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crunched 1500
CB Hotdog - October 5th, 2004 at 10:27 PM

HI - trying to re-phrase the same question...

I have a 1500 georgeous vw but the bonnet and right front quarter panel got crunched badly - along with putting the torsion bar out of whack (hope i have my terminoligy right - but i think you'll know what I mean).

So - would anyone out there attempt to rebuild it or would you consider it too far gone (obviously panels can be re-done but it's the question of it being/getting straight)??

CBHotdog

VWCOOL - October 6th, 2004 at 09:37 AM

Easy! New second-hand beam will bolt on in 30 mins; panel damage... without seeing it, I dunno. But a panel shop should be able to pull it straight, or weld on a new nose/side

56astro - October 6th, 2004 at 10:27 AM

There's a good chance that if your torsion tubes are bent, then the frame head is no longer straight either.

If it is straight though, you're in luck.

ratty 63 - October 6th, 2004 at 12:56 PM

got some pics? Easier to comment on it if we have an idea of the amount of damage - also remember, anything can be repaired, it just depends on the amount of time and money that you wish to spend on it....

R

CB Hotdog - October 6th, 2004 at 08:53 PM

Any feedback on how much I could expect to pay to have it straightened - assuming that it is not too far gone??

CB Hotdog

VWCOOL - October 6th, 2004 at 11:37 PM

how long is your bit of string?

oval TOFU - October 8th, 2004 at 11:33 PM

In my unforetunate experience, once you 'bend' the torsion bars, you more than likely end up bending the frame head too... not fun and probably not worth trying to straighten it when you can buy a pan and drop the body onto it - less stuffing around I'd think...

CB Hotdog - October 9th, 2004 at 08:31 AM

Ah - thanks - that's a thought. I loved it so much that I hate to see it go to heaven - but was starting to think that it was time to say goodbye......

I may be wrong but I get the feeling pans are hard to come by?? Are there different sorts? My beetle is (was?) a 1970 1500. What do I look/ask for, and how much would I expect to pay for one?? (I have another body of a 1970 superbug - do they match?.?

Anthiron - October 9th, 2004 at 08:38 AM

i bent my (well the truck bent my) front end in an accident and my frame head was ok. got a new front end on geometry was fine so dont give up yet.

Nick

CB Hotdog - October 9th, 2004 at 08:47 AM

Thanks for your encouragement - but my car is in country Victoria without an engine at the moment (it's in the vw sitting next to it) so how can I check if the frame head is OK??

I guess tow it to a panel beater is the only way??

Anthiron - October 9th, 2004 at 08:48 AM

is the other car the same model? if so measure everything on the old car and compare it.

CB Hotdog - October 9th, 2004 at 08:56 AM

Other one is a superbug - same year (my old one standard 1500)