Project Creamsicle

stevenpetry · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:02 pm Post subject: Project Creamsicle

This is my first real post on here and my first Beetle rebuild. Done a few other cars in the past so some of this is familiar, but a Beetle is a whole different kind of animal. So here we go.

The car, currently:
1969 Beetle
Suicide doors
3" wider fiberglass rear fenders
2" wider fiberglass front fenders
Front clip, fenders and hood are 67 and earlier.
CB perfomance dropped spindles
1500cc
Shaved handles, chrome, etc.
Power one piece windows.
And a really huge stereo.

The Goal:
Remove body and start from the ground up.
Replace bent front beam and support
Replace napoleans hat
Replace front section of floor pans
Replace front fire wall
Replace heater channels
Replace right rear lower quater panel
Hydraulic clutch
Aftermarket pedal assembly
Lose the tortion rods and go with coil-overs
Relocate door latches, they are way too low
Get rid on those damn one piece windows
Redo the wiring. (did it once, but was in a hurry)
Rebuild 1500. (Upgrade to bigger latter)
Disc brakes all around. 5x5 bolt pattern.
Contemplating fabbing in a '32 Ford dash
Put everything back together and paint it Orange Creamsicle. Just like the popsicle.

Got started on it this weekend. I had pics of the the car before the teardown, but i fat fingered a button and deleted all the pics. Brick wall

Pics up as soon as I figure out how to load them on here.

MoparFreak69 · Samba Member Joined: November 04, 2009 Posts: 676

Just a hint, Facebook doesnt let you link to their pictures. You will have to upload them either to the gallery here or somewhere else like photobucket, flikr, etc.

stevenpetry · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:12 pm Post subject:

Yep, just noticed that and the pics are a bit too big to load here. Gonna go home and shrink em down a bit in photoshop tonight.

stevenpetry · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject:

Ok, got the pics working.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This is worst spot on the pan. Had to cut through the four bolts up front.

Also, looks as though someone has been here before.

Fourty year old sound deadener is really on there.

All clean. What a pain in the ....

Not my doing.

Original drivers side battery tray.

Passenger side. It's been replaced before.

MoparFreak69 · Samba Member Joined: November 04, 2009 Posts: 676

Looks like fun. Aside from a few fust spots it doesnt look like too terribly much to do to get it going. Enjoy.

stevenpetry · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject:

yeah, the pan is going to be pretty easy to get ready. The body on the other hand is gonna need some work. It's pretty straight, but it's got rust in the tough spots. Try to get those pics up tomorrow.

ANSAracingb · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:40 pm Post subject:

Nice project!

Did you mod the car to its current state (suicide doors, one-piece windows, shaved handles, etc), or did you buy it as is?

wompninja · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:30 pm Post subject:

You've got a Watson's Streetworks wiring kit on there. You can probably get a wiring diagram from their website if you need it. They are really nice kits, I've got one on my car.

vwnewb88 · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:03 am Post subject:

lookin good keep the post and pics coming

stevenpetry · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:55 am Post subject:

yeah, it's watsons. I put it in. And I'm pretty good about figuring out what wire goes where, but probably gonna get the diagram anyway. It's a mess right now, but i've seen worse.

And yep, i did the doors, shaving, etc. Most was done in my early years of college when this was a semi daily driver, so i was a bit anxious to drive it, so some things got rushed and need to be mended a bit. But the hard stuff is done, as far as the mods go. The rust is another thing however.

stevenpetry · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 8:03 am Post subject:

Fixing to order new floor pan sections for the front. Anyone know what VW used to seal the pans? Silicone works, but I'm gonna POR15 everything and I don't want issues with stuff not sticking to the silicone.

Found a site that mentions 3M Drip-Check. 3M also has lot of other automotive seam sealers too, so what is everyone using?

stevenpetry · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:18 am Post subject:

Update: Got a the beam and transmission out. Waiting on that tool to get the spindle nuts off. Could have used some crazy cheater pipe and something to keep the drum from turning, but the tool is way too easy to use to not buy. Anyway, here are some pics.

Hopefully, the end result will look something like this. A little less chrome though.

stevenpetry · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:17 am Post subject:

Brown santa came by and left a present.

OEVeedbub make some good stuff. Even flanged the ends. Too bad i'm not going that far back.

Vast improvement.

No turning back now.

What a pain this thing is to remove. Could just put the saw to the whole front end since most is of this coming off, but i like to see how everything goes together.

stevenpetry · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:41 am Post subject:

So after some thinking and measuring, i decided to replace just the lower portion of the frame head. I bought the whole thing, but decided to tear into the old one, see what damage is in there and go from there.

Way too many spot welds. PITA!!

So got the bottom off, and took a look. Most of the decay was on the lower plate, so a trip to the sandblasters before i weld the lower on is planned.

Yeah, there was bit of junk in there.

And tada! This really wasn't too bad to take off. Hard part was not tearing up the upper frame head.

And here's the new one. Hate to tear up a good frame head, but I wasn't about to send this one back and wait for just the lower. Took long enough to get this one. Plus, after somemeasuring, I noticed this thing wasn't totally square, so out came the saw!

Top came off pretty easily.

And after some grinding, it was ready to go on the frame.

And there ya go. The fit is pretty good. Got to persuade it into place a little, but nothing more than what i expected.

volksie1965 · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:44 am Post subject: suicide doors

hey man can you show a few more pics of the suicide doors. I would love to see your work. I am doing mine and would like to "compare notes" so to speak. Did you buy a kit, or make something? thanks in advance and keep on keeping on, its looking great.

unknown force · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 10:01 am Post subject:

Want to part ways with that roof rack? Razz

or do you know the part number for it
_________________
1973 Super
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3252228

GreeneHoosier · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:21 pm Post subject:

Bierboy · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:29 pm Post subject:

wompninja · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:49 pm Post subject:

It's just a Thule rack. You can buy it on their site, it's the same rack they use for any car. You could also get a Yakima rack that would look almost exactly the same.

Fitz. · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:00 pm Post subject:

Brief hijack: On the topic of those racks, it's the same one I have on my '68. It's a Yakima, though the Thule Towers are similar and can be had in slightly taller configurations. Plus they're potmetal, vs. ballistic nylon... Anyway, I regularly haul bikes, surfboards, a canoe, campgear, and all manner of related crap. A good system from Thule or Yakima (my set-up uses components from both) is beyond handy, though spendy...

Until I found this place: http://www.rerackpdx.com/

They deal in new and used Thule and Yakima, and they buy, sell, trade, etc. Definitely worth a look. Much cheaper than retail!

Hope it helps.
_________________
Settle down, it's a car.


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