Best battery tray sheet metal?

[lojoma]

All done under the car now...here's the final pic with undercoating applied to try to match the rest of the underside...I hope once there is road dirt on there, it will blend in pretty well.

[lojoma]

First coat of POR under car.

[lojoma]

[lojoma]

[thomas.]

I've used seam sealer from Summit Racing & also from Eastwood. I think they were Sem brand & they worked fantastic.
If you want to sell the rear vents that are on the old pans I would purchase. I only need one but would buy both. The guy I bought my beetle from figured he wouldn't need the heater stuff since he wasn't driving in the cold weather.

[VW_Jimbo]

Your weld looks like you are welding it too cold. You might want to turn the heat up a little bit. It will also flatten out your puddles, so less grinding.
_________________
Jimbo

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

[lojoma]

Apologies for using someone else's photo, but I downloaded this a long time ago and now can't recall where I got it on Samba.

Does anyone have a good source for original-form tar boards that go around the battery area as shown in the photo?

[lojoma]

Inside is now done. Now I have to move under the car. Turned out pretty good, I think. That little bit of red in the upper right is a photo artifact...I think it's a reflection of a red tarp I have on the driver side.

[bluebus86]

[viiking]

[riverart]

We just did this job last week. Your welds look better than mine - eesh! We used some sealer (Dynaflex)from Lowes and a caulking gun. It dried well and then I used Rustoleum rust treatment paint over that and finally used Frost King to help with the road noise.

[bluebus86]

3M is a good product. SEM does too. You want a Urethane sealer, Not all aurobody sealers are waterproof. Some are cheaper, full of fillers such as clay that absorb water. They may be sold as suitable for trunks and interior, places that dont get wet. Do NOT use these. even inside where you dont expect water, they are simply a cheap product, your Bug deserves the best, get a Urethane, a water proof urethane. I usually put this over paint for double protection, then paint over the sealer for good looks.

I am not a fan or POR 15 cause top coats have issues with sticking to it, I dont know how sealers stick to POR 15, you may need to sand or use the tie coat they seal under the sealer, suggest you contact POR15 for advice on that.

Water proof Uerthanes can be had at auto body supply stores, or you may try urethane sealers sold at hardware stores, so long as water proof and paintable. dont use acrylic nor silicone sealers here

for tight seams a brushable sealer can be used, for bigger gaps the caulking gun type can be used.

Bug On!
_________________
Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[andk5591]

We usually use 3m, but have had good results with some other brands..Just don't recall what they are.
_________________
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...

[lojoma]

Is there a specific seam sealer recommended? Thanks.

[bluebus86]

[andk5591]

When you are done, POR-15 or something similar and then a couple layers of something like Peel and Seal to protect it from future damage.
_________________
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...

[lojoma]

This is a butt joint, not a lap joint, unless I'm missing what you mean. My understanding was to have the metal as clean as possible before welding.

Thanks!

[bluebus86]

I recommend a water proof seam sealer around the joint both top and bottom, a urethane seam sealer is good. This will prevent water ingress, and prevent rust from that. For future reference, a weld thru rust proof primer is desirable to protect inside the lap joint.

Bug On! With a Nice Pan!
_________________
Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[lojoma]

I have not been able to work on her for a while, but I did get the battery tray from WW and I'm working on installing it. Here's about halfway done on the welding in the pic. I won't win any awards for my technique but I think it's solid at least. I have a lot of grinding to get them flattened out but, progress.

[lojoma]

While I wait I thought I should check under the front, too. Little rust around the edges mostly. Will hit that next.