Rust Repair

anthnmnt · Post by **anthnmnt** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:38 pm

Are there any good companies to get rust repair peices from. Specifically floor panels and rockers. Thank you and sorry if this has been covered before new to the 181 ring. Mark

Bucko · Post by **Bucko** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:52 pm

Ghia floor pans are the same as Thing floor pans, so you'll be good to go there. As to other body panels, you'll need to contact sources such as "Things Unlimited" and buy good used panels from donor vehicles.

There is currently a person on the Samba seeling NOS (new old stock) bottom rocker panels (below the doors), but they are pricey (in the $500.00 range if memory serves me).

Check the Samba Thing parts section, as well as the above mentioned site. They usually have some donor cars they can cut parts from.

anthnmnt · Post by **anthnmnt** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:20 pm

Alos what gauge is good for pans--i found some on another site 16 gauge made in denmark for 200 for a set. Does this sound reasonable?

mstatedog · Post by **mstatedog** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:36 pm

i bought a pair of Denmark pans for my thing from a place called actionimports in the state of LA. They cost about the same for a pair and fit like a glove....only had to do minor trimming. Also made my rocker patch panels from 18 gauge metal and they came out pretty good.

dog

anthnmnt · Post by **anthnmnt** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:41 pm

thats where i was looknig at getting mine--200 for a set correct?

mstatedog · Post by **mstatedog** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:58 pm

i think they were about $239 when i bought them about a year ago....but i was highly satisfied....here are a couple of links showing rocker repair....some pan stuff and some other progress. The pans have some splits towards the back so you can fold them forward when fitting them to the car...then fold them back down and weld......

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... =mstatedog

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... 1&start=20

dog

mstatedog · Post by **mstatedog** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:06 pm

oops....try this link for other pics.....

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... r=charlie1

dog[/url]

anthnmnt · Post by **anthnmnt** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:29 pm

hey looks great thanks alot--i might need to do some work on the rockers--i got it for free, it needs pans and rockers and i got another rear clip for it as well since the parcel tray is rusted. i will try and get some pics soon

mstatedog · Post by **mstatedog** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:26 pm

i would like to see some photos......i made my rust repair panels with a $20 sheetmetal bender and a cheap beadroller from eastwood....first time to try something like that....just expect to take some time at it...

dog

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:02 pm

A classic low cost repair for rocker panels is to cut them out of a donor door. The rib width is the same. The rib end is slightly different ut make for a low cost easy repair. Another good part is if you cut out the ribs right there is enough metal left to turn the corner and repair a rotten wheel well. Also because of the part you use a door wiht a rusted bottom works fine. That makes a cheap door easier to find. K-mann

CapnDavy · Post by **CapnDavy** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:34 pm

Dear KMann
Could you please retype your reply about using a donor door ?
Clean up the typos?
Thanks

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:36 pm

A classic low cost repair for rocker panels is to cut them out of a donor Thing door. The rib width is the same. The rib end is slightly different but makes for a low cost, easy repair. Another good part is if you cut out the ribs right, there is enough metal left to turn the corner and repair a rotten wheel well. Also, because of the door section you use, a door with a rusted bottom works fine. That makes a cheap door easier to find. K-mann

BtW Capn Davy Could you please retype your last message? You misspelled my list name. My list name as I am often called in Thing circles is K-mann not KMann... <8^)}

CapnDavy · Post by **CapnDavy** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:17 am

Dear K-Mart
Ah-SO! You speak of using the sides of the door not the bottom for the repair! My rust occurs in the bottom of the door opening especially where the door pillar is joined. So I was thinking this was the repair area you were targeting. The "top" of a rocker panel???
(not exactly a rocker panel, but I wasn't sure of the definition of a rocker panel)
So when you said get a door with a rusty bottom it totally blew my mind.
Confusion now gone.

PS: could you forward the ordering info/address/website for the Maintenance CD you've been flogging?
Your loyal reader
CapnDavy

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 5:35 am

Dear Capt'n Kangaroo, The portion of the rocker that the door face will do a low cost repair is the face of the rocker. If the top edge of the rocker is rotten I suspect you would need a complete rocker assembly to properly fix that. I understand now that you thought I was saying you could use the bottom edge of the door. I had never thought of that I will make some measurements and see if perhaps you have come up with a new innovation for Thing body repair. I have a 73 Bug parts car that I cut parts off of to repair issue on Things. It works well because the metal is the same thickness and strength. The RoMTOC CD is available by sending $10 via paypal to stswest@att.net

It is shipped the next day.