TheSamba.com :: View topic - Upon closer inspection of the chassis head (pics)

Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:21 pm

First of all I would like to thank those who replied to my question regarding a possible beetle purchase with a possibly rotted chassis head.
I just went back outside while it was bright and clear to further inspect the rust I found.
I Jacked the car up, scraped and shop-vac'd out the affected area to find that the head may not be as bad as I had thought.
There does seem to be a small hole in the top of the head channel about the diameter of a thick pencil but not through to the bottom.
The rust seems to be just in the metal panel in the corner of the cab.
The bolts are just protruding throught the top of the head channel.
Have a look and please comment on what you might see.
Thanks again.
p.s, whats that little doo dad mounted under the dash?
Roger

Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:18 pm

that looks ike another bucket-o'-rust masked with a beautiful exterior. I have seen quite a few like that when I lived in the Midwest. I bet the body is loaded with bondo.
There's no chance I would ever buy this car!
That doo-hickey under the dash looks like the projector lamp to cast a dim light on the shifter and heater levers. I think that must be a Previous Owner's make-up, as far as I know, that is not the stock location, though the lamp itself appears to be stock.

Bradford

Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:28 pm

:D
Jeezus man, is there such a thing as a rust free bug anymore to be found?
If so, where the heck can I find one under $12,000?
:D
Roger

Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:29 pm

Move west young man. When I moved from Ontario to here in the B.C. desert my interest in old cars was rekindled due to the huge amount of old cars driving around here. Even the cars at the wreckers aren't rusted much, just worn out.

I paid $3000 for a '71 Super with only 64,000 miles and surface rust. Has great stock heat and a gas heater too boot. Drove it all winter no problems.

You could buy one out here and ship it back east and be better off. There is a solid Mexi body here for sale for $200 that would bolt right on.

jim

Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:43 pm

Damn,, it makes ya wonder .. How can a car look so good on the outside and be that rusty inside..

Thats mostly in the heater channel not the frame head ,,,

from the looks of the kind of rust in there ( cancer ) I would be replacing that brake line very soon.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:48 am

SALT!!! Runs off your boots in winter as the snow melts and soaks into the carpet. Under the pedals in this part of the world is one of the rustiest places.

You wash out your wheel wells in winter but what can you do about that salt buildup at your feet?

I had a '65 in '70 in Sudbury, Ontario and the gas pedal hinge got so rusted the pedal froze up. I replaced it with a stainless steel door hinge.

The rest of that car may not be so bad.

jim

Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:33 am

What does the same area on the passenger side look like?

Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:57 am

Hi Guys, thanks for the candid replies........this is why I posted on this site.
Here are some pics of the other side.......just lifted the carpet and shot the pics.........some various undercar pics as well.
Roger

Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:30 am

those pictures are of the opposite side of the rusted area.
There appears to be a soft brown goop that is between the body and the frame all across the front and looks like rust in the pics but is not.
Also, the pics of the door corners appears to be body filler but is pink wax.
The majority of the flooring under the carpet is a light scaling of rust along with the original black surface of the floor.
No deep scaling, just some 'dusty' rust scaling..........no soft spots and the running boards are sturdy enough to stand on (not that one would).
If there are any areas of further interest in terms of rust, please mention and I can take some good close, clear pics.....
Roger

Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:35 am

I forgot to mention, I took the original jack that comes with the car and inserted it into both sides of the jack inserts and cranked it up.
The car lifted with no movement of the inserts or crunching soumd of any kind.
I`m not trying to candy-coat this car, I`m simple trying to make a decision as to search possibly in vain for another or take the good features of this one and iron out the BAD.
Is it perfect?...No, is it a heap?...I`m thinking its still a pretty decent example of a 34 year old car that has seen no abuse other than ignorance in the footwell of the left floor area.
I dunno, I`m still on the fence with this buggy.
Thanks again and please keep the comments coming.
Roger

Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:46 am

That's a clean, original VW! The rust is not a huge issue. I believe it's pretty common. I had a '56 with the same rust.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:50 am

Hi Whobba, I think for the most part the car is original although it certainly has been painted but at least it was painted with the same color that it was originally.......L20B Brilliant orange.
Apparently the current owner purchased it from the original owner.
Its still in the name of the original owner.
I dunno, I`m still poking around it to see what other issues it has.
thanks for the comment.
Roger

Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:14 am

Post some pictures of the interior.

You have rust at the front of the driver side heater channel. It's a problem but it is common. Check the rest of the heater channel.

If you want to fix it you will need to do major work. Considering the fact that the rest of the car looks really nice I would not plan on doing it any time soon.

I do think 6500 is too much for this car even if it did not have all the rust.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:56 am

James is right. Come West! There are Beetles out here in much better shape for less. There was a green '68 for about $4900 in Calgary a little while ago. I think it is here on the Samba, check it out. You could purchase it and ship it home for less than the cost of this orange one you are looking at.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=610351

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=616138

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=611925

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=614635

Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:12 am

the idea or purchasing from western Canada while I`m here in Ontario is interesting but my only issue with that is how will I know for sure the condition of the car?
I mean, all I can go on is the work of the current owner.
Roger

Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:41 am

im sure the are many people here on the samba who would be more than happy to go look ta any car your thinking of purchasing and give you a report back for a case of beer =)

thats what i did when i bought my 66 sight unseen by myself, i found someone down in houston that went and looked it over took lots of pics of the bad areas and e-mailed them to me.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:13 pm

yeah, I thought of that as well but what the hell would the shipping cost to float a car over?
Would it come on a truck or would come on the water?
Roger