Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
To wield or not to?! NEED HELP!!!
Forum Index -> Thing/Type 181 Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Lorie
Samba Member


Joined: January 26, 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Lorie is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 1:04 pm    Post subject: To wield or not to?! NEED HELP!!! Reply with quote

Aloha, I am in need of some help. I just recently bought a Vw Thing. The safety on this vehicle is expired so I need to have this done, BUT it won't pass right now due to a hairline fraction in the floorpan. So do I cut metal and weld? Do I get new pans? I would like some feedback. I appreciate it very much, thanks, Lorie
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
bljones
Resident Wit


Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 2377
Location: ontario canada
bljones is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We need more information. how bad is the fracture? where is it? any pics? what state/province/country are you in?
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Lorie
Samba Member


Joined: January 26, 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Lorie is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:26 pm    Post subject: fallin through the floor Reply with quote

I had posted about to weld or not. So on the driver side on the inner side of it where the two pans come together. there is a a good bit of metal missing, so much as the seat track is no longer on right. I am in Hawaii so if anyone knows who can be of help hey I greatly appreciate it. thanks
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
bljones
Resident Wit


Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 2377
Location: ontario canada
bljones is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

the reason i ask this stuff is because in some places part of the inspection is to let some troll poke around your car with a screwdriver looking for weak spots, in which case fiberglass would not be even a "make-do" option.

In your first post you said "hairline crack"... now it is "good bit of metal missing.. seat track is no longer on right." if it is that bad, replace the pans. you'll spend as much time chasing down rusty spots and patching them as you would cutting out the pans and replacing them. while you are at it, check the underside of the center tunnel, to make sure it isn't soft, and up front at the framehead.
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Lorie
Samba Member


Joined: January 26, 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Lorie is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 11:48 pm    Post subject: didn't realize......... Reply with quote

I didn't realize how bad it was til I lifted up the driver seat. Oh my goodness I couldn't believe it what I thought was a hairline fraction, was worse. I talked to a mechanic today here on the island and he said about taking some metal and welding then covering it wtih Por-15 on the inside as well as the undercarriage. I am so bummed, I have been lookin for years for a Thing now I have one and I am going through this. I paid 1400.00 for it. The body has some areas where there is metal missing so this mechanic says he can fill that in with fibergalss. I was also told to take metal brackets and run them horizonal and then bolt the seat track to that. I am at wits end here. Thanks for your time. I apologize for the lack of info. Thanks, Lorie
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
bljones
Resident Wit


Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 2377
Location: ontario canada
bljones is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do it right- buy new pans. doing it cheap isn't worth it, and you really won't save any money, because at some point, likely in the very near future, you will have to do it AGAIN.
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
doug
Samba Member


Joined: September 03, 2003
Posts: 48
Location: dunedin, fl
doug is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:05 am    Post subject: pans Reply with quote

Yeah, I agree with bljones replace the pans and find a mechanic that knows vw's. Mechanics that are not familar with vw's always want to do a hack job. Replacing the pans is not a hard job for an experience vw mechanic. No pop rivet, tar paper, and putty repairs do it right.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address Classifieds Feedback
Bruce
Samba Member


Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17273
Location: Left coast, Canada
Bruce is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:42 pm    Post subject: Re: didn't realize......... Reply with quote

Lorie wrote:
The body has some areas where there is metal missing so this mechanic says he can fill that in with fibergalss.


Don't ever use fiberglass to repair rust. It will not last more than a year or two, then the rust hole will be larger than before. The ONLY cure is to weld in steel then properly paint (like with Por 15)
And like the above said, have new pan halves welded in by someone that has done it before. This is a common job, so you should be able to find someone who's experienced. If you try to re-inforce what's there, you will be repairing it again in the near future. But if you weld in new pan halves, its done for the next 3 decades.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Thing/Type 181 All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.