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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 6:51 am Post subject: 1979 SB Vert Pan off rebuild: Forrest, Forrest Gump |
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Stay tuned, Forrest (named by my daughter) is about to undergo major surgery.
Garage is cleaned, tools and parts have arrived and are organized.
Will begin pulling it apart next weekend.
Will need a ton of help from my kids due to my neck and back issues but have enlisted a small army of teens to lift the body off when the time comes in exchange for pizza
Plan: (readers digest version)
1. dismantle entire car and separate body from pan
2. send pan for media blasting then paint with master series
3. rebuild pan and suspension
4. send tranny out for rebuild
5. install tranny
not sure here.....install new zero mile engine, or make rear apron removable and do that later
6. the day I bring the pan back, I'm sending the body off for media blasting. It will come back with epoxy primer in place.
not sure here....try to do body work and paint in my garage having never done this before, or just haul it on a body dolly to a paint shop and bring it back to mate to the pan and assemble it. There are three areas of rust bubbles about 2" max dimension each and one very rusty palm sized patch behind on of the tar boards in the engine compartment. I've also never welded anything. Floor plans replace by PO but I've not stripped the carpet or anything, they could be superglued in for all I know, but since the car was being driven continuously until I bought it by the same family for nearly 30 years I think they've endeavored to keep the car maintained and roadworthy during its lifetime. Everything on the car was fully functional when I got it.
not sure here....convertible top: try to replace the top myself using a chucks convertible's kit, or take the kit and car to a local uphostery/top/restoration place.
I very much appreciate any and all advice and help
any good used part that I replace and any tools I use that I wont need again I will post for sale in the classifieds when I'm done - if interested in anything parts or tools wise just PM me. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight= |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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toddb_67 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003 Posts: 1313 Location: Hansville, WA
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:09 am Post subject: |
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Weezle, I'm looking at the picture of your car and I'm wondering why you are going to tear that car apart to do a body-off restoration? Does it have rust issues that aren't obvious in the picture? Why replace the engine?
I hope you realize that a full blown body-off restoration can take months at a minimum and years at a maximum. If you have never done something like this before I will warn you now that it is very hard to stay focused on the end goal when the car is sitting in your garage in a million pieces. I applaud you if you have considered all of this and are going for it. Make sure you take lots of pictures and bag and tag every single nut and bolt you take off. If you have never painted a car I would recommend either taking it to a body shop or if you want to learn a new skill start by painting something simple and work up to actually painting your car. When I learned to paint in the Navy our instructor had us painting hangar doors with water in the paint guns just to get a feel for how paint flows when shot from a paint gun. If you are mechanically inclined you can do this, it's the staying motivated about the project in the long run, that is the really hard part. _________________ 1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna" (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
1974 Karmann Ghia- current project, 1967cc engine. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775207
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:20 am Post subject: Pics |
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EFI harness by Kyle
First night in new home back in January
Factory FI runs well
trunk/fuel expansion stuff
original color light metallic blue, planned color is Raveena green which enhances spousal approval of the overall project
Buffed one side with nu finish. Can't tell which side. terrrible paint!
Parts hoard from WW. Gas tank was removed from dining room table before noticed by spouse
Here is the quarter window area, it was repaired. Since I've owned it a big tear like this appeared on the right quarter window area. I think the hinges of the mechanism are pinching the top. I need to make sure this doesn't happen with my new top. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight=
Last edited by Weezle on Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:33 am Post subject: |
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toddb_67 wrote: |
Weezle, I'm looking at the picture of your car and I'm wondering why you are going to tear that car apart to do a body-off restoration? Does it have rust issues that aren't obvious in the picture? Why replace the engine?
I hope you realize that a full blown body-off restoration can take months at a minimum and years at a maximum. If you have never done something like this before I will warn you now that it is very hard to stay focused on the end goal when the car is sitting in your garage in a million pieces. I applaud you if you have considered all of this and are going for it. Make sure you take lots of pictures and bag and tag every single nut and bolt you take off. If you have never painted a car I would recommend either taking it to a body shop or if you want to learn a new skill start by painting something simple and work up to actually painting your car. When I learned to paint in the Navy our instructor had us painting hangar doors with water in the paint guns just to get a feel for how paint flows when shot from a paint gun. If you are mechanically inclined you can do this, it's the staying motivated about the project in the long run, that is the really hard part. |
Thanks for this feedback. I just want a car that looks and feels like new. It has about 20 little oil leaks from the engine/tranny which don't affect function but are kinda messy. There are some small rust issues (visible).
I'm really in it for the challenge. To make it even a bit better than new. I haven't rebuilt a car since college days but did do body-on 57 chevy and replaced the engine in another car. Its a reboot of a hobby for someone who's at a point in life that I have free time and a budget. I want to create something. If it turns out to be much harder than I imagined then you might see a classified ad for a "vert project" or I'll end up subbing the work to some shops, but I'm really looking forward to digging in. There's a lot I don't know like painting and welding that I will probably just get done by pros.
I'll end up with more in it than its worth by far, but I'll take that value out again in enjoyment by driving it. I have covered parking at home and work 3 miles away so it could be my daily driver when done and out of the elements.
Thanks for input and please continue...Samba's great for help. I've been reading the site since I bought the car 8 months ago and learned quite a lot. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight= |
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johnnypan Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 7431 Location: sackamenna
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:42 am Post subject: |
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That is a decent car that runs and drives...sure it needs a little work,but they all do. To tear that car down and do a full at home restoration takes a large amount of time,during which you wont have a car to drive,you'll have a project in your garage requiring daily attention...If your not doing something to it on a regular basis (I recommend daily even if its cleaning a bolt thread)the project will take a back seat to other issues you have in your life...this is how projects turn into ten year builds..why not keep the convertible together and running as a driver and buy a project car? |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:50 am Post subject: |
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johnnypan wrote: |
That is a decent car that runs and drives...sure it needs a little work,but they all do. To tear that car down and do a full at home restoration takes a large amount of time,during which you wont have a car to drive,you'll have a project in your garage requiring daily attention...If your not doing something to it on a regular basis (I recommend daily even if its cleaning a bolt thread)the project will take a back seat to other issues you have in your life...this is how projects turn into ten year builds..why not keep the convertible together and running as a driver and buy a project car? |
Its ok Johnnypan its my second car. I have every afternoon free to work on it and will as you suggest do something every day to maintain the momentum. PS: 99% of your comments are the funnest sh*t on the forum. I hope I don't post anything stupid enough to end up in the crosshairs of your sarcasmcanon but if I do, I'm sure I deserve it. Thanks for advice.
Oh yeh, there is no way this project will be allowed to go on for years without the wife calling 1-800-GOT TRASH and getting rid of it while I'm not home. I think I can continue the momentum and plan a few hours a day pretty much every day to get it done. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight= |
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Hyperspace Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013 Posts: 1166 Location: South Africa
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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scrivyscriv Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011 Posts: 2922 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Are you going for show car/ trailer queen type resto? I'd be satisfied with a daily driver that looked like yours _________________ Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help. |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:32 am Post subject: |
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Hyperspace wrote: |
As long as you have a couple hundred of hours to spend and about twice as much as you paid for the car in cash for parts, why not? |
calculating..........I can easily do 160 hours before new year's day. Probably 200. Sold my other fun car to buy this, so very decent budget reserved for my goals which are: looks like new, drives a bit better than new due to engine and suspension and brake upgrades. I will not be jacking it up at car shows and putting mirrors under it. I want to drive it. A lot. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight= |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:40 am Post subject: |
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scrivyscriv wrote: |
Are you going for show car/ trailer queen type resto? I'd be satisfied with a daily driver that looked like yours |
no/no. see me last post. that blurry photo looks better than the car. Once I dig in I will post photos of rust and stuff. Its undercoated and its been painted once so it may have a lot more wrong with it than it looks. You can't tell from the photos but I wouldn't leave it outside in a pouring rain, I can see the gaps between the top and the windows. Nor would I get on the expressway and go 80MPH even though steering and brakes are ok for where I drive..... I've been puttering around in it to work and shopping in my own development only. Speed limit is 25 and 30mph on these roads so I haven't worried about it that much but when its done I'd like to drive it to any nearby shows and on the highway. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight= |
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allsidius Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010 Posts: 1475 Location: Norway
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 10:46 am Post subject: |
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I understand totally your wish to have a car in as new condition. But when you paint it, why not go back to that beautiful blue metallic, instead of doing it a wrong color for the make and year? Somehow, most VW nuts know, perhaps subconciously, the approximate palette of the years, give or take a few years. We all know there are no Berül Grün supers. In 79, the palette was pretty slim, and that color is one of the most attractive and rare. With a new black stayfast canvas top and nice sport rims it woud look killer.
Just sayin'. _________________ 1973 1303S w sunroof Click to view image
1978 1303 convertible (sold)Click to view image
1966 1300 RIPClick to view image
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 6:36 am Post subject: |
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allsidius wrote: |
I understand totally your wish to have a car in as new condition. But when you paint it, why not go back to that beautiful blue metallic, instead of doing it a wrong color for the make and year? Somehow, most VW nuts know, perhaps subconciously, the approximate palette of the years, give or take a few years. We all know there are no Berül Grün supers. In 79, the palette was pretty slim, and that color is one of the most attractive and rare. With a new black stayfast canvas top and nice sport rims it woud look killer. |
The blue is very nice. It won't be totally stock anyway, but I'm keeping within the VW palette. I thought the original was metallic turquiose, but thats an earlier color too. The wife and I both like the Raveena green. There's an awesome lime green vert build on this site - the one with the T4 auto trans. Going for something like that, but without the glitzy wheels. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight= |
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herbie2831 Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2011 Posts: 98
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Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 10:59 am Post subject: |
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You would have been better off buying one already done your going to have way more time and money in it than it will be worth. |
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johnnypan Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 7431 Location: sackamenna
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Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Make sure you do the homework and brace the body correctly before lifting it off the pan.
Spend some time and build or acquire the needed tooling and storage system for the parts you pull off.. proper identification is critical, we all forget where the shit goes... forethought and planning is the difference between a hack job and something you'll enjoy doing.I like to break it up into subassemblies and try to accomplish the entire process for that assembly before moving into another. jumping around from one process to another can keep you interested,but often leads to a lot of half assed work.Its not always fun,its labor,a work...and should be approached with that in mind.. |
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luvtheeluvbug Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2013 Posts: 288 Location: Sonora, Ca
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Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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herbie2831 wrote: |
You would have been better off buying one already done your going to have way more time and money in it than it will be worth. |
What is wrong with someone wanting to do a restoration?! Ya, it's a lot of time and money but, like he said, he wants to do it. Isn't that what it's all about? What's the fun of going out to buy a car that someone else has put a lot of time and money into? Some people like to just work on cars and let them go while others like to just drive. In this owner's case, he wants to do both. I can understand wanting to warn people of a bad idea but this is not. A bad idea would be trying to do a V8 conversion under $500... _________________ Fahrvergnugen/ far-fair-gnu-ghen/ Description of a pleasurable sensation experienced when a car and it's driver are in mutual harmony; A unique driving experience; Pleasure; Satisfaction; A feeling experienced by Volkswagen drivers. |
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VWCOOL Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 1821 Location: Down under
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Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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go for it! It will be a very satisfying project
Along with Mustang and Camaro, the VW Beetle is one of the best-supported classic cars for restoring. Parts and advice are easily available
If there is no major rust I would suggest NOT lifting the body from the pan. It will make the resto far easier is it remains a roller for the duration of restoration.
Or, make a trolley or two that you can wheel the pan and body around on.
If there is no rust in the sills and under-sill reinforcements it is NOT necessary to brace the Cabrio body before lifting from the pan.
Here's some pics of my most recent project to inspire/guide you:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.642107312508006.1073741845.520109091374496&type=3
Last edited by VWCOOL on Sun Aug 24, 2014 4:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
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Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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johnnypan wrote: |
Make sure you do the homework and brace the body correctly before lifting it off the pan.
Spend some time and build or acquire the needed tooling and storage system for the parts you pull off.. proper identification is critical, we all forget where the shit goes... forethought and planning is the difference between a hack job and something you'll enjoy doing.I like to break it up into subassemblies and try to accomplish the entire process for that assembly before moving into another. jumping around from one process to another can keep you interested,but often leads to a lot of half assed work.Its not always fun,its labor,a work...and should be approached with that in mind.. |
all good advice. I have the door braces from bughaus so unless a lot of hidden rust in the heater channels or vert supports I think I'll be ok with that. I plan to use gallon baggies and bag up everything as I strip it down and label it and put it in boxes. I hope to proceed in an orderly fashion or like you said it will not get done right, or take longer. There are some parts I am dreading like maybe changing out fuel lines in the tunnel and removing undercoating. But I love electrical stuff. thanks for the help. _________________ I got a fever, and the only prescription is more beetles!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604918&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759868&highlight= |
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