Just wondering how this will be fixed

[KKiley]

I have been in the process of returning to the road a 1978 Super. The car itself is so solid and I have it legal now in CA. I have the mechanical done and it passed smog, so I have been enjoying driving it.

At this point, I am at a stopping point. I need a new top, which I am confident I can install. But I can't do the top until I address the convertible top rail that is rusted out. And that means this panel will need addressed also.

The top was there, but the back window was gone, so I ended up removing the top frame and I am just driving it like that. The only rust on the whole car is this area around the convertible top channel. I can't weld and bodywork is not one of my skills, so I will need this done elsewhere.

I already purchased the replacement metal channel from Chuck. I am just curious as to how they will break these panels apart to repair them. As I see it, the outer panel will need cut out and replaced. It meets with the inner panel from the rear shelf. Then the inner channel is attached. The inside channel from Chuck's will have hooks welded to hold the headliner in place. The outer lip of the channel will hold the top retaining wire in place when installed.

Even though I can't do this repair, I still would like to understand how they will do it. I just don't have the body work experience to understand how it will be done.
Thanks in advance
Kevin
_________________
1978 Super Beetle convertible

Click to view image

[theKbStockpiler]

The amount you cut out will either be the same size as the replacement panel;minus overlap, (flange) or smaller. I don't recommed overlap because you basically can't hammer and dolly it.It's too thick.
_________________
My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask.

[KKiley]

I guess my point is we have 3 layers here. The outer panel, the inner shelf and then the ring that hold the headliner and top wire in place. How will they separate the layers to fix the out rust as well as the J channel that holds the top in place.
Thanks
Kevin
_________________
1978 Super Beetle convertible

Click to view image

[theKbStockpiler]

It would be helpful if an image of the replacement panel was posted ,front and back.

The panels at the lip are going to be spot welded together. I don't have vert experience but the sedans have a brace in between the inside and outside. I think the brace is glued to the outside piece. I cut all of the observable attachments off of a panel and then make like an archeologist and pull/pry on the panel to find it's hidden attachment points. I would remove the spot welds on the lip, make a cut on the circumferance of the piece to remove. lastly if the piece is still attached, peel small parts of it away to find whats still holding it on.
_________________
My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask.

[Mike Fisher]

Take the car & replacement panels you have to a good Hot Rod Shop. They will explain how they will repair it & quote you some estimates to get it fixed.
_________________
https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[clarkster75]

Kind of hard to tell from the photo, but doesn't look to bad.

I think you would want to cut out all the rusted area, then weld an "upside down V shaped piece" of sheet metal to the body right below the top finished edge. It would need to have gaps cut into it to weld the back piece to the existing body metal.
Then you could take a "flat" matching patch and weld that to the "V" piece at the top and but the three other edges to the patch you cut out.
Did that help?
Holes punched in the V piece and flat patch would allow the weld to join the two pieces together as you welded in the holes when the metal was overlaped, butted together.
Good luck