1975 Beetle Convertible Resto/Mod Build-Chop,Dash,Suicide,Shave.

[MACJELLY58]

Hey PONDORAS BOX. Sadly, I am old enough to remember Del's shop in Wahiawa. He was a good Bruddah. He always was willing to help with diagnostics, or even free parts and his time. I was amazed at how much stuff he had in that little shop! Not many VW guys to go to anymore. You only see the V-Dubs on cruise days or at shows. In the old days they were everywhere.
WHooop!....WHoop!.

Thank you for your service. The 25th out of Schofield? We love our Military brethren. Sorry, our Military Sistas too! My father was from North Carolina and was stationed here at Hickam Air Force Base. Then, he met himself a Hula-girl and never left.

[pondoras box]

These are my favorite threads! I’m doing it myself in my garage. Will you make mistakes? Yep! Will you learn? Yep! Will you have something cool when you’re done? HELL YEAH!

I built my first VW while stationed in Hawaii many years ago and miss the car the island all of it. I am reliving my youth through your posts, mahalo! I bought it from Del’s shop in Wahiawa. No one seems to remember Del anymore but he was an awesome guy always willing to help you out and had a crazy stash of parts.

Anyway enough living in the past your project is awesome and inspires others to just give it a try. When this is pau it will make up for your wife’s experience with bringing the project car home. Will be watching please keep on with the updates!
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Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop (Arschloch)
1973 standard bug (Dirty Gertie)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=804912
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion

[VW_Jimbo]

Those bits are DA BOMB DIGGITY!

Your body work looks really good! Keep it going!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[MACJELLY58]

Thanks ROOTWERKS. They're not done yet. Stay tuned in the next few months for the end product...paint, center caps and logo's!

And thanks yet again, Bruddah JIMBO!
Those Air Hammer Bits are the BOMB! They are about 25% longer than the bits that I have. The reach was perfect. The contact heads are hard plastic with just enough give to allow careful adjustments without killing the metal. I really didn't want to cut the the poor car anymore that necessary.

But first, I finished up the front left Fender. I made some relief cuts in the mounting fin and adjusted the mounting holes a bit.

At the same time, I had an unfortunate instance of "Tin Canning" at the added extra Karman badge near the door. When I deleted the crimp at the door frame, apparently the metal bunched up a bit. It was fine until I drilled those badging holes. Then I got that, "toonk, taank" when I poked at it with my finger. I sanded it down a bit and used the Shrinking Disc and got it stiffened up nicely. The right tools really make a difference(when they don't cost too much).

Anyway, I finished up fitting that fender and was pleased with way it matched up.

Just to mention it. You may have seen the missing Primer and Filler at the door post. It looks like the Door Braces did their job keeping the body in place. It looks like that area took a bit of pressure when it was up on the Rotisserie. More work for me...later.

I mean the Fender Beading should hide any slight gaps, but I would really like the Beading to be nice and snug sandwiched in there. Then, I got to use the new Air Hammer Bits. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. It was so easy and deliberate to shape the metal. To think, I was pounding with a hammer and chisel like I've been doing since I was a kid, when I could've been using these!!

I finessed the right rear fender and then got the left rear pretty damned close, when time ran out. I was so excited that I forgot to take photos of the nice right rear. I'll finish that up and submit those next time. Here's the closer left rear. K-Den !!

[Root_Werks]

Those wheels turned out amazing!
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When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[VW_Jimbo]

Braddah Jelly! Dude. Get an air regulator to limit the psi to your hammer. Like this.

https://a.co/d/9Os6E74

Then you can hit the panel as heavy or as light as needed!

It is worth a try! If not cut a flap in the interior. Pound away and then weld up the flap.

Good luck Jellyman!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[MACJELLY58]

Thanks Bruddah JIMBO!

Those look awesome. I was thinking of using the Air Hammer, but was afraid I would tear the Crap out of the panel. With your endorsement and reading some reviews, they will be here tomorrow. I really hope I can get them down in there.

[VW_Jimbo]

Bruddah, you need to use an air hammer to pound those low spots out! Get these bits from Steck for pushing the body panel out as needed! Super cool tool!

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/skg-20046?seid=...kaEALw_wcB
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[MACJELLY58]

Wow guys, I didn't think those rims would get any love! I'm a strange guy with strange tastes (as I'm sure you have noticed).
I'm just as curious as anyone, of what this thing is going be when, and if it's ever finished.

I so just wanna get this thing painted and start assembly. But, there is still a lot of finishing touches to get done. PREP IS AN EVIL MISTRESS!!

Just gotta keep focused. So, final fit of the fenders was next. I did a lot of work on the fenders and it was early in my learning curve. I have since learned that I need to do the repairs while parts are mated together for a more guaranteed outcome. A lot of the problems were easily cured with some Duckbilled Vice grip persuasion.

The rear fenders were a problem as, the PO had pounded in the rear lower quarter panel and then welded in repair panel right over the top. When I did repairs to the area and the fenders, I did them separately. Just Eye-baled them. They look great separately, but they don't come together nicely.

I did some pounding of my own on the inside of the quarter panel. Really difficult to get a good angle with the Brass bar and blunt Chisel. But, I made some progress.

I thought those would be the worst, but the repaired front Driver's fender was the real pain. I replaced a lot of metal at the mounting tabs of the fender. I can get the fender mounted with a little effort, but it bows outwards on the slope towards the door, creating a space.
I need to adjust the mounting holes to a more relaxed position. Of course I ran outta time. Alojahs!

[VW_Jimbo]

Those rims turned out RIGHTEOUS Bruddah!
Shaka!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Lost69Convertible]

Beautiful rims!
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1956 Beetle Ragtop: My Father's car
1969 Beetle Convertible: My first car. I loved it, I lost it, and I never got over it.
1979 Super Beetle Convertible

[DUNGBTL]

^
What he said!
Those look perfect with the 60 series tires too…well worth the lost finger skin!
J.

[Buggeee]

Those wheels are so righteous. Duuuuuude

No one is going to have those, and looking like that. Just like the rest of this build.
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Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[MACJELLY58]

Hey VAMRAM Thanks for taking the time to check in on me. The finger tip thing was more shocking than anything. I must be getting even older. They say the skin gets thinner after a certain age.

Wow EPI !! I'd definitely recommend getting your son to "help" again. Or, some other youthful person who will do it for some pizza and beer.

The good part is, my skin mostly grew back in a couple of days. I still can't open my phone with my finger prints, that's a pain. I used the time to shop for tires. There was actually more choices that I had expected. Mostly brands I've never heard of though. I went with a set of Toyo Tires. At least I had some experience with that brand.

I went with 195/60's all around. With the more bulbous front end, I wanted a more beefy tire look. Hopefully, I'll also have more of a contact patch to help with handling. I'm sure I'll get a work-out steering at low speeds. Maybe, that will deter my wife from wanting to drive it.

I was a little concerned with the aspect ratio of 60's in this size. I put them up against the 145's and 165's. I think they will work out for me.
Seeya!!

[Epilog79]

I feel your pain, but the end will be worth the means. Or so they say.
I helped my son take a set of 4 18' Audi monoblock wheels down to bare aluminum and then polish them to mirror finish. The look is amazing, but it took him most of the summer. We even bought the metal polishing wheels and disks that they use on tanker trucks. That helped tremendously. All the sanding with all the different grits is mind numbing.
Now I have another set to do on my own. Wish me luck.
Glad to see you are back in the garage. Back injuries suck.

[vamram]

[MACJELLY58]

Thanks Guys. I hope it turns out the way that I'm imagining. I almost instantly regretted my decision as I finished blasting the last rim and started sanding the outer ring. What a pain intheass!!

At my age, I've sanded so many cars, furniture, bikes and kids school projects. It's never been fun. But, this time I actually sanded off my finger tips on three fingers on my right hand. It started stinging a little, but I thought it was some splinters from working in the yard. Next thing I know, the wet sanding started to turn reddish. CRAZY! It's my first time ever doing that.

Anyway, I got them done and they look pretty good. Next, I'll get some tires installed before paint, so the finish isn't messed up with the installation and balancing.



Just for your info...there are 30 fins on each wheel. I can't help counting them

[DUNGBTL]

Welcome back!
Sorry to hear about your back…been there…I hope it gets better and stays that way. I do a lot of stretching, core exercises, Pilates and that seems to work for me.

Really like those wheels and think those will look most excellent on your car.

Carry on!
J.

[jitbba]

I like those rims. Looking good
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My other ride is a Zildjian

[MACJELLY58]

Thanks guys,

Sorry it's been awhile. 2025 has been a very complicated year for me. Situations keep popping up one after another. One of which was another back injury. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life...I still went to work though The Doc gave me a shot of something and some righteous MEDS!

Anyway, it really cut down the things I could safely do in the garage. I ended up doing a lot cleaning and organizing. Busy work.

I got a little better over time and about 3 weeks ago, I felt that I could chance it.

First, was to get the Bug back on the Trolly thingy for Bodywork and paint. I had to try and remember how I had made that thing. It may not be the same but, I think it will work.

Second, It was always my intention to use the Chrome Spider rims the car came with, but the Western Wheels Turbine rims have really grown on me over the years.

My plan is to prep and paint the inner panels and small parts first, to minimize my stress during pianting. That being said, My plans for the Turbine Wheels is to paint the fins the same color as the car. So, I started work on those. I manually removed the old dry rotted tires. That was a good test of the health of my back. Prying the tires off the rims was not fun, but my back made it through okay. The cleaning is gonna be rough, they were pretty nasty.

It took me a couple of sessions with the "Seaweed" wire wheel disc. But, the fins were another problem. I couldn't get anything in between there to do the job efficiently. Now, I had to bite the bullet and dig up my cheap CRAFTSMAN Media Blaster Gun. I found it but, the trigger was broken. The air plunger thingy is made of plastic and it broke in half. I Super Glued the crap out of that and reassembled. It worked again!! Now I couldn't find the Hopper. I think I threw it away, it probably was cracked or something. So, I used a Folger's Coffee plastic container and set up under the Lime tree.

Wouldn't you know, as soon as I set up, it began to rain lightly. But, it passed and it worked out pretty good. But of course, I ran outta time again. So I only got two done.

I was curious if I could get a decent shine on the outer ring. I gave a section a light sand with 400 grit and then 800 grit followed with some Mother's Metal Polish. YAY !! It looks like it'll shine really nice.