Restoration of a split window VW Beetle

Tags: #<Tag:0x007fb4f2ad7f38>

AsadIshaque (AsadIshaque) 2011-01-05 15:18:03 +0500 #141

Very very interesting! Id like to see someone work on an English Wheel sometime live. Have seen it on TV but you know its not the same as watching in person. Why, I may even like to try a hand at it myself......

Xulfiqar, can you give ideas on how one make an English Wheel????

Tayyab95 (Tayyab95) 2011-01-05 15:40:30 +0500 #142

I'd love to restore a car and especially a Beetle..
Best of luck with your project.
Thread Subscribed.

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2011-01-05 17:12:08 +0500 #143

I believe you will want to shoot me after I type this. If you go to old scrapper markets in Godhra camp etc. you find weird items over there. I had found a tail lamp - and bought it for Rs 50 just because it was unique - it was kind of like the license light on a splitscreen with copper screw electrical receptacles. The funny thing was it had a clear lens for the license plate and a brake lamp that would have faced the back of the car. This same fellow had a mangled vw type 1 exhaust box that only had one fitting for the peashooter slightly offset to the right. Later I lost the tail lamp somewhere - I think I gave it to someone. I have never seen a tail lamp like that in any photo of a type 1

Anyways - Im rocking my memory with chai right now - and if I recall my late uncles freind (black split) his cars indicators were strange - they operated one on one off, meaning if the front was on the rear was not, when the rear flashed the front did not. Was that a normal thing. And the last bit was there was no fweem sound - it sounded rather raspy, more like a twin cylinder motorcycle with bad baffles.

btw Ive got someone looking around for the eberspacher heater I dismounted from my 1302. (It was nice while driving and telling freinds that it works on burning petrol and also sits on the petrol tank and see their faces go white with horror/fear) - you guys could probably use it in a super

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2011-01-05 17:18:52 +0500 #144

I dont know where you would get the curved heavy bearing wheels because I bought mine as is from shershah.

Its a little tricky and works your whole body - because you have to control the pressure pedals with your feet while your leather covered hands push and pull the sheet metal removing creases.. When I had the ponton thing made the guy handed me over a rather dimpled incomplete piece - and when I took it back he could not believe his eyes what had happened - It was smooth - he then carefully hammered/lined up the front, rear ends and middle swage line and fit it on the car - for kicks I stamped the chassis number on its inner skirt too. (H)

It took me half a year to self learn how to work it, because many times I would end up with a straight sheet of metal again.

Given enough dedication and time you can hand craft body panels for your bug. I find it quite sad to see our crafty welders and denters heat the metal so much, it literally warps it.

btw doc, wheres your raggie

mohsinikram (mohsinikram) 2011-01-06 15:52:57 +0500 #145

Man!!!!!!!!!!!!! the chassis of this beetle is a horror story......I am afraid to put up pics of what the spine looks from inside.....we have stripped the bottom plate spot welded to the main upper portion of the chassis....the multiple pipes carrying various cables for handbrake, choke, heater etc are corroded beyond imagination and cavities are filled with large pieces of rusted metal pieces. Will post pics if I am asked...cant wait to restore this damn chassis and floor pans.

VCheng (VCheng) 2011-01-06 18:08:16 +0500 #146

Please post all the pictures that you can. This car is going to need a LOT of work and dedication to get back on the road in a manner befitting its history.

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2011-01-06 18:35:20 +0500 #147

Mohsin sb, Ive seen such a corroded VW tunnel and repaired it too - you would need additional braces to hold it in place if you repair it with acetylene welding - the welding heat makes the metal brittle at the weld.

mohsinikram (mohsinikram) 2011-01-06 23:02:13 +0500 #148

I am off to Lahore for two days and on return will see how to tackle this tunnel of 'rust' ... your suggestions are noted and I 'll tell my denter to be careful.

mohsinikram (mohsinikram) 2011-01-07 01:58:06 +0500 #149

rust galore - these pipes would be replaced with new including the cables....all expert suggestions welcome

yaserag (yaserag) 2011-01-07 02:57:12 +0500 #150

@mohsin, correct me if im wrong (my beetle knowledge isnt that great) but i thought beetles have had the same base frame through the ages. if that is so wouldn't it be easier if you went for a frame which is in better shape..and just work on the body resto

mmumtaz (mmumtaz) 2011-01-07 04:07:14 +0500 #151

Mohsin Bhai, Great effort and dedication.What about the papers? when was the car registered? is the registration still valid?

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2011-01-07 14:46:43 +0500 #152

I would get the frame blasted - to completely dislodge any flaky rust, the pipes are easy work to replace. It would be wise to get some rust convertor now, to completely rust proof the tunnel.

mohsinikram (mohsinikram) 2011-01-09 06:17:37 +0500 #153

the car was registered in 1952.....just paid taxes with arrears of 38 years....papers uptodate and in my name.

mohsinikram (mohsinikram) 2011-01-09 06:19:15 +0500 #154

thats what needs to be done....i have not been to the garage in three days, will visit tomorrow and see what can be done and how.

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2011-01-09 17:12:20 +0500 #155

38 years in arrears - wow, even when the car was not even on the roads - they still charge road tax.

btw how big a dent did it place on your wallet.

juadjee (juadjee) 2011-01-09 19:10:25 +0500 #156

This reminded me of a punch line this comic friend of mine always used 'Tax lagey ga salon' as an act of mimicking policemen and govt. officials.

Yes - how much did it bring you down?

VCheng (VCheng) 2011-01-09 19:19:28 +0500 #157

This is still only road tax.

True story: My father was abroad for a few months and went to get his pension released upon his return.

He had the Jan-Mar pension released, but could not get the pension for the preceding Oct-Dec period until he submitted a certificate that he was alive during that previous period, notwithstanding the fact that the infinite wisdom of the government accepted him being alive three months later.

All hail the clerk baadshah!

Xulfiqar (Xulfiqar) 2011-01-09 19:22:46 +0500 #158

^^hehe In Pakistan anything is accepted.
I came across a birth certificate of a person which said he was born dead..

mohsinikram (mohsinikram) 2011-01-10 02:34:47 +0500 #159

It would be and thats what has been suggested by my VW friends also. But I wouldnt want to do that as want to have the original frame restored no matter how much work it requires.

mohsinikram (mohsinikram) 2011-01-10 02:38:52 +0500 #160

re: taxes

The excise guys told me that waiver on taxes is not possible anymore unless the Minister approves it as a special case. I was expecting to pay around 15000 to 20,000 so I didnt bother. But when they gave me a chit with tax and penalties calculation, it came to 68,000/-. So after a couple of letters, corrections and arguments they came down by about 50%. Thats been paid and papers are issued,