Aircooled VW South Africa

Time for an UPDATE:

My job is to prepare the car for the panel beater. I’m ensuring that sections are welded in and everything fits decently. The most difficult job in the project is fitting the replacement RHS A-pillar, which is finally done:




The next task in the list is to repair a radio hole made by the previous owner:

You are braver than me….nice work!

Thanks. It takes me a bit longer to do a job than more skilled people, but I enjoy the process. I had to cut and tack a number of times before I was happy. I had a chinese flux core welder that served me well for many years, but I ditched it for a decent MIG welder with gas. What a difference! I also managed to find 0.6mm wire, which makes welding sheet metal easier with less grinding.

Reversal of the PO’s radio hole upgrade:

On to the next job. This surprise waited for me when I was stripping the rear luggage area:

Some serious fibreglass repairs:





I started to cut some of the crap away:




More views:






The repair looks scary, but I think I’ve got a decent strategy to tackle it.

I bit the bullet and removed the vent and louvre section to gain better access to rusted areas:

I’m busy preparing patch panels to be welded in, but first had to fix a previously poorly repaired area on the left hand window post.

I’m still busy with the rear area repairs. The below piece looked simple enough to replicate, so I bent some sheet metal and tacked it into place:




New piece tacked into place:

Keep up the good work, soon you will be ready for paint.

Herman

Wow! Your are really doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the encouragement, Herbie.

I had a 1/2 litre of paint mixed to paint areas that will otherwise be difficult to spray when the time comes. I went with L639 Zenith Blue:




The plan is to have the rear area all in place over the weekend.

Things didn’t work out as planned this weekend, but at least I painted the vent section:

I think I figured out this inside section below the rear window:




It looks like it will work. Now for more trimming and welding before paint and installation.

Will you be putting some vice-grips up for sale after this ?

Nice job well done
Haans