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Slik54 Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2015 Posts: 3 Location: Granada Hills, CA
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:43 pm Post subject: Cast Shock Tower Housing on Rear of Pan Broken...Any advise? |
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I just bought a 1954 Oval Rag Top and had it delivered from Florida. Got the car on the rack and the cast Shock Tower Arms are broken...pictures to follow. The Arm is essentially a cast piece that curves diagonally up and rearward from the pan that the top of the rear shock is attached to. Talked to a couple of local guys and nobody has ever seen this break. Some have said that the pan has to be replaced.
Does anybody have any idea how this can be fixed? Does it require a new pan? Will I have to remove the whole body and have the piece welded?
Frankly, I'm new to the VW community and bought a car I thought was bitchen, only to find out that I have a huge mess on my hands....
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slalombuggy Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9131 Location: Canada
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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You can weld them. They are not cast iron they are steel. Taking the body off would be the best way to get good welds but you could tack them with the body on to make sure very thing is lined up. Make sure you clean the pieces down to clean metal before welding. There is a lot of rust and any left behind will compromise the repair.
brad |
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MotoMike Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 120 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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Bummer. I am in Van Nuys, I can help you weld them up. 818-667-2349 |
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txoval Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004 Posts: 3540 Location: The Woodlands, TX
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Weld it and add gusset plates to each side to strengthen it
Definitely odd though |
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MotoMike Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 120 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like someone mickey moused it already, looks like some shitty tack welds around the body mount. Still fixable, just take some time to do it right. |
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txoval Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004 Posts: 3540 Location: The Woodlands, TX
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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It almost looks they tried to weld the body mount to the chassis mount... |
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Jonnyla Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2013 Posts: 101 Location: Mesa, AZ
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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I could be wrong but it looks like a later pan. Not enough pics to confirm though. I know that on the earlier body when mounting them on later pans the rear body mounts on the body must be moved up. It sort of looks like they cut the shock arm (the broken part) so that the body mount on the fender well would fit.
Again, I could be seeing this wrong but I do know about this mount difference because I am currently considering putting my '55 on a later pan and actually have it sitting there now. There is an interference issue at the this mount point. _________________ '55 3 fold sedan, stock with lower stance (project)
'57 sedan, future old speed outlaw style (project) |
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bugman1955 Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Montreal, Canada
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Did you talk to the previous owner about this? I sure would like to know what he was trying to accomplish by doing that. Jonnyla could be right though, might be a good idea to check the pan serial number to find out what year it's from. |
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Jonnyla Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2013 Posts: 101 Location: Mesa, AZ
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Hey guys, here is a link to Steven G's build form of his '54
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
flip through the whole thing for some great stuff but note the shock supports on the '54 pan. a little different.
Just trying to help out the mystery. _________________ '55 3 fold sedan, stock with lower stance (project)
'57 sedan, future old speed outlaw style (project) |
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MotoMike Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 120 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:17 am Post subject: |
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It does look like they notched out the shock tower, which would explain why it broke. I have (please forgive me) seriously abused stock VW's in the past and never seen that happen. |
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splitjunkie Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006 Posts: 4083
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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MotoMike wrote: |
It does look like they notched out the shock tower, which would explain why it broke. I have (please forgive me) seriously abused stock VW's in the past and never seen that happen. |
I see the same thing. That is pretty ridiculous. Which would be easier to cut? the body mount or the shock tower?
You have an early body on later pan.
As others have said, that tower is steel so it can be welded. You will need to relocate the body mount and then have someone fabricate a patch for the chunk they cut out then have it properly welded. _________________ Chris
You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld |
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thebucket Samba Stockbroker
Joined: April 06, 2004 Posts: 3734 Location: Houston Texas
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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bugman1955 wrote: |
Did you talk to the previous owner about this? I sure would like to know what he was trying to accomplish by doing that. Jonnyla could be right though, might be a good idea to check the pan serial number to find out what year it's from. |
Ditto! I'd also have him refund some of your cash! His name wasn't Mario Gavazi was it? _________________ ITMC-El Presidente
OG 55 bullet 3 fold....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150858&highlight=thebuckets++++fold |
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Slik54 Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2015 Posts: 3 Location: Granada Hills, CA
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the input. I got in touch with Russ over at Old Speed and he seems to think the same thing. The title I got on the car was a 1954 title, which matched the numbers stamped under the seat, and the guy insists that it was a 1954 replacement pan. It appears as though its not right.
Bummer considering I bought the car off of this site. I have always liked bugs but don't really know much about them. I'm not sure what to do about the guy that sold it to me. I'm pissed, but I'm in California, and he's in Florida. Car looks great, but now I have to figure out what year the pan is and go from there.
Question though...Do I have to remove the body to get this job done right?
MotoMike - Thanks a lot man. I may take you up on that. Do you have a shop?
bugman1955-Thew pan # is 10872962
thebucket - Guys name was not Mario Gavazi. The add I bought it from was posted as #1735250
Thanks for all the input.
Tom |
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OLDveedubs Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2003 Posts: 602
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MotoMike Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 120 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:15 am Post subject: |
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Yes. I have a shop right next to Van Nuys Airport, Wenco Ind. I build driveshafts for a living. I have may years of experience welding and fabing things together. Call me and maybe I can stop by and look at it in person. |
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Slik54 Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2015 Posts: 3 Location: Granada Hills, CA
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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That's cool. I used Wenco to build a driveshaft for me on my old jeep about 15 yrs ago. I also have some property on San Martinez Road. Small world. Are you in tomorrow? |
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jason Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2002 Posts: 3443 Location: Garage
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:16 am Post subject: |
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Definitely the wrong pan if it has a balljoint beam. At least a 66 or newer pan if the frame head wasn't changed. |
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txoval Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004 Posts: 3540 Location: The Woodlands, TX
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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Where is the heater control knob? In front of the handbrake or behind? Actually, if it's a late model panel the knobs will be on each side of the handbrake. You have the proper seats, but from the for-sale ad pics you can tell the seats are sitting on slanted seat rails instead of flat rails like a 54 should have.
That's a nice looking car though. The VIN you posted is definitely 1954, but it has me thinking someone welded in the 54 VIN to the late model pan.
Usually when you hear "replacement pan" it means a pan from another car of the same year.
Whats the Body number? Located behind the spare and stamped into the body |
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