TheSamba.com :: View topic - New project - 1954 VW Beetle Deluxe w/ VW Canada prodn plate

Tue May 20, 2025 1:33 pm

You can use epoxy putty, the stuff off of Home Depot’s shelf. You knead it together and press it in. More like pack it in. I typically take the point of a razor blade and scrap out the fissure, so the area is clean down to fresh base material, then fill the opening by forcing the epoxy into the opening with a wood shim.

Once cured, sand, prime and paint! Works a treat!

Thu May 22, 2025 6:08 am

Jimmy... have the epoxy stick and will be giving it a try as well. Thanks for the recommend!!

Went on a shopping spree at Kaefer Nostalgie. Fastest deliver to Canada with FedEx and standard shipping in 48 hours or less.

Door seal @ $68 US for both doors!

Heart tail light gasket. Thought I would try it.

Could not get myself to buy ABS glove box. This "paper" composites comes with interior flocked in black

Since swapping wiper bases with Don also ordered silver wiper arms and wipers!

So working on final disassembly of car door interior findings. Rust fight on with everything pretty much.... not happy at his point!! Penetrating oil, hammer, and heat...... plus too time taken up . Slow period of winning ... eventually.

SIDE NOTE: Had a good morning of everything falling off the car after... whining in this post

On positive note sold running 40 hp that came with the car locally. Going into 1965 Beetle Kabriolett.

Thu May 22, 2025 2:06 pm

That is a great update! I needed that today!
Thanks!

Thu May 22, 2025 2:19 pm

kintail wrote:

Heart tail light gasket. Thought I would try it.

Did that come from Kaefer Nostalgie, too? I may need some myself!

Thu May 22, 2025 2:30 pm

All items and pics in my last post are from Kaefer Nostalgie.

Sat May 24, 2025 3:53 am

So .....after a great day Thursday with parts easily coming off the '54.... The vent windows did not get the memo for Friday.

Starting with the drivers door, now have drilled out the vent window latch/plate screws to remove that for re-chroming.

Tried heat and long soak in penetrating oil for separation...... only caused the vent window glass to separate itself from the chrome with no breakage. That was accidentally easy.

So...being older I am somewhat less bendy and flexible .....and trying to loosen that nut will be a real problem. Hindsight moment - should have kept up the yoga practice.

Back to practical thinking along with dark thoughts. I know its an old car but the engineers over-designed this sub-assembly IMO. %$$#W*!

Back to the steering wheel for a break maybe...

Wed May 28, 2025 7:34 pm

So took a break of a couple of days. In the end it wasn't a big deal getting the quarter window out.

Managed to pry one edge of the lock plate slightly back. Hit it with the 14mm deep socket and it just came apart.... except for the "slip" joint. A couple of hits with the plastic hammer.... the quarter window glass popped out with no breakage... and then the joint. Interesting almost everything is rust free except for that joint!

Also cleaned up the drivers door regulator of grease and blue paint over spray. Re-lubricated and operates like new!

Tue Jun 03, 2025 2:13 am

Decided to polish up the door hardware with Autosol and 0000 steel wool. Came out not too bad and retains some patina so will use.

The chrome on this car is pretty bad with the pot metal in particular being beyond repair.....door handles and factory installed locking deck-lid t-handle.
I will be using the repro Wolfsburg West handles in this build.

Got fantastic news when Cam texted me recently and said he will be taking the car in September to start the body work!!! So looking forward to the start

A photo of his recent work for another VW club member here. Heater channel replaced and both front and back clips replaced due to rust and collision damage.

Wed Jun 04, 2025 1:07 pm

Wolfsburg West delivery today!

Beautiful reproduction door handles and T-handle for rear deck lid.

Compared to my old ....