Looking for Dirt-Cleaning up the 1969 VW Chassis

I am undertaking tremendous work (at least for a beginner). Although I feel that I am diving in deep, I could probably go deeper, but not sure how. So, for now, I'll stick to the stuff I can see. 

I've got the chassis separated from the body, making it so much easier to focus on getting to parts I need to either replace or clean. So, my focus for the next few weeks is with the chassis. 

40 years of grime have built up. There is at least a 1/4 inch of grease, grime and dirt built up on the floor pan, suspension and steering. Everything in the front end and bottom side is normally not visible, but when the body is off; oh man:

Font steering and suspension before cleaning (view from
trunk) lots of grime here

Driver side front. Super clean now, but rusted. 

For the past few weeks, I've been de-greasing, pressure washing and wire brushing everything. The results of hacking away at 40 years of grime are clean parts. It's nice to see them somewhat restored.

I have removed the tie rods and shocks, steering and heater components. I am currently replacing them with replacement parts and cleaning up what I can salvage.

Many parts are being thoroughly cleaned and painted with high gloss black. The more rusted areas are cleaned and painted with POR 15 paint with makes a strong compound with rust.  Here's what I have so far. Doesn't it look better?

Front suspension and steering components

Rear floor plan and torsion bar

Front passenger wheel assembly

Driver side front floor pan and suspension

VW Stripping-We Need Some Rehab

Ok, my son and I have been watching some great shows on TV about rehabbing classic cars. Shows like Desert Car Kings, Counting Cars, Overhaulin' and a great show from overseas called Beetle Crisis on youtube.com has us excited and motivated to completely overhaul the beetle.

So far I've stripped her down to a body and chassis in the front, removed the dash and entire interior. My plan is to give her a complete cleaning, replace old parts where necessary, and use her as a daily driver.

Here are some of the projects I am working on and will post more details later:

 

Bringing the dashboard to bare metal.

 

Replace some damaged skin.

 

 

Remove and rehab the fuel tank.

 

Remove dash components and clean up under trunk.

 

Convert air vents for use in a bare metal dashboard.

 

Clean and rehab dashboard components and switches.

 

 

 

VW Bug Shows

Taking out and replacing side windows

Brand new rubber
dresses the glass up nicely

 I ordered two seals for my back side windows. The old VW is getting a face lift. Maybe not so much a face lift as a nice shot of BOTOX around the eyes. These new seals look great and will make my bug like new once finished.

After the trial and error experiencing removing both the rear and front glass, I found an easier way to to take out the windows. After pulling of the aluminum trim, cut the old seal all the way through the trim's channel.  Next cut between the window and seal (lift the rubber and slip the carpet knife blade in and slice to meet the cut you made in the channel). This will allow you to remove just the part of the seal holding the window in. Press the window gently from the inside and it should pop out. Next, just remove the old seal.

The channel for the new
aluminum trim

Where it took almost and hour to install the new seal around the back window, I developed a rhythm and method. The second window took about 30 minutes and the third window to 10 minutes. Use the same technique I mentioned earlier. This time you will be able to feel what is right and what works. Practice makes you faster. I'm looking forward to seeing how fast I get the windshield done. 

Replacing Window Seals

Ok, how hard can it be? Just pull up the video on YouTube and follow the directions, Right?

The only thing is, you can't feel what they feel nor see what they see on YouTube. You just have to experience it for yourself. And today, I experienced it.

Pull this clamp off and expose the chrome ends

I began with removing the chrome from around the window seal. First I grabbed the bottom chrome clamp with my needle nose pliers and yanked it out. Next, I grabbed a chrome trim edge and pulled that out. Soon I was staring at the remaining dry rotted seal.

Trim along the seal with a carpet cutter. Then pull the top
seal to expose glass

I dispatched that quickly by rimming straight through the crevice where the chrome was seated. This in turn split the seal in half all along its length. I chiseled the bottom half with a screw driver and soon exposed the ends of the class.

Chip away the rest of the seal and remove it.

I slid the screw drive tip under the glass and lifted it out. Be careful, the glass is heavier than it looks.

You might have to trim off the head liner if it is glued to the seal.

Put the glass on a soft surface and clean it

Next, put the glass on something soft and clean it.

All done

The most difficult is putting the seal around the glass. Actually, the hardest is to determine which channel the glass fits in. The smooth area with two channels is what you need to focus on. There is one channel for the chrome and one for the window. 

This can be determined by holding the seal. The inside part of the seal has a tight curve at the end. This goes inside the car. The channel closest to it is where you want to put window.

Work the corners on first. I had good luck beginning with putting the left corner on first and forcing the glass into the channel while simultaneously rocking the seal. Then I worked my way around the entire glass. I didn't use any silicone or soap, just plain old rocking and leverage. I used a plastic tool to help seat the seal.

This takes an hour or more (my first time) and takes endurance and forearm strength. Lift the seal 90 degrees away from the glass with one hand and seat the seal with the other. It's still difficult, but it is a good technique.

Have fun.

People's Wagon Merchandise Shop

Great VW swag here.

Red Bike Publishing Merchandise Shop

Happy to have my vintage license plates

When my dad was in the Army, we lived in Germany. All the US Armed Forces Europe had specialized license plates that distinguished their affiliation. Now of course things are different.

I bought a vintage 70's plate on ebay and it looks great...

Replacing the Volkswagen Steering Wheel

Steering wheel is warped as 
the bottom curves toward dash.

It seems the steering wheel is bent, seriously bent. The previous owner had crashed the bug. The damage was light outside, but seriously, this steering wheel was mangled. It looked decent as there was a steering wheel cover, hiding most of the minor flaws. But, there was no denying the wheel was crooked.

I decided to bide my time and save up the 200 bucks to buy and after market replica. They are very nice looking and would make the car look much better. However, I was fortunate enough to find one on Ebay from a seller store called Bavarian Rescue.

I choose not to use a steering wheel cover. So, I was fortunate to find the vintage wheel with no flaws. An original and in great, no, fantastic shape. The bonus, is I got it for under 50 bucks with shipping. Pair that up with the stainless steel horn ring from West Coast Metric, Inc and Horn button from Wagen Werks,I've got a nice prize.

Someone told me I would need a puller to get the wheel off, but I got it off fairly simple. Pop the horn button off with my fingernail grasp, remove three screws, and a large nut and off it came. 

To remove the wheel:

1. Make sure the VW is not moving
2. Snap off the horn button with a flat plastic object (fingernail works fine, it's spring activated. Just put tool under the button and wedge it off.)
3. Unscrew ground wire.
4. Unscrew spring loaded horn ring screws with standard screw driver with narrow point as screw head space is narrow (save screws and springs in proper order for re-assembly).
5. Use vice grips or wide wrench or socket to remove large steering wheel bolt.
6. Pull on wheel to remove.

4 screws and a large nut and  you're done

To install new wheel, just reverse the process.

New wheel in awesome shape