Ok so it's time for me to start talking about Frederik the '54. I pulled it apart last weekend so I could get a better look behind the fenders etc and was very happy to find only a few problem areas.
1/ Front left firewall/heater channel ext. has had a dodgy repair job and needs to be re-done.
2/ Rear bumper mounts both look pretty sketchy and need to be re-done.
3/ Rear left Jacking point seems to suggest that the left firewall might be a bit of a pain in the arse.
4/ Bottom of decklid again has had a dodgy repair done to it and probably needs to be re-done.
5/ Bottom left corner of windscreen and the leading edge lip under the bonnet both need attention (Don't know how to do this one as no one seems to make repair sections).
I'll have some pics of the problem areas in the next week or so after I go down to G-town. If anyone's got any comments/suggestions please feel free to go nuts 😀
Oh, and sorry for exposing you all to Chris' hairy navel again.
Yay for school Holidays!!!!
Yeah I know Doc, Rhino comes first.
[ Edited on 23-12-05 by ruckus ]
PrettyBlueBug ·
What are your plans for Fred then....? :P
ruckus ·
Late swing pan (the one currently under Elmo), narrowed adjustable bj beam (sitting next to Freddy at the moment), dropped spindles maybe, NB 17" Brms or 17" Radars...
Then sell the bastard 😀
[ Edited on 23-12-05 by ruckus ]
ren ·
At least the paint is already sorted.....
ruckus ·
pics:
(details later)
1/ Front left firewall/heater channel ext. has had a dodgy repair job and needs to be re-done.
2/ Rear bumper mounts both look pretty sketchy and need to be re-done.
left:
right:
3/ Rear left Jacking point seems to suggest that the left firewall might be a bit of a pain in the arse.
4/ Bottom of decklid again has had a dodgy repair done to it and probably needs to be re-done.
5/ Bottom left corner of windscreen and the leading edge lip under the bonnet both need attention (Don't know how to do this one as no one seems to make repair sections).
Annoying hole in the other side found today:
Few little holes at the base of rear window. I assume these can be welded up?
Couple of holes in the rear corners (internal) either side of the window:
Couple of tiny holes at the base of the curved bit (can't really see them):
[ Edited on 23-12-05 by ruckus ]
oval TOFU ·
If you didn't have a hobby before, well, you do now!
17" radars? where do you get them?!
*cough* bling *cough*
dak002 ·
17" radars,
you get them,
and we'll try them out on mine, and see how they look.:tree
ruckus ·
Sure Ross. You can pay for the custom brakes for them then...
hehehe
dak002 ·
well I've got a the complete, ready to go, twin leading shoe, drum brake set up.
would that help,
BUGBOY ·
Best way to reapair this area is with a mig and a block of copper.
You place the copper under the bottom and weld from the top and biuld it all back up. Takes a bit of time, but gives a great result. Saves cutting out a huge bit of metal and try to make something to fit.:thumb
ren ·
there you go rob....
ruckus ·
Nathan you are an absolute legend!!
beerdoc ·
No xmas presents for you
You must have Freddy in a manger and JC is missing from his cradle
:beer:beer:beer:beer:beer
beerdoc ·
OR
The three wise men came in a dub
How cool is that
:thumb
Mr Bubble Head ·
I've got a good section for the rear of the front hood ie in front of window screen I'll try and cut it out so you have all /most of the bottom screen rust hole repair but at least you'll be able to repair the big rust hole in the bonett closing gap
U2U me
Cheers nIck
pete wood ·
My panel beater told me this great way of welding up pin holes. You get a thick flat piece of brass and hold it up agains the underside of the hole, then you just MIG weld up the pin hole and grind it back. Works a treat coz the mig won't stick the brass and the brass soaks up some of the heat so the weld can't blow out as easily.
Hertz ·
Looks like a good one to keep your weekends busy for a while. If you need a panel beater for some of the more challenging bits, let me know, the head panel beater from my work is an old vw nut from years back and is always doing cash jobs, and he is only up in donvale so it could be handy. Anyway great find!
Mr Bubble Head ·
Just cut this out hope it will help you
ruckus ·
You've got a u2u... and I'm happy!
Turbo54 ·
Looks like you are going to be busy.
Did it come with all correct tail lights, bonnet, steering wheel, headlights etc?
The deck lid looks like a wide spring, did it come with the spring? These are the bits to look out for and I will keep my eyes open if you list what your mssing. I have almost completed my 2 54's (in parts not resto) and will keep my eyes open.
Also, your rear bumper mounts didn't look so bad but you can get complete replacement panels from these guys. Excellent quality and fit. This is where I am getting a few sections: http://www.wolfparts.com
Are you keeping it a rat or going the full monty? If your going new paint maybe consider acid dipping or sulfar blasting. Here's mine after dipping:
Good luck.
T54
[ Edited on 4-1-2006 by Turbo54 ]
Turbo54 ·
From the above to this.
[ Edited on 4-1-2006 by Turbo54 ]
ruckus ·
Wow!
Thanks for the offer T54.
It came with heart tail lights but without bulb setup or heart lense so I'll have to get these repro.
I've got correct headlights (pretty sure as the glass is stamped 'bosch') and some later ones for spares.
Bonnet is incorrect (early 60s I think)
Decklid is going to be a big challenge and I'm not too sure how to approach it.
I've got seats for it in Adelaide but I have to get them over to Melb.
I've got the proper doors but one of them needs a big section replaced in it.
I can't afford to go full resto and I'm not going to be too precious about it. I'll get the fundamentals sorted, learn a few things and then probably move it on to someone else. I'm going OS in a year so I'm still trying to sort out how serious I should be about the whole thing...
starting to think I'm going to have to sell it in a bit or put it in long-term storage.
[ Edited on 4-1-06 by ruckus ]
ruckus ·
Oh and thanks to mr bubble head I think the biggest problem (so far) is sorted.
oval TOFU ·
wish i had heart tail lights..... 🙁
Looks like a decent project Ruckus, when you go away, I think long term storage is the way to go - you'll have put in too much time and effort to just dish it off to someone else.. good luck!
baggedbug68 ·
:o i had a 64 that looked worse and i got an expert to look at it and he told me to bin it.(wish i hadn't listened to him now) oh well good luck with it what ever you do
byronbus ·
Ive got a pair of the heart bases and bulb holders, im guessing they are genuine, not nos but in pretty good nick...make an offer, just cluttering up my shed... also have a solid visor off a 54 beetle...and one of those air things that sit on the top of the window to feed air into the cab, still in its box
ruckus ·
I've got bases but no bulb holders, but I'm guessing you don't want to part out.
byronbus ·
Ive only got bulb holders...u2u me what you want to pay, give vintage in sydney a call and offer a bit less...they are in smick condition...
Rural Baja ·
Cant wait to see her finished. Good luck mate!
ruckus ·
Hey byronbus did you get my u2u?
ruckus ·
Oh yeah and Freddy's drop spindles are on their way... looks like the bottom half will be done sooner than expected. Already got gearbox, pan, narrowed adjustable beam and spindles. Heaps more to go but at least that's something.
ruckus ·
Bit of an update:
I've got the dropped spindles now. Still sorting the seats out and Caffinepusherman has found a bonnet for me (four tab - not three, but can't be too picky).
Best news is that it looks like Marz and I are going to be doing a bit of collaborating which means that Frederik should start moving along in the not too distant future.
Pumped!!!
oval TOFU ·
gonna tow it or roll it to the Jambo?
ruckus ·
Dude it's not that far progressed!
hehehe
oval TOFU ·
drag it then....
heh, bummer. Next year then!
ruckus ·
Got Freddy back home so the work's about to get a bit more serious.
[ Edited on 3-9-06 by ruckus ]
malcolm ·
ruckus thats got less rust than mine👍
what bugboy suggested works on small areas but on large areas to much grinding better to cut the area out neatly and weld in a section either lap weld it or butt weld it in .I know a guy who can make any panel you show him ,I cut a complete dog leg out of a 56 chev and he made 1 from scratch to be welded in .
good luck with the oval
oval TOFU ·
get stuck into it man! I think you shouldn't paint it.. save yaself some time.. 😉
ren ·
i'm trying to convince him to just put it back together as is, dump it, bling it, narrow it and roll! I might have to start a poll...😵💫
oval TOFU ·
maybe you should Milhouse, maybe you should...
BUGBOY ·
MMMMM i could do a lot with this ovali kafer.:thumb
beerdoc ·
Another too leave the GTown Fold:beer
ruckus ·
Started on the repair sections for the W lid tonight. Didn't do too badly, only went through the section once with the drill when taking out the spotwelds. Need to be more patient I think. Ah well it was only the inner, the outer skin I'll measure up and cut on Wed.
ruckus ·
Did some measuring and cutting today. Was a bit worried I was being a cowboy and got really nervous when I had the grinder poised over the 52 year-old metal of the W but it turned out ok so far.
Half W was first:
repair sections:
W:
removed crusty bits:
old and new:
[ Edited on 10-9-06 by ruckus ]
ruckus ·
Hopefully get everything down to the Doctor's this weekend and get it welded up. Still needs to be trimmed a little to be good enough.
Big thanks to Caffeinepusherman for the donor metal. :thumb
[ Edited on 10-9-06 by ruckus ]
ren ·
sht man, you've messed that up bad....what were you thinking?! wow what a waste of a W Lid. he he he....😁
😵💫😵💫
BUGBOY ·
Nice job mate! good to see you getting into the thick of it.:thumb
beerdoc ·
Shit man love your work:thumb
You must have a great teacher:kiss
ruckus ·
Stripped the four-tab bonnet today (top anyway). The shocking flame job must've been painted with house paint, was a bloody messy bastard to destroy. Not too many big scary bits, little bit of tapping and welding needed.
before (ish): after:
[ Edited on 14-9-06 by ruckus ]
ruckus ·
Under the expert tuition of The Doctor I got the outer repair measured up and tacked in place today. Spent ages spot-welding the edge of the replacement inner as the metal was a bit pocked and thin in quite a few places. Hopefully will have the inner in and the whole lid stripped and primed by the end of next week.
dak002 ·
beerdoc wrote:Shit man love your work:thumb
You must have a great teacher:kiss
and extremely modest as well.....................
ruckus ·
The Doctor's been taken out with injury so welding's stalled for a few days. He'd kill me if I slowed down so I got stuck into the door skin replacement. This was the easy bit, fitting the appropriate bits to the '54 door will be interesting!
ruckus ·
New door skin matched up. Wasn't much fun getting out the rusty spotwelds. The cuts were a little less precise than I would have liked, think I'm getting lazy.
ruckus ·
Also got the sub-box/suitcase built, got the idea after seeing Sam's audio setup in his oval. Works well too. I think it'll live in Elmo though as there's not much hope of getting Freddy finished by the time I head off to Japan.
[ Edited on 22-9-06 by ruckus ]
beerdoc ·
Now that is unique :thumb
Dasdubber ·
Great progress mate! That sub looks familiar 😏 (nice work on the suitcase install by the way!)
ruckus ·
Yeah finally got off my bum and did something with it Alan. Tried to have a go at the splits in the kick panels but they need to be adjusted for the late bug. The stuff's been sitting around for far too long!
ren ·
ps.....that's an 'infinite baffle' sub in a sealed enclosure, but the thing pumps! just before we tested it rob got a box of tissues ready at hand, predicting tears would flow as soon as we heard how crap it was (due to opinions on caraudioaustralia forum).....but the tissues weren't needed after all. Sounds better than my 12" sony, with same RMS rating, which is designed for a sealed box.
Looks cool in the suitcase too!😍
CAFFINEPUSHERMAN ·
you been busy boys that car needs my red seats though rob !!! wow i didn't think those doors would come up that good what other bits do you need me to find we could go steal them from toby rumor has it he has just purchased number four
CAFFINEPUSHERMAN ·
oh i have semaphores and great complete pre 54 germanic script bosch headlights👍
decked dubby ·
Great work.....looking forward to seeing this finished.:thumb
ren ·
hey how about some update pics rob......robri....(cough)...horn grills....(cough)......ALBERTS!.....(cough, cough), + semiphores, seats, door panels, porsche brakes :blah
CAFFINEPUSHERMAN ·
go puto show us
oval TOFU ·
ren wrote:hey how about some update pics rob......robri....(cough)...horn grills....(cough)......ALBERTS!.....(cough, cough), + semiphores, seats, door panels, porsche brakes :blah
no keeping secrets with you around is there?! haha