When is it prudent to remove the body?

vwjames3j

I am getting my 69 bug ready for paint and I just keep digging deeper into it. I have a bad case of "while I'm at it". Anyway, i found some heavy rust in the back corners of the wheel wells and I am debating whether or not to remove the body to repair these areas and see what else I find. Is this a good idea or more trouble than its worth? I'm not trying to build a show car but I want it to be solid. Thanks

Brian

Sharig1979 · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:34 pm Post subject:

It's a slippery slope, isn't it? You have to take it down as far as you have to for you to be cool with the finished product. If you are finding things that need to be repaired so that the rest of your hardwork wont be compromised then you may want to keep going. Post some pics of the area. If you were talking about a 55 356 I'd say strip, dip, and fix everything but it's a 69 VW and like you said It's not a show car. My race car is clean and straight but at the end of the day it's a race car and although we blasted it we left the body on the pan when we did it and repaired what we had to
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beetlenut · Samba Member Joined: May 27, 2009 Posts: 959 Location: RI

Depends on how many times you want to fix those areas, and if you have the place/means to pull the body off. With the body off, you can get to all those areas and fix them right,... once. I started on my car doing it with the body on. Then I moved and had the means to take the body off. Once I did, I found areas that I thought I fixed pretty well, only to see more hidden rust that I could not get to with the body on. I'm doing it once and doing it right.
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vwjames3j · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:55 pm Post subject:

hmm... I live on a farm and plenty of space but I do not have a nice garage to work in, just an old dirt floor barn. I see a lot of info on taking the body off but I don't hear much about reinstalling it. As with most things I'm sure I can take it apart but putting it back together is the question. I also wanted to install drop spindle/disc brake kit up front so I don't know if that will make it any easier. Will it bend/warp easily when removed? I appreciate all the help and I will post some pics up tomorrow.

schell '59 · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:30 pm Post subject:

..when you wanna do it right..once and not have to go back and fix that s--t again.
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Mike Fisher · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:39 am Post subject:

Level/form/pour a 4" concrete slab in one corner of your Barn for your Shop.
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69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,71,71,71 AT,72,72 AT Parts
56 & 57 oval ragtop $2,500

vwjames3j · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:39 pm Post subject:

So I started to dig into removing the body today and as I kinda expected I opened a can of worms. Several of the bolts along the sides that go into the heater channel just spun and didn't come loose. It looks like I'll be having to do a heater channel replacement. I found a lot of bondo and crappy tack welded crap along the way too. What is the best way to remove these bolts, perhaps drill them out? I'll try to get some pictures up soon. The heater channels definitely are rusted out and I'm wondering if those couple bolts will just pull through if I try to lift the body off. Thanks again for all the help!

Vinnems · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:03 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't remove the body unless you're doing a full restoration, where you'll get the sucker sandblasted and painted before putting things back together. It's not worth the trouble, especially if you heater channels are solid. The spot your talking about can be fixed without lifting it.
I must admit, it is pretty cool lifting the body off the car, but that wears off when you realize you have to put it back on again.
Your call. In your case I wouldn't.

fred69vert · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:17 am Post subject:

When you open that can of worms expect to find three more inside. An installation of missing convertible support rails (gotta love PO's, one removed the rails) turned into a two year restoration.
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Mike Fisher · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:05 pm Post subject:

You can cut the 1/2 pans out first and then the heater channels with the body on it. Might as well grind the heads off the spinning pan bolts to get the pans loose.
_________________
http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/mr_bojangles500/
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,71,71,71 AT,72,72 AT Parts
56 & 57 oval ragtop $2,500

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