M38 Tub

[AMAC1680]

Looking at Willys M38 full tub, front hood etc. I can pick it up cheap and may do a VW based build. I know it's been done. The dimensions seem good.

You guys have seen it all so tell me where "the devil" is for this type of undertaking.

Thanks.
AMAC
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[joescoolcustoms]

I have not seen everything, but have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

I see no downside other than final re-sale value not bringing what a re-done original willy's would bring. But I do not think that is your goal.

I have kicked around building a VW based Fiberglass CJ many, many times.
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Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

[Letterman7]

Been done. There was even a kit: http://www.ewillys.com/category/veep/

[AMAC1680]

[Lo Cash John]

Would you build it up north or in Jacksonville?
What sort of shop space do you have?
What sort of fabrication tools do you have?
What sort of fabrication skills do you have?
What are you willing to spend JUST on the tools to do this?

Those are the foundation questions for this sort of project.
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My boss told me I need to work on my mutli-tasking. So now when I use the bathroom at work I surf The Samba on my iPhone.

[AMAC1680]

[Lo Cash John]

Reason I ask is you were asking around before for a top quality buggy/VW builder in this area. Well, there aren't any VW shops here that do top quality work. Trust me on that. There are a few individuals that do very nice work but they aren't official shops, don't advertise and are appointment only.

If you have the space, tools and skills, nobody can build it better then the one with the vision.
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More brains than bucks...Believe it or not!!

My boss told me I need to work on my mutli-tasking. So now when I use the bathroom at work I surf The Samba on my iPhone.

[AMAC1680]

I hear you john.
I've found some good people in the region and the "beater buggy" is working for its intended use.

As for the VW/Jeep project it's been a thought for years. I've built Vettes and Mustangs back in the day and to be honest I just don't have the desire to do it all myself at this stage.

But I do have the desire to direct the build bring my vision to life.
already have the body and drivetrain. Add a frame and it's an assembly project.

As far as shops etc they need to be actual businesses. That doesn't mean they need a big physical plant but it has to be a legit operation, insurance license etc. it also can't be a "sideline". It can be a one man show but they need to meet the above criteria.

It's been my experiance that without the above one has little recourse if things go south.

AMAC
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[Lo Cash John]

The guys on Lem Turner work on beaters. If you want fiberglass patches in rusty floor pans, roofing tin riveted under Bondo or a basically stock motor they can take care of you. If you want something done to a show winning standard, they ain't it. (If you DO go here, insist that only Perry works on your build)

Mark O'steen at O'steen's Auto Body is a long time VW guy. He's had several VW's in Hot VWs and VW Trends back in the 80's and 90's. Not sure if he still does custom work but that's who I'd ask locally.

In Orlando there's R&S Performance. They are TOP notch and very honest but the owner is semi-retired and may not be interested in a full project build anymore. Call and ask for Scooter.

In Daytona you have Daytona Air Cooled Parts. Not sure if they do full builds but Charlie the owner is very knowledgeable and might have a recommendation.

There's other hotrod and custom shops here in town but none are particularly versed in VW stuff. Yes a car is a car but if you're building a dream project, go to the guys that know the brand.
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www.LoCashRacing.org
Lo' Cash Racing Team on Facebook
More brains than bucks...Believe it or not!!

My boss told me I need to work on my mutli-tasking. So now when I use the bathroom at work I surf The Samba on my iPhone.

[GS guy]

A little motivational thread on a similar VW-Jeep project:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=491289&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Keep us posted!
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[AMAC1680]

[AMAC1680]

[Lo Cash John]

You asked for the "devil" in the build and I asked you some basic shop questions. Also, since you were asking for a top quality builder in a previous thread, I assumed you were looking for shops to possibly do some of the work for you.


You said in a reply above the "As far as shops etc they need to be actual businesses." so that supported my belief you're looking to farm out the build. That's awesome as businesses need customers. I simply named off some shops I'd talk to (if I were looking to hire out the build) and what to expect.


If you think i have an axe to grind regarding Hill Top Motors, you are VERY wrong. I very much WISH they would step up and perform as a top tier service and restoration shop. They have the resources and talent, but for whatever reason they have not yet gone there. The service and restoration work (if you want to call it that) they do is on par with a shop that works on buy here/pay here used car lot stuff or Earl Scheib Paint and Body. I have personally seen body repairs made with rivets and Bondo, then covered with undercoating (this is a favorite technique for inner fender well rust). I've watched them lay fiberglass into a Ghia floor pan on a car who's owner could CLEARLY afford a proper fix. This was the crap level of work I was doing as a high school kid in the 80's.


True story: I recommended a buddy of mine to take his very nice, low mileage, 2 owner Westy camper bus to Hill Top for new front and back window rubber. He towed it up there with wide masking tape holding the glass in (not sure why he did that). He drops it off and says he'll be back in a few days. Also, this is the kind of guy that says "do it right, I don't mind paying for perfect work".


So, he shows up a couple of days later to get the bus and when he sees it he flips out. The guys at Hill Top didn't even remove the masking tape from the glass before installing the window rubber. The had cut the glass lose with a razor, peeled the tape from the body but there was still tape on the glass UNDER the rubber. He took the bus home and called me. I went right over and couldn't believe it. That was the last time I sent someone there for service.


I think the VW scene in Jacksonville would be MUCH better if there was a shop that did top tier work. Hill Top could be that place and I wish they would.


Years back a guy named Dave Unser worked there at Hill Top. Dave is a perfectionist and really wanted to raise the bar at the shop. This didn't work out so well so Dave opened his own place in town and that lasted a few years. He's now moved his shop to Kentucky and he can barely keep up with the work he has. Several of his restorations are overall show winners and magazine feature cars.


One of the aircooled mechanics currently working there is VERY good also. He's good with metal fab, engines, suspension, wiring, fuel injection, turbos, etc. But, since it's not his shop, he doesn't get to call the shots of how things are done, quality level or pricing. How he can stand to work in that environment I do not know.


So, please don't confuse telling truth with axe grinding. I buy parts from Hill Top often. I've bought stuff there that I could have ordered online for less, just to support a local VW business. I just won't let them wrench on anything I own, nor can I recommend them in good faith to anyone.


If you have a chassis buider already, and local guys that can build the rest, you're good to go. If they are building a chassis from scratch, you're biggest headache will be titling & registering it here in Florida. Using a pan that's already in your name or already in the Florida DMV system will draw much less attention and get legal much easier.


If you need a powder coater, check out PowderTech Plus in Orange Park. They have the largest oven in northeast Florida and offer great prices. Richard, the owner is a great guy and a VW enthusiast. His 62 ragtop bug was a cover car in VW Trends back around 2001 or so.
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More brains than bucks...Believe it or not!!

My boss told me I need to work on my mutli-tasking. So now when I use the bathroom at work I surf The Samba on my iPhone.

[AMAC1680]

My bad john I should have been clearer. My point is many have varying experiance with the same shops. To be clear you are not the only person who feels the same way about hilltop and I get it.

I think part on the "issues" there is the customer base. Many want to get work done on their old bug to keep it on the street and keep the price down. I get that. I look around that yard and I don't see full on resto work, it seems what's kept them going for all these up years is repairs and parts.

I had them do a rebuild for me. Stock 1600cc done by Perry, great guy indeed, and it's been reliable as a hammer for almost 4000 miles. The price was good and I got exactly what I asked for.

But I wasn't looking for a show star and if I was a trip to hilltop would tell me that they might not be the right place. The customer holds some responsibility. A little due dillagence goes a long way.

No question it requires more effort to register but at the end of the day, for me, dead on legal paper is important. I've gone thru the process with a friends build and it's combersome but not all that difficult. whennits done clean title , reg and it can be insured properly. We both know a great many buggys are registered and insured as beetles. Great until it hits the fan.

Thanks for the info on the powder coating I'll have some parts that need to be done.

Yeah you're spot on it's a shame that no there's no real quality ground up shops in the area. If there was I'd have a new kick out built for me. I'm spoiled I've seen Iquanas turn keys. I've seen his process and that's hows it's done IMO. Still may see what it would to ship one east.

Anyway enough of my ramblings , it is what it is here and I'd recommend anyone looking to drop a lot of $$$$ to look carefully at any shop.

Thanks again have an outstanding afternoon.

AMAC
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