My Baja Bug Rebuild

[Edmond]

I opened up what looked like small rust spots under the main front cross member/bulkhead area and it turned into more major rust, is it ever going to end with the rust.Need to get a 2mm steel plate bent up and weld it over the rust once cleaned up, this is a major structural area so I need to fix it right.

I need to weigh up my options on fixing the baja up or getting a better baja to start with again and part my one out(but keep the engine)

[Edmond]

Haven't posted in a while because nothing much has happened on project baja except removing the fenders and seperating the body from the pan. I have decided the body is not worth fixing so am looking for another better body to start with. I will be starting the repairs on the chassis shortly and will be sinking some serious effort and money in this project, i need to get it back on the road it's been too long.I got the 2mm repair panel bent up for the chassis front crossmember as well as the plasma cut 5mm pedal stiffener bracket

[Edmond]

I found this body for a good price only has bad rust at the back windscreen area does it look like a good buy

[retrovan]

From the photo it looks great.

Hope you do not find issues when you start working on her.

Are you going to leave it a full body beetle or are you going to Baja it.??

Herman

[Edmond]

Going to cut it up for a baja and use my yellow fenders, bonnet and engine cover to give it s bit of colour along with white front, back and side bill bars

[buggyfan]

Whats the condition of the bottom of the A pillars aswell as the underside of the heaterchannels?

[Edmond]

Went and drove an 1hr one way to check.the body out what a waste of time back luggage tray totally rusted massive holes firewall holes rusted A pillars rusted heater channels on there way to being holey massive rust holes on either side of the rear windscreen, was really pissed off because I was told it had minimal rust. I'm going to give fixing my body another go just need to find someone who has a donor shell they are willing to cut only need the front scuttle panel where the wipers bolt on the rest I can make a plan with. I have some money to sink in this car now so can at last get a move on with it.On a plus note I visited my fellow beetle friend in ruyterwacht and got 2 nearly new front brake drums for R400.

[Haans]

Here in PE is a guy that is sort of a beetle "smous" , there are a few beetle bodies lying around
Maybe he can help help you with sections,....should not be too expensive to move to you

Neil. Cell 082 733 4612 or 076 396 1742,.....he's in the Greenbushes area

Regards Haans

[Edmond]

This project is back on in a really big way, just need to get my arse in gear
Getting a front scuttle donor panel from Buggyfan, thanks again for the help with this really appreciate it.
Got some parts today namely a pan to body seal, fender beading kit, etch primer and body filler

[buggyfan]

Packed and ready for pick up

[Edmond]

Got the scuttle tray section and side panel thanks again Buggyfan, it's a million times better than the section on my Baja.
Also got some bolts, nuts and weld nuts for the project along with 2 new wheel bearing kits for the almost new front brake drums.
Need to get a spray gun and more painting supplies shortly.

[Edmond]

Managed to make some progress old scuttle tray section cut out along with the passenger side top quarter panel preserving as much of the original good metal. I still need to grind it a little for a perfect fit but it already looks a million times better. I wanted to tack it in place but never got around to getting welding magnets to hold it in place.

[buggyfan]

Jy laat nie gras onder jou voete groei nie...
Looking so much better with the cancer removed

[Haans]

You are aquiring skills boet!!!!!
I like it!

Haans

[Edmond]

Scuttle panel welded in, it's not perfect has a 5mm gap on the one section think I was a bit over zealous with the grinder when I trimmed it will need to fill the gap either with a piece of steel plate from the underneath or make a steel piece to fit in the gap. Also started on the drivers side heater channel front donor section welded in.
Visited adendorff machinery mart on Saturday and got a spray gun and some welding magnets .