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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:03 am Post subject: Hood Fresh 1962 Euro Rag |
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To make a long story short, A year ago my wife and I were hit head on in our 1966 bug. I had spent the last four years getting it to a dependable daily state. I was crushed to say the least. I have owned many VW bugs and each one Id try to get something a little earlier. I had always talked about doing a ground up restoration and after the accident the search began,
search no more I had found a Euro 1962 Ragtop. This Gulf Blue 1962 makes me the third owner. Now as much as I love the "hoodride" look I can't really back rotten. I spent the next couple of months driving the 1962 around and enjoying it as is. My OCD over rode how much fun it had been driving it and my coarse of action began.
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caleb0101 Samba Member

Joined: August 26, 2014 Posts: 525 Location: Bristol Connecticut
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Sorry about the 66. We're you able to save any of it? _________________ Ruby red 1967 beetle sedan with a 2021cc
1967 beetle sedan baja project
April 60 euro spec ragtop beetle with a 1641cc |
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grandpa pete Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2008 Posts: 6426 Location: St. Petersburg, FL
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 7:30 am Post subject: |
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Love all the add on options ?
especially the stainless so the rear fenders don't get chipped paint !
Looks like you bit off a project . nothing time and money can't fix .
Suggestion ; When I started mine I would watch TV and read project and build threads during the commercials . I saved a lot of time by learning from others mistakes AND got some great tips . _________________ 63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 3:12 am Post subject: |
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caleb0101, I was able to save some of the 66 even though the A pillars are bent and our knees crushed in the dash. My wife keeps telling me I should get rid of it as it takes up room in the garage. I guess Im a little attached and can't let it go yet. I keep using it as a reference and or for parts. I had just got done installing a new SP1776 vintage speed themed motor that was save from the accident.
grandpa pete, The 1962 rag does have a lot of rare accessories that I really like. Also it being Euro it has the locking ignition. Time and money, you said it.
Going through my photos I started to realize that iPhones quality in photos was pretty low my apologies.
I started to disassemble, bag and tag parts as I was doing this I started to think about making a cheap stand for the body. I basically built two large saw horses that allowed me to roll the chassis in and out.
After completing getting the body separated from the chassis I went to my local steel supplier and picked up some 1"x1" angle iron, turnbuckles, and threaded 3/8 rod.
From here I weld together removable door braces.
In my line of work we use jigs to locate structure and panels for everything, so I used that line of thought and started to weld together a removable jig that uses factory bolt and weld nut locations. This I will use to locate my new heater channels, rear crossmember, body mounts , etc. I want to note I referenced the Bentley for measurements also.
Last edited by thekera on Mon Sep 14, 2015 4:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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caleb0101 Samba Member

Joined: August 26, 2014 Posts: 525 Location: Bristol Connecticut
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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I'm glad that you a were able to save the parts from the 66. From what I can see of it in the background it doesn't look to bad. Have to thought of repairing it? I saw this in the classifieds http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1820700 _________________ Ruby red 1967 beetle sedan with a 2021cc
1967 beetle sedan baja project
April 60 euro spec ragtop beetle with a 1641cc |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:58 am Post subject: |
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I started to source sheet metal panels after doing some research here on the samba. I wanted to try and use either OG german metal or panels from Klassic Fab, Restoration Panels, Hookys panels, and Auto craft engineering. Pay the Money one time and do the job right the first time.
swap meet find front clip
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2015 2:10 am Post subject: |
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I decided to start the metal work in the rear apron area. The PO had done some Mods to the engine side trays so they needed to be replaced. Also the rear quarter/bumper mount area had some substantial rust.
The rear quarter/bumper mount panels are from Hooky's Panels of the UK also the engine side trays. These are very nice with clean and correct spot welds and shape.
The OG apron also had its issues, I tossed around the idea of trying to shape it back within spec.
I spent a lot of time trying to find a correct apron with the catch for a T handle. Either you find H aprons or the later 65-66 style apron with the weld nuts for the bolt on catch. I figured, I could go with the 65-66 apron and remove the weld nuts then just weld on my OG catch. Looking online, I started to get discouraged at the quality of the rear aprons being sold. Don't get me wrong, Wolf makes very nice looking early aprons. Auto crafts rear aprons also look decent, but then again only early versions. I ended up finding a rear apron made by BBT a european dealer. It was advertised as highest quality. When I received it I was very pleased, just removed both weld nuts and spot welded on the OG catch.
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2015 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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nice work mate, having all those well made replacement panels sure helps.
Are you going to fully repaint the car or blend the repairs into the ratty OG paint? _________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 2:50 am Post subject: |
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63Ragtop NZ, Thanks. As far as paint, Im not to sure yet. I love the look of patina but then again after all this work I might want shiny new paint. |
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silvertonguedevil Samba Member

Joined: September 26, 2010 Posts: 1693 Location: Vale, OR
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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That's so funny! I have a picture of your car saved on my phone. As soon as I opened this thread I was like..."Hey, I know this car!"  _________________ -Greg |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:20 am Post subject: |
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For some reason it really bugs me when I see a VW that people cut or drill unnecessary holes into.
The PO had installed two speakers in the upper kick panel and in doing so cut 5" holes on either side. Not to mention the holes were not even cut nice. My 66 came in handy for these sections as the upper kick panel in it was crushed in the accident, I was still able to source patch panels for this area.
This area was very temper mental when it came to heat. I backed these panels with copper but still have a bit of hammer and dolly work left. |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:52 am Post subject: |
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Silvertonguedevil, that's awesome you have a picture of my 62. It's a good looking bug. |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 2:22 am Post subject: |
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At this point I moved on to drilling all the spot welds on the drivers side heater channel. I also cut the bead welds at the A pillar and B pillar. Where the heater channel attaches at the rear was pretty much non existent due to rust.
I was amazed at how much rust fell to the floor. Also comparing the weight difference from the old channel to the new channel, NIGHT & DAY.
I was excited to do a test fit of the Klassic Fab heater channels.
They fit better than I expected. I gotta give it to Gerson and the people at Klassic Fab for making some quality products. I wish they would make their Beetle line a little more extensive.
Last edited by thekera on Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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vwnut1 Samba Member

Joined: May 16, 2012 Posts: 495 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Gerson said they plan on stamping 100% of the panels to build an early VW Bus from scratch by summer of 2016. Your metal work is coming along nicel, keep the updates coming. _________________ 1957 VW Oval Resto Mod |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:05 am Post subject: |
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vwnut1 That is awesome, I know Klassic Fab really shines in the type 2 department. I would love if Gerson would come out with a line of rear cross members that span up to the mid sixty model beetle, as this area I have noticed seems to rust almost as much as heater channels and pans. Also some front quarter panels for 1967 and earlier would be great. |
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vwnut1 Samba Member

Joined: May 16, 2012 Posts: 495 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:14 am Post subject: |
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I think it's simply supply and demand economics. Finding an early Bus with a solid body at a reasonable price is getting nearly impossible. The recently televised car auctions show early Buses hammering at $90k plus, so every car restorer in the country who would never consider a VW sees dollar signs and are driving up prices. Bugs are still plentiful online and fairly cheap, but I am sure things will change in the near future as all of the air cooled Beetles are snapped up. _________________ 1957 VW Oval Resto Mod |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:39 am Post subject: |
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At this point I began to remove the inner structure from the Klassic Fab A pillars. I figured this will make it a lot easier to locate on the existing A pillar, not to mention I think/hope the OG inner structure is sound.
I did some measurements and laid out the new A pillar over the existing A pillar. I used a scribe to mark a trim line. From here I drilled the spot welds where the OG A pillar attaches to the inner structure and inner wheel well/lower qtr panel. Also I grinded away the seam welt up to the scribe line.
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cn63bug Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011 Posts: 114 Location: Mt. Juliet, TN
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Gotta say, your metal work is impressive! Looking good man! |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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cn63bug, thanks Its a very time consuming process. I feel the trick to good metal work is patience. I will say out of all the things I have done on aircooled VW's it is the most rewarding. Thanks again and keep following the thread theres more to come. |
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thekera Samba Member

Joined: March 20, 2011 Posts: 399 Location: WA
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:09 am Post subject: |
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While I was removing the A pillar I decide to not try and salvage the lower inner wheel well panel that attaches to the heater channel. I tried to wire wheel the area that welds to the heater channel but the metal was saturated with rust and far to brittle to be able to weld successfully later on. I drilled what seemed like an over kill amount of spot welds, that attaches the lower wheel well panel to the firewall.
From here I moved back to my prep work on the A pillar. The gray paint on these panels in the photos is weld thru primer.
I figure if Im going this far into restoration, I might as well do my best in rust prevention. I have used a product called Zero Rust on floor pans in the past and it seems to have stand the test of time. I plan on applying this product to areas that are not normally accessible and or prone to corrosion. I wanna note this stuff is flammable so I avoid areas that will be welded.
Slow and steady is the name of the game when it comes to this kind of work. The A pillar took a little massaging in the corners and bends.
Due to heat while butt welding, sometimes where the seam is the panels will concave slightly. I made a weld on puller out of scrap metal and an extra turnbuckle I had.
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