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Fiberfab Bonanza GT
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 11:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
I finally decided not to use the modified type 3 bumper for the Bonanza GT.
Looking for some finer, smaller type of bumper, the ones from an Opel GT were on my mind.
Not far away i found two front bumpers and a set of rear bumpers.
But when attaching the front bumpers to the body, i saw they were too long around the corners and too short in the width.
Nothing that couldn't be changed by myself!
Here the modified type 3 and the already lengthened in the middle and shortened in the sides Opel GT bumper:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:01 am; edited 1 time in total
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 11:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
The front modified Opel GT bumper changed and mediablasted.

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i still had to do some metal work on it. dings and dents everywhere...
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:02 am; edited 1 time in total
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 11:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
The rear bumpers attached to the body (Note: not the final position):

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_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 11:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
I am a long person; 6"4. To get into the car was horrible, to get out of it even worser!
So i changed the A-pillar position.
I got it moved 3,5 Inches towards the front.

Masking with tape first:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Cutting out some material:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Repositioning of the the A-pillar:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


First positioning the A-pillar, then laminating everything together:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:05 am; edited 3 times in total
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 11:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
Looking better now!

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_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 11:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
But there was a new problem now; the rounded dash.

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I had to cut out a section to get the door closed.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


In the end this area had to be created by scratch. I formed some Fiberglass layers between dash and the window pillar to get rid of that huge gap.
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 12:00 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
Fine putty ready to be sanded on the A-pillar:

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_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:07 am; edited 1 time in total
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 12:26 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
I found some strong but small door hinges. They belong to an Austin Healey Sprite.

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_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 12:30 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
The cutout part from the A-pillar needed a new place. It has to be laminated into the door to get it lengthened.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I cut off the front section of the door and put the Fiberglass in between.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:07 am; edited 1 time in total
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 12:38 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
Fiberglass putty and some fiberglass sheets were used to get strength into the surface:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Attached the door to the car to see how it fits. Note: the door is not attached to the A-pillar, that's why it is hanging deeper!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:38 am; edited 1 time in total
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:37 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
For comparison; right side still serial version:

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Left side, already changed:

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And here is the door/A-pillar section sanded:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 4:45 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
The original door panels were shabby and didn't fit anymore....

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As you can see there is a gap...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


So i decided to get some Ali sheets in 1 mm...

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and build some new ones. Here is the left door panel almost finished:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Some minor imperfections are still on the surface, but i will cover it with leather anyway so it won't be seen afterwards.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Thu Nov 20, 2025 2:19 am; edited 1 time in total
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Rome
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 8:47 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
That was a very ambitious change to lengthen the driver's door- well done! Will you keep the passenger door the original size, since most of your passengers are likely not as tall as you?
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finster
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 9:24 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
nice work!
an option for the headlamp surround might be the humber sceptre mk1
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326834330298?itmmeta=01...R4b5wYPIZg
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 2:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
Rome wrote:
That was a very ambitious change to lengthen the driver's door- well done! Will you keep the passenger door the original size, since most of your passengers are likely not as tall as you?


This is a good question. We were discussing that and came to only one solution; both doors will look the same, same with the pillars.
So i have to do this once again...
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970

Last edited by prostreetnotch on Thu Nov 06, 2025 2:14 am; edited 1 time in total
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 2:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
finster wrote:
nice work!
an option for the headlamp surround might be the humber sceptre mk1
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326834330298?itmmeta=01...R4b5wYPIZg
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Unfortunately there is really not enough space for this frame in the front mask.
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 06, 2025 2:19 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
Rear hood; i was thinking of a small spoiler in the style of a datsun 240z.

i created a foam inlay, then handlaminated fiberglass over it.

unfortunately it got a little bit too big...


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



i think i won´t install this hood on the car...
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2025 4:11 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
mounted door hinges:

pic will follow

unfortunately due to the shape of the body, i can´t fix these hinges more up and down.
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2025 4:13 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
door locking mechanism:

i have chosen the door locking mechanism from a beetle/type 3 for the bonanza gt.

they fit great, after just a minor change on them.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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prostreetnotch
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Joined: July 31, 2010
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 1:36 am    Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT Reply with quote
The door hinges need a support bracket, to get it laminated to the body.
So i welded in an additional metal bracket between the two hinges parts:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Maybe i should add another set of metal brackets?
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970
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