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Sofia74
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2015
Posts: 565
Location: WV
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 Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 4:18 pm Post subject: Frankenstein Door Sills - should I just start cutting? |
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Separated body and chassis. Just starting to strip paint beginning with the door sills and heater channels since they obviously need replacing. Finding some interesting metal work but not completely sure what I am looking at.
Important note: my first attempt at restoration. 1974 KG coupe.
This first picture is drivers side. Question - is this stock? I am looking at the spot welds. Disregard for now the rusted out heater channels. 
Two rows of spot welds. I can see the original orange (yes it has a different name but it looks orange to me) and I can see the red respray.
The next two photo are the passenger side:
There is the orange on the inner rows of spot welds. Looking somewhat original. And then what appears to be a second skin placed over the outer rocker panel and welded on. Not sure it comes through in these photos but there was quite a bit of filler.
Clearly this is not original. I am interested in what smarter folks think I'm dealing with. If there is an additional rocker panel skin it is well blended down low. I'l be removing more paint and filler but thought this was a good time to ask.
I think if I had more experience I would just start cutting it all out but I am trying to do this carefully.
Any opinions and recommendations are appreciated,
Matt |
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SoCalJes
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2011
Posts: 1093
Location: Broward, FL
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Frankenstein Door Sills - should I just start cutting? |
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I had something similar, the more I cut and looked the more horror I found so to be on the safe side I cut everything out and replaced and welded all new metal. No chance of some pocket of sneaky rust rot ever coming back up under the new paint now.
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Jesse
71 Ghia
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Just because it didn't come that way, doesn't mean it shouldn't have. |
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Mellow Yellow 74
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2014
Posts: 1615
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: Frankenstein Door Sills - should I just start cutting? |
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Don't forget to brace your door frames before your start cutting
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1962 Karmann Ghia
1974 Deluxe Microbus
1985 Caravelle (Vanagon) |
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SoCalJes
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2011
Posts: 1093
Location: Broward, FL
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: Frankenstein Door Sills - should I just start cutting? |
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| Mellow Yellow 74 wrote: |
| Don't forget to brace your door frames before your start cutting |
Yes, that helps if you're planning on putting your doors back on. 
_________________
Jesse
71 Ghia
______________________________________
Just because it didn't come that way, doesn't mean it shouldn't have. |
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Sofia74
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2015
Posts: 565
Location: WV
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Frankenstein Door Sills - should I just start cutting? |
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Make sure doors can go back on. Check.
I did brace the doors. My first practical application of my welding "skills".
I'm good with cutting. My problem is that being my first dissection of a KG I'm not sure what to cut and what not to cut. There is a lot more cleaning and paint removal I can do. At some point maybe I purchase the heater channels and associated metal so I can look at it like a jigsaw puzzle and see where to cut.
Not sure that made sense... |
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SoCalJes
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2011
Posts: 1093
Location: Broward, FL
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Frankenstein Door Sills - should I just start cutting? |
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| Sofia74 wrote: |
Make sure doors can go back on. Check.
I did brace the doors. My first practical application of my welding "skills".
I'm good with cutting. My problem is that being my first dissection of a KG I'm not sure what to cut and what not to cut. There is a lot more cleaning and paint removal I can do. At some point maybe I purchase the heater channels and associated metal so I can look at it like a jigsaw puzzle and see where to cut.
Not sure that made sense... |
Yes, use the new metal to plan your cuts so you don't cut more than you need
_________________
Jesse
71 Ghia
______________________________________
Just because it didn't come that way, doesn't mean it shouldn't have. |
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J1
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2014
Posts: 698
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:36 pm Post subject: Re: Frankenstein Door Sills - should I just start cutting? |
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| Sofia74 wrote: |
| My problem is that being my first dissection of a KG I'm not sure what to cut and what not to cut. |
If you have not seen this yet, maybe this particular post of my rocker cutting sequence, as well as the rest of that thread can help... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7614026#7614026
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1971 Ghia coupe. Assume I know nothing and you'll be pretty darn close to the truth. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32592
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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