Aussieveedubbers - Powered by GaiaBB

more body off the bug questions!

battybat - May 10th, 2004 at 10:52 PM

Hi!

I'm planning to take the body off my 69 bug and replace the pan, rather than having new halves welded in (good chance to do it properly). I found a few posts on body removal, so I have an idea of what i'm letting myself in for, and what needs doing

I'm wondering

A) how long would this usually take - I'll only be able to work on it a couple of days a weekend, and I'll be on a time limit of a month for the garage space - is it a 2/3 day job or a lot longer?

B) is it possible to lift the body off using people power - if I take the wings, bonnet, boot etc off??

C) do I need any special tools?

I'm preparing as much as possible in advance - removing bolts and greasing them up before putting them back, stripping the interior, labeling the wiring loom etc etc so I'll know that everything will come apart easily when I start!

any advice from those of you that have gone through this before would be most appreciated

cheers

Terry

waltermitty - May 11th, 2004 at 04:24 PM

At least 4 people, remove all guards and panels, with air tools its a comfortable one day jobbie 2 casses beer and a BBQ for the helpers. For a first timer with reasonable skills , dont forget the earth from the battery and the speedo cable I did . See sams exellent sight for some great inside info and lotts of pics of the proceedure.
http://vwfool.tk/
Mitchell:thumb

[Edited on 11-5-2004 by waltermitty]

battybat - May 11th, 2004 at 04:31 PM

sounds good - no air tools though, so I'll add a day to that!

cheers

terry

vw54 - May 11th, 2004 at 05:21 PM

Quote:

if I take the wings, bonnet, boot etc off??

You must be going to work on a Jumbo Jet.... WINGS

In Aussie we have Mudguards.

1 Remove the seats front and rear

2 remove doors

3 remove fuel tank

4 unbolt sides 13 mm heads 8 each side

5 unbolt 4 fron t17mm head bolts

6 undo 2 bolts on front beaver in fuel tank area

7 undo rear shock tower bolts 17mm

8 undo 17mm bolts on rear seat support

9 undo 13mm head bolts on rear frame near battery

10 get a garage jack n block of wood jack under side of car to break seal

11 disconnect steering coloum n speedo cable

12 get 3 other strong guys like your self and lift body off and onto some stands

use some lengths of wood 3 x 2 for instance and slide under the body front n rear makes it easier to lift

Stand back n drink beer
hows that

*did* - May 11th, 2004 at 05:34 PM

I did it in a day on my own, no air tools, 1 jack and at the end 5 minutes of 3 people helping.
Just make sure you dont miss any of the bolts

Craig Torrens - May 11th, 2004 at 05:47 PM

I'm with you DID !

2 hours to remove all the bolts, left the guards on, removed the doors. 4 people to lift!!!

If you remove all the guards and doors etc add about another 3 hours and then you only need two people.

vw54 - May 11th, 2004 at 05:52 PM

2 people for a bare bug shell 4 people for a car with guards bonnet n stuff fitted...

+ at least 1 cartoon of beer

VWFOOL - May 11th, 2004 at 06:16 PM

check my tech tips section for some more info as well
http://vwfool.tk

we found the oval bodies to be much heavier than later models.

waltermitty - May 11th, 2004 at 07:03 PM

Dave Ill see your 1 additional carton of beer and raize you another, plus dancing girls!
Yeah must be a steak in every beer you have Dave as they say or sams right, lifting the oval shell alone I glad there was 4 of us.
Mitchell:beer

vw54 - May 12th, 2004 at 05:14 PM

Mitch

Yep i will raise you another carton + 2 Tee Bones.

Yeah 2 eggs n a sirlion in every carton.

battybat - May 12th, 2004 at 07:17 PM

I'm all fired up!

will fetch the pan this weekend I think and get the prep work done on it, and start unbolting stuff - the interior is out already apart from the drivers seat

as I have no roof it should be lighter than the average bug too!

sounds like a good excuse for a party - take all the bits off, then get the boys round to do the lifting and reward them with a cerimonial burning of some bits of cow, and some fizzy pop

Mitchell - you're on the beaches too? which bit? I'm in fairlight, what are you driving? I'll keep my eyes out!

thanks for the advice everyone, i'll post pix of the whole process in my topic on members rides - I have plans for the beast!

cheers!

terry

waltermitty - May 12th, 2004 at 08:32 PM

Yo Terry I didnt notice your locality i am at North Narrabeen and my daily is a birch green and lotus white 64 delux 13 window microbus.
If you need any help im hoples but i am in the area
0422 802 199
Mitchell

buzzbug - May 12th, 2004 at 09:00 PM

g'day terry,
mate here are a few pics of the off the pan job that i had done on my 76 bug.
To get the body off and elevated, motor switched from pan to pan and new pan slid under, it took only two people.
But it was a lot of stuffing around.
The other people come in handy when you realign to body to the pan.
Lee.

battybat - May 13th, 2004 at 12:07 AM

cheers mitchell!

I used to be trundling up old pittwater road to Newport on a daily basis, but am now working at Frenchs Forest

i'm OK with the spanners, but the job is going to be fun in a single garage, so may need muscles!

my plan is to take the body off and 'park' it in the lane on blocks while I strip the old pan and rebuild all the bits back onto the new one, so it's going to be a case of lift and carry with the body!

will keep a look out for you

and thanks for the pix Lee - gives me some ideas!

terry

buzzbug - May 13th, 2004 at 07:21 PM

glad they helped mate.
Good luck.