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ken63 Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Redwood City, CA
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 6:19 pm Post subject: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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My 1963 bug caught fire last week Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared with a fire extinguisher. When the firefighters were putting out the fire they had to get my decklid to stay open (it doesn't have a spring because the decklid is broken at the mount point). they pried the shit out of it and bent the rusted louver section. Obviously it was already pretty rusted. Just wondering if anyone can tell me if this is salvageable. I don't do bodywork, but just want some opinions about what it would take to fix it, if possible. I would prefer to save it, if possible.
_________________ '63 Bug
'61 Bug |
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57BLITZ Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 2385 Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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ken63 wrote: |
My 1963 bug caught fire last week |
That SUCKS . . . BIG TIME!!!!!
I have seen people remove those louvers for painting . . . like for show cars and restorations.
There's spot welds along the top and bottom of the panel . . . the bottom spots are broke free already and guessing the top welds might be visible now.
I'd say careful remove the panel and replace with a donor "louver panel". _________________ Jesucristo es mi Señor y Salvador! |
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vwtrey Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2004 Posts: 587 Location: NM
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:09 pm Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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I'm sure the car holds lots of sentimental value. If it was mine, I'd be thinking the same thing.
However, this got hot. Heat changes the metal, weakens it, introduces impurities, and so on. The best thing to do is replace the metal. |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16758 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 6:53 am Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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People have swapped out that section to backdate cars for years. Dont see any reason why you can't _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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ken63 Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Redwood City, CA
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Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but probably will try to get some pricing and go from there.
Thanks again!! _________________ '63 Bug
'61 Bug |
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scrivyscriv Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011 Posts: 2922 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 2:12 am Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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You can kind of see what's going on with that panel in these photos.. Not for sensitive eyes..
Looks like your louvered panel was rusted at the spot welds that secure it to the firewall. Check your package tray and firewall and see how bad the rust is before you repair the prying damage. It should be a relatively easy job. Now is a great opportunity to get in behind the engine vents with paint! _________________ Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help. |
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ken63 Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Redwood City, CA
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Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2017 8:26 am Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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Thanks, Robert, for sharing those pictures. Super helpful in understanding that area better!! Yes, there was already a lot of rust in that area _________________ '63 Bug
'61 Bug |
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thekera Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 3:33 am Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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ken63, page 10 of my thread, might help. Thats a bummer.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=180 _________________ 1961 Type 1
1962 Euro ragtop
1963 Type 1
1966 Type 1
1979 Mk1 early westy 2dr
2013 Mk6 2dr
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING VW METAL FAB.
NOS PANELS: WANTED
GOT RUST? |
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Chickensoup Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 5368 Location: Good Hope, GA
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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just an idea but i have seen a few folks on here post their, "burn victims" as running complete vehlicles. i think they fixed any structual damage, disasembled the car, replaced any shot items( wiring, etc), then clear coated everything. i dont know how bad your bug has been burnt but that sheet metal may be warped to much. On top of all that, i just want to say... that must suck big time, and im sorry for you and your beetle. i know it must be painful for you both. _________________ -'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" |
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TXHCBeetle Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2021 Posts: 170 Location: Boerne, TX
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Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:25 am Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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I need to replace that louver panel as well, but for a different reason. One of the previous owners cut out the middle two rows of louvers for better heat dissipation or some other bonehead reason. Do aftermarket louver panels exist? _________________ In Progress:
1958 Beetle Sedan - L243 Diamond Gray
1967 Beetle Sedan - L456 Ruby Red |
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bomberbob Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2015 Posts: 688 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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Can I ask a kinda off topic question? I think I see air filters for dual kadrons down in there. Do you know the cause of the fire? So it doesn't happen again? _________________ 1968 Beetle (storage)
1990 Jetta GLI megasquirted, burning E85 (currently in heavy maintenance)
2004 Jetta turbo GLI
Marion, Iowa |
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VW_Jimbo Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 9966 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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I think you should find a donor rear clip that still has original paint on it. Strip it down. Drill out the spot welds and remove what you need to use.
Here is the issue you will eventually run into. And it was already stated here. Heat changes the steel. It does so at a molecular level. The metal becomes brittle. Not the type of thing you want for a car if you ever are in an accident.
Do some research and find out for yourself, but most of the time, a burned car is a dead car. Just being real with you.
Good luck! _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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ken63 Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Redwood City, CA
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Bug rear vent damage - can this be fixed? |
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Regarding cause, I suspect, but can't be sure that the fuel line degraded and leaked in the engine compartment. I didn't have a filter in the compartment, but the lines were not replaced in a while.
I decided to slowly work on the issue and see if I could figure out how to fix it. That area is really tricky. Especially where you have three/four sections coming together. I was able to get a donor piece and learned about drilling out spot welds and was able to deconstruct it into the outside vent, inside louvers, back rear window sill (didn't have the luggage/firewall area). I have even bought a welder and have been practicing.
I have the area mostly deconstructed. Since the drip channel is also questionable, I recently picked up another donor piece that includes the drip channel. More deconstruction of that coming and hopefully will be able to start fitting/welding. Again it has been a very slowwwwww process. Lots of searching and watching youtube videos, studying the area on the donor piece, learning how to weld. Took a long time to even decide to buy a welder. I'm committed now, but timing is still in question. Definitely not for the faint hearted.
I'll try to post some pictures for those that might want to see how that area goes together. _________________ '63 Bug
'61 Bug |
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