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Qui14
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2024
Posts: 5
Location: PA
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 Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2024 6:19 pm Post subject: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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I recently started my beetle journey over a month ago, bought a 1971 super beetle that stuck behind another car in an older mans garage stated to be garage kept, i inspected the car, saw the usual rust problems, floor pan, rear quarter panels, heater channels, i sadly wasnt able to see the front underside due to the way it was positioned in the garage and i was surprised with the whole front end from the spare tire trough below completely rotted out. i was prepared for a floor pan job and heater channel work. but now theres not much for the floor pan to be welded too... now after pricing out parts i am up to 4k... would il be wiser to just purchase a VW in better condition. and enjoy the restoration process a little more and part this 71 out?
i am a beginner welder/automotive techie, i was a heli mechanic in the army so im not completely inept. not even sure what im looking at here with this extent of rot.
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Prawnabie
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2023
Posts: 58
Location: England
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| Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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The 67 I am restoring is in a similar state. Beetles don’t weather well in the UK and the identity of the car is tidied to the chassis so I am battling it as we speak.
It looks like you will need to replace the tunnel flange that the floor sits on as well as the floors a possibly the heater channels, it will just spiral from there. The thing is there always more rot than you think and before you know it you will be into a full rebuild.
It might be worth looking at a donor pan if they are available in good confdition where you live.
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jinx758
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2014
Posts: 1022
Location: half a bubble from plumb
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| Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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Howdy...
Ambitious to say the least.
You would become VERY intimate with your car but you would also know that everything would be up to spec.
Start a thread if you take this on & lots will enjoy seeing the progress. There are many on here willing to give advice, if needed.
Ultimately your choice ... stay safe
jinx
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford
It's not unlike the same difference ...
My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor |
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71StandardReduction
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2012
Posts: 786
Location: Louisiana
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Qui14
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2024
Posts: 5
Location: PA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 3:58 am Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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| Prawnabie wrote: |
The 67 I am restoring is in a similar state. Beetles don’t weather well in the UK and the identity of the car is tidied to the chassis so I am battling it as we speak.
It looks like you will need to replace the tunnel flange that the floor sits on as well as the floors a possibly the heater channels, it will just spiral from there. The thing is there always more rot than you think and before you know it you will be into a full rebuild.
It might be worth looking at a donor pan if they are available in good confdition where you live.
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appreciate the replies guys, ive been searching online (facebook, craigslist,samba) for donors and no luck there.
| jinx758 wrote: |
Howdy...
Ambitious to say the least.
You would become VERY intimate with your car but you would also know that everything would be up to spec.
Start a thread if you take this on & lots will enjoy seeing the progress. There are many on here willing to give advice, if needed.
Ultimately your choice ... stay safe
jinx |
I need to be economical aswell, have got the usual husband and father responisbilities, im going to sit on it search around, research and maybe some great deal will come up regargding body panels, equipment ect. good idea with the step by step posting,i sure could use as much advice as i can get.
| 71StandardReduction wrote: |
Are the flat edge along the tunnel that the Floorplans weld to rusted off?
That's the only area that creates and concern for it being do able.
The rest of the areas are common to rust out, just usually not to such an extent. |
The passanger side, completley all along the edge... driver side is rotted about 12 inches at the very front of the car. this exactly was my main concern. watched some great videos and read some good threads on floor pan replacements and that lip is quite very importnant, haha.
that being said, were i to part the car out, you boys know of any good threads on here or videos with advice on topic? how to price, where to sell, most important pieces for other vw owners? |
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Prawnabie
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2023
Posts: 58
Location: England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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Tunnel lip is easy but its about a deep as you will ever go into restoring a beetle!
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Qui14
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2024
Posts: 5
Location: PA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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| Prawnabie wrote: |
Tunnel lip is easy but its about a deep as you will ever go into restoring a beetle!
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i wish i had the luxury of a garage, got a car port i do all my maintenance under. a 2 car garage is something im currently i have currently in the works. gonna be about 20 grand!
you have any videos explaining the tunnel lip repair process? |
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esde
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007
Posts: 6320
Location: central rust belt
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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Sadly, it's probably just good as a parts car. Based on what I see and your description, I'm betting that the crossmember that mounts the lower suspension is rotted out, and even if it isnt, where it bolts to the front lower body surely is. I've don't that repair for someone once, and I will not ever do it again.
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modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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Prawnabie
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2023
Posts: 58
Location: England
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:12 am Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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I’ve got no videos, I was going to start a restoration thread at some point.
As above, the bottom 6 inches of the car was rotten so was the frame. The floors just fell off with some weight on them and the framehead was rotten on the bottom. You will need to strip EVERYTHING and remove the bottom tunnel plate. Unfortunately if you want a beetle you can drive in the next few years might as well buy a better one as this rot doesn’t have a quick fix! |
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Qui14
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2024
Posts: 5
Location: PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2024 9:56 am Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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| Prawnabie wrote: |
I’ve got no videos, I was going to start a restoration thread at some point.
As above, the bottom 6 inches of the car was rotten so was the frame. The floors just fell off with some weight on them and the framehead was rotten on the bottom. You will need to strip EVERYTHING and remove the bottom tunnel plate. Unfortunately if you want a beetle you can drive in the next few years might as well buy a better one as this rot doesn’t have a quick fix! |
i appreciate your knowledge brother, whats the expected overhead of your restoration so far? and what is it expected to be?. |
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Prawnabie
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2023
Posts: 58
Location: England
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:06 am Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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No worries!
I haven't track a track of my costs so far as I would probably have a heart attack! |
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Qui14
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2024
Posts: 5
Location: PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2024 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: 1971 SB extreme frontal floor rot. is this do-able? |
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| Prawnabie wrote: |
No worries!
I haven't track a track of my costs so far as I would probably have a heart attack! |
dont blame you! |
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