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ConcreteAce
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 856
Location: Spring, Texas
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 Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:40 pm Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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Just found this thread while searching for 356 Fiberfab info. It was a great read, keep up the good work. I am looking forward to watching this all come together.
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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prostreetnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 315
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:27 am Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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Time is running...the Bonanza is waiting...because...
I bought a 65 beetle shell from a customer. Then i searched for a Chassis and got one with a title for 200 bucks.
It is for my son. A father and son Project...
Chassis is ready now except the Front axle.
Body is welded, primered and actually we're short before painting. Here my son sanding the rear side wall...
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VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970 |
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prostreetnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 315
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:34 am Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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Here is a Pic of it:
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VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970 |
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prostreetnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 315
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:39 am Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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But there is some small news for you;
I made some vent cutouts into the sidewall of the Bonanza.
These were originally made as fake vent inlets into the fiberglass and painted in silver.
In this case they will have a function...to cool down the type 3 motor.
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970 |
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prostreetnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 315
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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Even here in Germany finding an older beetle in good condition for a reasonable price isn't easy anymore.
I found an uncomplete '70 Bug, without doors, interior or hoods, but with three 1600i fenders, a worn out 1200 cc motor not that far away. But the price was OK and only some days later i dismantled everything with a good friend.
As always i started with the very rusty Chassis. Sandblasting was a quick job for me. New floor pans and some minor front end welding and the Chassis was ready for primer, sealing and painting.
The Body was next. Sandblasting all good areas, the to be taken out areas were left untouched.
A quick light grey primer job was next on the agenda.
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970 |
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Rome
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004
Posts: 9706
Location: Pearl River, NY
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| Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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| prostreetnotch wrote: |
Even here in Germany finding an older beetle in good condition for a reasonable price isn't easy anymore.
I found an uncomplete '70 Bug, without doors, interior or hoods, but with three 1600i fenders, a worn out 1200 cc motor not that far away. But the price was OK and only some days later i dismantled everything with a good friend.
As always i started with the very rusty Chassis. Sandblasting was a quick job for me. New floor pans and some minor front end welding and the Chassis was ready for primer, sealing and painting.
The Body was next. Sandblasting all good areas, the to be taken out areas were left untouched.
A quick light grey primer job was next on the agenda.
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Are there good quality floorpans offered in Germany? The usual ones here in the USA made by Klokkerholm have mixed reviews as to metal thickness, shape, and fitment. A few vendors such as Wolfsburg West and of course the Gerson green-primed ones have pans that are better but more expensive.
Will you retrofit 4-bolt rear drums to match the front? Or do you plan on converting the swingaxle to the semi-trailing arm (Schraeglenker) setup from the automatic stick-shift Beetles? |
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prostreetnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 315
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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Same here with the parts quality. CSP (www.customspeedparts.de) is offering some very good quality floor pans in the right thickness.
I put in another gearbox from a 1967 Beetle, so that is the reason why there are 5 lug Drums.
I took the gearbox from the 1970 Beetle and installed it into the '65 Beetle, because the bought chassis came naked without axle and gearbox.
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970 |
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prostreetnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 315
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:32 am Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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the bonanza gt never had bumpers.
so when i was looking at cars of the time (65-70), my decision to build some for it was quickly made.
i used a simple graphic tool on my cell phone to create some small bumpers on a bonanza picture i found in the net:
a first try with 1 mm steel sheets formed over a tubing were ok, but the material had not enough strength. so i asked my local metalshop buddy to get them pressed of 1,5 mm steel.
here are the sheets i got today:
let´s do some metalwork...
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970 |
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prostreetnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 315
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2024 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Fiberfab Bonanza GT |
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I first welded some sheets in 1 mm and added a rounded section on the corner.
Optically no success.
So my second thought was to use something else. An already existing bumper.
Here it is, almost fixing like a glove...
Looking a little bit similar to a 70 Dodge Challenger (which is a great design) now...
But i am still looking for the right one for the rear...
This don't work yet here...
_________________
VW Transporter 2004
VW Karmann GF Buggy 1970
VW Beetle Convertible 1972
VW Beetle 1978 with german 67 look
VW Beetle Baja Bug 1967 full steel
VW Beetle 1970
VW Beetle 1965
Renault Frégate Domaine Affaires 1958
Fiberfab Bonanza GT 1970 |
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