"Herbie"1964 beetle metal sunroof restoration/ replacing metal

[Ceckert64]

Sorry, I haven’t updated recently. Work is slow, I got all but two of the heater channel bolts in. I also installed the gas heater and made an intake pipe for it with a “air filter”. I got my link pins reamed finally! Yay! I got the front end put back together and did an alignment job on it. I had to make the locking tabs for the tie rod. The front is so much tighter now. I had the engine running the other day. I got the roof stripped of paint.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

I did a little media blasting over the weekend on the drip rails. I also got the wiper assembly painted and put back together and working, it worked great, the two speed will be nice to have. I found 25+ pinholes around the window openings and the front scuttle by the seal channel. I got the dent pulled out with a stud gun and slide hammer from when the body got dropped lifting it to put it on.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[LAGrunthaner]

Looking good Ceckert64, is the portable garage new or did you use it last year? How is it working for you?

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Maui Roadsters
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[Ceckert64]

LAGrunthaner, I’ve had the shed up for at least a year and a half. It has worked out well, currently it’s being used for VW body panel and tire storage, parltly because I’ve been working on Herbie a lot, or there’s been bare metal on the roof, just that it’s not climate controlled as much as the garage. The shed stays pretty dry inside, water runs in by the bottom in the gap. There are no rips in it so far, it’s held up good. It help up good in the snow too.

This weekend I finished blasting the roof section of the car. I made sure to get the drip rail media blasted real well. I got the rust pits cleaned out and filled, most all of the pitting was around the window seal channels. There were 25+ Pin holes I used USC Duraglas on them. I got all the dents and rust repair I did on the roof covered with body filler and then sanded it all. I got one coat of primer down tonight.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[LAGrunthaner]

Thanks, looking good!
_________________
American Red Cross Safe And Well:
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/...bsite.html
Maui Roadsters
www.mauiroadsters.com
http://www.oacdp.org

[Ceckert64]

Thanks! I just got the high build primer on the other day. I found one small spot that I missed for body filler but I will fix it. I was impressed how well my body filler job turned out!

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[LAGrunthaner]

Nice primer Ceckert64, I know it is starting to get cold up there in MI as my in-laws/family are on the east side of MI and it will soon be too cold to work. Get as much done as possible then get all the small stuff indoors to work on during the cold weather. I think you've got this all planned out very well

[Ceckert64]

Thank you! I’m trying to get the main body done before it gets cold. I need to do the 1/4 panels and then the inside. For the inside I will likely just clean off the rust and prime it. Then I will use tractor paint over the rest of the inside because it’s cheap and there’s no need for the expensive stuff. It’s for sure a race against the clock.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

I was busy this weekend so I didn’t get much done. I only got the back interior blasted and painted. I used cheap tractor paint over ppg high build primer. I’m hoping this week to get the rear 1/4 panels stripped and body worked and paint over the weekend.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[LAGrunthaner]

Ceckert64, you are brave with winter around the corner, keep up the good work. What is the temperature in Midland, MI and how cold is too cold for that paint?

[Ceckert64]

Thanks! We just got a bit of snow a few days ago. The bottom painting temperature is 55 Fahrenheit. It is likely I will have to get the garage really hot, open the door then paint it since it’s getting too cold. It’s 35 our today. I likely won’t get much done today. Over the week I got the glow plug for the gas heater adjusted, it was an interesting process.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

So far today, I got the rest of the left side quarter panel stripped and blasted. I’m hoping to maybe get some filler on.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

Last weekend I got a little sanding done on the rear quarter panel. I also started to replace the rear axle seals. My issue is that the outer race of the bearing can turn by hand in the holder. I also can move the axel shaft in and out easy by a 1/4-1/2 an inch. Are these things a problem? I think the axel shaft movement it caused by the bearing not sitting in well. The shaft doesn’t move when the cover is on. Thanks for the help!

The snow is coming down hard. it’s nice but not fun for working or painting.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

I got a few miscellaneous things done this weekend. I first got the axel seals done and back together. I also put the oil slingers on. On the right rear wheel, the brake cylinder had been leaking and destroyed the brake shoes, luckily I had two new ones sitting in the attic But, the new cylinder will come in Tuesday then I can put that back together and time to bleed brakes for the 3rd(?) time! Then I decided to adjust the thermostat ring, and broke the thermostat at least I had a spare in the attic along with the correct braket. Then I decided to do the difficult, put in the rear engine seal. It was a royal pain. The engine sits slightly crooked because the tranny mount is off (I have to fix that soon) which made the one side had to get in. The putting in the breast plate and getting the seal over that that was a challenge, but I finally got it together and detailed the engine. I had to replace the air hose, and the one I had was a lighter gray, to make it look like the other one, I used some oil on it it now looks like the other one. Then I got some more filler on the rear 1/4. Here are some pics to go with the work:

The lighter tube is part of the same tube before oil treatment

And the destroyed brake shoe.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

Over the week, I got the rear wheel cylinder replaced, the brakes adjusted and bleed, and adjusted the brake pedal, it was over an inch out of adjustment Today, I cleaned some of my messes, did some sanding on the rear quarter, and got some more body filler on. I also made a hub cap clock with a crappy hubcap because I though the old clock was ugly. Tomorrow I will finish sanding and try to do some painting.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

I finished body work on the rear quarter and got it painted! I had to heat the garage really hot, open the door, paint, let it air out and close it then start heating it again.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

Over Thanksgiving break, I got the right rear quarter panel blasted and put some body filler on it. Luckily I got it done before the ice storm hit today with freezing rain and snow.
_________________
1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Ceckert64]

I just remember, today Herbie is 56! Not much for updates, I did finally find original rear interior panels for the 64 year. I also started body work on the right rear quarter. The reason there are no Herbie updates is I got a little distracted Late this December I Scored a 1970 Squareback barnfind that hadn’t been running in 44 years. All original interior, original paint, and only 36,000 miles I technically bought it from the original owner according to the title. Anyways, I have gotten that running and driving and on the road again and I’m also almost done with all work on it. I still had to do some rust repair on it too. If you want to check it out, I linked it in my signature. The picture is from a drive to a family members house.

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[Chickensoup]

Hey there, I too decided to look through your build and wanted to compliment you on your great efforts. In fact, you have inspired me to build my own car port tent thing so I can get my show back on the the road that is after all the busyness cools down right now for me. Keep it up, your almost there

Also, is that an after market front clip? How was the fit and finish on that. I’m considering it as an option for my 65.

Thanks
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-'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

[Ceckert64]