Aircooled VW South Africa

Went back to the paint shop today and came back with a lot of supplies fibre filler, 2k ms primer, hardener, spot putty, paint mixing cup, paint strainers and other bits. I spoke to someone who owns a panel beating shop who just happened to be in the paint shop and he suggested I use fibre filler applied directly onto the ground and welded patch panels as this locks out the moisture as the fibre filler contains epoxy and adheres to bare metal very well he suggested this as epoxy primers are very expensive in sa.

More surgery performed today had a lot of blow throughs i think I had to much of a gap in some areas other areas welded fine will cover the minor blow through with fibre body filler then sand it smooth and fill the bigger blow throughs with weld using a copper backer at the back. I still need to add a few small filler metal pieces in the bonnet seating curve area. My new favorite tool is a homemade copper backer made from a folded piece of copper pipe.

looks like you are making some good and fast progress. Keep it up!

Took the drivers side door off, really easy when you have an impact driver to remove the screws. Drilled the hinge rivets out and removed the really worn and sloppy hinges, they have about 3mm play in the hinge pins on the lookout for another good set of used hinges.

easier to get oversize pins and re-drill the old hinges.

All 2nd hand will have the same issues.

Herman

Gee Edmund, you must love this bug !! .....you have big brass balls to take this one on.

Love your guts !!! Halala ,!

Keep it up!

Haans

Haans wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 8:16 am Gee Edmund, you must love this bug !! .....you have big brass balls to take this one on.

Love your guts !!! Halala ,!

Keep it up!

Haans

Thanks Haans for the encouragement it's got big time sentimental value been in the family for 40 plus years it's a real labour of love

Edmond wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 9:49 pm Thanks Haans for the encouragement it's got big time sentimental value been in the family for 40 plus years it's a real labour of love

Thanks for this Edmond. I was also wondering, why all this effort for a Baja??? But now you've put it into context and I understand completely.

Got some decent used door hinges that are way better than the ones i removed will try and fit them next weekend.

The good s/h door hinges are fitted, they are much tighter than the old ones, now need to weld in that door post repair panel then the fabricated 1.6mm thick heater channel replacements. Got the yellow paint mixed today to spray the front of the car wasn't cheap at R265 a little for custom mixed 2k paint. Now that I am.on leave need to get my arse in gear and finish the bodywork, prep it and spray it.

fully running by new years?

The fabricated heater channels don't work they don't fit right under the rear quarter panel and also are too difficult to join to the curved front part of the old heater channels. I have located a set of good donor heater channels in jhb might cost a bit to courier down but will be much easier and quicker to fit.

Donor heater channels arrived today will clean them up the weekend and do any repairs on them if necessary then paint them

Started work on the donor heater channels they need a few repairs started cutting out the rust and welding in new pieces. The heater channels also came with good lower sections of the rear quarter panels still on them as well as the front bulkhead parts

Got another donor piece for the rear windscreen area thanks again Bennie aka Vw Oldie