TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1963 Panelvan build "Tyvanosaurus Wrecks"

Fri Apr 07, 2017 10:05 pm

I now know more about how VW made this than I ever wanted to know.

The wheeled painting cart was a handy hight as I had to do endless trimming to get things lined up.

Got the replacement frame section bolted up at the front beam mount by one bolt each side. This helps with alignment. Got the last remnant of old floor removed. Made a headlight support panel patch.

I have not done any welding. All I have ever done on this entire project so far is removing cutting and grinding. It is nice to see something look like it is coming together for a change.
Kurt

Fri Apr 07, 2017 10:15 pm

Nice work Kurt.

As an ex auto/truck frame straightener, I'm wondering how you're insuring you have the frame height correct at the front frame horns? It would be easy to weld it in twisted a bit. Did you make templates of each frame rail before cutting the old ones out?

It would be nice if you could hang some frame gauges on the entire bus before the welding started. It would really help insure thing are level and not twisted. Of course, there's also the frame dimensions on this site as well for lengths and side to side measurements for squareness.

Fri Apr 07, 2017 10:24 pm

I will be checking the frame for twist throughout all welding with a laser. VW's own frame tolerances was only 2mm. I can do better than that.
Kurt

Sat Apr 08, 2017 4:15 am

Moving alone quite nicely.

Installing the doors will insure you don't get any nasty surprises later.

Sat Apr 08, 2017 7:13 am

glideking wrote: I will be checking the frame for twist throughout all welding with a laser. VW's own frame tolerances was only 2mm. I can do better than that.
Kurt

at the same time, this is your opportunity to put your own twist on things. I like your methodical way of working through things, one step at a time, on surprise at a time...

Sat Apr 08, 2017 9:54 am

I'm two months in to my nose dissection and here you are grafting entire sections of busses together. Slow down you are making us look bad! Ha!

Sat Apr 08, 2017 10:11 am

I'm with Ryan. I have been a month on one part of my frame and have been on it steady. I better get back to work. Kurt, your progress is impressive.

Sat Apr 08, 2017 10:46 am

sgellis wrote: Installing the doors will insure you don't get any nasty surprises later.

If anybody gets anything out of this post that right there is it!

Door gap alignment, door gap alignment, door gap alignment, door gap alignment, door gap alignment, door gap alignment, door gap alignment, door gap alignment, door gap alignment...

O.C.D. and the inability to sit still long enough to watch tv helps.
Kurt

Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:03 pm

Dont forget door gap alignment, Kurt

Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:46 pm

That bus was lucky to find you. Good luck Kurt !

Sat Apr 08, 2017 6:19 pm

Looks very good, well done!

Sat Apr 08, 2017 8:12 pm

Did somebody remind me to check my door gap alignment before I do any welding? I cleaned up the threads for the hinges with a tap and dug out some doors from the attic. Never throw anything away. The original doors are a pile of oxide now.

I am beginning to feel better about Wrecks' prognosis. I got these doors 15 years ago for Funky Truck replacements but turned out to be the wrong year for that project. They are ice picks alright but of the recessed variety. I was unaware of such subtleties back then. All is well though because they are the correct year doors for T Wrecks and I still have them. They are in great condition too. I finally get a break from finding new rust.

I welded the first two pieces together today. A milestone for this project. Headlight support patch. I will mess with fitting the other door tonight.Then I will CHECK DOOR GAP ALIGNMENT!
Kurt

Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:29 am

HaHa... :)

It is definitely nice when things start going back together.

Out of curiosity was your front clip two tone grey white? It looks very much like a match to the dash section I purchased from your part of the world.

Sun Apr 09, 2017 8:37 am

sgellis wrote: Out of curiosity was your front clip two tone grey white?

The frame clip is from the bus that goes on giving and giving. CMoore let me cut this clip from his pasture of donor buses when he convinced me to take on this project. Funky has parts from this one too. I wonder what is left of it now?
Kurt

Sun Apr 09, 2017 9:26 am

glideking wrote:
This blows my mind that the front hoop and those two frame sticks are holding everything just fine.

Sun Apr 09, 2017 9:36 am

BarryL wrote: holding everything just fine. The bus weighs nothing right now. What blew my mind was how rigidly just the two window frames held the nose in mid air. I peeled the nose skin off that way.

The door gaps are only aligned when I level the frame. Why is that? I am getting downright optimistic that I can pull this off!

Having the replacement doors being L380 is karma.
Kurt

Sun Apr 09, 2017 2:20 pm

glideking wrote: I am getting downright optimistic that I can pull this off!

Kurt

I'm downright optimistic that you can too!

Sun Apr 09, 2017 8:21 pm

The frame replacement is done. I removed the front ring to weld that small section it covered, ground it flat and reinstalled.

I did have to squeeze things here and there with pipe clamps to get good door gaps.

That is all for now. I have other projects to do for a while.
Kurt

Mon Apr 10, 2017 3:48 am

glideking wrote: I wire brushed the heads clean and fill all four screw heads with a blob of weld before welding on the chunk of rebar. I used a wet towel to quench each weld to help shock the threads loose. Being lazy I did not bother cutting off the extracted screws so I just kept welding them on to make this string of screws. This method was 100% effective. All 16 front door hinge plate threads are saved. Next I will cut the screws free and restore the threads...

...not. As for the condition of the A pillars they are in need of some more steel.
Kurt

Kurt, didn't know you were an artist. :)

Mon Apr 10, 2017 12:46 pm

I think we all already know he is.......