_________________________________________________________________________
03/12/08
Rodney and Claudine's 1969 Beetle pan-off restoration is nearing the paint and assembly stage!
The chassis is nearly complete, and includes a 4-wheel disk brake upgrade.
The 1969 Beetle body was sourced out of California, and now sits in K-36 sealer primer.
Stay tuned for the paint & final assembly stage. Another VW saved from the crusher.
_________________________________________________________________________
02/11/08
Chassis restoration and fabrication: 1958 Volkswagen Beetle Pan-type Chassis
The client dropped off this 1958 VW Chassis. It was rusty and in pieces. We put it on the rack and started alignment measurements and initial set-up procedures.
Next step is to start with a "clean slate". A media blast leaves the Chassis Spine clean and workable. The factory tar-board sound deadening is left intact while all rust is removed and blemishes are revealed for easy welding and fabrication. No "band-aid" approach tolerated at this facility. The Chassis is the core of any vehicle, and it must be done right, or not at all.
This is a close-up of the welding necessary for the Chassis. I refer to it as a "no grind" weld. It should exhibit good penetration, staggered passes ( to prevent warping), and should require no grinding to "clean it up". This section is where the "Napoleon Hat" meets the forward tunnel.
The Chassis is nearly complete. The pan halves are prepped and ready for spot welding to tunnel shelves, through pre-drilled holes in pans. These are done at 2-3" spacing to emulate factory Volkswagen welds. The end result is a Chassis that is rust and leak free.
_________________________________________________________________________
Link to Heath's photos: http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/heath0203/
_________________________________________________________________________
The basic philosophy behind Volkswagens is simplicity, practicality, and helping
people help themselves. If you read the "Idiot's Guide" for fun, then you know
exactly what I am talking about.
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; show him how to fish and feed him for a lifetime.
Fix a broken V-dub and it will return the next time it breaks, show someone how to fix and maintain their V-dub, and give them an independent way of life.
11/05/07
In the Beginning, there was Metal...
Just another day stripping a VW down to bare metal. This is the last step of the "tear-down" process in VW restoration before the car begins the crafted art of rebuilding. Starting a major restoration from a solid & clean shell is an essential part of any top-quality restoration.
If you are thinking about trying this out yourself, here are a few pictures to demonstrate how the pros do it. If it seems like too daunting of a task, give us a call and set up an appointment. We will be more than happy to blast your chassis, sheet metal, parts, or entire or entire car.
Why not send us an email? We can consult with you on your restoration via email. Or, if email isn't your thing, give us a call and we will personally discuss your options. Feel free to drop by the shop and see for yourself what is going on in "the Haus". Craftsmen are always up to something, from 7am until unusually late into the evening.
________________________________________________________________________2/10/08
Fiat Spyder "Before and After"
When one of our friends, Gary, brought this Fiat in for metal work, he told us, "I don't mess around". In an amazing turn around, Gary turned an old brown Fiat into a Abarth clone. The car initially had copious amounts of rust and corrosion, which we were asked to remove and replace. Rotted metal was cut out, and new metal was welded in. The trim was also "shaved", leaving a cleaner body line. Gary went further to clean the lines by deleting the large US spec bumpers in favor for European bumperettes. Once the metal work was done with us, the car went back to Gary, where he worked his magic. Just 5 months later, the car is quite a stunning head-turner.
Great job Gary!
__________________________________________________________________________