Another thread for the *best* replacement panels..was rear ended

[airschooled]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Joey]

Looks like to new piece is slipped under the original metal on the vertical edge where those sheet metal screws are...
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[andrewtf]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

well, you asked for opinions....do you want one? is my description what they did?

if i ever turned out work like that i would be flamed for all eternity.

if you want to know how i'd handle the mess they left you confirm what i think is going on. like i said it was kind of hard for me to tell in the photo but i think i described it right. i see some issues that may come back to bite you shortly down the road
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[andrewtf]

Skills -
Yes - I believe you described it correctly.
I am not sure how much further they are now (3 days) but I am happy to go take a photo of whatever you want to see and comment on.

I understand (to my technical ability) all your 'concerns' and welcome the opinions. Part of this is my education as well. No one's gonna hurt my feelings.

All that being said, I am happy to - and always do - talk to the shop owner about things said here. He listens, tells me his opinion, and we discuss what he is doing (or planning to do) and why. His results have always been minimally good - and usually very good. So will let him do his thing.

And again, which is no excuse for crappy work, no other shop anywhere around that I could find would even look at my bus.

Comment at will.
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[skills@eurocarsplus]

you have 2 kind of big issues here from a finishing perspective....

1 is that lip they glued. there isn't enough room really to feather that edge. to better understand what i mean look at drywall when the tape the seams....the joint compound goes above and below the seam about 10"....and that is for a 1/8" gap

i don't think they will be able to feather that edge very well....maybe, maybe not. just look how thick the edge may be at the opening of the vents

the other issue is the welds across the top. you will have to try and 'back finish' them....at the minimum get paint on them. 1 itty bitty pinhole will blister that repair right out.

it's not always possible to back dress welds but in most cases you can get cavity wax into areas you can't access. that area is a funnel for water

panel bond is fantastic stuff when done right, no issue with the product. were i doing this repair and spot welding was out of the question i would have glued the flange on the top of the panel and the seam from roof to belt line.

this would have done 3 things: it would get rid of that flange which could possibly take on water, it would have ended the weld issue and it would have replaced the old seam sealer in the original joint
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[andrewtf]

Here is the latest update.
From last Friday.

Lets hear it.......

Thanks for the look
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[Cap10323]

Looks good to me. Better than I could do, that's for sure.
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-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[crownline]

Looks way better than what you started with. After painting should look great.
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1972 Bus 1700 cc Single Carb. But not a progressive.
Barelymuvin
Wish I still had the ones I got rid of.

"It"s got some dings and dents and neither of us is going to SEMA."(Update, I went to SEMA in 2019 but the Bus stayed home)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-8446.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[andrewtf]

Almost ready for paint. That should start to go on tomorrow.

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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[KentABQ]

Yea! It's coming together well, and just in time to go out and have a good time with Murphy again!


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-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[andrewtf]

I mentioned this previously, but the Shop is employing me for one day the week after next. My sole responsibility is to re-assemble my bus. I don't know what other guys (no gender inequity intended) who do 'shop work' think of this practice (I would be interested to know), but I think it is generous of the Shop to allow me to do this.

They know how much I care about the work and what my required level of craftsmanship is. And they know that if they assemble these items, I will probably remove, check, and reassmlble them anyway. And I really like that they can - and will - tell me about body work, what they are doing, and how they do it. They ask ME about the mechanical parts because although they can certainly put it all back together, they realize I probably know more specifics about a vw bus than they ever will. They know what they are good at and let me guide when I know more than they do. Additionally, I have a lot of unique things woven into the systems like third brake lights, a lot of accessory wiring, lighted (front) side markers, second battery charging, hot start relay......... There is, unfortunately, no manual for what is stored in my head (although it is all docmented in the 'bus folder').

I am signing a liability waiver (will that hold up in court if necessary???) and 'donating' my time as their employee. I am assuning they will bill my time as part of the insurance claim, and that is fine by me.

I'm itching to just go drive.
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[andrewtf]

I'll go again.
Blue and gray applied.

I feel comfort knowing Frankenstein's monster is keeping watch
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[Abscate]

That’s the last guy who signed the waiver.

Let us know how things go. See you in IL when the war is over
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.ssS!