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OvalPair
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 5:51 pm Post subject: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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Do they count as barn finds if they have been in your in-laws barn for the last 20+ years? 
Rolled a 57 out that my father in law has owned since the 60s and a 54 that is my wife’s that was given to her a few decades ago by a family friend.
The 54 is home with me now to start restoring and the 57 will be getting the same treatment at my FILs. This is the first old VW I’ve ever touched so sorry for the noob questions in advance, I’m sure there will be a ton.
I forgot to take any pics of them in the actual barn unfortunately. 
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OvalPair
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Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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Will focus on the 54 first, they had started working on it before it went into the barn. One floor pan had been replaced and the car stripped.
I know the deck lid is incorrect so a W is currently being searched for. There is damage to the rear quarter and some funky welding on the inside quarter as well but can’t for the life of my figure out what from.
The goal is to build a nice driver, quite the project ahead of me.
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OvalPair
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Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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Here is the funky welding in the quarter and the main damage to the car that will need to be repaired, at least that I have found so far.
The passenger pan was replaced with the body on the car, the old one cut up to the frame and the new one placed on top. I haven’t decided yet if I want to lift the body off and repair it correctly or not but I probably will. If you’re going to do something might as well do it right IMO.
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OvalPair
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Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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Also found this, what in the world did they do this for? It’s in two spots on the tunnel.
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VW_Jimbo 
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Joined: May 22, 2016
Posts: 9966
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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NICE!!!!!!
More Bugs..More FUN!
That heater channel is a late model channel, on the one with the pan welded into it. But why did they have to cut and paste the metal at the quarter panel window. That is some strange stuff. Accident? Even my current rusty Bug had only minimal damage from mother nature in that spot. The B pillar was toast at the bottom. Weird.
You may just find out as you restore that one. It is funny how the past can be deciphered from just restoring the Bug.
Keep it coming, with WAY MORE pictures! I like looking more than reading, as many on here do!
_________________
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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VW_Jimbo
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016
Posts: 9966
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| OvalPair wrote: |
Also found this, what in the world did they do this for? It’s in two spots on the tunnel.
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Trying to repair a rusty cable conduit or rewelding a broken weld. The clutch cable can sometimes become disjointed from the tunnel, from wear. The repair is to cut open the tunnel (not like that) and repair. Then weld the hole back up. They must have missed the memo!
The other two spots that the clutch cable is welded is on the back side of the pedal cluster and on the backside of the emergency brake handle. Is the other hole in one of those two spots?
_________________
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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OvalPair
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| VW_Jimbo wrote: |
Trying to repair a rusty cable conduit or rewelding a broken weld. The clutch cable can sometimes become disjointed from the tunnel, from wear. The repair is to cut open the tunnel (not like that) and repair. Then weld the hole back up. They must have missed the memo!
The other two spots that the clutch cable is welded is on the back side of the pedal cluster and on the backside of the emergency brake handle. Is the other hole in one of those two spots? |
Here is the only other spot I found but there is more deadner or whatever that stuff is to remove.
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OvalPair
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Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| VW_Jimbo wrote: |
NICE!!!!!!
More Bugs..More FUN!
That heater channel is a late model channel, on the one with the pan welded into it. But why did they have to cut and paste the metal at the quarter panel window. That is some strange stuff. Accident? Even my current rusty Bug had only minimal damage from mother nature in that spot. The B pillar was toast at the bottom. Weird.
You may just find out as you restore that one. It is funny how the past can be deciphered from just restoring the Bug.
Keep it coming, with WAY MORE pictures! I like looking more than reading, as many on here do! |
Thank you! I’ve read your entire thread back to front, appreciate all the details and pictures you posted.
This 54 has def been in a small accident on that same rear of the damaged quarter but not enough to need any repair where the welds are. And the exterior quarter looks undamaged from what I can tell but haven’t stripped the paint off yet.
So here’s where it buckled the passenger rear. The tray and wheelwell area also looks to have come undone from the quarter as you can see in the pics.
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OvalPair
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Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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My FIL bought all 4 repop fenders many years ago as the originals I guess had been butchered up by the previous owner. Here’s the tag on them, anyone recognize it and are they decent repops?
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Tvättbjörn
Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 1431
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| I did use lots of the maxicar italian made fenders back in the nineties. They did fit very good compared to other brands back than. |
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VW_Jimbo
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Joined: May 22, 2016
Posts: 9966
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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So, that’s an odd buckle of the steel at the firewall/luggage shelf. Usually, the inner fender well just breaks free of the spot welds. That must of been a good hit! Betting that there is more evidence of the accident. Maybe it was a side impact. That would go along with the B pillar and rear quarter area issues.
_________________
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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sunroof
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006
Posts: 1773
Location: Winnipeg
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:28 am Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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My car is kinda the same way:
In the case of my car it was too much off-roading by the original owner. I've never seen so many stress fractures on an old beetle before.
BTW I'm still amazed at how much gas welding there is on an old beetle.
Don
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OvalPair
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Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| Just a note, it's crazy how much the correct parts are for this car. For example I went to find 54 taillights and about passed out. |
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sunroof
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Joined: October 06, 2006
Posts: 1773
Location: Winnipeg
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| Quote: |
| Just a note, it's crazy how much the correct parts are for this car. For example I went to find 54 taillights and about passed out. |
The reason we think this is because we are a bunch of cheap bastards. Try restoring a Jag or worse, a Ferrari. A couple of hun on tail lights is peanuts in the bigger picture.
Don
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OvalPair
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Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:05 am Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| sunroof wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Just a note, it's crazy how much the correct parts are for this car. For example I went to find 54 taillights and about passed out. |
The reason we think this is because we are a bunch of cheap bastards. Try restoring a Jag or worse, a Ferrari. A couple of hun on tail lights is peanuts in the bigger picture.
Don |
Haha very true. Im coming from working on 60s GM and Ford cars where parts are a dime a dozen so this is all a shock to me. |
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Blue Baron
VW Aficionado
Joined: June 16, 2006
Posts: 24104
Location: Southeast USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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Looks like later rear brake drums on the '57. Could be evidence of a transaxle swap. (Fully synchro trans?)
| OvalPair wrote: |
| Will focus on the 54 first, they had started working on it before it went into the barn. |
The '57 looks like a more complete car. I think I would have started with that one and applied what I learned to the '54. There were several major changes made for '56, including the doors, strikers, gas tank, floorpans, seats and all seat mountings, making the earlier car more of a challenge to restore.
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We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.
Heinz Nordhoff |
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janerick3
Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 1879
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:41 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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Rollover damage is commonplace on pre-March 1956 bugs, built before the ground clearance was lowered 17mm.
Look for evidence of gutter repairs and fender replacements on one side. Rolled cars often will have popped spot welds, especially in the rear quarters. Uneven door gaps are also a telltale sign.
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Thanks,
Jan K. |
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esde
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007
Posts: 5969
Location: central rust belt
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| OvalPair wrote: |
| Just a note, it's crazy how much the correct parts are for this car. For example I went to find 54 taillights and about passed out. |
once you get into the 55 and earlier cars, it's a whole different game, at least compared to any other beetle. A set of early seat frames costs more than the complete interior for a mid 60's car.
I just priced the interior for my 52 zwitter and had to sit down for a while.
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Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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57BLITZ
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Joined: June 12, 2012
Posts: 2385
Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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| Blue Baron wrote: |
| . . . The '57 looks like a more complete car. I think I would have started with that one and applied what I learned to the '54. There were several major changes made for '56, including the doors, strikers, gas tank, floorpans, seats and all seat mountings, making the earlier car more of a challenge to restore. |
I would tend to agree with this recommendation.
Regarding those repop fenders . . . early (pre 1958) Beetle front fenders have some beautiful curves that are absent on most reproduction front fenders . . . using them will make an Oval-window look quite poor.
The repop rear fenders aren't much better! Way better to save what you have . . . at least for your '57!
You might want to step up to these for the ' 54 . . . https://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C24%2D111%2D821%2D022%2DC
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Jesucristo es mi Señor y Salvador! |
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OvalPair
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2020
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Pulled two ovals out of a barn |
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I would love to do the 57 as it only need patch panels in the pans but unfortunately the 54 is my wife’s and the one on my plate
Speaking of seats, I have both front and back but not sure if they are correct for the year. They also have some terrible welding on them at the base as you can see in the pics.
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