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Official Ernieballbass Build Thread
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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 11:57 am    Post subject: Official Ernieballbass Build Thread Reply with quote

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.

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

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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...
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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i stripped down the thing and found even more fun...it was bondo city...

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yup...those are my inner rocker panels...thanks po.
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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

since the body had the structural integrity of a sack lunch, i braced her up. i had great advice from this forum!

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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!

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

last month, i picked up a narrowed beam. i got it media blasted along with the pan.

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.


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citroen
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fantastic!

Love your strategy of learning on the Super... It turned out nice! Cool

Congrats on the accomplishments, and your new found skills!! Very rewarding stuff right here! Wink
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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Shocked
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germanbilly
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:58 pm    Post subject: courage... Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

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PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

once the front beam was complete, i started to piece together the rear.

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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.

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

back on her own feet!

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i got slightly distracted with a Ghia. i did a quick flip on her, so i have more money for the thing Wink

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next step is making the engine pretty.

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ernieballbass
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

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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.

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i did have a question though. any idea what purpose this wire serves?

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GI Joe
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's one heck of a distributor! What is that thing?? Nits got some serious guts to it! Shocked

My guess on the wire you pictured, and it's just a guess, is something to do with the diagnostics.... Perhaps an RPM sender for the diagnostic plug??
But, what do I know! I'm sure Gary, Alcupolco, or Ron will set me straight! Lol

Great looking work on your paint! Makes me wanna yank my starter and clean it up! Lol
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