My 73 Build

ddedman · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:10 pm Post subject: My 73 Build

First time post on the Samba, what a great forum. I am starting a bug build for my daughter. Figured I would share it on the site and get some feedback on the good and the bad.

So Its a 1973 sedan much like most of the other bugs that you find out there. This was one of my belated brother's cars that he had parked in his yard. Long story short, it was yanked onto a trailer after sitting for four years in the weeds. Drug it home and after a few hours of tinkering and assessing things she started and ran. Simply amazing how reliable and basic these cars are. I can see why they are so popular.

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

The bug is not in terrible shape and after getting the brakes working "mostly" and fixing the ignition wiring and wiring for the lights I drove it around for a little bit and she actually runs really well.

She does have some rust in places. The pan has some major surface rust but no through and through rust which helps.

The drivers front quarter and heat / rocker channel is gone..

After driving and doing some re-wiring I started the tear down. Of course I found more rust, and damage to the front end covered with lots of bondo(im assuming a deer hit) and some damage to the rear end with again lots of bondo.

Theres some questionable body panel repair in the bonnet area and the drivers front quarter. Im not sure if im going to cut it out and redo it or not.
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ddedman · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:24 pm Post subject:

I did remover the rear valance as it was hamburger. Figured it would be easier just to replace it seeing how they are cheap..

The doors are removed however a few of the door screws stayed. That fix isnt going to be fun.

I of course found more rust. I guess thats what you get when you go looking for it.

Both of the rear rockers have similar rust issues. We will see how far I need to cut to repair them. I really dont want to replace the whole assembly.

Ready to remove the body form the pan. Only had two of the bolts break which is better than I expected.

I kinda dig the 3 layers of paint look. I dont think my daughter would appreciate it however.

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ddedman · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:36 pm Post subject:

Started doing some rust repair by tackling what I figured would be the hardest one to repair. Drivers rear quarter area underneath the body mount area that was all the way through top and bottom. I wasnt so much concerned with cosmetic outcome as much as structural stability seeing how its covered.

And in between everything else I started on the engine tins. They needed some straightening and some new paint. Im not going to rebuild the motor just yet seeing how it ran so well so im just going to smear some lipstick on this pig and make it somewhat presentable.

I also wanted to get the floor pans rust proofed and sealed before cold weather gets here. This way I can concentrate on redoing brakes and the heavy metal work when its cold and snowing and be ready for paint come spring. (my garage is not heated so it gets kinda chilly.)

Here is how she sits now. Pans are smeared with rust converter, then primer and the rust encapsulator applied.

I will post up more as I get things completed.
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hitest · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:54 pm Post subject:

Well hello Mr. D Dedman! It's me, Mr. B Dedman! Crazy. My user name is bdedman on our local club's site, buspilots.com here in Boise. Any chance are you a David and related to the David Dedman Chevy dealership in Canada? Sorry to make your thread personal- but we do have rare last names- and likely comparable thick skin! Cool

Anyway, enjoy that car project. I found your posts while looking for something I had responded to- and your username caught me by surprise.

Bradford Dedman

PS- You've got my dream Scout there- need to thin the herd?
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ddedman · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:13 pm Post subject:

I'm sure we are all related in someway. No direct connection to any Dedmans in the great white north or Boise for that matter. My family line stems from Illinois. The Scout was the project I just finished, The Bubba Scout located on binderplanet.com. it's a blast to drive around but was a real challenge to build. Good to meet you..
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Tim Donahoe · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:15 pm Post subject:

dd--looks good. If you can lick the rust, the rest is just ... reasonably annoying.

Since you have the rear apron off, you should check out how Joel (I think it was Joel) set up his apron so that he could remove it at will to pull the engine. It makes pulling the engine a 1/2 hour job.

Good luck.

Tim

ddedman · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:44 pm Post subject:

Got a little further on the bug project. Started to redo the front quarter panel mess. Still need to cut out a small patch to finish.

looks a little better. I was able to at least pound out the hamburgered metal and be able to use a little less bondo this go around.

Carburetor is cleaned rebuilt and painted. I also finished closing off the crescents. Just did not make sense to have that avenue for water to seep in and rest. I was amazed that there was no rust there.

And then there was this. This is my good side.. Rolling Eyes

I will bend up the metal for the repair this week and get it welded in. I need to order the patch kit for the out layer. I could make it but i think that they are cheap enough.. I have ultimately decided that this is not going to be a show build. I dont think this bug has the right bones for it so to speak. To much body damage and I would be better off with a better candidate. More to come.
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ddedman · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 4:54 pm Post subject:

Little more done since last post. Passenger side rocker and heat channel repaired mostly. Started on the drivers side. Its uglier that I thought.

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dubjeep · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 4:34 am Post subject:

This is a good read. You are doing a great job.
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TX-73 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:11 am Post subject:

Looks like great progress from a fellow 73 owner Very Happy

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ddedman · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:19 pm Post subject:

Spent a little more time on the bug today working on what I think is the most difficult metal repair area that I have. I hope. I started with this.....

Using cardboard templates and my plasma cut out the end cap and the bottom out of sheet metal i had laying around.

Made sure to transfer over the body bolt and dimpled area over to the new piece. Not sure what the dimple is for though.

Structurally it is sound. Time to primer the inside, weld in the final piece and finish sealing the inside portion. Im just gonna patch it seeing its covered with carpet.

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ddedman · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:31 pm Post subject:

I have been working on this bondo princess off and on since the last posting. Brakes are done. Rockers are closed in and sealed.

Dry fit of the rear apron. Not really a great fit. Some twtweaking is needed.

More to come..
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BmxBug · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:36 pm Post subject:

I'm building a 71. I am hoping you can tell me what type welder and settings that you're using? I am terrible with the welder, total beginner but I want to shave my front blinkers.

ddedman · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:34 pm Post subject:

I use a little Hobart hander 135? Welding body panels is a little different from typical welding. You will want to spot weld the panels moving about the panel to help distribute the heat and avoid warping and burn thru. Lighter heat settings are used. You will need to adjust the settings depending on your welder and metal gauge. Please note I am not a proficient welder but I can go oboe stuff together. I'm self taught also. Just jump in and let it rip.. Laughing

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ddedman · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:17 pm Post subject:

Last large patch panel done. Working on stripping things down totally and prepping for epoxy primer.

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houseofboyd · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:38 am Post subject:

Looking good! Smile

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1968 VW Beetle
2012 Turbo VW Beetle

ddedman · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:06 pm Post subject:

I absolutely hate stripping paint. I wasn't going to however am finding to many poor
adhesion spots in the old paint. All three layer of it.

Was able to get one side of the hood seal chanel welded also.

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morymob · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 5:49 am Post subject:

Sure brings those (good old??)days , years rather, refurbing bugs. It was a hobby, had them looking like yours 4 the necessary body repairs. Times change, 'time'-personal and free time starts running out so the hobby part of passing them on to other owwners stopped, doing my own thing 4 the past 5 or so yrs. A couple bugs, keeper's (?)to finish up. Did one just like u r doing 4 my youngest daughter when she started college, was attached to it the most. Hope your daughter enjoys the time as much as i did doing ours.

NewTechnicIan · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:05 am Post subject:

It all looks familiar, you're doing a great job! I did a lot more wholesale replacement of old panels, mostly because I didn't trust my skills at making patches, but yours is looking great! That front clip replacement was pretty shocking! Shocked

Good job making it nice!
Can't wait to see it in paint!
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My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

ddedman · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:18 pm Post subject:

Been a while since I have been able to work on the bug. Started last night replacing the heater cables. I can't seem to find the replacement cables with the coax sheeting for the front floor vent defrost cables. Wolfburg has the cabling without the coax. Seems weird to me that you can find everything else for a beetle but not that. Anyway when replacing the main heat cables going to the heat exchangers I found a little problem. I had a busted and rotted exchanger so instead of money I chose time and just fixed it. Next I will bUT ton up the exhuast and get her running again.

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