careful of old construction

pearidge · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:12 pm Post subject: careful of old construction

Hi all new guy here.Been lurking for a few weeks.built a rail 20 years ago and had fun ,had it street legal but wasn't much fun in town.To much cam.No fun in the rain either.Owned a bug or to at times.Now about the current project.Found an old citation with the T style nose and hard top ,had been in a garage for 10 years.FG is in good shape.Duel port ran after cleaning carb and points.Thought i would do brakes and wiring and drive it awhile.Found a little rust on passenger side front of pan.So puuled the body and found a 4 inch square hole cut in pass side of tunnel 8 inches in front of shifter.Was just tacked back in place.Long story short it was cracked all the way over the top and 3 inches down the other side.So i will have a liitle more than rust to fix.Oh well will try to post pics tommorrow.Still thick i got a good deal just scared that i almost drove it like that!

BL3Manx · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:17 pm Post subject:

Good post!

Wolfgangdieter · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:53 pm Post subject:

Glenn · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:57 pm Post subject:

You'd be amazed at the "hackery" and hidden dangers i've seen in the past 40 years of working on VWs.

Everything from license plates used to patch the floors to threaded rod used for a head stud.

PO's... you just gotta love them since killing them is illegal.
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wythac · Samba Member Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791

The placement makes it sounds like an inspection/access panel for a hydraulic clutch system. Is it right across from your pedal set?

weasel_ugs · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject:

Im still trying to figure out why a balljoint beam was installed on my kingpin pan and why a 3 gallon gas tank and a whole bunch of other hacks.

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 9:03 pm Post subject:

I encountered foam used as a body lift.

Shocks welded on.

Wood Screws used as cotter pins on rear castle nuts.

Riding Lawnmower carbs used as dual carbs.

Steel welded to oil pump drive gear to make it long enough to engage cam.

Several Beams welded to pan heads.

Aluminum pop cans tin snipped and used to shim worm link bushings on LP front beams.

Paper Clips used to wire chokes open on carbs.

6 total bolts holding buggy body to pan.

Non-VW throw out bearings wired in place.

More times than I can count, house wiring used on cars.
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Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

pearidge · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 3:36 am Post subject:

i will try to post pics tonight.the wirirng was a mess .wire nuts,masking tape .no tape etc.the body is real good shape but looking at some of the build just makes me shake my head.the lady i bought it from got it from someone she worked with and only drove it twice.she is lucky it didn't break in half.the hole is between the shifter and pedals.still has cable clutch so not sure why hole was cut.

lil-jinx · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:23 am Post subject:

All those improvised repairs just proves the ease in which you can keep those vw running.

pearidge · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:22 pm Post subject:

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

here is the hole the po cut yes that is brazing you see

wythac · Samba Member Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791

I'll bet one of the POs had trouble getting the pedal set off to replace it or replace a clutch cable and cut an access hole. What a mess.

pearidge · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:31 pm Post subject:

here it is 2 weeks ago

pearidge · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:37 pm Post subject:

and one more

pearidge · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:40 pm Post subject:

wish i had the side curtains for it .the pan doesn't scare me i am a maint man /welder/electrician/mach////////what ever .it will just take time.

BL3Manx · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 7:20 pm Post subject:

Before you weld up the tunnel, look inside and make sure the clutch cable tube is secure and not going to break loose. You should also inspect around the parking brake handle mount, its a very common location for cracks especially if you have the heater control levers there.

heywebonya · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:54 am Post subject:

Amazing cracks. I would like to see the repairs as you complete them.
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pearidge · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:00 pm Post subject:

got started on repair.only 2 pics camera battery died put a patch inside and pulled it up with bolts.welded thru holes and started welding crack quit for the night

SBD · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:19 pm Post subject:

Still a nice looking buggy if you bought it right! Very Happy

EVfun · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:52 pm Post subject:

pearidge · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:37 am Post subject:

i am grinding away brass as i go.i do quite a bit of welding so not to worried.i already bought all new wheel cylinders and a dual circuit mastercylinder.and new brake shoes.ordered a new frame head bottom plate,cross member and pas side floor pan quarter .right now total investment is just under $2000


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