Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Give details and pictures of your ACVW projects here.
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AlanH
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by AlanH »

:hangloose: With Tony on this one.


Wanted parts:
Left sunvisor
Sink faucet
Exhaust to swap for Beetle exhaust
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Straight Beetle bumper will not fit.....

Image

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Will need to weld two up or some thing ...????

OR have one made in Vietnam :D

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
64 Notchback
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by 64 Notchback »

What about Nerf Bars?
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Tony Z
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Tony Z »

how about a T3 front or rear bumper? those are fairly straight
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by 64 Notchback »

I have a front and rear set of Notchback bumpers?.
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

64 Notchback wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 6:56 pm I have a front and rear set of Notchback bumpers?.
Want to post pic' and sizes for me to check, but should be the same as the fast back ..

anybody have sizes on the T3 bumper ??

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Ok so as said, we getting to the end of the big panel and sheet metal work.

So we are onto the smaller things that where put aside to get the bigger pivture 1st.

The tank to cab shutoff was one as well as the step to loading rails was the other.

So we tackled them together and landed up with it all closed off.

Here is the before .....

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and the after ....

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And the steering knuckle covers for under carpet. ..... not full completed yet..

Image

Till next time

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

As said before we going into the neatening up of all temporary work, grinding the welds, rewelding the welds, grinding the welds, rewelding the ......

You get the picture. So nothing new or exciting.

This weekend has been the turn of the McPherson struts, they had to come out to do some work, as well as to re-new the bearings, not knowing their condition, they had to come out.

This we found worked well with a 4 Lb hammer and some Q20.

1st the spindle had to come out the bearing, then the bearing had to come out the strut arm.

Returning the new bearing was done by heating the strut with heat gun, and freezing the bearing, this went in with light tapping of the hammer.

even the spindles when in well with this heating and cooling, that I did not need to use my jack press.

Next the coil spring compression kit came out the tool box and the coil springs where removed.

I have ordered bigger diameter wire coil springs, as the extra weight of McFusco is sitting in center down position already with out other loads.

So when they come, we can fit and return struts to body.

Also went to the "Coffee and Cars" day at Autoquip in PE.

Saw some old friends, and spent the kids inheritance money.

Will post pics in Trip thread later.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

So as you know I was looking for short shocks...

When I was at the "Coffee & Car" at Autoquip, we heard that the EPVCC had a boot sale that lunch time, so off we went.

Found a brand new set of 30250 Armstrong Red Max 4 adjustable shocks.

They are the perfect length and are ride adjustable, so exactly what I was looking for.

Now thats a bit of good luck.

Anybody know where they where originally use ?????

Would be nice to know for the birth book for MeFusco.

Will show when fitted as the bolt holes are Inch and my brackets are Metric.

Will be drawing the sleeves out and re-drilling them in the lathe.

So all will be metric... hate imperial..

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

So just a few things have been got, so the weekend work can bring us closer to paint.

The new made HD springs for struts have arrived.

The steel for the dedicated "A" Frame has arrived, so that its easier to move around for the painting and prepping process.

The custom made handbrake cables have been made and ready for fitting so we have some sort of braking ability during moving it,

as the brake pipes will only go in once the chassis has been prepped and painted and rubber coated.

Busy with the speedo rebuild and service as well as the side gauges,

and the speaker screen's have been got, and will have to be holed to fit the other 4 small gauges.

so till the week end

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

So as said we did get the correct shocks for the MeFusco, and had to make stirrups to mount them in the top.

Also we had to cut off the old bottom shock mounting and reposition it to hold the new shock in the correct orientation.

Removing the wheels and lifting the body so as to extend the air-lifts to their maximum stretch,

then mounting the shock so as to assist the air-lift when the body is jacked up , to share the load.

As all the parts need to be fully striped out for the painting phase of the build, we have not fitted the bolts or fastened them.

Spent the rest of the weekend building a custom built "A" frame so that the MeFusco can be moved with ease.

The concept is very easy, as the "A" frame will slot into the bumper mounts and use the same fixing points.

As it is not yet complete, I have no photo's of it, but will do so when done.

Thinking to my self....." self... what if we build a "A" frame bracket, or even a tool box to store this "A" Frame.....

lets see if it happens...

You can just make out the hand brake cables and arms on the photo, as these are also now in place and working.

They will however not be stripped for the painting phase.

Till next time, and thanks for looking.

Herman

Image

Image

Image
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Haans »

Soon you will be swinging the key 😎

Messed up the type 3 clock as well !😤,......now clockless!!🤕

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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by Riaan.N »

Image

Came across this on FB
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Very nice....

Thanks for posting

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans MeFusco Beetle Truck Project

Post by retrovan »

Due to the lockdown, the MeFusco can not be prep d for paint, being in a complex, and needing to move it to the workshop out of town.

This could have been done, but would not have been permitted to travel to the workshop daily.

So just a few words of what we doing to keep us occupied, we doing post-paint little jobs and cleaning up the House workshop.

This looks like a bomb has hit it due to working full out on MeFusco.

So for the rest of the 21 days, we will be making one big pile in the middle of the garage to heap the junk, that will have to wait to be driven to the dump when allowed.

Stay safe,

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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