1960 VW Beetle - Bagged

Thanks! I got them here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=782450

I haven't posted in awhile because I haven't done much.

A couple of months ago I noticed something that really bothered me. The driver side front sits about 2" lower than the passenger side front. I was wondering if it was the beam and the way the air ride parts were mounted. I looked into that and found the beam is perfect. Then I started looking more as to what would cause the fender to sit lower on the driver side. What I found, I did not like. I found evidence, that I should have noticed before, that the driver side front had been hit and not repaired correctly.

It is most obvious in the fuel tank frame. The damage was obvious once I removed all of the air-ride parts.



Also, in this picture, you can see all of the holes in the metal. Way too many holes.






So I have decided to do this right and strip the entire cart. With the suicide door repair and replacing front clip, I might as well. I spent Saturday striping the front end of the car.

Short term plans are:
1. Finish the body work on the A and B pillars
2. Weld in the holes in the dash and luggage compartment.
3. Pan is in excellent shape aside from screw holes. I'm going to weld in those holes.
4. Hire someone with experience to replace the front clip. I need it done with the highest quality.

I started preparing the front end for the replacement front clip. Pictures below.










This is from the suicide door work.

This is the rear quarter where the lower hinge was for the suicide door.


Where the door striker plate was located.

I picked up the new front clip from Tim Baker today.


Here is a closeup of the new front clip.


Got the old clip cut out and set aside.


Here is a shot of the old air ride beam that I will be replacing with an Air Kewled 2" narrowed Ultimate beam and air shocks.


I figured out a way to remove the weather seal strip without having to drill out the welds just to fill them in. Use a cutting disk on in the angle grinder and put the flat bottom side down just on the edge where the weld is. It eats it away quickly without going all the way into the body. Then take a small flat screw driver to pry the strip out. Then smooth down the remaining spot welds.


Here is how I left the car - to return to work on it on Monday.

February 24, 2010 - I spent some time here and there over the last week welding on the new front clip. Have a little more to do to get it on then cleaning, grinding and filling to make it nice.

I decided that I am going to go ahead and replace the front apron as well as it is pretty banged up.

Its lookin good, Jason keep it up and you'll have it back on the road in no time.

March 13, 2010 - I did not like how the driver side of the front clip lined up. My OCD got the best of me so I cut the driver side off and went to work on rewelding it correctly. I also, welded on a new apron this week.

Recent progress...

Pulled the body off the pan.



Using a chisel to remove the old/dried out undercoating from the pan frame. The chisel takes it off easier than the sandblaster. Will be sand blasting the pan frame within he next few weeks.



Set the new pan halves in place to see how they fit. They fit perfect.

You don't mess around do you? It lokks good keep it up.

Looking good Jason. I will start that on my oval as soon as I get done with the German Look.
Keep up the good work.

Welding in the new air bag mounts from AirKewled.com.


Got the pan on the cart so I can move it in and out of the garage as I have time to work on sandblasting.


Temporarily reinstalled the transmission so that I can get the correct placement to weld the outer air bag mount.

My design for replacing/upgrading the air-management system.

Latest progress...

This was on Friday, May 28, 2010 after finishing sandblasting.


May 31, 2010 - Sprayed both sides of the pan with a urethane primer and then top-coated the top with Kirker's Ultra Glo Pure White urethane gloss. I need to do the underside tomorrow. The top was too tacky to handle and flip over. I love the way it turned out!

EngineerTEN wrote:Latest progress...

This was on Friday, May 28, 2010 after finishing sandblasting.


May 31, 2010 - Sprayed both sides of the pan with a urethane primer and then top-coated the top with Kirker's Ultra Glo Pure White urethane gloss. I need to do the underside tomorrow. The top was too tacky to handle and flip over. I love the way it turned out!

sweet lookin pan

Very nice work Jason

Man I cant wait to actually go ocd on a bug... Im hoping it will be on the 66 rhd after I'm done with Okinawa.

I love the mop stick and jackstands You do great work

Reinstalled the shift rod and a new access cover plate and seal.



Painted the rear airbag mounting hardware and transmission with Kirker Urethane Ultra Glow Pure White over a coat of white urethane primer.




New chrome axle tubes since the old ones had the old bag mounts welded on. End castings painted to match the transmission.

WOW. Nice job.

My older son Cameron helped me assemble the transmission on Thursday night.

This is strictly a show car correct?

So far it's shaping up to be totally sweet.

I don't plan for it to be just a show car. I plan on driving it to work in good weather and drives down the Florida coast etc on occasion.

Airkewld wrote:It's sick, it's sexy, it's Jason's 3" chrome n clear ultimate narrowed beam headed to Turner Broadcasting in Georgia

Saw this on the samba under this thread.... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=425478
Looks nice!

Yep - that's my beam. It is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I'll be installing it on Saturday. I am looking forward it's arrival.

JB

wow tht does look sick!

Progress this weekend...

Finally trimmed the seal around the cover plate.


Got the beam on the the passenger side spindle/disk/air shock done.



Got the transmission, rear disks, air ride hardware and air bags in.