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Thu May 13, 2021 8:40 am

VW_Jimbo wrote: Typically, caster shims come into play when the front end ride height changes and the rear is higher than the front. So a “rake” stance. Dropping the front end causes the front tube to move forwards and the lower tube to move rearward. This causes a change in the caster angle. Stock caster degree is 3.33 +- 1.0 degrees. Dropping the car can get you up to 15 degrees of change. To offset this fixed change without cutting and pasting steel, most use caster shims and longer bolts.

great explanation, thanks !!

Thu May 13, 2021 9:02 am

grailoc wrote: VW_Jimbo wrote: Typically, caster shims come into play when the front end ride height changes and the rear is higher than the front. So a “rake” stance. Dropping the front end causes the front tube to move forwards and the lower tube to move rearward. This causes a change in the caster angle. Stock caster degree is 3.33 +- 1.0 degrees. Dropping the car can get you up to 15 degrees of change. To offset this fixed change without cutting and pasting steel, most use caster shims and longer bolts.

great explanation, thanks !!

You are welcome!

My 70 Bug has a raked stance and uses one shim on the bottom tube. Before the shim, it was like a grocery cart at high speed, going down the road. Now, with the one shim and it back into spec, it flies at 95mph in a straight line!

I knew a car, that I serviced, that had 2 shims. It was a performance designed Bug. They did not have me dial in the suspension. My art was making the carbs sing! So, I know that more than one shim can be utilized if needed. But that is where my knowledge falls off.

Mon May 17, 2021 8:24 am

no huge update so far but in progress into the body preparation prior epoxy primer:

I just completed the quarter panel, the outer surface has been fully guide coated to address all of the high and low + guet a perfect smooth and even surface.
1st time I am doing all of this, but learning a lot and trying to keep as less as product as possible.

Now I am progressing on the outer surface of the apron + inside trunk. I will post picture once completed.

without fender

with fender:

Sun May 23, 2021 5:42 pm

body prep of the front clip is now 100% complete:

working now to build a small paint booth:

Sun May 23, 2021 5:43 pm

Sun May 23, 2021 7:53 pm

The car is looking great!

In the end, all the hard work and learning will pay off with a lovely car.
That will be the envy of any who lay eye's upon it.

Keep it up. I watch for your updates.

Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:44 pm

67rustavenger wrote: The car is looking great!

In the end, all the hard work and learning will pay off with a lovely car.
That will be the envy of any who lay eye's upon it.

Keep it up. I watch for your updates.

yeah thanks for the work, can't wait to be done really,

I thought I was ready for paint but found a little rust issue on the re-inforcement of the frame which I had to address before it get worse.

Here are some pictures of the repair

Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:46 pm

Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:47 pm

end result with that repair including a bit of lead work to get rid of the welding marks:

Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:50 pm

here is a video I made and shows in few minutes how I created a patch panel for the front quarter panel starting with just a 20ga flat piece of metal..

Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:06 pm

After few hours playing with masking tape the other day, I am finally ready for the home made paintboot.

goal here is just to paint where needed the rest will stay untouched.
getting closer and closer !!

Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:01 pm

Great progress and so much a labor of love.

Question though. What are the dark streaks here and there? Seam sealer, or POR?

Sat Jun 12, 2021 6:01 am

Dan22 wrote: Great progress and so much a labor of love.

Question though. What are the dark streaks here and there? Seam sealer, or POR?

the dark mark is just rust converter I got from my paint supplier.
I could not get rid of these small little surface rust marks so decided to convert them and prevent rust to propagate under the epoxy primer I have next to come.

Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:44 am

Very nice!!! Love your process and documentation of it!

On the spray booth. I have had great success with 2x4s and 3/4 PVC schedule 40 tubing, either glued together or loose. I make these into a rectangular frame, 3’ x 7’. At the base I install at the base that creates 2 legs perpendicular to the flat panel area. I then wire tie clear 4mil plastic to the frame and stand up. To create a wall, I will make a few of these and either spring clamp them together or tape them together. The tape make an impassable paint seam!

You can also use a large tarp as well. I use that for bead blasting. This was with the 2x4 stand I use for the Bug, from the last Bug I did. Works great.

Love the progress!

Sat Jun 12, 2021 5:34 pm

here is the paint boot I just completed:

it is made with basic 1x2 wood and plastic polythene for the walls. I can roll up and down each wall. I used a basic exterior carpet on the floor. The walls are just clipped on my 4 post lift.

Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:42 pm

so today I was able to apply the black epoxy inside the front trunk:
I am just wondering if I should put paint on top of epoxy or just keep it the wait it is as my car is black anyway.
what do Guys think ?

Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:05 pm

Wow, that looks great!

If it were my car. I'd be happy with the results of all that hard work.

But it's your car and you are bordering on a perfectionist. So in the end of things. It's your choice on what the next move will be.

Keep it up. It looks like you are going to be able to drive the car this summer. 8)

Wed Jun 23, 2021 9:20 pm

67rustavenger wrote: Wow, that looks great!

But it's your car and you are bordering on a perfectionist. So in the end of things. It's your choice on what the next move will be.

Thanks !!
I had a color matching made yesterday with 1 gallon of paint, so yeah I am moving into painting the inside with black so the goal is to get as less as nuance a possible with the rest of the car.

more to come !!

Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:54 pm

the inside of the front trunk is now fully painted. L41 single stage paint on top of an additional layer of epoxy sealer.
going to wait the paint to cure and will switch to the outside.
very happy of my 1st paint ever:

Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:04 pm

Looking really nice!

Did the epoxy have an open time for recoating it? Sometimes they cure so hard that any additional coats past the cure point will not adhere. Sometimes all you need to do is hit it with a red scotch brite pad, sometimes something else.

Looks great!