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Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:55 pm

Well, it's been a while since I've posted any updates, but that's because I've been busy working on the 71 Notch. Sorry if I haven't been on here much, but I'm still trying to take advantage of the nice weather while it lasts. To get you caught up since my last posting in the other post (tear down started), I'll fill you in up to this point where I'm at right now.
The pan has been sand blasted top and bottom. I knew going in that the right side was thin, but the left side surprised me at the amount of rust it had. Anyway, both sides got patched, and primed and painted. While the sand blasting was going on, I sent the front calipers and master cylinder to Jim Adney for rebuilding. Next was blasting the body. Some patching went on prior to blasting, but it's still getting more patching done too. I thought the front clip looked ok, but after blasting, I found even more work needed to be done, as both sides inside the trunk need repair behind the box sections. That'll get done in the next few weeks, as it's on the list of work to be done. The rear came out looking pretty good, as most of the rust was removed when I did the patching before blasting. By the way, I found that laquer thinner easily removes the "Superior" undercoating. The main part of the car is now "Invasion Gray", so it's making progress. Once the calipers and master cylinder came back, they got installed, along with new steel lines and hoses. Also the rear brake shoes, and rear wheel cylinders were replaced, as I didn't want to have to get in there again for a while. I also installed the restored pedal cluster I got from John J.(Thanks again), as it's a lot easier to do this stuff while the body is off. Now it was ready for the body to re-join the pan. It all went back together like it was supposed to, and that's where I'm at now. Here's some new pics to show what was done. Enjoy. 8)

Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:14 pm

These photos should make Neil proud, you're making Great progress. He won't even recognise it, if he makes it over for the Invasion! You ready to drive this baby Neil?

All that sand makes it look like "beachfront" property.

Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:11 pm

Suesanctuary wrote: These photos should make Neil proud, you're making Great progress. He won't even recognise it, if he makes it over for the Invasion! You ready to drive this baby Neil?

All that sand makes it look like "beachfront" property. If I make it back for the invasion, I WILL drive that car. :o

Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:03 pm

=D>

Go get'em Bob!

Looks great.

Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:35 pm

me and my wife are amazed at the amount of work u have gotten don on this car and how quick.
we have 2 vw's as daily drivers and it is hard enough keeping the cars running.

Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:43 pm

Yeah, it's been a busy couple of weeks, what with patching the body, patching the floors, stripping off the factory rustproofing (I swear that stuff must be a sprayable seam sealer) out from under the rear half of the car, and going thru 20-80 lb bags of sand. Yes, it does look like beach front property out there (just without the water). :wink: No pics today, but I did get the rear fenders back on, so I can start modifying them for the big ass tailights. Also got most of the right front fender stripped of it's factory rustproofing too. For that fender, I'm going to do a 2 fender graft, as the back half of the light blue one is rusty from top to bottom, and I've got a dark blue one here (an OE fender from my Roadster) that was hit in the front. I would have fixed it, but the head light bucket is egg shaped. :roll: I think it'll be an easier fix to do that, rather than spend a couple of days cutting, blasting, making patches, welding and grinding along the rear edge. I did something along those lines on my 65 Notch over the winter, and it wasn't fun, and it had less rust. :o But at least I'm making progress on it. If I keep going like I am, it'll be up and running before winter. 8) I've mainly been trying to remove the remaining rust that's still in it., and there's getting to be less every day.

Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:09 pm

Awesome.

Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:12 pm

great to see another one tackled!!
late model notches are beautiful,and I have'nt seen many!!!
good on ya bro

Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:12 pm

Damn. :shock: Can I send mine over?

Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:33 pm

tram... don't you have a pair of t34s to get running?

Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:35 am

Nice to see another late Model Notch, looking really good :D

Danny.

Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:37 am

vwfye wrote: tram... don't you have a pair of t34s to get running? I think he's wanting Bob to come back to Idaho and pick up the "other" late notch here. He just don't want to do the work himself (and I can't blame him).

Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:47 am

notchback wrote: vwfye wrote: tram... don't you have a pair of t34s to get running? I think he's wanting Bob to come back to Idaho and pick up the "other" late notch here. He just don't want to do the work himself (and I can't blame him).

Actually, I was thinking of BOTH the '65 S and the '72. :lol: I've been so buried in this '57 Mercedes 220S restoration job and the other "smaller" ones I haven't had time for any of my own stuff! :roll:

I think Fye was trying to sneak his T34 in there somewhere. I was soused and agreed to rewire it I think.... :shock:

Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:04 am

To be honest Tram, I've pretty well got my hands full right now, and I've got customer work coming at the beginning of next month, and continueing into the fall. So you see, I'm kinda running out of time for my own project.

Thought I'd post a couple more pics though. The first is for Russ, as we talked about doing this while I was at his house over the summer. It was pretty easy.

The next ones are the start of my rear fender conversion. At this point, I'm just roughing in the shape, and figuring out what needs to be done.

Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:30 pm

I feel lucky that I had Bob's services for a couple days. :) He showed me a lot, and gave me encouragement.

Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:39 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: I feel lucky that I had Bob's services for a couple days. :) He showed me a lot, and gave me encouragement. When he showed up here, I had to do the work. :?

Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:57 pm

Work? Story I heard was that you guys were out in the yard "playing volkswagens". 8) I know, it's a favorite pastime around here, too.

Well, that and rearranging the yard art. I mean cleaning up the yard.
Hey, that's how our 1st roadster was created. Our son said, "You know one way to keep all the T3 parts together...."

Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:15 pm

Sue, will i get to see YOU driving the blue notchback in 08?

Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:50 pm

Actually she's going to drive HER Fastback. I've got a buddy who is driving the 65 Notch for me there. 8) I asked her if she wanted me to swap pans for her (to give her an AT, sunroof, early body style Notch), and put the pan that's currently under the 65 Notch under her Fastback. She didn't know if that's what she really wanted, as she likes the Fastback body style better. :wink: I've still got to get it cleaned up enough to clear yet this year, and I haven't gotten the FI back on it yet (still carbed), but it should be done before the Invasion. This 71 Notch is eating up my free time. :shock:
Well, I got the left rear fender tail light roughed in like the right side, filled in the 1 inch holes in both the hood and the front apron, and adjusted the right rear fender a little more. Still need to adjust the left rear a little, but it's pretty close for now. I think I'm going to move into the frunk area, and fix the rust there, now that I have the tail lights pretty well set (I'm going to use the fender for donor metal). That was enough work for today. :wink:

Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:08 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: I feel lucky that I had Bob's services for a couple days. :) He showed me a lot, and gave me encouragement.

Russ, glad to help you out. Hopefully I gave you some ideas, and lit a fire under your butt. :wink: I know you've got your hands full of work, just sitting in the shop, let alone everything that's outside you're wanting to do. I think you need to pick a car, and finish it (sounds like what I hear around here too, too many projects going on at the same time).