Jimmy V’s 54 Oval Project

[VW_Jimbo]

Got me 3 hours. Back is doing much better, but still is super easy to ruin it. I was very careful and managed to keep my back in good shape! So, here is what I did.

Doug, thanks for those pictures! They helped ALOT!

Here is the start of my own hybrid model!

Got me a pair, now! And look, I got casters on the other one!

I failed to buy the correct number of casters. Damn it! So, I have to find time to go back to the shop I bought them from.
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[MACJELLY58]

Good to hear that you are feeling better. Sometimes a break can be a good thing. Because, your fabrication looks amazing. The Rotisserie I was imagining for my project is nothing like yours and Volksvr6gti's. When I get there, I may be too embarrassed to post it.

Thanks for the updates and carry on my good Sir!!

[VW_Jimbo]

[67rustavenger]

I hope that car is still scowling at you everytime you enter the garage.

Have you done anything, to make progress sine 8/25?

It's time to get back to work on it. And update this thread!
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[Busstom]

[VW_Jimbo]

[VW_Jimbo]

[Ricksurfin]

[VW_Jimbo]

Just got home from there! My oldest kid is working there now. So, I have to go (drink beer)!
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[MACJELLY58]

[jeremy.g]

You've been BUSY! Exciting progress. Hopefully I'll have the time to hang out here with you fine people again sometime in the next year.

Now I'm off to climb the ladder (again) to nail up some siding.

Best,

Jeremy

[VW_Jimbo]

FIANLLY!!!!

My back is about 80%. I can only work for a limited amount of time, then back to the couch. Relax, nap and back at it! Yesterday I woke up feeling really good and ended up in the garage! It has been 10 weeks since I pulled or tweaked or ripped my hip joint on my left side. I can still feel it, but it does not immobilize me anymore!

So, with that. In the immortal words of Mario Cart, "Here we go again!" Or something like that.

Got out to the Bug and went straight back into the car dolly. I decided to get the car attached by the bumper supports and create a bracing system at each end incorporating the body mount points as well. I knew from my previous go around with the front apron, I needed to get the passenger side front bumper mount point removed and cleaned up, then reattached, so.....

With a 3 hour limit, here is were I started....

I remember that one of the bolts had a previously attempted drill out on it. See...
This is the good one.

This is the bad one.

So, instead of trying to get my fat hands and tools in there to remove it, I decided to bring the mount point out into the open, which would also allow me to rid the backside of any latent rust.

Brushed away the paint and primer to illuminate where the spot welds are.

Then went through and drilled each one out, trying not to drill through the mount. However, I did want 2 holes all the way through for realigning with the Clecos. Sorry no picture of the holes all drilled out. But.....

Then the chiseling...

Once the top welds broke, it was onto the bottom row....

POP goes the bracket!

Look at that pile of cocoons from some critter!

And the big reveal of the back side and the weld nut I will replace!
* Thumb got in the way of the sheet metal. Hate when that happens. But a quick part of a paper towel and some painter's tape and we can continue without stopping!

And look at how bent up this bracket is? We are going to have to reshape it!

Pulled out my trusty VW wrist pin and tapped it with a hammer against the concrete with the mount in between.

A then a few more hits....

Looks pretty good to me!

It was then clamped to the soon to be car dolly and I drilled out the spot welds on the nut.

And chiseled that off.

Cleaned up the mount with a wire brush and Naval Jelly. Then primed it on the interior side with weld through. Followed that up with clamping the weld nut into place.

Nice! Went over to the car and cleaned up the inside and outside areas of the mount and shot some weld through on them.

Ready to Cleco it on and weld it up!

Turned on the welder, cranked on the shielding gas and I could hear a psssssst, really faintly. Broke out the Simple Green, full strength, and laid some product on the regulator, as that is where the sound was originating from.

See that clean spot on the closest corner? Yep, that is an air escape route. This is why I have been blowing through gas. I probably could have heard a leak like this 20 years ago, but my hearing has been going for, well, 20 years! Finally thinking hearing aides are needed, NOW, before it gets any worse. But back to the story.

Disassembled the regulator and found a bad oring. Slapped a new oring into that groove and reassembled. Retested and found no leak detectable.

Went back to the bumper weld nut and welded it in, followed by a quick grinding and primer.

Then over to the car to get Cleco'd into place and clamped nice and tight for good welds.

Ground those down.

Primed it all up and installed the new 1/4" steel onto the supports. Thats when the back started to remind me that I am on borrowed time right now!

Put the tools and the Bug away! Until the next time!

_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[jeremy.g]

Marvelous! Good to see one of us making progress. I'll live vicariously thorough you for a bit longer.

Glad to hear you're on the mend. It sucks when our bodies let us down.

-Jeremy

[67rustavenger]

Awesome, An update!

I was gonna post,

"So Jimmy. What did you do for your car today?"

"Well, Perry, I posted my build thread on the 54 oval build thread.
I'm beat. It was a bitch posting that.
I need a coconut IPA to get things in perspective."

"Good work Jimmy!"

Keep it up Brauh! It'll get done before you know it!

Take care of that back. You only get one.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[Buggeee]

And the universe returns to balance.
_________________
1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[VW_Jimbo]

[VW_Jimbo]

I managed to stick it out for a few more hours today. Back is sore, but not worth taking anything for it! This has been the most I have done two days in a row, in a while! That probably means I should get my ass back to working full time. Damn it!

Anyways, got the front mount started for the carousel. Still need to add some connecting rods from the carousel to the rear fuel tank hold down bolts.

_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[MACJELLY58]

Ohh..Yah!! Jimmy's Back ! (no pun intended)

For some reason, after not working on my project for 6 weeks, I felt an overwhelming urge to get out there this past weekend. I guess I could feel the power of the "Force" stir as you got in to it again.

So, thank you as I am again inspired to push forward.

JIMMY'S BACK!!

[VW_Jimbo]

[VW_Jimbo]

Another 5 hours! Worked on the rear pivot. I picked up the additional casters during the week. Got those onto the cart and welded it to the bumper mounts. Same way I did the front. However, we’ll see for yourselves.

Here it is lined up and set in place. Car is still sitting on the cart.

Took a leap and removed the brace from the cart! The rear end was completely suspended on the cart.

Once the rear was hovering in mid air, I figured I would get the front on an air hook. So, I jacked the car and front stand up in the air and removed the brace.

That’s when I noticed the rear bumper mount were changing shape.

So, I reset the brace and removed the stand. That when I zoomed in on the number of welds still needing to be done on those two mounts. DAMNIT!!!!

So, back off the stand came. Check out the shape change.

Pounded the mounts back into shape.

After that I figured I probably ought to weld those mounts on 100%. Then take all the shit out of the interior of the car. Maybe I will detach the pan from the body, THEN try and suspend the body again!

Maybe next week I will get it! I am closer!
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!