Need help swapping a frame : Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Nov. 21, 2009 5:13 p.m. M030 Reader

Are there any New Engand/Northeast GRMers who would be willing to help me swap the frame out on my 72 VW Super Beetle? I will buy all of the pizza and beer, possibly some compensation (bonus points if I can pay you in ac VW or wc Porsche parts).

The short story: the car was given to me when I was 6 by my dad who was a VW mechanic. The car has been sitting since 1994 with a broken front frame head. My dad recently passed away and I really want to get around to building this car ASAP.

I've got a parts car with a solid pan, a heated garage to work in and air tools. I just don't have the man-power to get the bodies off the cars and get them swapped.

Any takers?

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/1003/
Nov. 21, 2009 5:23 p.m. 914Driver UltraDork

Hmmmm.....

There's no frame on a Beetle, the pan does the work; but others here may be more knowlegable.

What exactly is broken? Can it be spliced - fishplated to normal? What makes you think it needs a frame?

Trying to save you time and money.

Dan
Nov. 21, 2009 5:36 p.m. M030 Reader

By frame I mean pan. I called it a frame because some non-air cooled VW fans might not know what I meant by "pan."

It's rusted forward of the floors. Specifically, the frame head is rusted through on the bottom and part way up the sides. I bought a patch panel designed specifically to repair this problem, but..

Three frame repair specialists have looked at it and said that they won't touch it. I bought a 71 Super Beetle with a solid pan/frame head to use as a donor.

The frame head is very important on the Super Beetle, as the lower control arms attach to it. When it rots out, the suspension collapses, which is what happened with my car.

Thanks!
Nov. 21, 2009 8:26 p.m. SVreX PowerDork

I'm too far to help (though I'd love too). Sounds like a worthy project.

The Supers were bad about that type of rot.

Do you have to rush it? I would suggest stripping down the chassis donor to just the chassis, then restoring it first. Even though it is a good one, you are bound to find issues when you get it stripped down.

Once you've got a good chassis, it's a matter of unbolting parts from one and bolting them to the other. I'm doing the same thing on a restoration right now.

BTW- the body can be lifted off by two people with no mechanical assistance, or 1 person with a rope over the rafters or a tree branch. Lift the good body from the rafters, or jack it up onto 2x4's on saw horses. Roll the bad chassis out, and the good one in.

Good luck! Don't quit- it's worth it!!
Nov. 21, 2009 9:28 p.m. M030 Reader

Thanks SVreX, I won't quit.

Stripping the donor '71 first is a good idea. I know what I'll be doing all day tomorrow...
Nov. 21, 2009 9:59 p.m. dean1484 Dork

Where are you? I am on MA. Speaking of that may be Chris is around as well.

[Homer voice] Pizzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa [/Homer voice]

I am up to my eyes with the new house and some other projects and work but considering the story behind the bug it I would gladly move it to the top of my to do list. Did I mention I like Pizza?

Mmmmmm Pizza
Nov. 21, 2009 10:07 p.m. mad_machine PowerDork

did that same task with a 68 beetle to a 69 pan.. shame I am in NJ
Nov. 22, 2009 6:11 a.m. M030 Reader

dean1484 wrote:

Where are you?

Granby, Massachusetts.

I can't wait to make my Beetle drivable again, so I'm heading out to the garage to start stripping the parts car...
Nov. 22, 2009 6:47 a.m. tr8todd New Reader

There are a group of Beetle guys around here(Carver). I'm sure they might be willing to help. I'm not a Beetle guy, but I get roped into doing all of the stuff they are afraid to try. A couple of years ago I built a roll cage in one for a local guy. The floor pans had to be replaced and I used 2" square stock to make a perimeter frame rail where the heater channels used to be. This gave me something more substantial to attach the front down tubes and stiffened up the floor pan. I used pulleys and ropes tied under the roof to raise and lower the body several times. It allowed me to test fit the cage tubing and then lift away the body to do the welding. I have half of a TR7 hanging from the lifting rig now. It allows me to park another car under it. Maybe you could try that to raise the body on your own. Even if you and the local guys don't hook up, keep them in mind. They have garages full of prized Beetle/ Porsche pieces. I even have a bunch of stuff, and I never had nor ever would have a Beetle.
Nov. 22, 2009 6:53 a.m. 44Dwarf HalfDork

Granby? Profile says madison ct. When are you planing this? I'm in Winchendon a hour up 202. I might be able to lend a hand.

44
Nov. 22, 2009 7:10 a.m. M030 Reader

44, I do live in Madison, CT, but my VWs are at a good friend's shop in Granby, MA. He's letting me use his heated garage with a lift and air tools.
Nov. 22, 2009 7:11 a.m. ignorant PowerDork

I'm Hartford. I migt be able to help, but I'm going to Chicago soon for Turkey consuming day.
Nov. 22, 2009 7:41 a.m. M030 Reader

I appreciate all of the help, guys! I can't wait to get that old Beetle drivable again. As for a time frame, I probably won't get to the project until after Thanksgiving.
Nov. 22, 2009 11:31 a.m. iceracer HalfDork

Super Beatles have entirely different "frame" and front suspension than a regular Beatle .
Nov. 22, 2009 11:34 a.m. iceracer HalfDork

OK, everybody knows that.
Nov. 22, 2009 11:59 p.m. digdug18 New Reader

I'm in PA, I'd make the drive to CT to help out, but am unwilling to goto MA, too damn far for me. If you have a lift, then why do you need help???

Since lifting off the body from the pan is the hadest part I mean.
Nov. 23, 2009 6:13 a.m. 44Dwarf HalfDork

Put the lift up roll car under lower lift 1 inch above roof. Use long tie down straps to wrap body to lift (roll down windows. Lift the lift bodys off...roll pan out of way. lower body on to furnature mover karts roll out of the way. Repeat.

Let me know i'll try to make it

44
Nov. 23, 2009 8:05 a.m. M030 Reader

Thanks 44!

Will the long tie straps damage the body of the car I'm trying to fix?

I don't care at all about damaging the parts car; it's the "good one" I'm concerned with.

One big reason I need help with the project is that I'm going to be doing the work in someone else's garage, on someone else's lift, so I have to figure out how to carry/drag/?? the old parts car body (and of course the frame being replaced) outside and off the lift.

The shop is a professional repair shop and I have to put it back exactly the way I found it at the end of the day (or weekend if I start on Saturday).