1962 to 1957 VW Beetle Transformation continues Part 2

[evilartist]

you still have to do the front window , and the dash, and of course the doors have ice pick handles. Different gas tank, snow flake tail lights. Might as well just get a 57. right? OH almost forgot... the bullet turn signal fenders!

[lolahavasuaz]

was it hard to locate the correct " W " deck lid / engine cover . . . ?

[bearhamo]

@lolahavasuaz I know mid america sells after market ones, but you can typically find used ones on the samba(dot)com.

[redneckme80]

thats so clean, i love it when i was 10 i wanted to do the same thing to my 66, im 15 now and finaly down to just wet sanding and the nice coat of paint, i put new floor pans in it a new frount fire wall all new fenders, i reabuilt the motor and and the heads reworked and new jugs, ive had it sence i was 7, and ive looked all over alabama and missippissi and geoga, and could never even find the oval, like someone else said, the oval profected the back of the beetle

[bearhamo]

@redneckme80 Well you sound like you are on your way. The windshield is a real challenge. I sold the car a while back for a pretty good chunk of change, so I am counting on them to give it a nice coat of paint.

[boo66]

NIce one. Lots of people were doing just the opposite in the early '60s! (at the rear anyway)

Funnily enough, I was just looking at a '60s Beetle on eBay with a fibteglass split rear conversion, and was wondering how much work would be in doing the front to match. (looks all wrong with the big windscreen, if you know!)

[bearhamo]

@boo66 I agree. If you are doing one, you must do the other. Thankfully the doors and 1/4 windows are the right height to complete the look. I do not recommend fiberglass as in the summer the metal gets so hot you always end up seeing where the two meet. If you are looking to buy a bug. Get back with me. I am considering letting everything I have go for a cool $2k. I paid $1500 for the car and have redone the motor and have thousands in new parts. Time to downsize. This car is sweet..

[laneatlileden]

the split is it but however the oval perfected the cars rear.

[joeyyy777]

sweettttttttt

[bigc028282]

Nice car. The last one I did was a 65 fastback. I could spend my life restoring old cars. I never touched the car with a da, it was all by hand. About nothing better than turning around and seeing the fruits of you work. I left the lead alone so it had the original look. If you want smoooooth, you probably did the right thing. Lead is an old school art. Very nice!

[bearhamo]

Thank you. Just got the transaxle in, swing axles back on and the lower body cleaned and undercoated above the transaxle. Finished rebuilding the front end last month. She is coming along. And yes, I am doing it all by hand. A lot of work but da's are not a good finish like a block of wood is. I fully agree. Thanks again.

[moustang76]

Did you finish the insert seam using lead or did you TIG and grind it?

[bearhamo]

I used a mig and ground it. down. The filler is So thin, it only filled in scratches.

I just added a vid yesterday you can see the pre primer finished product. Turned out pretty nice in my opinion.

Thanks..

[moustang76]

You did it the best way. It looked like lead at first.

[bearhamo]

To be perfectly honest, I had no idea you could use lead. I only know mig and stick.

I really hated doing the windshield. I just do not think an oval would look right with the taller windshield. I learned a lot doing this. I have shaved door handles and made metal spoilers and stuff, but wait till I chop the bosses bug. Did you see the split window 72 bus in the background? A buddy of mine and I are working on this. It is mean looking. We are having a ball cutting stuff.

[moustang76]

Well, the lead could crack, welded steel won't. You are right about the windshield, it looks better than the original. It sounds like a lot of fun. The bus looks cool. I saw a really nice bus once with a chopped top, awesome.

[bugz4me]

Cool job mare!

[Conspiracy2Riot]

SWEET BUG! Can't wait till she's done.

[6T5Buggy]

Nice! Can not wait to see more on this conversion. You got me looking for an old one to cut up!

[ArchRiviera]

Yes and yes. Woodburn Bugfest here we come.

[swrnc]

Man this thing is going to LOOK GREAT

[karlaelisa]

Wait till you see the girl he's gonna let drive it!!!