Started this project a little over a year ago. Our first resto of a VW beetle. It went in the paint booth today and could not be happier with the outcome.
Still lots of decisions to make and lots to learn.
Had to share the pics so far.
Boozo ·
nice, what is that colour?
matberry ·
👍
Crispy ·
It's the orange off a 2012 Mitsubishi lancer.
Paulc1964au ·
looks great going to be a nice beetle
Crispy ·
from day 1
Crispy ·
then let fun begin
Crispy ·
insides
Crispy ·
started stripping and repairing the bolt on panels, tried to metal finish what I could
Crispy ·
after what could be beat out/banged in and welding finished, I file finished what I could, then sand with 80/120g on a sander
Crispy ·
then sealed all bare metal off with an epoxy primer, also did the roof at this time
Boozo ·
Mmmm metal
Crispy ·
let the stripping begin, brought a new rear parcel tray/under seat sheet metal and also front guards, new bar and brackets.
Then pulled the motor out
This being a first for me or my dad, so easy compared to my last few cars, but still must admit to watching a few you tube vids before starting!
Crispy ·
once engine was out and wiring moved it was time to remove the rusty section
Crispy ·
not to bad with panel removed
Nickster ·
looking good! 👍
Crispy ·
it all cleaned up good with a clean and strip wheel back to bare, then a coat of copper coat weld through primer
Crispy ·
We were lucky enough to borrow a water cooled inverter spot welder, although it would of been cheaper in hindsight to transport car to shop than upgrade to a 3 phase 20A plug🤪
Crispy ·
all spotted in, just add a few dabs of mig and all done
Deadpan ·
Looking good Crispy and I wouldn't stress about upgrading to 3 phase, you will need it again sometime so it will come in handy.
Crispy ·
I decided to buy a new door shell, original required more work than it was worth,
The 2nd hand door would not fit at all, so I hoped the new door would fit
Crispy ·
once fitted lines were perfect
But not the factory drilled holes for chrome mouldings
Crispy ·
So I had to make them fit
By holding a chunk of brass on the back of hole I was able to weld it up with almost no distortion as brass dissipates heat and the mig wire does not stick to it😎
Crispy ·
I did not like the factory mirror location, still haven't worked out were to put it yet
Crispy ·
ended up buying 2 new shells, new panels are to good to work with, still filed them up
had to make and fit some patches to sides of foot well
ended up removing most of the shonky welded in nuts and sourced some nice weld in flanged nuts from e-bay in the UK
note this is a good one
Then filed it up and into epoxy
Crispy ·
this first photo give a better idea of the condition of the mounting nuts that were left.