Offer I can't refuse?

[airehead]

On the convertible, I am looking at rear pan area needing replaced. The fronts are pretty solid, but under the seat the pans are gone, and it goes up onto the body onto the panel leading up on the ledge. This picture is not of my actual bug, but it has similar damage. The rust on mine on the body is lower nearer the body member, this one is the top side rusted out. But, a similar repair. Does anybody know of any place that sells this body metal? If not, I can fabricate one, but it sure would be easier of I could find a pre-fabbed panel and just grind what's left of the old one and weld in a new..



So far, the rockers and heat channels seem pretty solid, but I will know for sure once I de-trash, and remove all the bad. But, at any rate, nothing that seems un-repairable. We are still undecided yet if we plan to restore this, or simply part it out. If we part it out, we might either just find a roller pan to put this body on, or, just sell the body and use the parts we want to keep for spares for Scarab.

BTW: It is confirmed, this is a Super Beetle, and not a standard as I had hoped. But, that isn't an issue since we won't be building an off road bug out of it.

[indianavw]

all 'verts after 71 were supers no standards.

[blue71]

Luggage shelf replacement panel?

www.mamotorworkstv.com/vw/product/rear-luggage-compartment-shelf-complete_301219/

There are probably a few places that sell the repair panel or maybe a cutting from a bug going to the old volks home in the sky?

[airehead]

Yep, I saw that one. Kinda pricy. If I were building a factory original I would justify that, but I think I can fabricate one for much less, which I might look at doing since I am planning more of a "restomod". It all depends on how bad, and how much floor I need to replace. It's worth especially what I gave for the car to spend that, so, it's a viable option. Thanks for the link..

[blue71]

I tried to save one from a 74 I parted but I ran out of blades halfway through. If greyhound is reasonable there's this one in TN:

www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1325323

Or a short vacation down south perhaps.

I'll check with some of the folks out here and see what they have.

[airehead]

Appreciate that. I would like to find one cut out of another bug... I want to start tear down on this bug and get some of it in the garage so that maybe I can start restoring parts of it during the winter months, so I can start assembly by spring. The bride is chomping at the bit to drive it..

[indianavw]

if you're serious about fixing that up ill be parting out a 71 super beetle and have that section i can cut out for you. im in nw indiana.

[airehead]

yes we are.. I would be very interested in parts from your SB, especially sheetmetal I can use.. Where are you located? I am in zip 49099.

[airehead]

Ok, the past couple days, we been de-trashing and pulling all the rotton soft parts and fabric off. The bug is a mess. I guess about what I expected, but man, now I am torn. I think it's too far to bring it to a factory type restoration. But, that said, a great candidate for a little VeDub Rod. The good news, is seeing what all we have ahead of us, The wife is hearing me now for a DubRod. I think I have her sold on a Roadster style Cal cruiser. Haven't sold her on a low boy yet, but still working on that.. lol..

[Dustin]

Superbeetles aren't good for Volksrods since they have the strut front end. They look terrible with their fenders removed.

[airehead]

Good point. The Low Boy is out then. Maybe just a cool fendered roadster then.. Odds are that is what we will go for..

[airehead]

What I am looking at designing for the project, and when I get more into the fabrication, I plan to put together a photo journal of the project. But I plan to make it a true roadster, which contrary to popular believe is not the same as a convertible. A true roadster doesn't have a top or side windows. Sometimes they have a "Bimini" style light weight top basically to just for shade on overly sunny days. This is what I am thinking on going with. A coach type rear seating in the back that utilizes the luggage area, and wrapping around the sides. I am planning on restoring the top frame, but cutting it down to minimal parts and bows, streamlining it for a nice tight out of sight stow when open. The skin for the top will be just a skin, no padding, or headliner, which is what a bimini top is. Much like the older Jeep tops. It will simply fold back in a nice neat package and stow. Debating on removing all the door glass and mechanics and smooth everything out creating a true roadster style, weekend summer cruiser.



Something like this is what I have in mind.

[Dustin]

Now your talking! Sounds awesome! Have you thought about a heb style? They made a fiberglass kit that made bugs into a 2 seat heb style vert. Pretty cool looking. If your into fabrication I've seen a guy use the front clip of another super to make a heb style roadster. He also used the hinges to give the car suicide doors.

[airehead]

Actually, yes I have, and actually originally planned for something like that, and using a front hood sheet metal for fabricate the rear deck area. I have seen some nice ones like that myself. But, the wife said no to that right away. Seeing this is basically a build for her, I have to listen to her a little bit. She wants a rear seat in her roadster..

[airehead]

Tearing more into the convertible, and after a long talk with the wife. I think we are going to strip this Karmen, and scrap the project. We are finding more and more damage. Of course that is generally the case with these things, but we were hopeful. We still want to keep the roadster project alive, but we are going to need to find a better foundation vehicle for the built. This one has allot of great parts, and we will probably sell off the convertible parts from it. It has great window frames, mechs, and convertible specific parts that I think we will sell/trade off for a better project bug. I am not discurraged, because I still think we got a good deal with just parts I gained with this car, but, time to step back and punt.