More fantastic work from Allan's Veedub Resto stable.
Great to see.
Da Time For The Aircooled Revolution Is Upon US.
Brothers & Sisters Lets Hit The Streets, Roll As One. And Feel The Power Of The Aircooled Storm.
Got some donor guards from Damo - on the surface they looked quite good. I've seen many in my time and they even fooled me!
Packed them into the oval and off to the blasters...
No complaints Damo so don't worry mate! Because the insides were crusty I couldn't feel the tell tale signs of previous repairs (apart from the obvious ones which I knew already). This first dent had a lot of bog and looks better in the pic than it actually is.
We intended to get them soda blasted but the guy who does it in yatala is sellling up so the new owner is not operating yet. So I just had to find a local blaster - in this case they used steel shot which obviously is coarse and something you'd never use on flat panels, however for the guards there are no issues of warpage....made quick work of all the bog!
This was one of the worst guards - not sure why whoever did the repair didn't panel beat it a little better rather than using so much filler. Admittedly the final finish was pretty good so they spent quite a bit of time getting them straight, just not in the right way.
This will keep me busy for a while.
I knew about the rust in the headlight bucket before blasting so that was no surprise.
One guard had two indicator holes - both of which will be patched up (properly)
More filler covered this dent as well.
Probably the worst of the cover-ups.
Unfortunately this type of "RUST REPAIR" still goes on in some shops today.
Like I have said a few times before, the cost of a restoration will be determined by the time spent by the restorer. To bog up dents and rust will save time and money, but you get what you pay for. To do it properly takes time, which equals money.
I guess I post all these pics as a bit of education for the masses. Sometimes all looks rosy on the surface but once you dig deep the problems start to surface. This is why I can totally understand why one cannot give a fixed quote with no variation for panel/paint unless you can deliver the car in bare metal after having it stripped. Otherwise one would either have to put a huge buffer in to account for the problems, or have to cut corners to avoid working for free. Also you have to compare apples with apples - I've heard people say "but I got a quote from XXXX smash repairs and it was so much cheaper than your quote"....if you can guarantee they would take the same care and give the same attention to detail in the workmanship and they are still cheaper then go for it! Unless you can guarantee their workmanship though, it is hard to compare costs.
I really like to get cars back to bare metal for this reason....but it means more dollars. In this case we didn't take the body back as Pete and Rod know the history, and it wasn't warranted for the application (drag racing only).
Anyway, enough edumacationing...
I started the hammer/dolly work on the first dent and started the file work - similar to using a guide coat on the primer, it shows the high and low spots. I am waiting for my 'shrinking disc' to arrive though and will explain/show that once I get the hang of it. I won't be able to get it perfectly smooth in metal but will get very close so only a skim of filler no thicker than say 3mm will be required (rather than >1.5cm as found in some spots).
On the better front guard, I cut a filler patch for the indicator hole - the better the fit, the less filler required. Obviously haven't welded it yet, its just sitting in place for now.
Hopefully a bit more tomorrow arvo and over the long weekend. Don't worry Damo, Rod and Pete....I'll get them looking good! For anyone wondering why the change in guards, the previous rears were cut short on the back edge, and Rod has plans for the fronts for another car some time in the future.
Al
Right front guard took some time to get into shape. After quite a bit of beating, only a thin skim coat of filler was required where all the dents were. I was conscious of keeping the thickness to a bare minimum.
Rod has found another pair of front guards so the above one will be a spare at least! I'll get the new ones blasted next week, and maybe we'll track down a new pair of rears too. The time (and $) spent fixing these guards will probably be higher than paying for a better set.
So, back onto the body - there was nothing major to repair - just a lot of little dents. Pete had done a good job with the last repaint, so that saved some time for me. Here it was after the final repairs, sand, mask and clean:
This is the final coat of primer - I could have just used a sealer but I like to use one last coat of high build so I can rub it back with guide coat just prior to base coat application (maybe in a couple of weeks depending on guards and decklid work).
If this was a show quality job, I would go through another round of block sanding, skim filler, guide coating etc etc to straighten any last imperfections out. Rod didn't want it too nice though as it is a race car after all 🙂
Glad I don't give roll cages as Christmas presents - took bloody ages to wrap it up! This to protect the metallic grey/silver already applied whilst priming the outside as well as when I spray the inside with satin black.
So now the doors, bonnet, and body are all ready for their final rub back before base coat. Just the guards and decklid to go before some colour finally goes back on!
Al
Mate dunno why your wasting all that time masking, the cage was designed to out of the body, just undo the perimeter bolts, lift her up and the cage drops out the bottom, no seals either to worry about either.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
Forgot to say
Looks good , sh1t hot actually.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
Cheers Matt - painting the cage was kind of an afterthought - if we were going to go that way from the start I probably would have pulled the body.....but then I would have run out of space as you can see I only have room for one vw in the garage at a time (for now!) 😉
thanks for the kudos, can't wait to see it back on the track this year some time.
Al
Interior pre-paint - patches of grey are etch primer over repairs.
After a couple coats of cheap satin black chassis paint (to keep costs down) things are looking tidy once again.
I would have liked it to be a little flatter (bit glossier than I had hoped) - Rod/Pete - let me know if this is an issue and I'll get some flatter black and reshoot it. Its nowhere near a full gloss but it is a little shiny.
there is a bit of dust on the floor in this pic just so you know 😉
Al
So now I just have to get the new front guards blasted, and will wait for the new rear guards and donor decklid. Once all of those are shaped, primed and blocked the body should be ready for paint!
Rod tracked down some new front guards:
Got them blasted today and fortunately they are both pretty pristine - no rust and hardly any beating/shaping to do....happy days. Just need to fill the indicator holes and smooth them out then shoot them with etch, high build and ready for a final rub.
No dents in the rear:
And none up front!
These old things are a dime a dozen - I offerred Rod a carton of beer for them, but funily enough no deal. They will also get the DAS resto treatment!
Looking Good there Al. Mate it this thing is ready by the time Warwick comes around I will be a busy boy trying to look after 3 cars plus Troy in his type 3. Not looking so relaxed this year....
ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE
Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!
good work as always das!
After a bit more work on the front guards whilst they were in bare metal, I shot them with etch primer then high build primer today. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get a guide coat on and preliminary sand - I can see a couple minor imperections to sort out...then will reprime.
Al
Great stuff, can't wait to see the end product. A quality product as always, I'm tipping.
Holy cow Al.... Top effort.... So tell us.... Is there a totally new look in the pipeline?
wow looks like its gunna be the new rat patrol/dragger
show us your gates
I wouldn't say a totally new look - but just a little more "street" inspired 🙂 (as much as a chop top drag bug can be!)
Got a donor rear decklid off Rod yesterday so I'll get to work shortly on mod'ing the current decklid to tidy the lines up a bit, also should get the rear guards in the next day or two (ended up going with repro guards since it was more cost effective than me repairing another pair). Starting to get tight on the time lines now as I've had a lot of stuff on in the last month, however it should see some paint (colour) very soon!
Al
But you still haven't told me the colour scheme....😵💫
I guess you'll have to wait (don't worry though, not too long!). Steff (dubcrazy) has hooked me up with a good deal on a couple new spray guns so as soon as I get them (and after I do a final sand with 400 wet after guide coat is applied), your wait will be over Simon!
😂
Still plugging away on the guards - sanding of the high build primer revealed a few areas that needed a bit more attention:
....and then back into primer...
Repetitive stuff yeah? This is kinda the boring slow bit that feels like you're not making progress, however soon comes the fun part (colour).
i can't wait,the suspence is killing me.hurry up with the paint already.
it's gona look tuff.
big fan of your work.when do you sleep.
down sharon.
When he's tired I spose😁😁 and by the looks it not for very long......
ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE
Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!
Yeah I get by with not a lot of sleep!
Today I finished fixing the blemishes on one of the front guards - reshot it in primer then shot the inside of the front guards with stone chip paint.
The rear guards will receive the same - that way when chunks of Rod's slicks fly at the guards at whatever linear velocity 7000 odd rpm equates to during a burnout, the new paint should still remain chip free!
Unfortuately George didn't have both rears in stock at the moment and only one arrived via courier yesterday....hopefully he'll get the other guard next week!
Al
Oh yeah, forgot to add tonight I managed to finish the final rub down on both doors, the roof, front and rear quaters and door jambs. Tomorrow after work (if I get off work early enough) I'll get the bonnet sanded then start masking up so I can shoot the inside of the doors and jambs etc...gotta get the chop done pretty soon!!
Got a fair bit done today - re-stone guarded the inner guards (on body), and finally got some colour on the body (door jambs, inside doors, bonnet surround (where seal retainer normally is)). Won't show any pics until I shoot the outside of the body which may be a week or so at the most [need to sort out the decklid and wait for the other rear guard first].
Talk about gloss! I bought a new Devilbiss GTi Pro gun today (well two guns - one for base and one for clear)......definitely money well spent as the clear laid down so nicely it made me wish I had bought them earlier!
Al
a man that knows his tools , love the work
show us your gates
Forgot to say a huge thanks to Steff (dubcrazy) for hooking me up with the supplier for the guns - much appreciated mate!
Things have been slowly but surely ticking over as time is getting tight now for me to get it back to Rod and Pete so they can reassemble in time for the Brisbane Hot Rod show next weekend. I've been tied up with other things but should be a big weekend ahead!
Been working on the chop top after work at nights...
Rod requested the front horn grills be filled for a smoother look:
Patch panel cut to shape, butt welded and ground smooth:
I seriously have to shell out on a new mig, mine is starting to play up again (after having it fixed not that long ago)...still doing the job for now, just slow and a bit jerky.
Since I could only get the right rear repro guard, I had to find a good second hand one - this was really straight which was nice, just needed a crack and a bit of rust fixed, plus rear bumper holes filled to get that super smooth look!
The repro guards had the holes for the tail lights in the wrong position so I drilled the new ones to match the OG guard on the left, and then filled the other holes after this pic.
Patch panel clamped in place:
Welded and smooth yet again.
After these shots a skim coat of filler was applied, knocked it back with 36grit with hand block to get it to shape, then with 80 to smooth out the scatches. Hit it with a guide coat (3M dry coat) then more sanding with 120 to show the low spots. Another bit of filler to bring up the minor low spots, more sanding with 80, then 120.
Tomorrow should see some primer again and more guide coat/sanding/priming/final sanding....I feel paint is very close now!
Al
Excellent stuff Alan.... Keep it coming mate... We all sitting in front of our PC's waiting in breathless anticipation!
