Yikes! I bought a '74 Super!!

[vamram]

Great recommendations Rome! Can't say I've ever seen chrome nail polish on anyone. Given I use these as daily drivers, how do you think that would hold up in spots?
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Rome]

I think that having the base rust neutralized is the key for moderate longevity. The chrome nail polish "paint" adds more paint protection but of course attempts to blend in with the chrome appearance of the small rusted areas. You may need to redo the chrome paint every few years. But as to the rest of the bumper, since it's still original German with high quality chrome, it has many years of useful life left.

[kpf]

[vamram]

Wow, that looks great. Just dry aluminum foil? Or with some kind of buffing compound?
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[kpf]

Just some kind of lubricant. You don't need buffing compound. I used pb-blaster, but I've heard of people having good results with windex or even coke-a-cola.
_________________
1971 Super Beetle

[vamram]

I'll probably do a combo of this and Rome's method. I found the chrome nail polish on Amazon.

Mounted the rear shocks today. Wasn't able to get the seals properly installed, due to some Bondo affecting the thickness of the opening's edges. The mount sections don't seem like it's been hit but the fenders have seen better days. Also, anyone know why the end mount slots on the shocks are different between the left and right shock?

_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[OTTO 1303]

[vwuberalles]

Once you clean up the chrome (but before you wax it) put a strip of black electrical tape in the center where the rubber impact strip used to be. It'll break up the chrome and hide the extra holes.
_________________
1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040

[vamram]

[Buggeee]

[Buggeee]

There are chrome paints available now, which look really impressive maybe you could scout that out and see how it looks.
_________________
1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[vamram]

Side note - it was a year ago today that I started the motor and gave it it's 1st break-in runs. Hard to believe, that old paint shop really set me back, the car basically sat for a whole year.

Anyway - I still have this issue w/the wobbly crankshaft pulley. I have a degree pulley and a separate factory one to try replacing this one, and the shims those require to keep from locking up the motor when the pulley nut gets torqued to spec.

Link

I won't be tackling this today though. Today's task is installing the front parking lights w/their new WCM seals, the front fender beading, and the front bumper shocks. I'll also turn the rear ones to have the ends in the correct orientation for the bumpers.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[vamram]

You know, when I saw the paint progress pictures the shop sent me, in particular the one showing the fenders being painted off of the body, I thought "Wow! This is gonna be good! This guy went the extra step..!" Ignoring the little alarm in my head flashing "THEY TRASHED MY "NEW" TRANSPLANTED FRONT HARNESS...!!"

Yes, I had no lights when the car got home from the shop...maybe they just connected the 3 wires incorrectly....No, they did me one better.

Rather then take the time to unclip the wires from the connector, they cut them, then just twisted the ends together and wrapped them in electrical tape.

Then there's this -

All but ONE of the fender mounting captive nuts got ripped out when they removed the fenders. I can see one or two, but SEVEN?? So now I have to sand to bare metal for the ground cable and break out the welder, which i haven't used in a year. So...practice welding then hopefully avoid massive burn through for the replacement nuts.

I did wire wheel the holes and tap them back into a somewhat flat or slightly indented form to better fit the replacement nuts. Painter's tape was to try and avoid wire wheeling into the quarter panel. Ugh.

_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[heimlich]

I've seen wiring like that. I've had to fix it myself.

That sucks about the fender nuts especially since it is painted. I hope it works out.
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[Lost69Convertible]

Wow. Pain.
_________________
1956 Beetle Ragtop: My Father's car
1969 Beetle Convertible: My first car. I loved it, I lost it, and I never got over it.
1979 Super Beetle Convertible

[DUNGBTL]

That really blows!
You probably already know this…assuming you’re using a MIG unit, just pulse the gun, aiming the wire at the thicker gage nut plates. Series of pulse tacks around the perimeter is all you need. And you can use a copper or aluminum plate on the backside, if accessible, to mitigate burn thru.

Good luck!
J.

[vamram]

Yep, bites the big one for sure. I have a couple of those copper plates. I'll have to rig something to get them to stay while I weld in front. Maybe one of those deep c-clamp locking pliers.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[vwuberalles]

[Buggeee]

I can't say anything about that captive nut situation that hasn't already crossed your tortured mind a hundred times already. God be with you my friend. In the end this car will be fantastic.

On the wire connectors, I recently used some of the heat shrink solder connectors on something in a tight place and they work fantastic. I used a grill lighter. It would be a perfect solution to this tight spot and the connection will be inside the bucket, which is good. Here is a link 340PCS Solder Seal Wire Connectors-haisstronica Marine Grade Heat Shrink Wire Connectors-Butt Splice Wire Terminals for Marine,Electrical with Corrosion and Weatherproof(5Colors/5Sizes) https://a.co/d/0OHtPBF
_________________
1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[vamram]

Thanks Buggee, I'll give those a shot. What the heck, right? Weather has sucked the last couple of days so no progress yet. It's supposed to be sunny tomorrow, I'm going to set up my welder and check the gas level in the tank. I'm not sure I have enough for this job and I'm afraid I'd burn thru big time and trash my paint if I went w/flux wire.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!