Field find 1954 Canadian custom

[sunroof]

Something like that.

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[sunroof]

So I went to Home Depot yesterday to buy a 2x4, Interesting experience! I stood in line about 6 feet behind the people in front and waited to get in. I got to the front of the line and was handed a shopping cart. I didn't need one as the 2x4s were about 10 feet away. A Very Cheerful fellow explained that the shopping carts were how they kept track of how many people were in the store. They had 50 carts and everytime someone came back to the checkout with a cart another person could enter the store. Huh, OK. I took my cart, walked 10 feet to the 2x4s collected one and cashed out leaving my cart for the next person.

The reason I needed the 2x4 was to build this little structure to go on top of my jack and under the engine bay to lift the back of the car onto the horse I had built for this.

It worked a treat and I was able to easily lift the back of the body onto the horse. I did much the same thing for the front and the body was high enough to roll the chassis out.

I now have lots of room to finish this up. Easy peasy.

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[tomsbuggered]

All that new metal sure does look pretty ! There can't be a whole lot more rusted metal on the floor when you hammer on the body now.

I am starting to notice that I don't have to sweep up under my chassis nearly as much as I used to , so that must mean progress.

Tom
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June 1956 VW Oval Beetle

[sunroof]

You are hilarious! I had to sweep up a little under the drivers side today but only just a little bit, not nearly like before!

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[motofly196]

Dang Don...you're way more persistent than I am to wait through that mess at Home Depot. I woulda' left, drove around back and dug a pallet out of the dumpster to use!
Sheet metal work is looking great! Not sure what you're working situations are up in Canada, but keep plugging away if you are practicing Shelter in Place!

Scott

[sunroof]

Social distancing. The "ladies" down at the bar are going to have to apply for assistance!

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[VW_Jimbo]

[sunroof]

All this is for a later car. My '54 is very different in this area. Virtanen tells us that it was all changed in the fall of 1955.

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[VW_Jimbo]

Sorry Don! Too many damn parts in the garage!

Here’s the 54. It has a reinforcement piece on the back side, like this.

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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[sunroof]

Ok ok, I get it. Here I am being a good little doobie (does anyone remember Romper Room?) and putting in the last little patch panel to finish up the back end of the heater channel. Cardboard mockup:

Steel part with holes for plug welds:

With the body suspended high in the air I now have access to start welding this bit in place. More evidence that if you stick to one maker, panels will fit together much better. All the Klassic fab parts go together like puzzle pieces. Sadly I made a little blunder and had the heat turned up too high when I started welding and blew a bunch of holes. I now have some grinding to do that should not have happened. Darn.

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[sunroof]

Several hours of welding and grinding later:

It will have to do.

Don
_________________
Better and better mistakes!

[VW_Jimbo]

Great job! You are on a roll!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[tomsbuggered]

Great work Don I am envious.
Just when I was getting a bit of momentum on my project, it is put on hold by the current health scare. I have stopped work on the Oval for now.
I will have to live vicariously through your posts so keep them coming.

Tom
.
.
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June 1956 VW Oval Beetle

[sunroof]

Tonight (Dog willing and the creeks don't rise) I will begin to tackle the base of the A pillar. I need to make a small cap to cover a gap there and weld all around the interface between the A pillar and the heater channel. Before I start that I will do one more test fit of the door. I want to make triple sure it fits!

Tonight:

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[VW_Jimbo]

Looks good. Don’t forget the drain opening!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[sunroof]

So before I went any further tonight, I bolted the door back on to see if it still fits which it does, WHEW! I was so afraid something might have shifted somehow.

This is a piece I made months ago. Today I carved away at it a little and it turned out perfect.

I ran out of gas tonight but I will get some more tomorrow, I need this project to keep me sane. The welders supply store is also a medical gas supplier so I know they'll be open!

Anyways, this is next:

Don
_________________
Better and better mistakes!

[Chickensoup]

I have a feeling this is gonna be one of those legendary builds
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-'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

[sunroof]

I am flattered by that. We'll see. Right now my timeline is finish the passenger side this winter, do the drivers side next winter and the pan and mechanicals the following winter. This could take a while.

Once all the welding is done on the passenger side I will reassemble the door and call it done. Although the door bottoms could be replaced I'm a little intimidated by the welding involved. Large flat panels require more skill than I have to avoid warping. OTOH I really feel that the rarity and originalness of the car justify the best job that can be done. OTOOH if C19 doesn't abate soon I may be eating it for supper.

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[sunroof]

So I was dreading this bit of welding for the last little while.

A bit of a gap to leap over but by the time I was finished I knew the best way to do it. So the last inch is the best.

If it doesn't say Dremel, it isn't. A great little tool, put a carbide burr on it and it makes smoothing welds a breeze.

I started on this today, did some little trimming and shaping and put it in place.

If you recall:

There's this little square of material that needs to be welded in. How did this happen? I forget.

Don
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Better and better mistakes!

[VW_Jimbo]

Looks like you are still moving forward! Great job!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!