TheSamba.com :: View topic - Sheet Metal Thickness & Gauge, Quality of Repair Panels

Thu Nov 25, 2010 5:38 am

Added more body panel dimensions for the Type I Ghia, Nose, Fresh air ducting, Inner Fender.

Dave

Thu Nov 25, 2010 9:25 am

Back in the mid-nineties, I had started a database of sheet metal thicknesses of various models of AC VWs. I lost it all when that PC crashed.
I remember realising that the Bug body sheet metal thickness had decreased eight times between 1949 and 1973. I remember at one point, Bus sheet metal was .042" and Bug of the same year (67?) was .036".

Fri Nov 26, 2010 7:56 am

joemac wrote: Back in the mid-nineties, I had started a database of sheet metal thicknesses of various models of AC VWs. I lost it all when that PC crashed.
I remember realising that the Bug body sheet metal thickness had decreased eight times between 1949 and 1973. I remember at one point, Bus sheet metal was .042" and Bug of the same year (67?) was .036".

Too bad you lost that info, it would be good to have for reference!

Cars did get thinner metal, not only for cost savings but also to get the MPG's up by decreasing weight. That's also a big reason so much of a new car is plastic today.

Dave

Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:09 pm

Added two more Ghia dimensions

Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:39 am

djkeev wrote: dansvans wrote: Quote: "A" Pillar Door hinge pillar
Factory metal
20 Gauge
.0375

i sort of thought the factory would use a european measuring standard like 1mm, not 3/8". i measure mine at just under .040, which makes sense since 1mm is .0394, but then mine is a bus. are bugs a different english thickness?

Probably true but I'm not in Europe, I wouldn't be able to locally purchase a 1mm piece of sheet metal for any amount of money. .001 is .001 no matter where it is measured. It is also very easy to convert thousands of an inch to mm.

Also note what I said in my initial post, I used the thickness gauge pictured, I used a "go, no go" method of sizing and reported the "go" size as the thickness.

1mm = 0.0394
0.1mm =.0039

inches X 25.4 = mm
mm / 25.4 = inches

also a handy to read chart, print it out!

http://mdmetric.com/tech/cvtcht.htm

Dave

I just printed out a MARYLAND METRICS. It Does take all the guesswork/calculations out of Metal Thickness. 8)

Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:47 am

Working on the 74 Super Beetle.

Some thickness information.

Running board support rail, is also the entire outer door sill as well, I was happy to see that!
The replacement panel, made by Klokkerholm was 21 gauge

The original metal is 20 gauge

Inner fender in front of lower door hinge.
replacement panel from Klokkerholm was 22 gauge

original metal is 20 gauge

Original Convertible support member is 12 Gauge metal.

Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:41 am

Who is know a steel thickness at the driver side floor and front passenger side floor on the Vanagon?
I'm not find a repair parts, but want to buy a sheet of metal and put patches.
Does anyone used 1mm sheet steel on a patch for the body, such as side panels, doors corners?

Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:47 pm

Does anyone have the thickness of the frame of a '71 Doublecab? I seem to recall reading somewhere that it is 12 ga but I would like to be sure.

Thu Jul 07, 2016 9:13 pm

Started the mini-restore on my '64. I was gonna do the full with media blasting and complete body repair but that's a lot out of the price range. So I bought some replacement sheet metal parts to fix the bad areas, i.e. door pillars. Can anyone help me find some sheet metal for front quarter panel area. it's just in front of the door pillars as seen in the picture. Thanks in advance!

Fri Jul 08, 2016 5:00 am

noahtibbetts wrote: Started the mini-restore on my '64. I was gonna do the full with media blasting and complete body repair but that's a lot out of the price range. So I bought some replacement sheet metal parts to fix the bad areas, i.e. door pillars. Can anyone help me find some sheet metal for front quarter panel area. it's just in front of the door pillars as seen in the picture. Thanks in advance!

You could just get some 18-20 gauge sheet steel and fab up you own repair panel. Just save that bottom anchor nut to use in the new piece. Or start with something like this, and use of it what you need. http://www.eisparts.com/EIS-1038L/Front+Wheelhouse...g%27s.html

Fri Jul 08, 2016 7:31 pm

Thanks beetlenut!!!!!!!

I feel like I have searched just about every site and yet there is another one.