There is some real holes in my bug that need fixing. I'd always intended in doing it properly and not just adding patches. I have managed to find someone local (about a mile down the road), called Malcolm, who has raced and built stock cars for 20 years. So I am pretty sure he knows what he's doing.
I cleared out the garage in preparation for his arrival. Today was the day we would replace both heater channels.
A friend had welded these bars across the door space for when it was shot blasted. Unfortunately, although he said it used to be his job, it turns out that I can weld better than him! The first bar fell off on the way to shot blasting and the remaining one was loose. Gracias hombre decrepido!
When Malcolm arrived he made short work of cutting out the old channel. Some metal snipers and a 9 inch disc cutter were employed for this.
A sharp flat chisel was used to remove/ split the remains of the channel so we where left with a straight panel above.
The view up the drivers door post!
Before this work begun the rear seat bar was attached to help stop the body from going out of shape.
After quite a bit of fiddling, the new heater channel was held in place.
All the floor bolts where attached to maintain the shape.
The old heater channel, or whats left of it.
In some places the remaining body panels where so poor at the bottom, we decided that they would be replaced.
So for now it was tacked firmly in place.
After lunch, it was onto the passenger side that was in slightly better shape.
The doors we fitted up to check the gaps. I remember the drivers side always rubbed at the top as I needed to lift it to close it.
So after a day of putting in the heater channels, I had another shopping list. The only bright side to these bills is that I'll beat the VAT increase in January!
