Our BuddyBug Project

[andeez01]

OK.. I am going to attempt to document our family's baja project. The project is in memory of our son whom we lost in a car accident in June of this year. We have a website but it may be helpful for us if some advice can be offered seeing that this is the first off the pan restoration we have done. Enjoy!

By the way, the webpage is http://www.racollison.com/buddybug

[andeez01]

And so it begins.... We start with this 1969, yes 1969 VW Beetle with sunroof and 63 front fenders. It has a custom white with blue trim interior but it has been in the car for for a while as the vinyl has some dinginess, so for those of you planning white interiors consider that it might not look to good in a few years.  Stock everything accept for an after-market exhaust.

[andeez01]

This is a parts car we picked up for 500 bucks. The body is rotted out. Heater channels are almost non-existent, but we will get a lot of baja stuff from it.

[andeez01]

The right heater channel and quarter panel is rusted out. Plan is to replace both.


Andrea, my oldest daughter is taking out pan bolts. Melissa is removing heater vents and taking out the carpet.



The body and pan are separated.


The luggage shelf will have to be replaced


http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/smf/index.php?action=post;topic=4895.0;num_replies=2
The floor pans and battery area are good


We are going to go with a naked dash. I like the look of the removed dash pad. We will weld up the holes.


The floor pans had these cut at all four corners. It was from someone replacing the floor pans without removing the body. Don't do this! Terrible rust exists at all four corners of the body.


This shows the inside of the rear right fender well and the back of the heater channel. Again, there is a lot of rust around where the cuts in the floor pans.


This is the rear right quarter panel and heat channel.


Andrea and Emmi hard at work cleaning up the tranny


Here I am cleaning up the rear suspension in prep for POR-15


Here is the bottom of the pan and suspension after the POR-15 application


Personalized tags will be the last piece added to the car. We are looking forward to adding it!!!


The luggage shelf and quarter panel have arrived.


It fits nicely....


Anthony, my son, removing the old luggage shelf.
...

Deny, a friend of mine welding the trim holes closed. The previous owner had them bondo'd closed. some of them popped out with my fingernail.



They came out really nice.


In preparation of the heater channel install, I measured at 5 or so locations and took pictures of the measurements to get the new one into the exact same spot. We will see how it goes.


Ok no laughing at my weld job. It is the second thing I have welded. The first was a trim hole. It isn't the best but it didn't warp and it looks like it will come out ok.


The initial bondo application went on ok and after lining up a fender it looks like the holes line up good. This would be my first ever body work.


This gaping hole will be fixed with a fabricated piece. This piece I cut and shaped to fit nicely. I will add another piece to the hole above.



Stay tuned......

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

 

[TabiCatz]

I love it. A family project to remember a lost family member. That's just awesome. Look forward to more pictures as the "Buddy" progresses.

[andeez01]

Here is before and after of the heater channels. This is the first welding I have ever done. It's not the best but I think it will hold ok. 
Before

After - There is some bondo and I still want to dress it up some.


Inside the front. Notice some fabrication on the firewall where it had some pretty bad rust.


Where the heater channel meets the "b"post. I have to take a picture of the "A" post.
Before

After - There is also a piece I welded in here. The door closes and everything seems to line up. I took measurements before cutting out the old one and they all match. I think we are good. You will also notice the luggage shelf isn't welded in yet. I will probably get that done this week.

[andeez01]

Started by cutting out the worst of the rust.


I used the cut out piece as a pattern for the new one, pounded it into shape and welded it into place.

[andeez01]

Rear right fender well

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Think the camera needs a "date update"   

[andeez01]

  no kidding. It belongs to my daughter. It doesn't take very good pics. I am going to retake some of these. Then you will be able to see more clearly how bad my welding is!

[andeez01]

  Another place to fix. I will take care of this tomorrow along with the luggage shelf.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Just think about the end result!  All the work will be worth it!!   

[Kimbo]

Just think about the end result!  All the work will be worth it!!   

.... and how much better your welding skills will be, as well.

[andeez01]

Yea .. I guess. I drive my Chevy Cavalier to work every day daydreaming. I can hear the engine, imagine the paint job, cargo rack, wheels etc, etc, etc....
By the way, have you ever heard of people using undercoating for wheel paint? I found some jeep guys doing it and it looks good!

[andeez01]

OH... not undercoating but bed liner paint.

[Kimbo]

Occasionally heard of folks using POR15, tough as anything you're likely to find - but bedliner would probably be just as good. I'm not sure I'd want to go "painting" a set of alloys - as your pic shows, I think I'd have got myself a set of used steels instead and kept/sold the alloy's, but whatever floats your boat ?

Kimbo

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Occasionally heard of folks using POR15, tough as anything you're likely to find - but bedliner would probably be just as good. I'm not sure I'd want to go "painting" a set of alloys - as your pic shows, I think I'd have got myself a set of used steels instead and kept/sold the alloy's, but whatever floats your boat ?

Kimbo

<<<<<< Agree!!

[70bajavw]

your work looks good, i like how your showing the patching steps, very motivating

[andeez01]

Occasionally heard of folks using POR15, tough as anything you're likely to find - but bedliner would probably be just as good. I'm not sure I'd want to go "painting" a set of alloys - as your pic shows, I think I'd have got myself a set of used steels instead and kept/sold the alloy's, but whatever floats your boat ?

Kimbo

I agree too it's a picture I found on another board. I actually have steel wheels I was thinking of doing this with. With some chrome caps and lugs I think it might look nice.

 

your work looks good, i like how your showing the patching steps, very motivating

Thanks!

[andeez01]

New piece cut and ready to weld in...


Repaired.... whew!


Tomorrow....Luggage shelf

[andeez01]

And here it is. The luggage shelf is finally out from under my feet and welded into the car. There are a few places to touch up and Deny will doing the weld across the top on the outside to make it look nice. But as treeline said my welding skills are improving, but nothing to brag about for sure. After replacing a heater channel and a luggage shelf, I am starting to think this is going to work!

in place and ready to weld.


Welded in woohoo!


I will be removing the bottom where the front engine tin meets. I left it in to give the piece more stability while welding it in, and I didn't want to ding up the shelf trying to remove it while outside the car. It is kind of wobbly when it is outside the car.

[VIN]

nice job..i would have wussed out and got a different body.

[andeez01]

nice job..i would have wussed out and got a different body.

Yea... I have checked the classified adds there is nothing unless I wanna get a uhaul and drive 8 hours or more. We are enjoying the work though. 

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

nice job..i would have wussed out and got a different body.

Yea... I have checked the classified adds there is nothing unless I wanna get a uhaul and drive 8 hours or more. We are enjoying the work though.