| Author |
Message |
Sophomore
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2014
Posts: 3
Location: lower Indiana
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:48 am Post subject: Need help with rear quarter panel |
 |
|
I'm restoring a 1968 beetle standard. I'm 25 and this is my first vehicale restore. The driver rear quarter panel is badly beat up. It looks like it was probable T-boned at some point. It was repaired by simply filling the panel with bondo. My question is how should i go about repairing the section. I'v knocked out the bondo and the dent goes in about 1 1/4". I'm trying to restore the bug on a budget but i still want to do it right.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Q-Dog
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8700
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Wolfsburg West sells a repair panel to replace the lower 10" of that area. I'm sure other vendors offer something similar. Haven't seen the entire quarter panel offered in a while. Other option is to find a junker and cut out what you need.
_________________
Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flyboy161
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2009
Posts: 2091
Location: Perry, GA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 9:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
I would start by getting all that Bondo off. Find the center of impact ( usually where it's pushed in the farthest)
Get a 4x4, a scissor jack and probably a piece of 3/4" furniture grade plywood.
Brace the scissor Jack against the tunnel and place the 4x4 so it comes close to the center of impact. Put the plywood piece (cut to 8x8) against the impact point
Start cranking on the scissor Jack and put a lot ( A LOT) of pressure agonist that point. Then start hammering it out from inside with a dolly on the outside. You want to to strike the panel around the plywood. And make sure to have the dolly opposite of where the hammer hits.
Take your time. You'll see the jack will lose tension as the panel begins to move outwards. Readjust a tension on the Jack frequently.
I used this technique on my front quarter panels. The bug was in a front impact that pushed the front clip in 1.5" and bowed the quarter panels out about an inch. I was able to get rid of all the Bondo and stretch the front clip back out. It took a few days to get it straight, but it worked. I was hammering the quarter panels in as I was pushing the front clip forward with the Jack. My quarter panels are perfectly straight now also.
Once you get it straighter, then you can reasses how much you need to fill, and how much you need to replace.
_________________
My father's 1970 Beetle-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=603879
The 1964...Diamond in the rough
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=612776
My 1958 Morocco Bug-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=611483 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
caleb0101
Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2014
Posts: 524
Location: Bristol Connecticut
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 11:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| who ever did that repair must of been drunk and had the key to a warehouse full of bondo |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Beeble1
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2012
Posts: 578
Location: Manteno, Illinois
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
^^yeah. You got that right!
_________________
Beeble1, ‘73 Super (o\_|_/o) 1600cc w/ Dealer A/C
Beeble2, ‘13 Beetle 2.5L Daily Driver
Dealership items from Bishop-Wayne Volkswagen & Turner Volkswagen in Kankakee, IL wanted |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kansas Rob
Samba Member
Joined: March 15, 2011
Posts: 45
Location: ICT and Below
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sophomore
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2014
Posts: 3
Location: lower Indiana
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 7:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've ordered one for the passenger side. I'm going to wait till it comes in and see how much it will replace. Then i'll decide if i want to go that rout or just replace the whole panel. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sophomore
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2014
Posts: 3
Location: lower Indiana
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 7:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| flyboy161 wrote: |
I would start by getting all that Bondo off. Find the center of impact ( usually where it's pushed in the farthest)
Get a 4x4, a scissor jack and probably a piece of 3/4" furniture grade plywood.
Brace the scissor Jack against the tunnel and place the 4x4 so it comes close to the center of impact. Put the plywood piece (cut to 8x8) against the impact point
Start cranking on the scissor Jack and put a lot ( A LOT) of pressure agonist that point. Then start hammering it out from inside with a dolly on the outside. You want to to strike the panel around the plywood. And make sure to have the dolly opposite of where the hammer hits.
Take your time. You'll see the jack will lose tension as the panel begins to move outwards. Readjust a tension on the Jack frequently.
I used this technique on my front quarter panels. The bug was in a front impact that pushed the front clip in 1.5" and bowed the quarter panels out about an inch. I was able to get rid of all the Bondo and stretch the front clip back out. It took a few days to get it straight, but it worked. I was hammering the quarter panels in as I was pushing the front clip forward with the Jack. My quarter panels are perfectly straight now also.
Once you get it straighter, then you can reasses how much you need to fill, and how much you need to replace. |
The center of impact is right at where the door meets the panel and I can't tap on it with a hammer because the inner sheet metal (sorry I don't know what it's called) is in the way. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flyboy161
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2009
Posts: 2091
Location: Perry, GA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flyboy161
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2009
Posts: 2091
Location: Perry, GA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VW Man 53
Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2011
Posts: 588
Location: Scotia, New York
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
may we see pictures of the rest of the car?
_________________
You CAN save them all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Volks Wagen
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2013
Posts: 2926
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Sophomore wrote: |
The center of impact is right at where the door meets the panel and I can't tap on it with a hammer because the inner sheet metal (sorry I don't know what it's called) is in the way. |
If it were mine, I'd strip all the bondo first. Then cut out that kink in the B-pillar and straighten the rest. Replace the lower section and the cutout in the B-pillar. It is likely your heater channel is also screwed/rusted and your jacking point and maybe a bit of the bottom of the wheel arch. Good luck with it. Likely the rear wheel got hit also, so look for damage/straightness around the supports in the wheel arch and the engine mounts.
_________________
1973 1303 with AB-motor - sporadic
reconstruction as time permits, 1986 ex-Bundeswehr Doka - on the road again.
I'm definitely, probably, the worlds greatest lover.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Volks Wagen
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2013
Posts: 2926
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 2:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
Looks like Sophomore is SophNOmore.
_________________
1973 1303 with AB-motor - sporadic
reconstruction as time permits, 1986 ex-Bundeswehr Doka - on the road again.
I'm definitely, probably, the worlds greatest lover.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1313
Location: Hansville, WA
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
Find a donor car and cut it out and replace it. I had almost the same exact damage to my convertible and access to the critical area that needs to be beaten back into place was very difficult to get to. As a bonus it made it a lot easier to work on the rust I had hidden behind that panel. I cut just below the trim holes, along the bottom and in the door jamb. The hradest part about this job is being patient when welding it back in so as not to warp the panel from heat.
_________________
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
