VW welding question

Check-out the BugMe video series on heater channel and floor pan repair:

If it does simple arc (stick) that might be just fine. I like TIG, myself. From personal experience, don't steal floorpans from other junkers.. The prep work just takes too much time. New replacement pans are best.

Skipping the welding part.......the floor pans bolt to the rocker panel/heater channel along the sides. Usually the channels are badly rusted too and must be replaced.

That brings one to the next step: removing the body from the chassis.

Very soon a small project becomes a major one. And one that will tie up the family garage for months.

Do a GOOGLE search for: VW + body + removal (or similar). Here's one link out of many:

Here's a site with some nice peeks inside the complex sheet metal that makes up a Beetle: Not trying to discourage you, but you gotta go in eyes wide open.

Speedy Jim

Since you're new to VW's, bookmark these 2 sites:

Each contains hundreds of links to useful VW sites. Enough to keep one browsing till after Christmas.

Speedy Jim

Thanks, David and Jim.

Appreciate that info on the video tapes, floor boards and caveats on welding.

In another thread someone mentioned Danish floor boards, which are apparently superior to the cheaper ones out there. I found those yesterday at

Since the body has to come off, it is probably a good idea to wait until then, right? Was looking at the heater channels and left side is totally rotted out so will need to be replaced. The other one looks solid. Oeveedub has those as well. Are those the ones to get, then?

Oh, I know that this will not be a minor project and I appreciate the reminder, Jim. I have a two car garage pretty much dedicated to be a workshop. I've fixed a fair amount of cars when broken, but this is definitely the largest automotive thing I've undertaken.

With the great guidance I've gotten from just reading this newsgroup I am not afraid of the job.

Thanks again. Remco

The Wolfsburg West floor pans (halves, not quarters as offered by oeveedub), although Brazilian, are thicker than the other ones that you can buy. I put a set on my '63 and can tell quite a difference between those and the thinner, cheaper ones.

I believe aircooled.net sells the thicker ones as well, although I'm not completely sure.

Good luck, floor replacement isn't bad! Heater channels are another beast though. I would highly recommend the BugMe video for this (as well as the floor pans). You can buy them directly from Bugmevideo.com, or from other vendors such as aircooled.net. Either way, they provide a visual which is very helpful.

Good luck,

Dane '69 Bug '63 Bug

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote:

Use a mig welder for auto body repair for the novice, stick welder is too powerful and will blow holes through your nice bug, you need to be very experienced to use a stick welder for body work.

Tim

Welders - if you just plan on using it for the light to med. welding a

110VAC unit ought to suite yours needs just fine. I bought the Lincoln 135 with the gas adapter... although it does both MIG and Flux core wire... Flux core looks like bird poop welds - lol. and you'll have to clean it up by grinding or it will corrode. Floor pans aren't that bad.

The Brazilian seat rails suck, see if you can salvage the original seat rails. Forget about 1/4 pan halves or junker donor pieces (unless you cant get it new or good replacement), do the whole pan half. heater channels the same thing ... But that's a major undertaking!!

Get the welder practice on old fenders, sheet metal, angle iron ... anything metal! Order the floor pans/heater channels, then when you get them, then decide what YOU need to cut and replace as every car has different needs. Some might need more or less sheetmetal cut and replaced! Have a plan have the replacement parts on hand and be prepared to do some fabricating, since sometimes the rot might be just past what the replacement panel will cover! My website has alot of pics and an article on how I did it... well worth the effort I say!

Anyway good luck with what you choose to do... BE SAFE and have fun!!!

**************************************************************** dragenwagen 1966 Type I - Daily Driver 1969 Type I - Undergoing heater channel replacement "Old VW's Don't Leak Oil, They Mark Their Territory."****************************************************************

Thanks, guys!

I'll take that advice -- I realize that the work will not be minor, but I'll take my time (it is just a hobby, not a job). In January I'll sign up for a welding class (Hamden CT) to make sure I don't blow myself up and will eventually start looking for a mig welder

-- I've heard those are easier to control for novices.

You'll see more of me here, now that I got a bug to work on. Thanks again Remco

I agree that the seat rails on these pans normally suck. However, it seems the style that '73-up ones come with are ok. I didn't reuse my old tracks and the ones on the new pan I put in seem perfectly serviceable.

I've been putting off starting on the new Baja project, simply because I really and truly don't want to tackle the heater channels.

But now, the guy who unloaded......errr..... sold it to me has a complete '63 body with good channels, and no significant rust.

So it looks like I'll be throwing that onto the '70 pan.

Anyone want a '70 rusted out body hulk?

oh yeah thats right.... i was thinking of the older style seat rails.