| Author |
Message |
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 1:30 pm Post subject: '59 project better late start than never |
 |
|
I bought this beetle back in May of 2014 and never got really into the project until recently.
Here it is when I got it
Then it sat around for a couple years until I tore the pan down.
Then a couple more years of sitting until Nov of 2019 I finally started on it.
First I made a dolly
Started on drivers side
Very helpful donor piece thanks to user Burgundy Ron
Then started on passenger side
And most recently started on the wheel well and the pans came in for it
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
hewica8
Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2013
Posts: 93
Location: Advance, NC
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
| Looks like a great start to a project! That's awesome that you were able to find that donor panel for the lower b-pillar. I need to replace my driver side channel but would need the same donor piece that you found, so for now I'm just running what I have. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bad91teg
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007
Posts: 473
Location: florida
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
| awesome .. hope you have some good progress . will be on the lookout for some updates |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
| hewica8 wrote: |
| Looks like a great start to a project! That's awesome that you were able to find that donor panel for the lower b-pillar. I need to replace my driver side channel but would need the same donor piece that you found, so for now I'm just running what I have. |
Thanks! You should look through his ads I. Sure he'll have something for you. He's cutting me the rain gutter I need that's specific for 58/59. And always a fair price.
| bad91teg wrote: |
| awesome .. hope you have some good progress . will be on the lookout for some updates |
Thank you  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
So today I took out the pans and test fit the new ones. Wire wheeled the pan so that I won't have to spend as much time media blasting the pan.
Before
After
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
Today I worked on the fire wall section. And punched all the holes for the new floor pans.
Before
I blasted, and made a new piece to replace the rusted portion. Then painted with Zero rust and weld through primer
Done
And then I moved everything onto one side of the garage so I can work on my friends car tomorrow
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WADVR
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2015
Posts: 108
Location: Carnation, WA
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 11:12 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
Clean work! I’m in about the exact same boat. Similar condition and been sitting around for a while and finally getting started on it.
_________________
- 67 Beetle Full Resto Project
- 66 Beetle “Parts Car” Project |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dodgerodder
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2010
Posts: 170
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
Great job on everything! You’re really making a ton of progress
How did the klassic fab channels fit? I’ve got a pair, once I get there on my project
The quality & stampings look great on mine, & everybody seems to love the fit
Keep up the great work!
Dan
_________________
My 66’ build thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=699235 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 9:17 am Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
| WADVR wrote: |
| Clean work! I’m in about the exact same boat. Similar condition and been sitting around for a while and finally getting started on it. |
Looking forward to the updates in your build thread  it's easy to let stuff sit but feels good once you finally start getting rolling on it.
| dodgerodder wrote: |
Great job on everything! You’re really making a ton of progress
How did the klassic fab channels fit? I’ve got a pair, once I get there on my project
The quality & stampings look great on mine, & everybody seems to love the fit
Keep up the great work!
Dan |
Thank you! And I love the KF channels they fit perfectly and line up well with the Wolfsburgwest floor pans. I have zero complaints with the channels. The front fire wall sections I got from KF too and they fit perfectly into the pressing of the original firewall.
If you have to do quarters I'd suggest their quarters too. I fitted two Klokkerhelm ones on the car. Was unhappy with the passenger side fitment so cut it out and installed a KF one instead. It was much nicer in both appearance and fitment. If I were to do it again if do both sides with KF quarters from the start to save the headache. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dodgerodder
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2010
Posts: 170
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
| dodgerodder wrote: |
Great job on everything! You’re really making a ton of progress
How did the klassic fab channels fit? I’ve got a pair, once I get there on my project
The quality & stampings look great on mine, & everybody seems to love the fit
Keep up the great work!
Dan |
Thank you! And I love the KF channels they fit perfectly and line up well with the Wolfsburgwest floor pans. I have zero complaints with the channels. The front fire wall sections I got from KF too and they fit perfectly into the pressing of the original firewall.
If you have to do quarters I'd suggest their quarters too. I fitted two Klokkerhelm ones on the car. Was unhappy with the passenger side fitment so cut it out and installed a KF one instead. It was much nicer in both appearance and fitment. If I were to do it again if do both sides with KF quarters from the start to save the headache.[/quote]
That’s good to hear, I’ve heard the kf channels fit great!
Thankfully I don’t need rear quarter panels, my car is weird! It’s super rust free in the usual spots
But the heater channels need replaced because of a windshield leak in both lower corners. So the water ran down the defrost hoses into the channels
Both h channels look GREAT outside, but rusted out from the inside.....
_________________
My 66’ build thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=699235 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flyboy161
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2009
Posts: 2091
Location: Perry, GA
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 6:56 am Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
Man! This thread popped up just in time. I’m about to start my heater channels as well. I’ve got the rear quarter section, front quarter section and a small piece of the A and B pillar to replace as well as the heater channels. Your pictures are very helpful.
As bracing goes looks like you went in an X pattern right and left across the A pillar to B pillar. I was thinking of boxing the the lower A to A and A to B and then B to B since the roof Roof is still firmly attached. I was going to brace about 6” above the heater channel. What do you think?
_________________
My father's 1970 Beetle-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=603879
The 1964...Diamond in the rough
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=612776
My 1958 Morocco Bug-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=611483 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 8:53 am Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
[quote="dodgerodder"]
| dodgerodder wrote: |
But the heater channels need replaced because of a windshield leak in both lower corners. So the water ran down the defrost hoses into the channels
Both h channels look GREAT outside, but rusted out from the inside..... |
Mine had a lot of rust in b pillar and driver's side door due to nice. Seems they all rust in their own ways Haha
| flyboy161 wrote: |
Man! This thread popped up just in time. I’m about to start my heater channels as well. I’ve got the rear quarter section, front quarter section and a small piece of the A and B pillar to replace as well as the heater channels. Your pictures are very helpful.
As bracing goes looks like you went in an X pattern right and left across the A pillar to B pillar. I was thinking of boxing the the lower A to A and A to B and then B to B since the roof Roof is still firmly attached. I was going to brace about 6” above the heater channel. What do you think? |
I did the drivers side first. I used angle iron A to B pillar on both sides, and the. X brace between the 4 pillars. Definitely wasn't enough bracing and cause a headache to get my door to shut correctly again. So when I went to do the passenger side I wasn't going to risk that again so I went A-B and then X braced the door as you see. It didn't flex at all and I didn't have any change in door gap/function on that side.
I think 4-6 inches above the channel is good, you want too. To work on lower pillars as needed. Might find more needing replaced once you get in there and it's a pain to move bracing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 3:15 pm Post subject: Steering box rebuild |
|
|
I couldn't find many pictures of the earlier steering box disassembly so I tried to take a bunch.
Cleaned with degreaser
Media blasted
from the bottom with the shaft removed
Taking the back cap out
The bearing
Inside
All laid out
I also blasted along the chassis where the pan gets welded in and then painted that area with weld through primer.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BecauseAirCooled
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2019
Posts: 8
Location: GA, USA
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
wow. this is a great build so far  im waiting to see how you prep the metal on your chassis and what route you go for paint. keep up the good work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
Put the body on to line up the pans. You can see in this pic how the door still needs fixed.
Then I took the body off and finished up welding them in after work today. Tomorrow I'll grind down then welds.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dodgerodder
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2010
Posts: 170
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 11:49 am Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
That looks awesome! New pans & channels look so good
Now you just have 947 floor pan spot welds to grind 
Keep it up
_________________
My 66’ build thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=699235 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
| dodgerodder wrote: |
That looks awesome! New pans & channels look so good
Now you just have 947 floor pan spot welds to grind
Keep it up |
Thanks! Glad I didn't cheap out on the channels and pans. And I did finish up the grinding today after work.
I also dropped off my steering box for powder coating but did not get pictures of that.
And my grinder died mid process. Got about 7 years out of it. Not bad, not sure if I will get the higher model or not this time since I got a fair amount of time out of it.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WADVR
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2015
Posts: 108
Location: Carnation, WA
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 12:04 am Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
Lookin good!
I swapped over to a 12v Milwaukee 2 speed sander/ polisher. Much quieter and no air line to fight but not as powerful and two batteries are minimum to keep it going but sufficient.
_________________
- 67 Beetle Full Resto Project
- 66 Beetle “Parts Car” Project |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
| WADVR wrote: |
Lookin good!
I swapped over to a 12v Milwaukee 2 speed sander/ polisher. Much quieter and no air line to fight but not as powerful and two batteries are minimum to keep it going but sufficient. |
I'd like to get one of those sometime, but I just got another pneumatic one for now. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dibaltic
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 564
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: '59 project better late start than never |
|
|
Update for what I have done over the past couple of days.
I got my steering box back from being powder coated. I polished up the pieces that did not get powder coated, and coated them with ZeroRust.
I also removed my fuel line which was a chore.
The area around the master cylinder had gotten bent at some point in the cars life so I worked on getting that better.
And I made this repair piece for my apron.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
