Author |
Message |
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dodgy Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 513 Location: Leicester, UK
|
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 1:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
I don't think (thankfully) the really crap heater channels are sold anymore.
Check out this thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=503306&highlight=heater+channel
The heater channel I bought looked the same as yours and was labelled Klokkercrap - but was the better quality of the two shown in the thread. 'Who made what' is always hard to establish with pattern parts.
This panel seemed to fit OK. Possibly the curvature towards the front is different to original panel, which will leave a void that will have to be filled with seam sealer or similar. It's hard for me to tell as I've had to replace all the surrounding metalwork too.
Unless you are prepared to spend BIG bucks on a really nice part...
http://csplink.de/qRHwnAATR2
... there are a few things you may need to do to prep the panel
• OE panel had a couple of holes towards the front (I assume for venting, reduce static air & condensation) which are missing from the pattern part. Up to you if you think it's important to reinstate them, and possibly they are covered by the additional convertible metal
• Front air tube (inside A-pillar) is loose and will need fixing to stop it rattling. It won't be accessible when fitted. Just do one tack weld as you may need to adjust position when installed
• The front section that fits under the bulkhead is too short, you will need to either flatten it and extend the bolt holes, or (better) cut it off and add an extension piece to restore alignment.
• Some people have found that the welded flanges are much wider than the OE panel and can contact the seat mount, causing interference when fitting the body to the pan, so it's worth grinding these back a bit. Same goes for the heater pipe under the rear seat part.
• Not sure about the carpet strip, looks like it might work for the sedan
I assume you are content with the dent towards the rear of your heater channel by the air tube? This is where it fits to the rear quarter inner panel, so you will need to get it reasonably straight to get a good fit. _________________ '75 1303 (current project) owned since 1989!
'72 Squareback - full resto completed 2008 - now sold
356 Speedster kit, completed 2005 - now sold |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:33 pm Post subject: nutbox extraction |
|
|
Ok, so got that damn nutbox out of my car. Cut a chunk of rusty firewall out as well. I'm thinking to cut the repair piece out of the firewall I bought, then flange it and tuck it insite the OG metal. Water dripping down will roll off the junction. Maybe puddle weld and seam sealer or a couple of lines of welds along the junction.
I have to make a piece, or cut off the donor a "spacer" that sits between the nutbox and the inner wheel well.
And I have yet to extract the donor nutbox from the chunk I bought in the classifieds. These are really heavy duty spot welds, very hard to remove.
_________________ 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= |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dodgy Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 513 Location: Leicester, UK
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yes Dodgy I welded right through the five holes in the beefy bracket. I drilled the same holes into the firewall patch panel and placed the mother of all puddle welds there. Just didn't photo that yet. Also welded the side of the nut box to the flange on the back wall of the firewall where it meets the inner wheel well. Once the front flange of the heater channel is welded to the back of the firewall that will make the whole area one solid connection.
Can you look at the heater channel/vert reinforcement and let me know if I put enough welds there? I put 2" beads between every bolt hole. I put the support rail as far outboard as the nuts would allow so that it would almost certainly clear the lip of the pan. And I welded the defroster hose connection which was loose as you mentioned previously. Lastly should I add drain holes to the vert reinforcement rails? In not why not. I plan to fill them with waxoil. Thanks for your 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= |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dodgy Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 513 Location: Leicester, UK
|
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've never worked on a convertible, so I'm not familiar with the differences to sedan structure. But if you follow what the factory did for welds, drain holes etc, you can't go wrong really.
Injecting waxoyl or cavity spray is a good idea, so consider access for this. This may mean holes that need sealing later.
Factory holes at rear end of heater channels are a good example of this - see recess in body section photo below. There is a flat steel plug over the hole glued / covered with sealer, following the primer bath at the factory, before exterior paint.
(thanks for the photo cj2a) _________________ '75 1303 (current project) owned since 1989!
'72 Squareback - full resto completed 2008 - now sold
356 Speedster kit, completed 2005 - now sold |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 4:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Working on wheelhouse. 5 beefy spot welds tie wheel well to the body mount "nut box" and the flange on the rear panel of the firewall. Later the new heater channel will be welded to the same area on the firewall making a strong enough structure for the body mount and shock tower stresses.
Got halfway done and ran out of gas (again).
Have to clean up where the heater channel attaches then tack it in. Remate the body to the pan and repair the A pillar before welding the heater channel completely in place.
_________________ 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= |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
ToughBug Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2014 Posts: 354 Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
|
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 1:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hey. Looks like GREAT progress! _________________ 1973 chassis + 1974 body = super beetle saved |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Weezle Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2014 Posts: 685 Location: ORLANDO
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|