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far rider  Samba Member

Joined: August 30, 2005 Posts: 900 Location: Rutland, VT
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Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2024 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Sanding/buffing/polishing clear coat. |
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Getting ready to sand/polish. Little concerned about dash (which is completely free of gauges glove box door and radio)board with all the openings.
Using the buffer here is probably a little tricky to avoid burn through. Any experience and tips? _________________ 67 zenith blue sunroof
Contentment; when what you have is what you want. |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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I thought the early years were different than later years in all aspects. Either way there are other "forces at work" as far as replacements go. Definitely some bad bondo work/repairs done at some point for some reason. I'm OK with the way it is for now. I will say that I snapped a few necks yesterday on its maiden journey post makeover. Felt pretty good. |
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Q-Dog Samba Member

Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8800 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 5:10 am Post subject: |
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Except for Super beetles, the fenders are a direct bolt-on. Really. There is no difference in the mating surface ... the only difference is in the bumper mounts. VW changed the aprons and the hoods and the bumpers, but the fender mounting is one of the areas on bugs that didn't change. If there is bondo on your apron, it is probably to fix crash damage (which is common, and could also explain the fender swap).
So, get the car on the road and enjoy it. One day you will come across a deal on a set of correct fenders and you'll be able to take your time prepping and painting them. Then bolting them on would be a one day deal.
The paint looks nice. Good job. What's next? _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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buguy Samba Member

Joined: November 17, 2003 Posts: 4915 Location: Port Orange, FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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Oh I see now! Hell with it. Rock it as is man!
So whats next? Put er back together? |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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If I thought it was that easy I definitely would've done that. Unfortunately there was some bondo work done to the front apron/nose area to make these fenders fit since they don't just "bolt on" to this year bug. I just didn't feel it was 1-worth it to try and fix it, and 2-it doesn't bother me enough to want to fix it. If this was some cherry specimen of a beetle I would've gone the extra mile, but for my first foray into the bug world, its all good. I just want to finally drive the damn thing. Haha. |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist

Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13640 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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Q-Dog wrote: |
johndl58 wrote: |
Thanks WC. I wish it looked like that. In one of my previous posts I wrote that some genius, before I got it, decided it would be a good idea to put early model fenders on it. While I'm not opposed to the look, I like the early style, I am opposed to how they did it. I just didn't have the energy or skills to fix it 100%. |
If you can paint, you have the skills to unbolt the current fenders and bolt on the correct ones. |
This^^
Find some ORIGINAL, VW fenders for your year bug. Body work them and paint them to match your car. It will look SSOO much better than those early fenders. The aftermarket fenders don't fit for shit and the headlight retainers brackets are not know to be welded in the right spots. Ask me how I know. Another source could be Mexican VW factory fenders. They are good quality as well. There are several big vendors selling them. You're looking for 67 thru 71 fenders. The only difference is the turn signal holes are different sizes due to the turn signals getting bigger and bigger as the years progressed. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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Q-Dog Samba Member

Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8800 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:56 am Post subject: |
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johndl58 wrote: |
Thanks WC. I wish it looked like that. In one of my previous posts I wrote that some genius, before I got it, decided it would be a good idea to put early model fenders on it. While I'm not opposed to the look, I like the early style, I am opposed to how they did it. I just didn't have the energy or skills to fix it 100%. |
If you can paint, you have the skills to unbolt the current fenders and bolt on the correct ones. _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:32 am Post subject: |
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Thanks WC. I wish it looked like that. In one of my previous posts I wrote that some genius, before I got it, decided it would be a good idea to put early model fenders on it. While I'm not opposed to the look, I like the early style, I am opposed to how they did it. I just didn't have the energy or skills to fix it 100%. |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist

Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13640 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Here's what your fenders and lights should look like. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist

Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13640 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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johndl58 wrote: |
Its where the 1970 bumpers slide through. Doesn't everyone do it like this?? |
Those are not 1970 fenders. They look early 60's. Someone slotted them to fit the 68 and later front bumper brackets. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Its where the 1970 bumpers slide through. Doesn't everyone do it like this?? |
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buguy Samba Member

Joined: November 17, 2003 Posts: 4915 Location: Port Orange, FL
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Looks good. But yeah...whats up with the fenders? What are the big slits on the horn grill holes about? |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah. Sometime before I got it, someone thought it a good idea to fit some early model fenders on it and franken the surrounding area to make it work. Unless you "know" its not that brutal. But we "know". Haha. I just didn't have the energy to open that can of worms to fix it 100%. I figured if it looked bad enough I would chop the nose and Baja it. I'm gonna roll it like this for a while. See how it feels. |
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kielbasa Samba Member

Joined: November 28, 2007 Posts: 1443 Location: Garbage Grove, CA
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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You got something odd going on with front fenders. Buff job looks good though _________________ Gotta give my props to:
Wolfsburg Motorsports
Dubbers Toy Box
Jeff's VW Speed and Fab
4inbore.com
Kielbasa Industries |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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So it ended up being about 30 hours of wet sanding, 1000, 1500 by hand, and 3000 with the da. Then probably maybe 8 hours of compound, polish. It was a total pia but worth it. And I probably could've spent even more time on it.
Few more progress shots. Trying to figure out what to do about the front marker lights. Since it has old style fenders the marker lights that fit are single bulb. But since its a '70, it is wired for dual bulb. Any suggestions? I now have 2 pairs of single bulb marker lights ( ordered new ones not thinking it through).
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buguy Samba Member

Joined: November 17, 2003 Posts: 4915 Location: Port Orange, FL
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Thats right. You can stand back and look at it and say...."hey I did that with my own two hands!"
And now you will be less scared to tackle repairs and maybe even be foolish enough to do another car!
Turning out nice. Once you hit it with polish it will really look nice! Work that polish it well, you will get a nice deep gloss! |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:49 am Post subject: |
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Funny. I have more time invested in the paint on this half Frankensteined bug than anything else. Its so damn tedious but I don't hate it. I guess because the results make me feel like I accomplished something. Plus I've learned a ton in the last 3 months. |
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jspbtown Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5192
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:43 am Post subject: |
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Agreed! Everyone of my builds I would go around and point out the smallest imperfection. Not a single person would ever see them...but they drobe me crazy.
Every buyer loved the paint. |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist

Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13640 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 5:27 am Post subject: |
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johndl58 wrote: |
Thanks. Im psyched so far. Its not perfect. I didnt go crazy with smoothing out the body and addressing every little detail. Almost wish I had since its coming out so good. I really wish I had spent more time getting rid of the peel on the hood from my original attempt at painting it with a ss paint a couple of months ago(theres a whole 'nother thread on that in here. What a disaster.) It looks good enough for me though. I knoccked down most of the peel on it, I just didnt go full on since I only have 3 coats of clear on it. |
We all have a habit of being overly critical of our work and judge it harshly. The reality is, 99.9% of most people couldn't tell the difference between a car with orange peel and one w/out. I painted my 67 bug in my garage. I used PPG paint and color sanded it before assembly. I see every little "issue" w/it and EVERYONE who see's the car goes on and on how perfect the paint job is. LOL _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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johndl58 Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2013 Posts: 422 Location: westchester ny
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:42 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. Im psyched so far. Its not perfect. I didnt go crazy with smoothing out the body and addressing every little detail. Almost wish I had since its coming out so good. I really wish I had spent more time getting rid of the peel on the hood from my original attempt at painting it with a ss paint a couple of months ago(theres a whole 'nother thread on that in here. What a disaster.) It looks good enough for me though. I knoccked down most of the peel on it, I just didnt go full on since I only have 3 coats of clear on it. |
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