Heliarc's official build thread...1971 Standard Beetle

[heliarc]

Hello again guys, I have my body back on my chassis and I looking forward to getting my channels in place.Before that though I thought it best to get a few other things done first.I have a video posted on Youtube and I'd appreciate it if you could take a look and tell me what these parts are and maybe even where to get them.

So here it is...



I thank you for all your time and help.You guys have really been an asset, someday I hope I can repay the favor.

[david58]

You really need to start a build thread and keep all your info in one place. This is a major rebuild. Your video's are great. This build will help someone with their car.

[heliarc]

You're right, I'll put it here if that's ok.Let me know.

[david58]

You're right, I'll put it here if that's ok.Let me know.

That would be great I don't think Marc would mind. He can probably name each part correctly off the top of his head.

[heliarc]

Ok then, I'm going to go ahead and start putting my old posts in here as well, along with solutions to any problems I had and what I did to correct them.

Starting with a video of the floorpan removal.



Here is a post of parts I needed identified.You guys helped so much, thanks again.

"Hello again guys, I have a question I am sure you can answer.I just took the body off of my 71 standard Beetle and some parts are going to need replacement.Here is a pic.



As you can see, the two things that stick out from the frame are gone on the ends.I'd rather buy new ones if possible, also the thing that goes over the tunnel is rotted on the ends and all along the bottom.My problem is that I don't know what they are called.I have a local place to go and they can get me anything I need, but I need to be able to tell them what it is that I want.

Thanks"

The things that stick out on the bottom are actually one piece called the Frame Head Base panel.The thing over the tunnel is the Napoleons Hat, or Front Chassis Support Panel.I got them at a reasonable price from Partsplaceinc.com.

Here's my next post from that time dealing with the underside of the tunnel.

"Ok I found a new frame head base panel and napoleon hat.I got them a few days ago.The frame base panel is kind of a lousy fit but I can make it work.The napoleon hat will go right on.

What I have now is the underside of the tunnel is rotted and a good 2 foot piece needs replaced.



As you can see, the front end is rotted badly.Amazingly, the tunnel above it isn't bad.Also the rear half of the underside is solid.Thank God for that.It doesn't look like fun to change.

Anyhow I was thinking of taking a flat piece of metal and making a slight hump in it lengthwise so it would match up with the rest.Sound ok to do this?

If not, what's a better idea, or where can I find the proper piece to go on?

Thanks."

I was not able to find a replacement for the underside of the tunnel so I had to use a flat sheet.I went with a heavier gauge to hopefully compensate for the lack of reinforcement ridges and stitch welded it into place.

Here's the vid...



C-clamps, hammering, and gap filling took care of the frame head base panel nicely.

Here is the chassis finally taking shape.My plan to use silicone caulk did not work.I ended up getting the real seam sealer.Don't mess with caulk, keep it around your bathtub and out of your Beetle.



Here is the chassis put back together and you get to hear the engine running after some frustration.Also I say about that pump bulb from the fuel supply fills the bowl of the carb, but I'm not sure of that anymore.I only know that it worked on my generator and assumed it would do the same here.



Here's the latest vid.I just uploaded this today.Not much going on in it, just sort of showing what I did, and how far I have to go.

[heliarc]

Ok, I have one heater channel installed.It's not pretty, but I think it could have gone a lot worse.My door shuts nicely, all the holes, except one, in the heater channel lined up with the holes in the pan.

I still have quite a way to go, but getting the channel in was one thing that kinda scared me.Now that it's in, I feel much better about the rest of the project.I know some of you guys are probably shaking your heads at my stupidity in keeping on this seemingly worthless project, but I'm learning a lot and I feel it's better to make my mistakes on this instead of an Oval or, dare I say it, a Split.

So Here's my little vid, hope you enjoy.

[dnocher]

Just went through what your doing. No welding experience at all. Bought a welder got to it. I had help from my brother who had a heated garage. Heater channels, quarters, wheel wells, a bunch of patches on the pan and fenders. Spent some time and filled in the vents on the rear pillars. Worked on just about every weekend all last winter on my 72. In Oct. I just put it on the road. Keep at it . I'll try to post some Pictures Dan Looks like i have to shrink the size of the pictures first

[heliarc]

Just went through what your doing. No welding experience at all. Bought a welder got to it. I had help from my brother who had a heated garage. Heater channels, quarters, wheel wells, a bunch of patches on the pan and fenders. Spent some time and filled in the vents on the rear pillars. Worked on just about every weekend all last winter on my 72. In Oct. I just put it on the road. Keep at it . I'll try to post some Pictures Dan Looks like i have to shrink the size of the pictures first

I have plenty of welding experience, but it's all on a stick welder.I heard MIG is pretty easy to take to but mine is balky.It does the job, but under protest.I think I may need a new contact tip or just to clean my base metal better.Just about to put the cover back on it for the winter I think.I'm not so hardcore that I want to be fitting pieces while freezing my nuts off.I'm hoping to have it roadworthy by this summer.When it will be "done" is anybody's guess.Probably when I'm dead.

[heliarc]

Starting to get cold here in Pennsylvania, so I cleaned up my area and stored all the loose pieces under cover, then covered the Beetle up.I might get out from time to time and set up a propane heater inside and do some fabricating on the inside of the rear end, but mainly I'm thinking which way I want to go with this thing since it's beginning to take shape.

My drivers side fender headlight bucket is rotted out, and the passenger side looks like it may not be far behind.I was hoping to find a set of 66 or earlier fenders somewhere with complete headlights in them.For something like that I'll do whatever work it take to make them work.I just love the way the older style headlights look.

In the meantime I'm thinking about some post mount headlights like from a model A Ford or an older Peterbilt and just go without the fenders Ala rat rod.I'd have to come up with some sort of fenders for PA inspection but I've seen pictures where guys mount them to the backing plates of the front wheels.

I wish to God I had a garage though.When I go to sleep with work to do the next day on my Beetle, I think of what I need to do, and how I want to go about it.It helped me get to sleep and gave me something to look forward to each day that I get to work on it.Now that it's hibernating for the winter, my mind is eerily quiet.

I hope the warm weather comes quickly.I'm eager to get on this thing again.

Also, if anyone has a set of 66 or earlier fenders with headlights assemblies in them, please let me know if you would like to get rid of them.Or possibly, headlights that can be mounted on something as I said about earlier.

Ok, so I'll post again when I begin working.Hopefully I get lots of snow this winter so I can at least plow.

Take care.

[heliarc]

Ok for now I've decided on how I want to go until I can find the fenders I want(67 or earlier).I've purchased and rewired a set of Twilite headlights from a 1930 Chevrolet truck and made up some mounts that bolt on the bumper brackets.The bumper should also go on with no problems.I've found a company that sells 12V Halogen bulbs for my headlights as well for the rare occasions it gets driven at night.

My trouble is that I'm going to need to get some kind of fenders on there for inspection purposes.I think I've seen them mounted to the backing plates up front before but I'm not too sure about it.

I'm not a chopper, but neither am I a purist.I'll do whatever works in order to get a solid ride.I think some sort of fenders would be a good idea in the safety and legal aspects of this build.

Here's a vid.Hope it helps.

[Fahrfrumnuvw]

Heliarc,
Great thread! Really like the videos, they'll help me as I go through my '69 restoration project. I've just removed the body from the pan. A little luckier than you, mine is really solid, it is a west coast car.

Keep up the great posts!

Wayne

[doc]

Terrific post!

doc

[heliarc]

Yea, videos are the way to go when you're explaining something.Even then I stumble for words sometimes but at least you can see what I'm seeing.So thanks, I'm glad someone can get something out of them.There will be more when it warms up.

So, has anyone seen fenders done like I want to do?If I could just see one picture of the way they're mounted I'm sure I could do it.Or even someone that has seen or done it and can offer a clear explanation.Searching "Rat Rod Beetle fenders" pretty much turns up the removal of said fenders.

If worse comes to worst, I guess I can pop the drums and look for a few open spots on the backing plates to run some bolts through, but I'd rather be sure that that's how people have been doing it.

[heliarc]

Thank God it's starting to show signs of spring.Yesterday I got antsy and did some welding on the luggage shelf in my Beetle.As you guys have seen, there is a gaping hole in the drivers side of it.I had a skidplate from underneath a gas tank of my old CJ-5 and that worked out pretty good for a replacement in my opinion.

However I also love for you guys to see what I'm up to, so here's the vid...



Today is supposed to be crap weather all day so I don't feel like welding, but very soon here I'm going to work out the rest of the rear end.It's not looking as bad as it used to the more I study it.

[heliarc]

Spring is here and it's time to play outside again.Nice weather lately in Pennsylvania.

So, here is the vid...