My VW type 147

[fridofreak]

Hello guys;

I'm planning to begin to restore my fridolin type 147 after 4 years sitting aside in the garage.
Maybe sume of you dont know this type of VW but there is a history to read at the Firdolin-ig site: http://www.vw-fridolin-ig.de/en/
The car is based on a Karmann ghia floorpan tose parts are still for sale,
but what the bodyworks concers there are now langer parts for sale so i must put the hamer to the panel .
The pics are like i bought the fridolin, i planning to start with the roof gutter and take of the roof therefor.
Please feel free to ad comments.

Sorry if i write mistakes in englisch.





















Regards Wesley

[Richard K]

Great vehicle. The rust sure took a bite out of everything. Maybe you should just build a new body using the old as a pattern and inspiration. A new build might be easiest. If you are caplable of fixing all the rust a complete build is well within your skill.

[fridofreak]

Originally Posted by Richard K

Great vehicle. The rust sure took a bite out of everything. Maybe you should just build a new body using the old as a pattern and inspiration. A new build might be easiest. If you are caplable of fixing all the rust a complete build is well within your skill.

Hello Richard,
yea your right the rust is everywere, the fridolin is well-known as rusted cars that is why there are not much left of them.
To build a complete new body is out of my skills so i'm planning to restore piece by piece, and maybe when its finished i have the skills to make a complete new body.
The good thing is that the car has a lot of panels that are straight and not curved.....

Thanks for the reply

[kfs]

Cool project !

and ,,,,,,,,,,, you will be a skilled panel beater before you finish

you are at the right place for learning, Good luck, and do ask questions

PS ! hope you have a windscreen for it

[fridofreak]

Originally Posted by kfs

Cool project !

and ,,,,,,,,,,, you will be a skilled panel beater before you finish

you are at the right place for learning, Good luck, and do ask questions

PS ! hope you have a windscreen for it

Thanks!

My girlfriend called me nuts when i came home with the car on the trailer but i can see the trees trhoug the woods
I also think that the skilles come by time as the work is going on.
I have a windscreen, and the good thing is that i bought half a car with it.
The seller had 2 of them but the other one was to rot to restore so the main parts i have also (good to chek the construction and contour).

And i will be asking questions when i proceed

[weldtoride]

Originally Posted by fridofreak

To build a complete new body is out of my skills so i'm planning to restore piece by piece, and maybe when its finished i have the skills to make a complete new body.

Welcome to the forum Wesley.

Your English is fine. Having owned a couple dozen various air cooled VW's, I have to admit I have never seen a Type 147 over here in the US. I think it's really neat.

In your first post on this thread you mentioned you would "start with the roof gutter and take of the roof therefor." Can I suggest that after reading your quote above that you start instead with some smaller and easier patches before cutting the roof loose? Your post above indicates you are learning, (as so many of us here are) and so I would strongly advise you learn some more before you take the roof off. Without the roof, and with the floor pan so far gone, the body will want to flex all over, which you can counter-act with braces before you cut, but the magnitude of the job may appear overwhelming.

Something to consider: the low roof height makes the roof very, very visible on this vehicle, and you will want to do your very best with it. With a series of smaller repairs in less noticeable areas successfully under your belt, you will gain the skills and confidence to do the roof.

Just my opinion, since you asked. Please keep posting.

[Real James Richter]

Well looks like you will stay out of trouble for a while.

[fridofreak]

Originally Posted by weldtoride

Welcome to the forum Wesley.

Your English is fine. Having owned a couple dozen various air cooled VW's, I have to admit I have never seen a Type 147 over here in the US. I think it's really neat.

In your first post on this thread you mentioned you would "start with the roof gutter and take of the roof therefor." Can I suggest that after reading your quote above that you start instead with some smaller and easier patches before cutting the roof loose? Your post above indicates you are learning, (as so many of us here are) and so I would strongly advise you learn some more before you take the roof off. Without the roof, and with the floor pan so far gone, the body will want to flex all over, which you can counter-act with braces before you cut, but the magnitude of the job may appear overwhelming.

Something to consider: the low roof height makes the roof very, very visible on this vehicle, and you will want to do your very best with it. With a series of smaller repairs in less noticeable areas successfully under your belt, you will gain the skills and confidence to do the roof.

Just my opinion, since you asked. Please keep posting.

Hello Mark;

Thanks for the reply! I'm going to brace the hole body making a couple of X-constructions in doors window and under the roof so the body has no chance to flex.
I was first planning to begin from the ground up and fixing the bumpermount so i could hang the body in a "spit" so i could turn and lift the body as a work on it.
But than i thought that it would be better to first restore the roof because the body was still on the floorpan and never been taking off??

Regards Wesley

[fridofreak]

Originally Posted by Real James Richter

Well looks like you will stay out of trouble for a while.

Hello James,

Yeah thats right but i'm looking forward to begin to restore it.

Regards Wesley

[neilb]

i love these vdubs, you just don't see enough of them on the roads

good luck with the project! i'll be following with interest