Ian, at this stage I want to get it to fully painted stage (body off - both body and pan painted on rotisserie)....then remated with guards and doors etc rehung with new beading and seals etc, get it rolling on stock (unrestored) running gear and sell at that stage. That way someone can take over to do the fun stuff (fitting new shiny bits!)
Unless of course someone commits to purchase before reassembly in which case I'd be happy to finish the car (separate transaction to purchase) to whatever stage new owner wants......if someone commits before paint, they can even choose their own colour 😁
Work continues - not very exciting pics though as guards are now bodyworked and ready for primer as is rear apron. Now to get to those door pins!
Al
looking good Al, you working with MIG or TIG with the welding?
Brendan
Calling all NSW Mid North Coast Veedubbers
Click Below
G'day Brendan, working with MIG on most of our repairs at this stage.
Body is just about ready to come off the pan - just some lower a-pillar repairs, then do door pins and rehang doors to check gaps.....then it can come off.
Guards have been bodyworked and now into high build primer
Blasted the engine bay today back to bare metal - time consuming with the little blasting gun, but better than hand sanding it
Layed down a bit of epoxy primer so any imperfections would show up and enable me to fill them before high build primer goes on
Only little detail work to go on the front valance then high build
More progress next week
Al
Watching this closely great attention to detail as always. Keep it up Al
recycle, restore, enjoy
This is looking GREAT!
Started on the lower A-pillar repair on the drivers side - crusty area was cut out first to inspect the inner area:
After cutting away the rusty metal, the inner area was sandblasted clean to reveal rust in top of heater channel
Fortunately bottom of channel was rust free, just the top had some rot so it was replaced first
As is the norm with a lot of the crappy repair panels available, they are very inaccurate and poor fit - lower hole dimple was pressed in the direction and no hole for top screw being an early beetle
Lower hole was in wrong position and didn't line up with actual door screw so it had to be cut out and rewelded in the correct spot
After welding the top hole was drilled then dimpled using a quick, rough buck made from hardwood
It's little things like this that add hours to what should be a fairly simple repair
After a lot of alignment, the pillar repair was welded in, the inner area will be hand formed next and welded in
Another example of a crap repair panel - unfortunately Klassic Fab don't do these repair pieces just yet
Cheers
Al
Due to some stone chips and a few dents I decided to take the bonnet back to bare metal to ensure there was no rust creep under any of the chips
Only a thin wipe of filler will be required to take care of any low spots after any dents were knocked out
Valance is in primer finally
and the bonnet
Lower drivers a pillar repair almost complete
Still a bit of tidying to do
hopefully a bit of progress over easter
Al
Inspiring stuff. Love it!
After blasting around the lower left a-pillar, I found a bit more work to tackle
Under bonnet all looks good apart from some repair work required to return master cylinder res holes back to single stock hole
I am looking to buy my first beetle in the next month or two, but judging by the quality of this work (not that that's a bad thing!!), this will be well out of my budget, but inspiring to watch just the same :-)
1965 VW Beetle
Thanks mate
Left side A-pillar needed the same repairs as drivers sdie - given how crappy the repair panels are off teh shelf, I ended up fabricating it from scratch - easier in two pieces for teh outer and same for the inner (just one last bit to do on the inside)
Cheers
Al
Top work Al.
One question though. Aren't you worried that the rust in the A pillar might be just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.
Is there a chance the rust has travelled from the heater channel and might show up later.
Hey Stanley, cutting open the A-pillars during the repairs enabled me to perform quite a comprehensive inspection through the heater channels. Whilst there was minor pitting in the bottom around the a-pillars there was nothing extensive fortunately, otherwise I would have replaced them entirely (Klassic Fab do a 54 correct heater channel now - being the Australian distributors, it would have made sense for me to do them if necessary).
So yeah, I'm confident the oval will have good longevity after I treated the minor pitting then painted the inside of the channels where accessible (and will flush with cavity wax post paint).
Unfortunately you can't stop the rust forever, but certainly try our best 🙂
Cheers
Al
Wow - I love the progress so far, I can't wait to see more - great job Das!
😍"Olive" - 1955 VW Beetle😍
wow nothing has changed with you das
i watched your rag build over the years as you did it
seem you still are going crazy but not at home doing it anymore hehe
Dam thatz good resto work.nice car nice job mate.
Progress has been continuing however being flat out with customer's cars means I haven't had as much time to devote to the oval as expected....few milestones reached however.
First up a quick mockup of what could be some new shoes....Short axles and type I rear brakes (not type III) means the rears should fit under the stock guards no probs.
Beam and box are not original so both will be replaced...maybe narrowed beam, will see what transpires
Few more small repairs required on the body before it gets blasted on the inside and remainder of under bonnet/wheel arches etc
Cheers
Al
geeess mate you are makig a lot of work for yourself.😊
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲
Al loves nothing more than getting it right first time
recycle, restore, enjoy
Yep, more work but worth the effort in the long run. Sorry Craig.....missed your chance on this one, a new owner has snavelled it up and has a few ideas 😉
Slowly but surely progress continues. The pan will be sent away for blasting whilst I am in the US.....and will blast the inside of the body and under the guards etc. So things will go on hold for a month or so, but work resumes end of June 🙂
cheers
Al
I would love a set of those smoothies!! So sick
Custom doesn't come in a Box
The oval has sat idle for a while after being sold to a customer and some of the finer details worked out....but I've been chipping away at the pan getting it ready for a show quality lick of paint. So lots of time on hammer and dolly straightening out the dents/scrapes etc then some fine filler work to get ready for primer today.
After its in high build primer, it will sit for a while again whilst the body is prepped for paint. No point getting the pan painted nicely only to sit for several months collecting dust whilst the body is done.
Al
Nothing too exciting - spent a full day yesterday block sanding the pan top and bottom and fixing any imperfections...now its ready for its final coat of high build primer.
Al
CSP dual circuit master cylinder was trial fitted to ensure there were no clearance problems - as you'd expect with CSP products, there were no problems 🙂
wow looking good 😵
when al was baby sitting my SC on the trailer recently when i had some T5 issues
(many thanks once again for helping me out in my spot of bother)
n when i came late that evening to pick it back up,
I saw this man busy sanding away at it.
he looked like a demon possessed working hard 👍
good job mate
nice one 😉
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse
Fantasy
http://seventhchronicle.com
Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity
Barrels
www.barrelman.com.au
VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au
Pan is now painted though and looking shmick ...
Wet rubbed and seam sealed
Base coated
Cleared
Body is going to take longer than expected (more rust after I had it blasted)...have to wait for some heater channels from Klassic Fab and then I'll be back underway.
👍
man, there is something erotic about these pics 😍Futue te ipsum!!!
