TheSamba.com :: View topic - Fitting a 57 oval body unto a 69 pan (a new dilemma...)

Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:24 am

So I know it's sacrilege :oops: , but it's my plan for now.

I discovered the spring plates aren’t shaped the same through the years, causing my oval body to ride on top of the newer spring plates on my 69 pan.

It really needs coming down a tiny bit further...

I really would prefer grinding off some of the upper tip of the spring plates than hacking my oval body (hopefully it will look a good deal better after sand blasting). I mean – you never know: Some day maybe I can get me a nice oval pan for my body, and it would have been a shame hacking it too much :? On the other hand I don't want to weaken the spring plate either and maybe causing it to break eventually.

So the qestion for me really is:
Should I cut the spring plate or the body? Could you guys post your opinion on this matter?

Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:15 am

looks like you are missing the thick square rubber spacer that goes between the body and the chassis in that spot. it is about a quarter of an inch thick rubber.

Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:00 am

Unless your tunnel is shot, the rest of your oval pan can be saved. Floor pans and frame head are an easy fix with the body off.

Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:11 am

ConcreteAce wrote: looks like you are missing the thick square rubber spacer that goes between the body and the chassis in that spot. it is about a quarter of an inch thick rubber.
My bad, I did forget the rubber :roll: . Thanks to your tip ConcreteAce I went back to my garage:

I put on 10mm rubber...

...which made excellent clearance to the spring plate :D ...

...but now the body also hoovers 10mm above the rear brace on the right.

No way the pan to body gasket could compensate for this kind of gap!

In fact the gap is almost twice (19mm) at the top of the left rear brace (which I cut in order to replace the left pan).

Is my pan twisted, or what? Is my task a mission "impossible"?

Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:13 am

drscope wrote: Unless your tunnel is shot, the rest of your oval pan can be saved. Floor pans and frame head are an easy fix with the body off.
Unfortunately the previous owner scrapped the entire oval pan :evil:

Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:05 am

Did you move, or remove the body mounting brackets on the inner wheel archs? The ones that bolt the body to the shock towers?

Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:20 am

56TIMOTEO wrote: Did you move, or remove the body mounting brackets on the inner wheel archs? The ones that bolt the body to the shock towers?
I removed those, since they by eye sight where way to low mounted. Otherwise they would have created an even bigger gap.

Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:27 am

Look for a bent lip somewhere (body or pan).

Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:52 am

the 10mm rubber is too thick. it is for between the front axle and the body.

my 53 i ordered the rubber from wolfsburg west and they are 6mm thick

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111899119B

Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:05 pm

I bought my rubber yesterday from the local dealer who had only either 10mm or 17mm in stock.

I will look for any bent lips. Hopefully it would be an easy fix.

Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:40 pm

Mats W wrote: So I know it's sacrilege :oops: , but it's my plan for now.

The only sacrilege here is when folks either trash the old pan (you are excused from responsibility on this one it seems), or they fail to properly title the new FrankenBug with the new serial numbers which causes the next owner grief with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:05 pm

sand the rubber blocks down if needed,that may give you the space needed

Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:41 pm

Those thick blocks are used for adjusting door gaps on convertibles, too. You can cut them thinner with a razor knife, if that turns out to be the problem.

Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:20 pm

Snort wrote: Mats W wrote: So I know it's sacrilege :oops: , but it's my plan for now.

The only sacrilege here is when folks either trash the old pan (you are excused from responsibility on this one it seems), or they fail to properly title the new FrankenBug with the new serial numbers which causes the next owner grief with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Thanks for the sympathy Snort! This "oval" is meant for my son and is going to be titled as a 69 Bug. I don't have any oval title to create a 'false' oval for that matter.

Looks like a rubber less thick hopefully will take care of my problems then 8)

Sat Nov 13, 2010 12:01 pm

I just took a sharp knife and split the 10 mm rubber in two halves

I worked out just fine :D !

Sun Nov 14, 2010 7:57 am

I have some new pics of the fitting af the oval body to a 69 pan

The 69 pan with on side of the floor pan changed

Her's look Mats the body and pan for see if that is necesary to do more to the inside of rear fendes

The body from the front

/Stefan

Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:48 am

I’ve been working on the pan for a couple of weeks now, but yesterday it was finally time to fit the body again – but it wouldn’t quite fit.

Is there any chance you guys could give me a hint here?

My rubbers are 10mm (ca 3/8”)

They would fit perfectly since there are 3mm (ca 1/8”) left…

…which resembles good with the mounting holes…

…since the metal also is 3mm thick.

Anyhow – when the rubber is there…

…the pan still hovers way above the pan.

The gap is ca 13mm (½”) :shock: .

How do I get this sorted? Am I to cut the rubber in half at the front also in order to get the body closer to the pan, or are the oval’s “body-to-front-beam-mounts” different from the later ones so that it is necessary to graft them?

I guess I would have to grind off metal on the top of the frame head as well to get enough clearance if you choose to cut the rubbers in half, right?

Any input appreciated.

Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:22 pm

I tried one of my theories today:

1. I cut the rubber in half.

2. I grinded the frame head for clearance.

3. Still the gap is too wide, isn’t it? I mean 8mm is more than it ought to be.

It seems it like this operation wasn’t enough. Do I have to modify the front body mounts in any way to make this work?