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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:54 am Post subject: Australian 63 Beetle |
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My Beetle has been sitting under the house for over 20 years and I've decided it's time to start rebuilding it and get it on the road. It has bad damage to the front quarter which I will try to fix or replace. I will do a body off rebuild.
I will probably have many questions and to get the ball rolling here's a minor one. Does anyone know whether the broken radio aerial in the pic is original or aftermarket?
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Kyland Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2014 Posts: 6 Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 3:56 am Post subject: |
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Not 100% sure, but I think original one's had round mounts...
Good luck with the rebuild! |
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OvalinAz Samba Mini Tech
Joined: June 09, 2009 Posts: 1078 Location: AZ
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 2:47 am Post subject: |
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Thanks guys. I did manage to find a pic of what seems to be an original Beetle and it had the same aerial only it was straight up and down and not on an angle. I think I'll start out by welding up the holes. I probably don't need a radio aerial anyway. |
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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lawn ninja Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006 Posts: 1009 Location: Round Rock, TX
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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All antennae were dealer added items. So it depends when it got done. Most of that era had the duel post setups. _________________ Jason
My 64 1500 S Notchback project here
My 58 sedan project here
My 63 Ghia here |
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:30 am Post subject: |
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I just bought a 58 and will have it in a couple of days. Between the two cars I should be able to come up with a decent one. It is missing the semaphores and later tail lights and front turn signals have been added.
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OvalinAz Samba Mini Tech
Joined: June 09, 2009 Posts: 1078 Location: AZ
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 3:33 am Post subject: |
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I'll strip everything out and then decide whether the rust work is something I can handle. It will probably be the 58 that gets built up using metal from the unrusted 63. |
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Picked it up today. It has later model fenders and running boards fitted. Engine is a 1300. Not original.
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mukluk Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012 Posts: 7028 Location: Clyde, TX
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:12 am Post subject: |
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Smitty63 wrote: |
I'll strip everything out and then decide whether the rust work is something I can handle. It will probably be the 58 that gets built up using metal from the unrusted 63. |
Fix 'em both. From what I see in your pics, the front quarter damage doesn't look too bad, likely can be beaten out with a hammer and dolly. _________________ 1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:59 am Post subject: |
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Yeah well the pics don't show just how bad it really is. It's also shifted the whole front over about 1/2". |
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Well the 58 is too far gone to bother with. I've got to hope that the whole front can be removed and fitted to the 63. I have no idea how I'm going to do it.
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 3:44 am Post subject: |
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Has anyone done a front quarter replacement without cutting the body? I mean by pulling apart the seam in front of the door and sliding out the old one. I need to know how to go about it so that the seam will look undamaged when the job is finished. |
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VWCOOL Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 1821 Location: Down under
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 5:39 am Post subject: |
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FYI, the '58 and '63 are totally different under the skin... everything |
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I can see there are a lot of differences but maybe the whole front will go on. |
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VWCOOL Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 1821 Location: Down under
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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That is serious body-building/trades work...
if you, as you say, 'have no idea' it's a project best left to a competent restorer who will unpeel your A-pillars, drill out the spot welds on the sills etc and graft one to the other.
You will then have a circa- $1500 bill to pay and a forever-mismatched shell |
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Smitty63 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 2:08 am Post subject: |
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The plan of attack is changing all the time as I discover new faults and differences. I have an unused NOS 58 front apron coming. I may also have found someone who has a rack and is a VW expert and may be able to get the front put back into the correct position. If I could find a good 63 quarter I would use it but at this moment the quarter from the 58 may have to be used. I may also cut the quarter off about 4 inches forward of the seam as I don't really want to bend the seam back and then hope it I can get it dead straight after the replacement quarter is fitted. |
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VWCOOL Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 1821 Location: Down under
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:51 am Post subject: |
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I'd be tugging-out and beating that 63's nose to repair. If that doesn't work, get a nose cut from the 'VW [or Volkswagen] Restorers Australia' page on FB. The '58 stuff simply won't fit |
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MANNAXMAN Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2009 Posts: 485 Location: Cali
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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Smitty63 wrote: |
VWCOOL wrote: |
Smitty63 wrote: |
Has anyone done a front quarter replacement without cutting the body? I mean by pulling apart the seam in front of the door and sliding out the old one. I need to know how to go about it so that the seam will look undamaged when the job is finished. |
FYI, the '58 and '63 are totally different under the skin... everything |
Yes, I can see there are a lot of differences but maybe the whole front will go on. |
My buddy had the front clip of a '58 removed by unfolding the seam with the intent of using it tor replace the front clip of a '55 that he had. See pic in the third post of his thread - Jeff's 55 Oval Ragtop. The problem with trying to use a full '58 front clip on a '63 is that the gas tanks are different between the two years. Although the front clip would most likely fit fine, you'd run into problems with the gas tank. |
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