New project - 1954 VW Beetle Deluxe w/ VW Canada prodn plate

[kintail]

The steering wheel.......

Using quick drying epoxy for the wider gap repairs and 6 hour epoxy to push into the smaller cracks seemed to work.Followed up by glaze putty for cleanup made the steering wheel much better in appearance and strength.

However less than pleased with the final finish. It was spray can but the Krylon paint used was too thin and maybe over pressurized. Too many drips and runs... could also be operator error. Will sand down, fix any other minor blemishes and get it painted properly. Otherwise, my first experience with this and time well spent.

Before....

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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[VW_Jimbo]

The car looks great!

Your steering wheel came out most righteous!

Keep plugging away! Want to tackle a second steering wheel and semaphores?
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[kintail]

Thanks!!

I leave the semaphores to the professionals..... costs money but you pick your battles. The steering wheel took about 15 hours in total. Won't stop the wheel cracking some more but maybe will slow it down a bit. Will leave the steering wheel repair in your hands. I think you could do it faster and better given your build record on this site !!

Let's both keep moving forward!!
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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[kintail]

So Cam is off to SEMA this week as he had told me earlier. He finally told me he was part of a group here in Manitoba doing a build for the show. With the usual rush to the deadline he was unable to pick-up my car last week and estimates with the ankle incident he is about two weeks behind. Had told him earlier just to keep moving ahead for now and we can pickup the '54 in November as mentioned in a prevous post.

In the meantime picked up these cool trim rings on the Samba that I have never seen before. Estimated to be from the early to mid '50s, the design will go well with the skirts.

Looked at the steering wheel again and think I can do better. Carefully sanding it down for another respray.

In addition also looking for some really good hub caps and original 32 PCIB carbs to rebuild for the WW kit.
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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[kintail]

Looking at getting a set of hubcaps for the car. Last time I bought an OG set was from the dealer about $50 each...... last century.

Looking at ORIGINAL CLASSIC PARTS. 113601151 Genuine Volkswagen! Sourced directly from Germany. CIP offers the same from OCP although shows different parts # 111601151??

Or find excellent used and re-chrome? Actually my re-chromed parts are ready for pick up on Monday and can ask price then.

Advice??
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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[kintail]

Went to the chrome shop today to pick up the '54 pieces.

Pleased with the work.. cost was $400 CDN. Inquired about taking minor dents out of OG hubcaps and re-chroming - around $120 CDN.
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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[VW_Jimbo]

They look great! I am so jealous of that. All of the tree huggers here have killed the use of hazardous chemicals for those of us that don’t mind using them. How it is that a bunch of tree huggers can influence my life and cost me several hundred dollars more than it should, is beyond my scope of rational thinking. Let freedom ring. My ass! I do not even have the freedom to choose to get my parts chromed locally. Such a shame. As a kid, I had all of my 55 Bug parts rechrome by a shop across the street from my Dads cabinet shop. He knew the guy. He had built them their front counter!

Nothing like small business people. Love them!

Sorry. I am ranting like an old man.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[kintail]

We are lucky to have a local plater given the environmental regs you mention. I would have to think as an owner you might also be considering longer term possible health effects. I'm not sure how this business operates on a day to day basis regarding these issues and others.

However, there appears to be a steady stream of customers with antiques, cars, bikes, motorcycles, household items, etc. needing these services.

On the speaker grill the OG wire mesh is flocked in either light beige or light grey. I decided to use light beige to add contrast to the ultra maroon. I used felt as it has a similar look and expect will be longer lasting.

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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[sunroof]

I will just interject here for a moment and say that the original owner of House of Silver where Scott got his stuff plated died of stomach cancer. I was on a tour of his shop a few years before he died and that place was toxic. I was very happy to get out of there.

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[kintail]

I was looking at used hubcaps with a few dents or scratched. And I would have liked to have seen how well the repair and a new re-chrome would have come out. But at $120 Cdn that was too costly...... although the end product would have been based on the factory hub cap.

So with CIP having another sale on and comparing to Concept 1... I went with CIP, and the German made Original Classic Parts which I understand makes these under licence from VW. Next project....... putting the vent windows back together. Tough.... but there is a plan!!
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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe