans. Won't work on the convertible, as the jack points are an integral part of the support rails and aren't tacked on like on the sedan pans. How bad are the rails on the car? Some of your pic's look like they've long since disappeared.
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Not enough car seats fit into my:
'58 Beetle convertible
'58 Beetle sedan |
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COLOFIRE
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Bart!
Crazy weather over the weekend! It's crazy to be outside in 70 degree heat today and see the mountains and foothills veiled in white...
I will toss the jack points... By the way the rails are toast! Most of the body seems to be held together by the 5 coats of paint on it and maybe some faith
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