Yikes! I bought a '74 Super!!

[Lost69Convertible]

I’d like to recommend against tapping sheet metal for a machine screw. You’re unlikely to get enough threads engaged for that to hold up under load. Where I work, one of the things we do is design product sheet metal enclosures. Threaded inserts are used exclusively for durability during years of field service and reuse.

Maybe I can sway you a little with these pictures:

The big black object below is the convertible reinforcement beam.
_________________
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

[vamram]

Trouble in paradise. Shop has had the car for 6 weeks and hasn't started. It was supposed to be ready to pick up yesterday. Guy said he's been too busy. I asked what needs to happen to get it done - not yelling or anything, not my style - and he hung up on me.

I called back, went to a full voicemail. Ugh.

Heading over after work today, hopefully to work something out, or bring my car home.
_________________
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]

Paid a visit to Oscar (the painter) yesterday afternoon, w/the intention of figuring out what was wrong and finding a solution w/him or driving the car home. I decided not to bring up his hanging up on me, as I don't have a lot of paint options, and, having used him previously for my '73, and two of our "modern" cars, I think his communication skills, are, well, you know, so-so, but his work is good.

I asked if it was a money issue, thinking I could offer to put up the paint in addition to the price we agreed to for the complete job. He responded no, that it wasn't about the money, just about time as he had lost his long-time prep guy, and that he can *definitely* start on it this coming Monday.....

I even offered to help w/the prep - sanding and what not - if he'd instruct me on that, if it would help (and, honestly, it would be good hands-on training if I decided to do the paint on my '75 Le Grande myself.). He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no, and his eyes looked like he was considering it.

We'll see what he reports back on Monday! Do or die, start the work, or I go get the car.
_________________
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!!

[Buggeee]

Good luck V!
_________________
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

[Root_Werks]

You're doing good to keep in contact, visit the shop and not lose your temper. Last car I had painted was a 914. It was in one shop for 4 months and the guy had to back out. At another shop for 5 months before getting finished.

It's super hard to be patient. Finding shops that work on older cars....or rather go outside higher paying insurance work, is getting harder.
_________________
When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[vamram]

I gave up on Oscar. 3 months, and all I have to show for it is a new-yet-dead battery, a plastic "protective" cover sunbaked onto much of the car, and nothing else. Maybe he would have gotten to it over the next month, but I know mi gente and this was a classic example of not knowing how to say he can't work on it now because well, he's backlogged like crazy and just got a new crew of assistants over the last month and...I just ran out of patience. Here's what I have to learn to fix now, w/Summer half over and the '75 Le Grande languishing in the street.

Cracks in old bondo on left rear fender, bring rear apron down to be able to paint it w/out leaving craters from old dried out paint.

More driver rear fender and wheel well smoothing out.

Smoothing out driver front fender turn signal base. Surface rust started to come thru.

Passenger-side front turn signal base.

Cars awaiting paint get stored in his shop's yard; great, I have to get the sun-baked plastic sheeting off of the car. He says it comes off w/H2O. We'll see.

Then I have to figure out how to get the paint matched so that I can just fix the repair areas and live w/the rest of it. It's supposed to be Marina Blue.
Prep and paint it I've not been good at in the past. Very discouraging, I was really hoping to have it freshly painted by now and proceed w/painting the headliner, installing the new carpeting, fixing some electrical gremlins.
_________________
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!!

[Buggeee]

I wonder if you could offer it up to the local vocational school auto body class as a guinea pig?

Good news is I didn't see welding-in death foam body sections on this list. Now THAT was a heavy lift.
_________________
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]

[vamram]

Gave up the idea of doing it myself and FINALLY found a shop to paint it! I think it came out pretty good, unfortunately I won't be able to see it in person for another week as I'm in Miami. Next, fix electrical issue w/the headlights, paint the headliner, new sound deadening and new carpeting for the interior, new running boards, fender beading and molding, rebuild the Hurst shifter and off to the races!!!

Link

_________________
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]

My 73 is the same color. It's waiting on me to do some work to it as well.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[kpf]

Wow, it looks great!

Did they mix the Marina Blue to spec or did they color-match a surviving bit of original paint?
_________________
1971 Super Beetle

[vamram]

I *hope* so. He asked me for and I gave him the Marina Blue paint code.
_________________
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!!

[VW_Jimbo]

I love Marina Blue on a Bug! Daddy & Mommy’s 73 Super was Marina Blue!
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Tim Donahoe]

Beautiful color, Victor!

Tim
_________________
Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[DUNGBTL]

That really looks good! Marina Blue is such a great color for a bug…classic!


What do you mean by “painting the headliner”?

J.

[vamram]

[Root_Werks]

That turned out great! Love the color.

-Dan
_________________
When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[DUNGBTL]

[vamram]

[Buggeee]

This is GREAT NEWS! Congratulations V!!!
_________________
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