65 Vert "Bud"

[bigdog1962]

Right heater channel/support

Left looks patchable

Everything is done on the pan.

After the heater channels are squared away, attention goes to the hood fitment.

[bigdog1962]

Right heater channel is primed. Working on the quarter panel. I give up trying to predict when I'll get it back home. It may as well stay there for the winter.

[bigdog1962]

Thinking the left heater channel is patchable...

Not going to patch it. Going to replace it

I'm not surprised - in fact, I kind of expected it. Support rail has been ordered from CIP1.

[lovethatconvertible]

NEW Vert Rails, Awesome. Won't have to worry about that for a long time.
Keep the updates coming on Bud.
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1960 Convertible

[bigdog1962]

A good example of where you see rust, you don't know what's lurking underneath. Buyer beware.
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And seat repair, recovering

[bigdog1962]

Both rear quarter panels, support rails and heater channels are finished.

Had to find a donor for seat repair and it's now been found. Seats will be going to the blaster and paint. Attention will now be turned to the rear apron where it had been hit. I knew the bumper wouldn't fit right but I also didn't realize the gap between the engine lid and body was too large. Picture to follow.

[bigdog1962]

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[bigdog1962]

Underway...

[bigdog1962]

Waiting...

Seat frame progress....

[bigdog1962]

Rust repair

seats repaired and ready for paint

[bigdog1962]

The rear apron has been replaced and most of the tweaking done. Still a little tweaking left to do besides replacing the rubber seal.

Compared to

[bigdog1962]

Here's the deal...about two years ago, I knew the front clip needed to be repaired. The PO had bent it out after a previous crash, welded on the bumper bars and other various temporary patches. The picture doesn't do it justice but it wasn't worth fixing.

So I found a local bodyshop that said "sure, we can cut the old one off and weld on the new one..." and they did. That was fine except the hood still did not fit.

After getting it back, thinking on it and driving it in the meantime, I decided to take it somewhere that KNEW VWs for that and other big ticket items.

It was a crummy repair and had to come off. This is how it sits today.

The nose is off and a new one will be welded on. But wait....there's more. What I didn't realize and more importantly the other body shop didn't (or maybe they did and didn't point it out and maybe they did only what I asked them to do) is that there is more damage contributing to why the hood doesn't fit. Among other things, there is a wrinkle just below the windshield that probably involves the pillar. Time and more investigating will tell.

The moral of this story for me is I should have taken it to people that do old school body work and know VWs. Those types of places are few and far between where I live and probably getting more scarce everywhere. Guess that's why the car is in North Carolina and I'm in Georgia. (There's probably shops in Georgia but MonkeyNut VW caught my eye in N.C. and I've been very pleased so far) Nothing that $$$ can't fix.

[Bilscho]

Keep going your doing great

[63Ragtop NZ]

That rip next to the hinge does not look very good either.

people are quick to take the money some times eh?

x2 on the keep going! nearly there.
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If you can't join them, beat them!

[bigdog1962]

We were hoping for a September 1st finish date (well, I've hoped for earlier dates but something has always come up) but I know we won't make it. They have been putting forth more of an effort to get it done so I'm counting on some other things popping up - as in the hinge repair, pillar repair. And then, putting the body back on, I'm sure there will be other things. But the plan is to finish what I've started and get it back together again and drive it awhile. It'll cost more $$ to get it ready for paint and I'm not ready for that. We'll see how it goes....

[ADDA]

You're doing a fantastic job. I've a 63 i need to get underway she's been untouched in my garage for 4 years and someone elses for 6. I'm welder by trade however i work on building oil rigs for a living which is totally different to welding bodywork I'm slightly daunted but want to do mine myself ....one day.

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[bigdog1962]

The new to me, new to me again front clip. Going to the media blaster.

[bigdog1962]

Thanks ADDA, 63Ragtop and Bilscho for the words of encouragement.

More pictures of the damage from a collision other than the obvious front clip. It must have taken a real wallop some time ago. Part of the reason for showing these pictures is for those that are thinking about buying a bug that has a history of some front end damage, to take a look at these areas too when looking over the car. I missed noticing this when I bought the car several years ago although it wouldn't have made me change my mind.

Damage includes the front quarters, A pillar and cowl.

Driver's side

Passenger's side

[bigdog1962]

Engine lid seal being welded in

Broken tar board tabs welded in

Completed both sides

[bigdog1962]

Back from the blaster

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Oprn wrote: I'm getting to the age that any self propelled woman (no wheel chair or walker) looks HOT!! Oooo! look at that Babe! She made it from the dining room all the way to the TV room without help!! Hubba, hubba!!