Hi guys first bay, need a little advise

[doubledoyle]

Hi guys just bought myself a 1970 devon eb,

Managed to pick one up local, its had a pretty sorry life with the previous owner being over 80 with some pretty terrible welding skills.
anyways after getting it home and having a good look around it it seems the front section of the chassis is pretty rotten and needs replacing along with the front chassis sections and bottom of the front panel and wheel tubs.
The sliding door seems pretty bad too and doesnt even shut, for some reason keeps falling off :lol:

i havent got much vw experience, im more adapt to messing around with 50's amercian tin. ive only ever worked on a 72 beetle which i owned for a year or two.

got a couple of questions if thats alright?

is it possible to replace the wheel tubs without chopping the front arch off, seems like its been replaced in the past.
also has anyone else had any experience replacing the chassis around where the beam bolts it? i know ive gotta fab something up myself but thats no biggie.

The sliding door doesnt seem to shut properly, is that common? and also there seems to be some rot around the sliding door covers?

oh one more thing does anyone have a wiring diagram? really need to get this thing running

 

[ozziedog]

Hello mate, welcome to the site, very friendly bunch on here as well. Sounds like you may be sourcing some chassis cuts for over the beam and they come up on here fairly frequently from the guys that import that sort of stuff from dryer places with obviously less rust, as far as the tubs go and leaving the arches, anything can be done, but I`d have a good look first (with grinder) before you decide. For what the arches cost, I`d like to think if I`m doing all that, there ain`t gonna be no more rust for twenty years :lol: especially after your classification of the p.o.s. welding abilities :mrgreen: Get some photos up before you go bonkers with the grinder so we can get a bit of a feel for it. It will not be the rustiest bus to get restored,, there`s always a few worse than yours, though at times we don`t beleive it :msn4:

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,Anyhow welcome mate !! :mrgreen:

 

[71dormy]

welcome
yeh mate first things first first get some pictures up and start a thread on the gallery.it is possiblt to do the tubs and not the arches but as already stated you might be better of doing them aswell
american cuts are the way forward mate if you can source them!plenty of help is on this forum dude :mrgreen:
good luck and get some pics up 8)

 

[doubledoyle]

Hi guys

havent got any recent pictures just what i bought off ebay, let me know what you think

 

[71dormy]

See what you mean about sliding door.could be an old repair panel not put on right and curved with the body mate.i say just get stuck in.you need a plan mate! Front to back or something like that :mrgreen: what's your plans? Colour,lowered??

 

[Harlequin]

Wiring diagrams from the samba.....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiringt2.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Devon info..
http://www.devonmoonraker.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[doubledoyle]

Hi guys was just planning on getting the welding done, give it a coat of satin beige, slam it. and use the hell out of it.

 

[ozziedog]

Well as far as plans go,,,,,,, there are good plans and absolutely crap plans :shock: But that sounds like a fantastic plan :lol:

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, I like when a plan is rolling :lol: 8) :lol:

 

[dandaz]

and use the hell out of it.

That`s what they are for...

 

[bertiethebus]

This, folks is a man with a 24 carat gold diamond encrusted plan 8) 8) :lol:

Love it! Now chop chop (literally) and see it on the road in time for the snow,,,,,,,,,,

Should give you three weeks or so :mrgreen:

 

[Trikky2]

Hello and welcome.

I think you may find it useful to check out the Gallery part of the site. There are some threads on major restorations, showing step by step photos of repairs, that may help give you an idea of things.

 

[doubledoyle]

Hi guys,

Know im getting ahead of myself but seeings the beam has to come off my bay project i was thinking do you guys still weld in sway aways to bay beams? also is it a must to have dropped spindles to get it in the weeds?

 

[Trikky2]

Hi guys,

Know im getting ahead of myself but seeings the beam has to come off my bay project i was thinking do you guys still weld in sway aways to bay beams? also is it a must to have dropped spindles to get it in the weeds?

sway aways to bay beams????????????

Time to do some homework - study - get a manual :lol:

 

[doubledoyle]

Oh alright, just i remember welding them into my beetle beam, i assume you cannot fit them due to the increased load on the beam, ok how about cutting and turning or is there another adjustable item on the market?