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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 11:57 am Post subject: Official Ernieballbass Build Thread |
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hey guys,
so i wanted to take the time and actually start a build thread. i've posted pictures and updates, but never in one cohesive place. so, here we go...
i bought a 1974 vw thing when i was 18 years old. she was my daily driver on and off during college. i had many great memories during those years.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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i was super young/naive when i bought her. i had no idea what problem areas to look before the purchase...it bit me in the butt 8 years later lol.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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so after grad school, a few years of marriage, and reading thesamba, i finally had the means to tackle a full on restoration.
i picked up a super and practiced some body work. this is now my daily driver as i restore the thing.
i gained a ridiculous amount of knowledge doing this. it really humbled me and gave me a better perspective on a full restoration...it was going to take awhile... _________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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i stripped down the thing and found even more fun...it was bondo city...
yup...those are my inner rocker panels...thanks po. _________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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since the body had the structural integrity of a sack lunch, i braced her up. i had great advice from this forum!
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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i removed the pans one side at a time with a jigsaw, cuting wheels, and an air chisel...and then i found more rust. needless to say, i got a lot of practice with the welder and grinding wheel.
just some samples.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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and now the actual pans. i had a little bit of trouble keeping the pans flush with the lips during welding. i ended up welding up some left over angle iron to make some clamps. they worked pretty well!
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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last month, i picked up a narrowed beam. i got it media blasted along with the pan.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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this is where i am at currently. i painted the silver coat, seam sealed the pans, then topcoated it with chasis black. i wished i had thinned the master series coating a little bit more. you can still see some of the brush strokes. it's okay though, this is just going to be a nice, sunny-day daily-driver. the floors will be covered with rubber mats/duckboards eventually.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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citroen Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2010 Posts: 1578 Location: louisville ky
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like you are doing a great job keep up the good work and you will be happy in the end that you have done a good job |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys. It really is a lot of fun and very therapeutic. There is no way I could have started this without thesamba (specifically the Thing/Type 181 forum).
I just wish that there were more hours in a day _________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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germanbilly Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2013 Posts: 378 Location: Victorville
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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It takes Brains for what you are doing, keep up the excellent work. Looking great and you will be proud driving it down the street.
GB |
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JayC Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2010 Posts: 292 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:05 am Post subject: |
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Nice job! Having gone through this I know how much work it is... and mine wasn't even that challenging! |
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panorama Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 27 Location: France
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:58 pm Post subject: courage... |
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you are on the good way... mine is now in total restoration too. You can see it on my pics profile : panorama.
it's a long and heavy work but it's still on progress and i love it more and more every day....
congrats. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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it's been a super busy summer for me, but i managed to get some things done.
here is my little blast cabinet rig. this was made using returned/incomplete kits from harbor freight. it works pretty well and i blasted all of the suspension components (minus the beam) and painted them before assembly.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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once the front beam was complete, i started to piece together the rear.
installing the drop plates. i had to get a little creative since i didnt have the correct tool.
note the poor fit of the torsion bar covers. i ordered a better set.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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back on her own feet!
i got slightly distracted with a Ghia. i did a quick flip on her, so i have more money for the thing
next step is making the engine pretty.
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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ernieballbass Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 191 Location: Orlando, Fl
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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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i've been making some progress over the last couple of days. whenever i have a free moment, i run to the garage to make something happen.
i wish i took a before pic of the starter. it was caked with oil/grease and just looked nasty. i took an hour to clean it up and shoot some paint on it.
i made some progress on the engine. it runs fine, i just want it to look a little prettier. i used epoxy primer on the aluminum parts before i shot black engine enamel. i'm adding a mexican oil pump with spin on filter. hopefully my shroud will come in this week so i can piece together all the tin.
i did have a question though. any idea what purpose this wire serves?
_________________ What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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