Since Derek and Lee's bus is all done and they will be shortly on their way to Melbourne to live....another mate (Rod) has enlisted my help to give his chop top drag beetle a quick once over.
Most of you would already know this car - most recently with Pete driving it at warwick with a 1916 engine they had laying around. It looks the goods as-is but rod just wanted a tidy up and repaint - nothing major which is a change for me!
Here it was last week out with the old (Derek's camper) and in with the new (chop top)
Today I finally got started by filling a heap of holes from the years gone by of different brackets/breather hoses and miscellaneous other stuff no longer in that position! The masking tape was to remind me which holes not to fill 😉
After filling, the welds were ground down from inside and out so its all smooth.
There were a few (big and small) holes in the pan - no rust though - whoohoo!
A few more holes in the custom "parcel tray" - Rod has given me the ok to post pictures, but I won't reveal any secrets, only the bits I am working on!
Previously with a raised tranny the shift rod was positioned above the tunnel - now its back in the tunnel so this hole had to be filled as well:
I quickly hand formed a patch piece and even though its a race car where looks aren't everything, I couldn't just weld a flat plate in and have it looking like a bodge job!
The battery cut off hole was too big from a previous cut off switch (plus two extra holes along side the big one)....so they were all filled today...
Switch trial fitted and ready to go. Rod/Pete if you are reading this hopefully you have the second nut for the switch as it only had one on there - I guess you'll be able to track another down otherwise the threaded shaft will stick out a mile.
That's it for today....Rod's just got to decide what to do with the guards (replace or reuse). I've got a bit of work to do on the decklid next, then start prepping for paint - should be a lot faster than the last couple of restos since it is already pretty bloody straight!
Ah yes....forgot to mention this is the old Volksrestore car (I'm sure someone has pics - all mine are pre-digital camera so not on my puter!)....Matt can certainly fill us in on some history of this little beast! I love having it my garage, it is a pleasure to work on it....its cetainly giving me more motivation to save the pennies for the big engine for my oval and get it on the strip as soon as possible!
Man it's not easy to get into the back of this thing with the roll cage especially when you are my size. Alan you will prolly have the same problem fitting in there too!!!
Can believe all the speed holes are being removed from the fire wall LOL
ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE
Yep, Rod might have to find a few pounds to save from elsewhere in the car now all the holes are filled 😉
I've been bed-ridden with a shocker flu so haven't progressed much unfortunately - pulled the front guards off to get a feel for the "volks-rod" look....man its nice not finding any rust hiding anywhere!
Brendann, let me say I had to adopt some pretty awkward/uncomfortable welding positions in the back whilst working on the firewall! I made sure the fire extinguisher was within arms reach as I wouldn't be able to get out of there very fast!
Yeah Pete, have been emailing Rod - just waiting on the guards he is trying to track down. This week will see some more progress (hasn't been anything exciting lately so no pics). It will start to move pretty quickly from now on!
Been doing a few littly fiddly jobs lately that seem like there is little progress - I've finished buzzing back the paint in readiness for sealer/primer. This is again not a back to bare metal resto - just a nice respray for a race car (which was the brief from Rod and Pete).
Doors are off and a few repairs done. Rain came this arvo which halted further progress but more tomorrow!
I've found a couple little holes on the inside of the passenger door but nothing major....but remember I am not going to dig deep and uncover more work! Luckily it doesn't see much rain hey Matt!
Rod, if you read this let me know if you want the cage painted (left a message on your moby today).
AL
Yeah the chop top has been on a bit of a steel diet!
Today saw a bit of progress, both doors and a few bits saw some primer after prepping them yesterday....luckily I have an understanding wife who lets me store vw parts in the spare room (they have to be clean though which is understandable!)
The prep of the rest of the body (external) was finished today (400 grit on dual action then 400 wet and dry by hand). The picture doesn't look like there has been much progress but apart from a clean and mask it is ready for primer.
The roll cage was scuffed with a scotch brite pad (grey - there are different grades of coarseness) also in readiness for primer. I spent the rest of the arvo masking up the inside as obviously paint overspray will go everywhere when I paint the cage.
Takes a long time to mask around every nook and cranny but its getting closer.
Yeah...but only the really special parts! The other night my wife said either she'd kick me or my new Erco alloy wheel out of bed....I ended up sleeping on the couch....with the Erco 🙂 hehehe
Finally a bit of progress today - after sanding, scuffing and cleaning, the masking paper/plastic/tape went on:
Took a long time to mask around all the curves and nooks - also had to make sure it wasn't going to blow around during painting.
Primer on - black and red is gone!
I was pretty much covered in primer by the end of the day as I had to crawl under the cage into the back to paint the back side of the bars!
After this pic (the first coat) I pulled the Fuchs off for better access.
This arvo I straightened up the doors - nothing major just a few dings here and there. The passenger side was a lot worse than the drivers. I'll reprime them after final body work tomorrow, and then get onto the body-body work (I like to let the high build primer cure for at least a day as it will shrink slightly). More tomorrow hopefully - maybe even get the cage in colour if all goes to plan.
Today was good - cage got rubbed back lightly, cleaned then shot with a dark metallic silver base then clear. Access made it really hard to get good even coverage (of both colour and clear) however it turned out pretty well.
Pic is a bit blurry but kinda shows the colour.
After masking was removed....
Final body work is complete on both doors and reprimed. Will just need a final rub before paint. Started on the body this arvo before bad light stopped play.
The ever present site supervisor made sure there were no extended rest breaks....at one stage she threatened to shut down the site because I was wearing thongs so to avoid a strike I complied and put my double pluggers on (could have had a blow out in the single pluggers!).
Hot Hot Hot Allan,fantasic work mate . This time around car is all Rods ,just how he want it ! cool !
We just need to find,, one hell of a engine ,to power it.
Rear guard are going back to stanard to . Great work AL !!!!
