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Front end body and panel work - this may hurt your eyes
geewiz - January 26th, 2005 at 11:58 AM

Afternoon all,

I've got a 1300 bug (not sure on the year, im guessing '70 - judging by vw-resource.com) It has been off the road for the last 4 years, due to an accident :( It has been stationary since then, and I have decided to rebuild the beast :) see this thread

Anyway, I will be replacing most of what I can do myself (gaurds, bonnet, apron??) Today what I need to do is remove the fuel tank in order to access the steering bellow.. Whilst im at it, I might as well clean up the front end.

Apparently there was some sort of rust protection painted on near and arround most of the fuel take area a few years ago, although I have found areas of rust comming up.

What panel beating tools will I need to correct some of the body, and clean up / remove the existing rust protection and any other variable colours of paint?

http://box3n.gumbynet.org/~geewiz/bug/img_0907.jpg
http://box3n.gumbynet.org/~geewiz/bug/img_0909.jpg
http://box3n.gumbynet.org/~geewiz/bug/img_0910.jpg
http://box3n.gumbynet.org/~geewiz/bug/img_0911.jpg
http://box3n.gumbynet.org/~geewiz/bug/img_0912.jpg


VWCOOL - January 26th, 2005 at 05:00 PM

go to yor local library and start reading TAFE texts etc on body repair. Look for books by Donald Waite (I think). Good easy reading :cool:


Che Castro - January 27th, 2005 at 08:41 AM

Looks like a lot of work. Try doing a night course at TAFE in panelbeating or car restoration to get the basics of it. Looks like you'll need a bottlejack or press to pull out the front end.

Places to look for rust are the base of the A pillars, the base of the front bulkhead, heater channels, the area near the base of the rear window and sometiems at the base of the rear quarterpanels in fron the the rear wheel. Also i'd guess there might be rust at the place at the base of the front windscreen where there is a lip that holds the rubber seal for the hood.