Thread: '63 V8 Notchback

Tweet

very cool build ralph. looking great. please keep posting pictures.

Very cool, I can't wait to see more!

Got to spend a few hours on the car this weekend. There are some holes that need to be patched up. Here's the original oil fill hole near the trunk latch. Since the engine is now in the front, and I can't think of a cool way to use the hole as is, it's gotta go.



Here's the pattern I made from card board. This patch is probably the most difficult one I'll have for the whole car, so it makes sense for me to jump in over my head right off the bat!



Once I got all the angles and bends close, I tacked it in. And then methodically tack welded it all the way around.



Then came the grinding. OMG this part sucks! I need to finish grinding it, but you can see that the final product will be a great starting point for my body finisher.

The trunk hinge holes must be covered too. The way they are made, if the car ever gets rained on (God forbid!), there will be no good way to keep the water out of the car. So I will patch over the holes and bring the hinges in a bit. I want to use the OEM trunk seal so that will not be modified.

Here's the piece of metal I scrapped from the front clip with the pattern transfered to it.



Here it is finally trimmed and in place. I spot welded it all around and started the grinding. (Did I mention that I hate grinding?)

Here's some detail on the rear vent holes. I am going to do it in two pieces. I need to pick up some 22 gauge metal for these larger patches. I have the hood and front fenders extra but it seems stupid to cut up good body panels. So as soon as I can purchase some sheet metal I'll get to these too.

Here's the pattern. Again, there is a bend that will be needed in the patch to make it look right. The poster board made the bends just fine so it shouldn't be a huge problem.



Here's a view from the other side.

Digg'n the metal work.

REGS

Just curious. Did the Notch you bought in Arizona have a "salvage title"?

We lived in Arizona in the mid 1980's and my son purchased a VW Notch from Deer Valley Auto Wrecking. That car had a salvage title. Not many Notches around, especially in Arizona.

He sold the car to a guy that rebuilt it as a custom, and I think it was painted a 1980's era fushia color?

When we originally drug it home, he found over "thirty tickets" in the glove box. LOL Might be the same car?

Originally Posted by John Palmer

Just curious. Did the Notch you bought in Arizona have a "salvage title"?

We lived in Arizona in the mid 1980's and my son purchased a VW Notch from Deer Valley Auto Wrecking. That car had a salvage title. Not many Notches around, especially in Arizona.

He sold the car to a guy that rebuilt it as a custom, and I think it was painted a 1980's era fushia color?

When we originally drug it home, he found over "thirty tickets" in the glove box. LOL Might be the same car?

You never know! It has a clear title now though. According to the previous owner the car was taken to Arizona from Southern California. The car was bone stock except for the wheels and other small things. Not much in the way of custom unless you include the proverbial Mexican blanket thrown over the back seat.

I would have hesitated cutting up the car but the pan and engine was not original and the interior and wiring was a complete mess. The front apron had been smashed in and garage fixed (if you know what I mean). The body was otherwise worth saving and just begging to be re-born as something completely different.

Ralph will this be a tilt frontend...?

Originally Posted by 406Rich

Ralph will this be a tilt frontend...?

Yes. If I keep the front clip the way it is, then I would at least have to find a new way to mount the front fenders and a new way to support the hood to leave room up front for the engine and junk. Besides this, the hood will either have to lift straight off (not a good idea to make anything a two-man job where not necessary) or have a huge hole cut in it to clear the blower. The blower, carbs and scoop will stick out about 9 to 11 inches above the hood.

Or make a tilt front end. This will make it a one-man operation to allow access to the engine, it will allow for a smaller hole, and the kids will think it's cool. I thought seriously about combining the metal fenders and hood into one piece but since the apron is damaged and it would be a lot of extra work to make this happen I decided to go with a fiberglass front end. They make a one piece front end for these type III VW's for about $500. You can't beat that deal, especially considering how much work would have to go into making the metal peices work together.

Oddly enough I came across your build looking for information about a narrowed front suspension while getting ready to do something extremely similar to my 64 notchback. I hope this project hasn't come to a halt. As I see you haven't updated since jan. I look forward to seeing how this turns out. Was wondering what's the width of the front suspension you bought to use with this.
-Hadyn-

Any finished photos of this car?