TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1959 Single Cab Restoration Thread "Funky Truck"

Wed Feb 18, 2015 4:17 pm

This tool looks handy. I don't know if there's enough room to use it on the SC, but it makes quick work of the door skin in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joJKFlziBg4

Wed Feb 18, 2015 6:29 pm

coolerthanelvis wrote: This tool looks handy. I don't know if there's enough room to use it on the SC, but it makes quick work of the door skin in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joJKFlziBg4

that's pretty neat!

Fri Feb 20, 2015 11:17 am

Same two pieces indoor outdoor lighting.

I have been working on getting the color right for months. People from all over the planet have sent me samples and scraps of metal claimed to be correct. These samples are more than fifty years old and aged in various conditions. I sanded them down and polished them up. From all of this I have seen quite a lot of variation from magenta , orange to pink. I think the color varied over the years that it was produced as well. The original ingredients are no longer available or illegal and if they were modern manufacturing techniques would produce different colors anyway. I settled on a color that I liked somewhere in the middle of the range. We tried a computer match first and it was way off. It required a lot of adjustment from that and other colors not suggested by the computer were added. What we found is that this color is sensitive to very slight changes in the pigment added. Mixing small batches was futile. I don't understand why some people are keeping their recent paint mixes a secret. We can all benefit from sharing our findings. If you work with this mix and adjust it please share your results. I got two gallons today with catalyst that will produce 3 sprayable gallons. "Funky" has a lot of surface area! Temperature and humidity levels are getting better here in California so I can pick good days to spray in my unheated garage as spring weather approaches.

For completeness the years used were 1950-1965. VW paint code L53. PPG/Ditzler paint code 71025. SK1034 Due to chemistry differences over time these formulas do not work anymore.
Kurt

Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:16 pm

100 more views and "Funky Truck" will be at 100,000 views. Who would have thought?
Kurt

Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:30 pm

...and I just helped! Let's get there tonight!

Hi Kurt!

Bill

Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:37 pm

Thanks Bill. Looks like your topic will be there soon too!

Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:24 pm

glideking wrote: Thanks Bill. Looks like your topic will be there soon too!

Is it just coincidence that you guys started your topics on the same day 2 years and 4 days ago? :D

Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:49 pm

Before I can apply any of this beautiful paint I have to do a lot of seam sealing.

This is a urethane seam sealer that comes in a "burrito" bag. It is intended to be used with a funnel taped on to one end like a pastry bag. I think I'll pass on that. I chose not to use one of those epoxy guns with a mixing tip because there is no room in my truck to use it and the tip is too large.

I was also looking for a way to dispense a small controlled amount instead of the usual smeary blobs that require masking on both sides of the seam. My woodworking shop is next door so I nabbed these.

This stuff is quite runny so it is easy to pour into the glue syringes.

The hole in the end is very small and the applicator is easy to maneuver in small spaces unlike a caulking gun.

I do not have to use 100s of feet of masking tape.

Kurt

Sun Feb 22, 2015 8:42 am

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

Sun Feb 22, 2015 10:38 am

lots of good ideas here
thanks Kurt
hank

Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:01 pm

How do you trim a 2mm taper off of a 1mm thick sheet metal and keep a line perfectly straight?

I don't know but here is what I did. I clamp a 1/4" bar stock with one edge colored black with a sharpie. Grind until the black gets some scratches.

Sand with a flap disk until all of the black is gone.

File a radius on both sides.

Got all the plug weld holes drilled and the center seam has weld through primer. I am thinking I will weld the seam first before going on the truck.

Why file a radius? (begin rant) Paint does not adhere well to sharp corners. Sharp corners are easily abraded or bumped into by anything. When paint is chipped easily at sharp corners the rust will begin. A soft edge will last longer. (end of rant)

Now go file some VW parts!
Kurt

Mon Feb 23, 2015 12:57 pm

Fantstic job!

Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:00 am

Kurt you are clever well skilled craftsman

I love your old school skills and ability to adapt to any trade

As a shipwright and a fellow SC owner and having done quite a few resto's with the help of my Dad, who was exactly like you old school tradesman who seem to know all trades

I have spent the last few hours reading and watching your videos, the best part my 4 and 6 year old sat either side of me also glued to the progress.

You topic and build was better then a bed time book

Thanks for the hours of fun and reading

Your a dead set legend mate

We are glued to the screen waiting on the colour and updates

Oh my kids give a big thumbs up to sealing wax red, its one of there favourite VW colours (behind Pearl White)

Here is our SC just finished our resto

Thanks
Scott, Isabella and Sam from Australia

Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:39 am

You made my day! I am very enthusiastic about VW's and hoped to share that with others. I am glad to know this is making it around the world and to all ages too. Thank you.
Kurt

Beautiful # 53!

Tue Mar 03, 2015 11:44 pm

Spare tire space behind the seat in a single cab is minimal. Modern radials do not fit without pushing my knees into the steering column. I am adding a treasure chest spare tire mount in my 1959. This feature was not standard until 1963. Others said they need to do this so I am including details.

I stole this photo from the net. I need to make all of these parts:

I don't have a working milling machine so I cut the slots by drilling holes and grinding out the rest.

Now the holes for plug welding.

Now separated.

I love to grind! Don't you?

I am so glad I can weld this with the truck upside down.

Perhaps I should leave my plug welds not ground so future archeologists can see this was added to an early VW and not standard equipment?...
No

Now for the threaded rod. I don't know how VW did it as I have never taken one apart. I ran the threaded rod all the way through and welded to the top side for stiffness.

Now for the plate. Found some tubing.

Cut in half.

Cut some more.

Bend the ends in a vice.

The giant wing nut was an experiment that worked out. Surprised me! Started with a large hex coupling nut and some bar stock.

Ground and sanded.

Good enough to hold up a spare tire.

I have been planning to do this upgrade to my truck for many, many years. This seemed like as good a time as any.

Now there is room behind my seat for that subwoofer!!!!!!!!
Kurt

Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:01 am

This thread is full of awesome and win. One of my favorites on TS.

Nice job fab'ing that spare tire mount!

Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:04 am

I think you missed your calling Kurt. Auto body metal repair might have been it..

I absolutely love your attention to detail, creativeness and ability to execute your ideas. Your welding is rally top notch now as well.

I'm glad to see you working on the VW again. Keep chipping away at the tasks and it will be done before you know it.

Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:18 am

glideking wrote:

Good enough to hold up a spare tire.

Now there is room behind my seat for that subwoofer!!!!!!!!
Kurt

You win. Without a doubt, you win. Very well done. =D>

Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:52 am

Awesome fix, Kurt! I would suggest making a plate that goes the width of the top of the beam and weld thru to the threaded rod. This would spread out the weight some and help prevent the rod pulling through. Maybe not original, but that is a fair amount of weight on 1 square inch of 20 ga sheetmetal. You're work is a real inspiration, Thanks.

Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:49 pm

"a plate that goes the width of the top of the beam and weld thru to the threaded rod."

That is a good idea. I will do that!
Kurt