71-BEETLE-SEDAN wrote:Those mounts should still be fine upside down like they are, just means the tabs will be under compression instead of tension.
other way around miss jane ! 😂
😂 Geez guys you made me look! The tabs actually dont fit the other way round as you would have to notch the frame horn seam and do a whole lot more re-profiling then I did to make them fit!!!!!! Was following fitting guide so confident they are correct.....I hope 😂
They support the gearbox under torque so would not one side be in tension and the other under compression anyway???
Got some 3/8 inch stainless tube for a new fuel line for the car. Wanted to leave the stock line for use until I get the new motor sorted - and can then be used for a return line if I ever need one. Grabbed the last VMA mag and followed the tech guide for the install.
Needed to make a slot in the framehorn to allow the bigger diameter tube to be fed through. Wanted to fit the new line so that it comes out and mirrors the stock line.
Got it fed through the tunnel without too much hassle and under the pedal cluster.
Feed it up through the new hole and give it a final bend. Fit the new bung and we're done at the front.
Weld up the slots and grind back for paint.
Just need to trim the excess length and fit another bung. 🙅
Dropped the body back on so that I could check a few clearences etc before things start getting painted.
Fitted up the new gearbox to check nose cone to boot floor space. Needed to put a couple of very small dishes in the body to clear the top two bolts on the box. Quite pleased as I thought it would need a lot more to get it to fit. With a clean up and underseal you will never see anything.
Next up was to trial fit the torque bar between the shock towers. I wont fit the down tubes until the engine/exhaust is fitted to make sure I have clearence to everything.
Had to modify the the bar and the bracket to get it to fit properly.
This was so that I could fit some spacers to get through the body without cutting it. Tacked up the first bracket.
Tacked up the other bracket and all done. Probably will take it all out and not use the bracing until the bigger engine is ready to go - was great to get in and make a start though while I had easy access to everything..🙅
oldskl60 wrote:Hey Ian
Any progress here mate?
Cheers Tom
Hi Tom - progress on the old boy is going well, albeit a bit slow. Still working on the pan - grinding, smoothing, metal finishing and getting into paint. Taking lots of pics as I go along and planning to have a decent thread update when I have something to show for it all.....🤪
Finally I have an update. 😂 I have been busy working on the floor pan for what seems like months. I have had to do things in stages rather than the whole thing at once which is not ideal but it seems to have worked out OK. Still have more to do but thought I would get some pics up of where I am.
Started out by removing every ding, dent, crease that I could see. I wont show them all but here are a few!
Primer applied. Used some PPG DP40 primer as this was recommended to be good for both existing paint and bare metal (which I have bits of both).
There were some small pitting in the cleaned up surface which I treated with rust remover before painting. I decided not to dress the surface with filler as the DP40 has a rust preventative in it so will hopefully be better than a layer of filler to keep the rust off. Obvioulsy you can see the pitting in the final finish but as its going under carpert anyway I would rather that it just had the best protection.
The best bit about the primer is that you dont have to sand or wait till dry before spraying topcoat. Leave for 15mins and then you are good to go with the colour. How much time does this save! 🙅
So finally the top coat can go on. Used PPG direct gloss black and put on 4 coats. No buffing or clear coat needed. Came up nice! Next job is flip it over and do the underside.
Dasdubber wrote:Good stuff Ian - great to see some primer go on. you certainly are spending some time on prepping that pan - will look great once done.
Al
Thanks Al. Think I am getting a bit carried away on the prep but its easy to get a bit obsessed with these things 🤪
I must have about 40hrs on the underside of the pan. I shudder to think about how many hours overall are in the car already (and how many more to come)!! Maybe I just work too slow 😂
Anyway, followed the same process as the top of the pan - got things back to bare metal, straightened + sanded everything I could. The only bugger was wire brushing a bit too hard in a couple of places which then heated the metal and bubbled the paint on the other side of the pan. Luckily only a couple of very small bits which I will have to do a bit of touch up at a later stage. It will be under carpet so not visible anyway. I guess this was a downside for doing things in stages rather than all at once. Came up good with no rust whatsoever.
Sweet write up man,
Nice job, how did you go stripping that metal so nicely. Did you use pints srtipper, or all scratch and grind?
Keep up the thread. Looks very worthwhile.
Aussie Dubbin wrote:Sweet write up man,
Nice job, how did you go stripping that metal so nicely. Did you use pints srtipper, or all scratch and grind?
Keep up the thread. Looks very worthwhile.
Started out with a twisted knot wire wheel on the grinder, follow up with standard wire brush wheel on the grinder, then finally go over everything with 240 grit hand sanding. The results are great but it is a dirty, noisy and long winded process!!! My neighbours must hate me 😂
Wow you are doing an amazing job! It must make a huge difference starting with such a solid car! I can't wait to see some more progress for some inspiration!
AJ
AJPerkins wrote:Wow you are doing an amazing job! It must make a huge difference starting with such a solid car! I can't wait to see some more progress for some inspiration!
AJ
Thanks guys. Progress is a bit stop/start at the moment - I just try and fit in a bit here and there. Painted a few ancilliaries like axle tubes, trailing arms, gearbox cradle, spring plate covers etc - took some pics but a bit boring to post.
Will carry out the touch up work needed to the top of the pan next and then finally will have it finished....😂 Will be trying to get some hours in over xmas. In the process of getting a paint match so that I can move on to the body and start painting inner arches, bottom of heater channels, under boot floor etc. Basically all the bits you won't see....😠
