Another 65 Bug Project

RLFD213 · Samba Member Joined: January 21, 2009 Posts: 336

Your finishing of your welds looks really good. What technique are you using to finish and make them blend so well.

offshores · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks. I’ve tried a lot of different things, but lately I’ve been impressed with the Diablo 4 ½” 50 grit fiber discs. I usually start dressing the welds with a standard 4 ½” cutoff disc on an angle grinder and when I get pretty close to the surrounding metal I switch to the 50 grit discs and just make small passes with light pressure until it blends in. Very last I make a few passes with 150 on an orbital sander. I’m still learning every day, but I have to say what I find is that the 2 pieces of sheet metal need to be clean, have the proper gap and must be on the same plane prior to welding. If one is higher than the other it’s gonna be tough to blend.

And go slow!!!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-4-1-2-in-50-Grit-Fiber-Disc-4-Pack-DCF045050S04G/202830894

offshores · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 5:40 pm Post subject:

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offshores · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 4:39 pm Post subject:

Removed the undercoating from the other side. Wasn't looking forward to it, but it's pretty much done. Gonna remove body again and will get the remaining undercoating that's in the hard to reach areas. No surprises thankfully. The bumper bracket has a tear that I need to address though...

offshores · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 6:07 pm Post subject:

The Bug came with a 3 foot long louvered rear view mirror and I won't be reusing it. Sad

The mounting holes would be visible so I closed em up. Also fixed the rear bumper bracket that had a tear in it.

offshores · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 4:43 pm Post subject:

Holes on the front quarters are gone.

JDGas · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:23 am Post subject:

Looking real good! Your rear wheel well came out really clean, what process are you using to strip it to bare metal?
_________________
1959 Ragtop Beetle - sold
1958 Danish Beetle
1967 SO-42 West. - sold
1961 Sunroof Beetle - sold
1969 Sunroof Beetle

offshores · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 6:59 am Post subject:

Thanks. I started with a propane torch and a 2" scraper to get the thicker, tar based stuff off. Then I sprayed on Crown Tuff-Strip paint stripper and used 3M stripping pads (both from Lowe's) to get almost everything else off. Final steps were a drill with wire wheel to get into the hard to reach spots and last was a quick pass with 150 grit.

sportin-wood · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:04 am Post subject:

offshores · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 7:45 pm Post subject:

I got the body back off and finished getting the rest of the undercoating off both rear sections. Got the right side rear quarter mostly down to metal and finally removed all the rubberized crap and remaining paint from the dash area. I made a 4:1 soution of water/Jasco and sprayed everything that was bare metal and then rinsed the whole car with water. The dash was nice and shinny before the Jasco and rinse, but it's at least protected for a few days. I also put some filler on the rear sections to fill in the spot weld dimples. Hope to do some more sanding soon and gonna start busting out some primer.

offshores · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 4:02 pm Post subject:

grandpa pete · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 4:51 pm Post subject:

NICE !
Enjoy getting it to this stage .

3 1/2 years Shocked

The end is in sight ......
_________________
63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

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

offshores · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:55 pm Post subject:

I towed the Bug over to a friend's place yesterday and this morning I was able to get all 4 quarters primed. Hopefully tomorrow morning I'll sand/scotch brite the trunk area and prime that.

offshores · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:29 pm Post subject:

I was low on primer, but was able to get 1 coat on before I ran out. Will get more tomorrow and apply another coat.

offshores · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 1:58 pm Post subject:

Got another coat on the trunk area and got the top primed. Engine compartment next week.

63Ragtop NZ · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 3:52 pm Post subject:

looking good man!

can't wait to get up to that stage with mine, must feel so good.
_________________
If you can't join them, beat them!

offshores · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2015 6:05 pm Post subject:

^^^Thanks. I'm pretty happy at this point, but still have some things to sort out. I think next time I'll have the whole car media blasted and primed right off the bat. The two rear fenders I previously primed are not being used on this so I have all 4 fenders and the sunroof panel left to prime.

silvertonguedevil · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 7:42 pm Post subject:

Looks great! Nice progress!
_________________
-Greg

offshores · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks.
I decided to get some 2.5" dropped spindles and bought a complete set with new king and link pins. Got those installed and primed the 2 front fenders. I'm now starting to see what it will look like once it's all done and painted white. I'll reindex the rear and lower the back end a tad next.

I installed the left spindle first and this shows how much of a difference there is between the stock spindle and the dropped.

offshores · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 10:14 am Post subject:

I primed the rear fenders and lowered the right rear one outer spline. I'll do the left soon. It should sit pretty level when it's all put together and engine installed. One little piece at a time is starting to add up.


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Another 65 Bug Project
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