'71 VW Bug truck w/Subi WRX eng/trans...Buga-Truckaru?

[ambrynmc]

So I also started looking at taking the body apart and completely gutting the whole car. I even decide to remove the flatbed truck kit. All the aluminum rivets were corroded under the paint. Some of the rivets were actually failing. Let's face it, the kit was installed in our front yard when I was in first grade and I figured it would be a good idea to re-do the assembly. I'm going to use stainless rivets and epoxy bonding adhesive this time.



Here is the fiberglass kit.


I've decided to get the fiberglass kit soda blasted after spending 8 hours stripping paint off the parts and only being half way there...pictures to follow on that.

I also separated the body from the pan and made a rotisserie out of some 2x4s and 4x4 lumber. Priced out steel versus wood and decided wood did the job, it's cheaper, and I think it's faster/easier to fab. Plus it's sorta funny...

[ambrynmc]

I've been working on cleaning up the body. Rotisserie is working great! Pushed the car out into the driveway, scrape and sand and then push it back into the garage. Nice and easy!



I now know that seam sealer is NOT my friend



Here's a whole lot of seam sealer, insulation, and sand and debris flushed out of body crevices...



Scary part is I have a page and a half list of repairs and mods to do to the body. Some minor like filling unused body holes to other stuff that I'm not really sure how I'm going to do yet like French in the Subi gauge cluster.

Nothing like an adventure!

The bad part is that there is 40+ years of rust damage. I've got rust holes in heater channels, rear quarters, front quarters, and the package tray....

I'm all excited about that...not.

[ambrynmc]

I did go shopping...



I got a bunch of new parts, and a bunch of clean used replacement body parts. I decided to go old German pieces and skip the re-pop panels. (I've had such bad luck with made in China junk that is all over the VW world.) I got some heater channels, front firewall, a rear clip for the package tray and firewall pieces, a Oem hood, and a decent older dash that I want to use the glove box from. I'm planning to go with the all metal dash look (no rubber dash pad).



Sooo since I've jumped off the deep end, I decided to look seriously at my chassis pan. Of course the floor pans are shot and will be replaced. The whole thing will be blasted and probably powder coated but what about the suspension? Literally everything I touched was worn out....so what to do?

[ambrynmc]

So I made another list of all the changes I needed to change/repair on my pan (another freakin' page)

Anyway, replace suspension front and rear is top of the list. So here is the answer...



Mendeola A-arm front and rear coilover setup with all the bits and pieces. I have to be honest, this was a difficult decision. I'm not saying I'm "cheap" but maybe "frugal"?

[ambrynmc]

Alright, enough cryin' about money! Let's spend some more $$$$! Baby needs some disc brakes!

Something like this should work!



I'm still playing around trying to figure out these. My two main criteria are vented rotors and 4 piston calipers....

[Humble]

where did you get your rear parcel tray and how much $$$? I could use parts of one to clean up my new firewall

[ambrynmc]

I did decide that the only way to fit the tires/wheels I want and keep the Mendeola suspension wide (why narrow the front and degrade the suspension?!) was to go with widened fenders. Played with the idea of widening a set of metal fenders and thought what the f#%k am I doing?!?

Just order a set of fiberglass ones, dumb arse....



So I did...(CCC +2" early style) they are very nice! I just got them yesterday. I'll take a better pic soon.

[ambrynmc]

where did you get your rear parcel tray and how much $$$? I could use parts of one to clean up my new firewall

So I drove down to LA to meet Kevin (Mendeola) and pickup my suspension...think frugal, not crazy...even though it's about a 6.5 hr drive each way and I left home at 2:45 am and didn't get home until 7:00pm.

OK...maybe moron is the right word. I did save money that way! It was going to be $350 to ship the suspension, I spent $200 in gas and I went to 4 different places to get parts while I was in LA!

Anyway, to answer your question, there is a guy that advertised body parts on the Samba (in LA) and I got it from him. I got the rear clip, the dash cut, a front firewall, a hood, and a few other bits and pieces for $150!

I just got the heater channels from a guy in Visalia (http://veedubrepair.net) that might have a rear clip. He cut the channels off a 68 that still had the rear clip in good shape. Super nice guy.

[56SemaRag]

Cool thanks for the update. I know I need some fatter fenders on the rear. Post it up what it looks like. I may pester you for some dimensions about the fenders and the Mendy trailing arms.

[ambrynmc]

One more tidbit, I did test fix the engine and trans into the body before pulling the body apart.



I ran into the same issue as Humble with the trans hitting the package tray/firewall. I clearanced for the bell housing (especially the clutch slave) and did the same for the front nose of the trans



I hope to use the donor package tray I bought to make a "clean" patch that hopefully looks stock-ish...but don't hold your breath....

[ambrynmc]

Cool thanks for the update. I know I need some fatter fenders on the rear. Post it up what it looks like. I may pester you for some dimensions about the fenders and the Mendy trailing arms.

The CCC fenders I bought are actually front fenders. My rear fenders are strange because of the truck kit. They are almost like a flat motorcycle fender.



My trailing arms probably look different than yours too. Mine are extended 2.5" and wider by 2" ( I think I got that right, I might have that backwards). I'm attempting to transfer a little more weight to the front wheels (if possible). I hope they frame out in my fenders ok or I may have to modify the fenders a bunch.

[56SemaRag]

I am probably going to run the same size on the fronts. I too am in a similar situation of metal work needing to be done. Looks great brother!

[GS guy]

Looking good - nice parts! So what's the theme now - road race truck? Should handle like one!
I wonder if some Baja style rear fenders could be "massaged" to fit the truck bed kit? They might look nicer than the flat fenders. I'm guessing you'll have to massage those truck-bed fenders anyway for the wider track? Something better matching the curves of the front fenders might be just the ticket for the rear?

Keep the updates coming!

[ambrynmc]

Looking good - nice parts! So what's the theme now - road race truck? Should handle like one!
I wonder if some Baja style rear fenders could be "massaged" to fit the truck bed kit? They might look nicer than the flat fenders. I'm guessing you'll have to massage those truck-bed fenders anyway for the wider track? Something better matching the curves of the front fenders might be just the ticket for the rear?

Keep the updates coming!

You know it's funny, I'm not sure what my theme is...sports car truck? I'm even wondering if I should add a roll bar/cage.

As for rear fenders, I figured I might have to modify them. Or the guy that has the current molds for the kit makes wider fenders, but I'm worried they won't fit my kit since mine is from 1975 (Not sure what has been changed on the kit, if anything).

I'm probably going to start by getting all the body work done and then set the body on the chassis and check to see what it looks like with my fenders and then try to figure out what to do!

Fun, fun, fun!

[fezzic181]

A role bar at least wouldn't hurt. Its got the mechanicals to get you in real trouble real fast. And I'm guessing the way the back end is built that it would instant squish if rolled. That and you may find the connection between the two ends is rather floppy. The rear cab wall is fiberglass right? In which case adding back some chassis stiffness would really be a good thing. Otherwise you are going to end up with a squeak machine once you go out and flex the whole thing around driving it the way the engine and suspension are going to beg you to.