Our '85 fix-up-and-enjoy Vanagon

[Abscate]

He was born female like all vessels but is now Freddie-identified.

It’s just a construct, you know.
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.ssS!

[DuncanS]

Had a cousin Freddie. Frederika Gertrude English. She's gone now.

[The Pilch]

Freddie.

Frederick when he's being naughty, or has been splendid.

"The van" when there's people around who don't understand.
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'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it.

[danfromsyr]

that story is so nice I had to read it twice..
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[The Pilch]

We have not done much to Freddie of anything worth posting up here the last week or so. Waiting for bread, so that I can buy the shifter repair kit, and various other things.

So using stuff I have already, I started seeing what kind of nightmare the paint was going to be, and removing the vinyl stripe.

Wet sanding the paint above and below the vinyl stripe with 400grit turned it very smooth indeed, cutting through the flaky clear and the blue and leaving a good foundation to paint over.

That vinyl stripe really protected the OG paint underneath. It's amazing to think Freddie once had this quality of paint all over.

I've not decided to what extent this "paint" job will go to, but I am glad that some 400 wet sanding gives me something to work with. One step at a time.

Hope you are all well.
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'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it.

[The Pilch]

Today was a good day. I finished up stripping the vinyl stripe on the rear hatch. The best thing I've found is a plastic razor blade (available from amazon) and a heat gun from Lowes. Get it hot, and slice at the stripe on an angle. Don't push too hard those blades snap easy...

Then we wanted to go on an adventure. On start-up, his sticky lifter reared its ugly head again, but a good fast drive and twenty minutes of heat soon cleared that up. Me and the Mrs and her 13yr old drove to Costa Vida and enjoyed steak salads in Freddie...
Hellooooooo

Then, to Lehi skate park which was super busy, so instead we took a longer route out to Eagle Mountain and their city skate park was empty. It was super sunny, and about 65F so absolutely perfect.

Freddie performed perfectly and drove like a new vehicle. No pulling to one side, no getting too hot, brakes in a straight line, and kept up with highway traffic. A lovely day had by all.

Weirdly the mileage was on this when we pulled back into the driveway

Again, nothing particularly interesting to look at but we are so pleased to be out enjoying the vanagon.

Thanks you guys! Gary & Christina x

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'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it.

[Tom K.]

What a beautiful property you have there. What a view! And your family look very happy. Keep up the good work on your vanagon! Your thread is a fun one to follow.
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'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[The Pilch]

[The Pilch]

It's been a tough time the last week or so, especially for wifey. Her dad is in the hospital with his wife for covid and she's been safely by his side the whole time. Which left me with a whole weekend to myself.

I was convinced by some friends once, that I was ok at auto body work, so with our limited and ever decreasing budget I got on with something.

The wheel well needed straightening, an some rust cut out and new stuff welded in.

The red oxide primer is excellent stuff, and once dried, some fine filler worked in, I coated it all with oil based black, and to this will come the rock-chip resistant/truck bed liner type stuff I see on so many traveling Vanagons. All the way around the van.

I'm sure the body work purists are crying into their hands right now, but I really don't care. It's our van and we will do with it, as we please. That metal is protected front and back, and will be as utilitarian as it needs to be.

Just three more corners, two sides, the back, the nose....the roof.....ughhhhhhh

ps - I'm currently looking for auto body classes, so I can get good! I really enjoy it.
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'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it.

[djkeev]

Looks good!

We would be shaking our heads if that was plastic you put in there,,,,,,,

Nothing but applause from Reading Pennsylvania!
You know, like Monopoly....... railroads .......

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[The Pilch]

[djkeev]

[The Pilch]

[The Pilch]

I thought I'd try some Truck Bed Liner paint from Duplicolor, as it was half price at O'Rielly's. Remember, this is a budget Vanagon!

I really like how it went on. It seems to have bonded well to the oil based black that I sprayed on here before - that was the idea.

I spent another few hours while wifey is at the hospital, welding filling and prepping as much as I can bear to do after a day at work. It's cold here in Utah now, it's time to get the afterburner out to warm the garage up, so I'm preparing for the shock of how much a large propane bottle costs.

Hope you are all safe and well.

G & C x
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'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it.

[Bulli Klinik]

Airborne solvents and paints don’t mix well with open flames. I extinguish my pilot before any painting. Something to keep in mind.
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I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[DuncanS]

Looking really good.

This brings up a point I have been thinking about for 30 plus years. Note in the first photo how the affected area includes the dreaded "seam zone" we have trouble with. In the second he has cut out the bad metal and ultimately welded in new.

[The Pilch]

[The Pilch]

[The Pilch]

Moving along the length of the van. I have rust treated, primed, filled, primed again, added oil based black and truck bed liner paint to this side, and along the lower rear.

I am wondering what to do with the nose section.

For once, I have no dent damage (every dang Volkswagen I've had, came with a crunch, or a knock in the most annoying place on the nose)

I do, however, have about fourteen million small rock chips spread all over the nose. The best I can think of, is to fill the chips, and paint the nose the eventual body color, and then add some clearbra which I can get from work. Maybe that will keep the rock chips at bay.
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'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it.

[DuncanS]

I'm no body man, but plan to fill my nose road rash paint acne with Nitro Stan.

https://www.azautobodysupply.com/nistspandglp1.html

A tip I just taught myself. Do not throw out the junk mail letters that say you are pre approved for this insurance/credit card etc. which come with a dummy card. Save them for spreading body putty or Nitro Stan.

Duncan