1966 Fastback Build thread - TheGrafs

[TheGrafs]

[TheGrafs]

[Bobnotch]

Yes, writing it out is easier than actually doing it.
Well at least by staying busy, you can develop some learning material for your students. Granted it won't exactly be "hands on learning", but it's better than nothing, and shows them what's possible.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[TheGrafs]

Progress has continued over the past few months, just havent posted much until now.

Tons of rust repair.

Tons of patches were templated, marked, welded in, ground down, and Napa pro-strand was applied over top for waterproofing and sanded down.
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1957 Oval Semaphore Beetle
1964 Notchback S
1966 Fastback
1970 Squareback

Youtube: GrafsGarage3
Instagram: GrafsGarage

[TheGrafs]

After all patch work was done, I used some White epoxy primer on the interior of the car and where the mating surface from body to pan are to help with corrosion protection. Additionally I put lizardskin in the rear trunk, front kick panels, the roof, engine cover and in the doors.

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1957 Oval Semaphore Beetle
1964 Notchback S
1966 Fastback
1970 Squareback

Youtube: GrafsGarage3
Instagram: GrafsGarage

[TheGrafs]

L 650 Granada Red was mixed with Cromax Pro Waterbase and controlled 20% sprayed with a Satajet 3000 with a 1.2mm tip. A cromax sealer in value shade 4 was applied before color, and Sherwin Williams Finish 1 Overall clear was applied after color. Black Epoxy primer was sprayed in the rear wheels wells and engine bay.

The front clip was painted first with the rest of the car masked off, then the dash and dash pieces, rear luggage tray, inner quarters, wheel wells, areas repaired or sanded through and engine bay were painted.

Here is the car next to a Carmine Red 82 Custome Deluxe we did.

Also A video walk around


Link

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1957 Oval Semaphore Beetle
1964 Notchback S
1966 Fastback
1970 Squareback

Youtube: GrafsGarage3
Instagram: GrafsGarage

[notchboy]

Ok. Wow. Great job on not only doing all this hard welding, fabbing and fixing, but also to go with that Granada Red - one of my favorite T3 colors.

Last thing I saw was your pan vid - using the lift - then getting the pan half fixed. Come a long way and looks good.

We did use the "friend" method back in the day to get the body off.

Keep up the good work!

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[Bobnotch]

The patch panel repair work reminded me of my T-34, and all of it's "odd ball" rusty spots. The red looks good on it. Tons of work to get it to look that good.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[TheGrafs]

Hey Notchboy! Thanks so much for the kind words! Im very happy with my choice of Granada Red. Car was Pearl White from the factory and done in a metallic purple that faded to almost flat black at some point in its journey. The roof of my 70 Squareback was two toned with Pearl White so I didnt want to paint it that color, but was torn between Granada Red or Delta Green. Red fits the fastback body more in my eyes. Love to see some throwback pics of the "friend" Method!

[TheGrafs]

Always thankful for your feedback Bob, Thank you!!!

[Bobnotch]

You're gaining on it. I can just see the West Coast guys wondering why you're repairing some of those parts, instead of getting something cleaner. But then they don't know how easy they have it, when it comes to type 3 parts. Trying to find a decent car to pluck bits from is hard enough. Add in it still might need what you're doing is what really makes you decide to fix what you have.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[TheGrafs]

A much needed update! My grad school classes keep me busy, as well as helping students on their projects while school is in session! A few more restorations and rust repair done on a variety of cars helps me to grow in experience for my cars as well!

It was over my winter break that my father and I assembled the pan, removed it from the rotisserie, made it roll again, and married the chassis back together! The transaxle was painted black, A new body to pan gasket was installed using gasket cement, and all the body to pan mount bolts, plates and washers were painted!

A youtube video overview of the car back together.

Link

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1957 Oval Semaphore Beetle
1964 Notchback S
1966 Fastback
1970 Squareback

Youtube: GrafsGarage3
Instagram: GrafsGarage

[TheGrafs]

Its is important to me to involve my students on the process of this build. Its even more important to me that they get the opportunity to do their own projects. We brought in one major restoration, a car with extensive rust repair, and two smaller blend jobs in, as well set up and measure of a car on the frame rack. I was able to certify five students in the I-Car structural welding repair process as well!

Small "In between" projects I had for them included these seat bases. Color swatches from TMI interiors had me make the decision to order German Square Weave in Tan. The darker sample.

The seat bases were prepped and painted with our bench mix color match!

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1957 Oval Semaphore Beetle
1964 Notchback S
1966 Fastback
1970 Squareback

Youtube: GrafsGarage3
Instagram: GrafsGarage

[TheGrafs]

Heres where the latest progress has been made. With the underneath and interior of the car jambed, and the rest of the body in primer, the bump in the road lays with the rear apron. My 1970 Squareback thread shows how I made a smooth panel for it, but for the last year or more, I have obsessed over wanting to make this rear apron as original looking as possible.

Squareback photo for reference.

The old one was cut out, and the section I saved that was cut from my squareback was compared. Both werent in the greatest shape, but the squareback one had potential.

Some time on the planishing hammer, in the sand blast cabinet and welding up cracks felt counter productive. I had actually hammered out the "Horns" which would be correct. My reference photo is from Keith Parks 71 Squareback with a trailer hitch.

I had noticed on my recently acquired 1964 Notchback that the rear apron didnt have those horns in between the stamping.

Someone who knows better on the year to year changes can tell me if the early cars didnt have those horns. But before I was even aware, or even purchased my notch, I decided I didnt want them on my rear apron. The car has a shaved antenna and hole in the front clip for the grommet for the horn, so it wont be 100% original to begin with. But the next step was to get an apron made.

I took what I had to a local metal fabrication shop and friend, Dave Tucci of Tucci Hot rods. There, him and his son Dom measured up the stamping, created a die, and stamped me out four of these for me to fine tune and recreate.

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1957 Oval Semaphore Beetle
1964 Notchback S
1966 Fastback
1970 Squareback

Youtube: GrafsGarage3
Instagram: GrafsGarage

[TheGrafs]

No progress yet was made on getting my newly stamped apron blanks on the car, but some major metal straightening and repairs were made with the help of my students. Rough spots got cut out and new patches welded in. Cutting that large hole after welding a tab to pull on showed it was the inner panel underneath had a buckle that needed to be hammered flat before a new patch was welded on. A few posts back show how packed this apron was with filler, so the best metal work possible will help to keep it from being restuffed with filler. and ultimately make for a better repair.

For now this is where the progress has been reached. The car is at work an hour away. With the price of gas, driving back and forth to work on it has slowed down. With the unexpected purchase of my Notchback, my plans to bring the fastback home to work on it are at a stand still, but with the extensive rust repair done, our plan is to bring the Fasty home to finish up the apron, some block sanding and repriming, then back to the shop where I can use the paint booth at work for color!

Here are photos of my 1964 Notchback S that I will create a thread for soon!

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1957 Oval Semaphore Beetle
1964 Notchback S
1966 Fastback
1970 Squareback

Youtube: GrafsGarage3
Instagram: GrafsGarage

[Bobnotch]

It's a good thing you chose to paint the Fastback red, since you've now got a white Notch. Otherwise you'd have 2 white cars. The rear apron work is progressing nicely, but keep in mind there's a hidden bend in the middle of them running across the face of that panel. Most people don't notice it being there, as the lower part gets smushed more often than anything. I found that out when I replaced the rear apron on my 71 Notch. Looks like you're making great progress on your projects though. Keep up the good work.

P.S. Was that a Challenger in the background in some of the pics above? Looks like it was getting some love too.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[andybla]

good luck with the rear apron! Will all come back together nicely

[TheGrafs]

Thanks a bunch Bob! Yes I was aware of that slight bend! With my only reference of a nice apron being Keith's two cars an hour and a half away, and a screen shot I had from ISP West's instagram, as well as other internet photos, I had to guide Dave with what I had, and what suggestions of changes I wanted to make. I do want to do cutouts for the exhaust to have the shape as original as possible, but that slight bend will probably be skipped.

Yessir, My bosses 70 R/T Challenger, very original car going to a 100% original restoration. No minor, hard to notice mods like this fasty!

[TheGrafs]

Good to hear from you Andy, I appreciate the encouragement!

[andybla]

Was going to do the same with mine, paint the wheel tubs and after that put it on the chassis, just a question, how many layers have you put on? Was thinking about 2 layers of paint and 1 clear coat, or is that not enough?