Author Topic: 1958 Beetle rebuild  (Read 8912 times)

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Offline Thomas

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1958 Beetle rebuild
« on: November 09, 2016, 12:01:08 PM »
Well I have been rolling in my 58 for 6 years now and felt it was time to give it a little love. Since getting the car most of the power train has been upgraded (Engine, tranny and brakes) and a rag top with new interior were done. I have been collecting parts over the last few years so I could redo the body to make it all 58 part correct and plus redo some old repairs. My goal is to end up with a nice clean Cal-look car that I can drive down south at some point. The main areas of repair needed are the driver rear bumper mount, both lower rear quarter areas and the front clip. I also have a four tab hood and wire tube fenders for it. Not sure how far I will get this winter as I have given my self two winter to complete this work. This means you my see me rolling in a part finished car next summer. I started this week by stripping the car down to start making the list to figure out a plan of attack. Well here we go....will down some pics later.
58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2016, 12:28:04 PM »

58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2016, 12:31:46 PM »

58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2016, 12:35:16 PM »

58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2016, 08:46:08 AM »
Started the repairs on the 58. Removed the bumper mount and replaced the old repairs. I replaced the mount with a new one from Auto Craft.


58 Beetle

Stephan Schmidt

Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2016, 10:20:39 AM »
Nice work Thomas! 

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2016, 01:31:38 PM »
Well a quick update. I have opened up a couple areas of old repairs and found some more repairs are needed inside.                                                                     
58 Beetle

Offline silas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2017, 09:23:47 PM »
...My goal is to end up with a nice clean Cal-look car that I can drive down south at some point...

road trippin'!

great work thomas!

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2017, 09:56:39 AM »
Some updates on the repairs. Heater channels repaired and lower panels fitted and welded in place.



58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2017, 10:04:39 AM »
Started on the front clip. I saved the inner supports so I would have an original part to work from. I separated to clip apart and placing it back piece by piece it help with alignment.






58 Beetle

Offline 553fold

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2017, 05:46:26 PM »
Nice 58' Thomas!  Looks like your panels are lining up nicely, I like the laser idea, that's pretty slick!

Offline josh

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2017, 09:24:24 AM »
Killin it bro keep it up!
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2017, 05:05:31 PM »
Well in the picture it doesn't look a whole lot different then the last ones but a lot of hours put in. It took a couple tries but the clip is in place. I have some final tweaking on the apron then weld it in place. Hoping to pull it off the pan soon so I can get some repairs done then off for blasting and powder coating.
58 Beetle

Offline Russ

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2017, 06:35:18 PM »
it is coming along stellar!!!!
awesome job man

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2017, 09:34:53 PM »
Well got lots done this weekend. Did one last test fit on the front end to make sure everything was still good after welding up  the clip. My hood had the usual side crack issue so I took a section out of the spare hood and replaced the bad area. I also managed to get my car dolly built so I can separate the car from the pan soon. Hoping to have the pan repairs done quick so I can get it off for blasting and then to Russ for powder coating.


58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #15 on: March 15, 2017, 09:49:21 PM »
Time to get cracking on the pan. It looks in good shape with a couple small repairs and modifications to be done, then off for blasting and powder coating.
58 Beetle

Offline Russ

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #16 on: March 16, 2017, 06:41:11 AM »
looking good,
can't believe you have taken it this far apart it never looked to bad
the overhaul has been great for it though

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #17 on: March 27, 2017, 07:11:47 PM »
Started the pan repairs. The battery area had a old repair that I replace with the proper metal from Wolfsburg West. I also put the jack points back on the pan. Going to make a pedal access door and a few more small repairs before off to the blaster.

58 Beetle

Offline Hansk

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #18 on: March 29, 2017, 04:44:21 PM »
wow nice work
Big fat black fastback

Offline silas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #19 on: March 31, 2017, 09:35:21 PM »
wow nice work

x2 what hans said!! way to keep at it thomas!!

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #20 on: April 02, 2017, 09:19:38 PM »
Well installed a pedal inspection door on the pan and sent it off to be blasted. Time to finish up all the welding on the body.


58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #21 on: April 30, 2017, 08:54:50 PM »
A few updates. I  installed a set of GAB FAB carb windows on the car using the write up in Hot VW as my guide. I also got the pan back from the Powder coat guru  Russ Scott. Been putting parts back on the pan as I inspect, repair, paint and piece them back together.





58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #22 on: June 11, 2017, 10:32:23 AM »
A quick update on the 58. I have the pan back on all fours again. Next up is to build a booth in my garage so I can get started on the body work.
58 Beetle

Offline josh

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #23 on: June 11, 2017, 11:34:24 AM »
Yeah dude! Killer work!!!! You need an exhaust fan?
55 ragtop T1
56 kombi T2

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #24 on: June 11, 2017, 11:41:15 AM »
Yes will need one. You got one for sale?
58 Beetle

Offline Thomas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #25 on: September 11, 2017, 05:33:25 AM »
All the major welding done on Beetle. Time to work on panel line up.

58 Beetle

Offline Russ

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #26 on: September 14, 2017, 06:03:58 PM »
amazing job
it is turning out killer

Offline silas

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #27 on: September 15, 2017, 10:32:45 PM »
All the major welding done...

another big milestone moment in a build! great work thomas, your 58 looks awesome!  :cool:

Stephan Schmidt

Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #28 on: March 09, 2018, 05:23:25 PM »
Anymore updates Thomas? Great progress so far!

Offline Russ

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Re: 1958 Beetle rebuild
« Reply #29 on: March 11, 2018, 10:12:05 AM »
i follow him on instagram and the car is light years ahead of the last pic he posted
he is kicking ass on it