TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1973 Bubbled Rear Apron & Restoration Thread

Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:23 pm

fredybear wrote: This paint stripper sucks.

What happened to the stuff that burned your body parts when it got on you and dried up hard, instead of this slime.???

Guess I have the wrong formula :!: :idea: :!:

Crap
:shock: :shock: :shock:

Apparently they have discontinued the "Aircraft" paint stripper that works.
Wish I had known earlier, I would have bought a few. :(
Looks like it will take a lot longer to work even with the usual scuff with rough paper and cover with plastic sheet treatment.

Q: What happened to my favorite Aircraft product? It isn’t the same!
A: On March 15, 2019, the EPA issued a final rule to ban methylene chloride (MeChl) in paint removers, with November 22, 2019, being the last date MeChl-containing removers can be sold. MeChl was the main ingredient in our original Aircraft Paint Remover, AR343.

Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:18 pm

I think ill send it to the crusher. :idea: :idea: :idea:

Jasco vs Kleen Strip

Lets test

Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:17 pm

I took my 70 down to bare metal with a combination of chemical stripper, soda blasting, and orbital (DA) sanding. It took forever.

I have 2 more bugs and a ghia in the queue and I thought about one of these.

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-contour-sct.html

Anybody have any experience with this or something similar?

Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:21 pm

Get a 4-1/2” angle grinder and a woven quick strip disc.

4-1/2 in. x 5/8 in. -11 in. Non-Woven Quick-Strip Disc
https://www.homedepot.com/p/202830907

Super fast for $10, no chemicals, no smell. Dusty, but wear a mask! Or run a vacuum or both!

Fri Dec 25, 2020 6:18 pm

The mess, disking make a mess, the stripper sucks, why am I doing this 15yrs after I bought it :?: :?: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Pretty colors...it was orange at some point, I think

Who would spend 10Gs on a bug without knowing whats underneath the pretty paint??? :?: :?: :?: :?:

Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:45 pm

We love body filler. :shock:

Musta been 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick :shock:

Almost done 8)

Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:53 pm

A flawless panel 8)

Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:11 pm

Hood Time :idea: I think someone put filler on every part of the body :?

Doors :idea: :idea: some damage, not worth a 1/4 inch of filler :?

I figured out how to change the title. Just search - change title....duh :shock:

Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:12 pm

Wow, I responded to a post.....since 09

Easy when everything is in one place

Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:18 pm

Yummy :shock:

Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:51 pm

Quote: I think ill send it to the crusher. Don't consider such nonsense. Having a solid Beetle with minimal rust is a bonus these days. If you don't want to bother with the newly discovered work from all that filler and the dents, you could spray some epoxy primer on, then sell it. Somebody will quickly appreciate the lack of rust for a basis for a project.

Engine lid: Yours is non-vented, from a '68 or '69. That style is well matched with the single-port engine. A '73 should have a lid with 4 sets of slotted vents. Those vents will help cooling of your engine, especially if you decide to retrofit a doghouse fan shroud with its wider fan which uses more ambient air. If you see a lid with 2 sets of vents, that'll also work OK. That style was used for '70 and '71 model years.

Apron: Keep it. it is not "factory original" because the '73 aprons were "flat". But if it has been installed well with good welding, the bulge simplifies engine removal because you have more space to tilt the engine with the muffler installed.

Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:53 pm

I guess the " I'm Gonna Crush It" failed to get a buyer. My plan didn't come together :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: so

Hows this lid, say automatic, does it count?? :?: :?: :?:

Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:24 pm

Why is there a big hole in my decklid :shock: :shock: :shock:

Gettin to the original

Front apron,,sweetness 8) 8)

Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:53 pm

The hole in the engine lid is for extra cooling. And that is if you can find all the replacement parts.

Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:53 pm

My Bubble fell off :shock: :shock: :shock: HELP :shock:

Three tack welds held this in. Some folks can really sleeeeeze some stuff together :!: :!: :!: :!:

Should I keep it :?: :?:

Or find a replacement original :?: :?:

Tue Jan 05, 2021 1:23 pm

The boring process of crappy :!: :!: chemical stripper :!: :!:

Some strong coating on the rear of that bubble :!:

Certain things should just be blasted 8) 8)

Tue Jan 05, 2021 1:29 pm

My rear has been tapped :shock: :shock: :shock: help :shock:

Time for a Convertible Baja :shock: :shock: chop chop :shock: :shock:

I see the torch marks for some straightening

I was just gonna sell this, and than I decided to take it apart :shock: :shock:

Next up, Body Off Pan. 8) 8) 8)

Tue Jan 05, 2021 1:44 pm

Windows out, coming along 8)

Look at that beautiful original red hiding in there 8) 8) 8)

Lets bring it back, shall we 8) 8)

anyone know how to remove that rear view mirror?? :?: :?:

Tue Jan 05, 2021 3:05 pm

fredybear wrote: Windows out, coming along 8)

anyone know how to remove that rear view mirror?? :?: :?:

Kind of a twist then pull motion to remove it.
This is what it looks like once you get it out.
Mine twisted to about 8 o'clock and pulled out with some effort.

And the socket->

Tue Jan 05, 2021 4:53 pm

Awesome, thanks, had to use a 2x4 for pressure to move it. A little jolt with the wood got it movin :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: