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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 2:53 pm Post subject: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Hi Dubbers!
I have a 68 beetle with an incorrect right hand front quarter panel. It does not have the finger hole on the fuel flap.I am restoring it to period correct details (for Australia that is!).
I have a donor part but am wondering if it is better to replace the whole panel or just cut out a section around the fuel flap? I'm worried about distortion if I cut it and weld in and how to clean up the welds from the inside of the body. And how much of a section would I cut for a donor part?
If I were to remove the whole quarter panel, does anyone have some photos or method to do so? I've searched Samba but cannot find something. I'm sure it must be embedded in some of those long restoration threads.I assume that there are lots of spot welds to drill out and I guess there will be that seam near the door to attend to.
I know it is a bit anal to want to do it properly, but just need some guidance from someone who may have done it before.
Thanks in advance from Oz! |
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Dwayne1m Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011 Posts: 3538 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 6:29 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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A bit anal? Yep. Only person that will know about it is probably you, but if you are willing to go through all that work to please yourself, then have at it. Replacing the entire right front quarter panel would be a ton of work. I myself would cut out as little as possible just to replace that dimple. JMO. And make sure you remove the gas tank to do that job. |
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Danpa Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 1240 Location: Valparaiso, in
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 6:52 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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I think if it were me, I would try to form the finger hole in the panel that is on the car first. And if it fails, then replace the panel.
If you slice the sheet metal vertically right at the corner where the finger hole would be and a horizontally almost as long as the finger hole would advance toward the passenger door hinge, you would be able to form the basic outline of the finger hole with a hammer and dolly or a male and female die squeezed together with a big c-clamp.
Remove a radius section from the area where the sheet metal dips in to form the outline of the fuel filler flap that would again match the finger hole.
Fill in the gaps with small sections of sheet metal and putty.
Just a thought.....
Dan _________________ 67 Beetle (gone)
68 Bay Window Double Cab (gone) sob, sob!
64 Beetle (gone)
77 Scirocco (gone)
73 Squareback (scrapped)
70 Beetle (current, in pieces) |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16754 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Dwayne1m wrote: |
A bit anal? Yep. Only person that will know about it is probably you, but if you are willing to go through all that work to please yourself, then have at it. Replacing the entire right front quarter panel would be a ton of work. I myself would cut out as little as possible just to replace that dimple. JMO. And make sure you remove the gas tank to do that job. |
X2 _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Thanks for the replies.
I neglected to add that the body is off and I am doing a full restoration so want it correct.
It's my late father's car and the one I learned to drive on 46 years ago.
Hence being anal. |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Danpa Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 1240 Location: Valparaiso, in
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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So, was the front quarter panel replaced with an incorrect one sometime in the past?
Dan _________________ 67 Beetle (gone)
68 Bay Window Double Cab (gone) sob, sob!
64 Beetle (gone)
77 Scirocco (gone)
73 Squareback (scrapped)
70 Beetle (current, in pieces) |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:32 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Yes it appears so. Must have been accident damage and the wrong panel was used. |
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jhicken Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2003 Posts: 9466 Location: Fallbrook, CA
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:17 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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So when they installed this later quarter they also installed the incorrect cable and mount under the dash? Before you go cutting, check your VIN. Make sure it's 118 and not 119. Some folks believe they have earlier cars because they have post August build dates. It may have been mis-titled. A '68 should also have a swing axel instead of IRS (except if it was an auto stick). This is also from a US perspective, things may be different in Australia. It just seems to have gone through a bit more work to fix some earlier quarter damage. Then again this may have happened in the mid '70's when the fuel crisis spawned a lot of fuel thefts and grandpa felt this was a worthwhile upgrade.
-jeffrey _________________ Der Kleiner Kampfwagens |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:26 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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It's definitely a 118.
Australian cars in 68 were different to the US models.
Low back seats, swing axles, no padded dash, but we got disc brakes.
Inside arm rests with the chrome trim like your 58-67 and of course RHD.
There's always conjecture about where they were made. Mine I believe is a fully imported car although many were made from CKD kits and assembled locally.
I think our cars were "bitzers" made up of left over parts when VW went from the 67 to 68 models. |
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Meiang Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2016 Posts: 656 Location: Perth, Western Australia
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:48 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Viiking
I also have an Australian delivered 1968 1500 Beetle. Mine is one of the early German manufactured cars before they went local CKD assembly.
As you will be aware the fuel flap should be an over centre opening unit with the finger notch not the cable release spring loaded flap of later models without the finger notch.
I think before you launch into replacing the panel you should evaluate why you want to fix the problem.
1) Can you not open the flap by hand. If you can leave it.
2) Make the car original - for what reason - its unlikely to increase its value.
To fix the incorrect panel is a lot of work which may result in many other issues which you can't envisage now. If it works now and looks OK I would advise leaving it alone. If the car was a high value item I would fix it, but it isn't and it won't change how the vehicle looks or drives.
I'm not one to scrimp on rebuilding of cars and have spent huge sums of money doing so on many vehicles. One thing I have learn't is know when to call it a day and don't fix a problem that does not really need fixing. |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 6:01 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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The car is worth ten billion dollars.
It's the only thing left I have left of my father. He came to this country with nothing and I know how much he struggled to buy this car.
It's the car I learned to drive on. It's the car I took my wife of 45 years on our first date so yeah, I want to fix it right. |
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Meiang Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2016 Posts: 656 Location: Perth, Western Australia
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Viiking
I understand where you are coming from. I have spend over AU$40,000 on my Beetle to date and there are many more dollars to go.
I am a perfectionist myself and understand the emotional context of your rebuild - my situation is similar.
I wish you well on your rebuild. |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8687 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 6:37 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Understand about making it right. If it makes it easier to live with, another way to look at it is, this repair is part of the car's history. Did your father repair the car? _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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BryanM Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2002 Posts: 4212 Location: Concord/Charlotte NC
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:46 am Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Q-Dog wrote: |
Understand about making it right. If it makes it easier to live with, another way to look at it is, this repair is part of the car's history. Did your father repair the car? |
I would actually agree with the above, from the standpoint of the history of the car with your dad's ownership. That said, try to form the indentation first if you can, then I would take into consideration the previous repair, is it nice otherwise? If so, then just replacing the gas filler area would be preferable to the entire quarter, just take your time and cool the welds as you go. _________________ -Bryan
Motorwagen LLC
Concord NC |
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Danpa Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 1240 Location: Valparaiso, in
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Maybe a dumb question but, is the finger indentation in the quarter panel or does the door have a small raised lip the width of your finger on it?
Dan _________________ 67 Beetle (gone)
68 Bay Window Double Cab (gone) sob, sob!
64 Beetle (gone)
77 Scirocco (gone)
73 Squareback (scrapped)
70 Beetle (current, in pieces) |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8687 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Danpa wrote: |
Maybe a dumb question but, is the finger indentation in the quarter panel or does the door have a small raised lip the width of your finger on it?
Dan |
The indentation is in the panel. _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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beetlenut Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2009 Posts: 2980 Location: RI
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Why not just take a hammer and dollies and some heat, and form it in? _________________ scrapyards are for quitters
---------------------------------------
Wetstuff wrote: |
... I spend more time shaking it than directing it?! I get a pretty decent blast for 8sec. then have to shake it again. |
- Words to live by right there!
My 74 Super rebuild thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6507104#6507104 |
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Danpa Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 1240 Location: Valparaiso, in
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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I guess it looks like this;
Although this appears to be on a 73 or later super.
Dan _________________ 67 Beetle (gone)
68 Bay Window Double Cab (gone) sob, sob!
64 Beetle (gone)
77 Scirocco (gone)
73 Squareback (scrapped)
70 Beetle (current, in pieces) |
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Volks Wagen Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2013 Posts: 2926 Location: Germany
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Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Replace Front Right Quarter Panel |
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Here's a pretty relevant link:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=512291
Good luck with it.
viiking wrote: |
Hi Dubbers!
I have a 68 beetle with an incorrect right hand front quarter panel. It does not have the finger hole on the fuel flap.I am restoring it to period correct details (for Australia that is!).
I have a donor part but am wondering if it is better to replace the whole panel or just cut out a section around the fuel flap? I'm worried about distortion if I cut it and weld in and how to clean up the welds from the inside of the body. And how much of a section would I cut for a donor part?
If I were to remove the whole quarter panel, does anyone have some photos or method to do so? I've searched Samba but cannot find something. I'm sure it must be embedded in some of those long restoration threads.I assume that there are lots of spot welds to drill out and I guess there will be that seam near the door to attend to.
I know it is a bit anal to want to do it properly, but just need some guidance from someone who may have done it before.
Thanks in advance from Oz! |
_________________ 1973 1303 with AB-motor - sporadic
reconstruction as time permits, 1986 ex-Bundeswehr Doka - on the road again.
I'm definitely, probably, the worlds greatest lover.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. |
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