Caddy project

[no vtec 4me]

Quote, originally posted by yerigga »

you have mad skills

yea im sure he gets hassled to join the local gangs all the time

but for real thi struck is nuts and the work youre doing looks amazing

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by chemicalbro13 »

you should use wood for the bed...and that color is gorgeouse

I don't think wood will look better then the stainless bed I had made up....

[dubdaze68]

Agreed. I'd still love to know the cost of that.

[VW KEVIN G]

Someone needs to manufacture those stainless beds (maybe steel and stainless as an option) and replacement rails bed rails.

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by dubdaze68 »

Agreed. I'd still love to know the cost of that.

It really didn't cost that much, well except for the fact I had to have it made twice.

I bought a 48 inch by 96 inch sheet of stainless $200.00 cdn. and had it bent to these specs. Fits perfect and looks awesome. I'm sure a standard sheet of metal would have been a lot cheaper.

The total dimension is 41.25 inches by 72 inches. When bent there isn't much left from the 48 inch width maybe .25 to .5 of an inch.

Here is a drawing I did for them to follow.

stainless

and here is the finished product

[dubdaze68]

Exactly what kind of shop does that? Machine shops don't have presses/stampers usually, and exhaust shops that even have mandrels can't do that....

Enquiring minds want to know.

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by dubdaze68 »

Exactly what kind of shop does that? Machine shops don't have presses/stampers usually, and exhaust shops that even have mandrels can't do that.... Enquiring minds want to know.

The place that did it for me makes dispensers for resteraunts coffee shops etc. for cream and sugar, it isn't something they would normally do. But a sheet metal shop that makes ductwork for heating and AC should have no problem making it.
Just need a brake with a 72" throat. The one used to make this was computerized.

[vr6jettajay]

Any company that makes metal for roofing should be able to do it. The metal comes in large rolls and is put through a brake to create the valleys and ridges.

[nobug]

Even after I sent them the drawing I did, they spent more time on it to figure it all out. They had to figure in the radius of the bends, the thickness of the material etc.
The first thing they did was to cut the sheet to a certain size and when finished it was the exact dimensions needed. They did an amazing job.

[nobug]

Just ordered and paid for a rare hard to find part. Looks like it needs very little work, besides the holes someone made for hood pins,

Shipping is twice the cost of the part, and no doubt I'll get reemed when ups shows up with it.

Oh well, the costs of doing projects

Modified by nobug at 10:00 AM 8-23-2009

[nobug]

The seam on the pillar is pretty well done, there was some rust pits around the seam so when I was welding up the seam it burnt holes, so not taking any chances I ended up cutting out the seam area and welding a patch in. Also cut out the mess in front of the patch..

Spent some time on the rocker, just have to finish cleaning up the inner fender and door jamb. Hopefully will have a coat of epoxy on this side of it within a few days.

[boraIV]

kick ass. i wish i had the fab skills you do.

[arupp]

Awesome project! Looks good too! What was your tool of choice for stripping the areas with under coating? When you are finished can you come down and help me with my project? Its moving at the speed of ....well, a vw.

[white rabbit]

The project looks awesome so far, keep it up! I do want to point out something that caught my eye..

It's hard to tell but I think I see a small spot of rust? If so, the panel that it looks to be creeping out from behind is the dreaded strut tower support, the one that likes to trap water. I had some similar spots on my drivers side, and there was more rust when I opened it up, not a huge amount, but it was there.

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by arupp »

Awesome project! Looks good too! What was your tool of choice for stripping the areas with under coating? When you are finished can you come down and help me with my project? Its moving at the speed of ....well, a vw.

I used a buffer with a twisted wire wheel, I used the buffer because you can control the speed, alot use an angle grinder, but when I tried one it spins way to fast and melts the stuff and causes a pile of smoke, don't get any of that with the buffer.

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by white rabbit »

The project looks awesome so far, keep it up! I do want to point out something that caught my eye.. It's hard to tell but I think I see a small spot of rust? If so, the panel that it looks to be creeping out from behind is the dreaded strut tower support, the one that likes to trap water. I had some similar spots on my drivers side, and there was more rust when I opened it up, not a huge amount, but it was there.

Yes, there is a small spot of rust there, that is the main reason I wanted to strip it all down, no idea of what is hiding under all that seam sealer and undercoat. Although it is very minimal it will be getting some attention.

[nobug]

So I have started to take up sewing lol
I have been practicing on some scrap material trying to figure out the different kinds of seams, getting used to the machine etc.

My smoothie hood made it clear across the country in 3 days, but has been with UPS locally for 5 days now, WTF ???
At least my sunroof showed up today…….

[nobug]

Hood finally arrived 6 days late, not that I need it right now, but after
paying almost 250 for shipping and having a guaranteed delivery date.
Hopefully I will get a refund on shipping.

Started to do some work on it.

Foam for bolsters arrived like planned.

And have some reading to do......

[veedubberkid86]

where did you get those bolsters?

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by veedubberkid86 »

where did you get those bolsters?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3132600

[hellgti]

[VW KEVIN G]

Sorry, I am missing what's special about that hood.

[Der T4]

Great build. I had 2 1983 trucks and they had a really cool set of tie down eyelets in the upper bed rails. If I remember correctly, they were available from the dealer seperately. Check them out, they came in handy when picking light stuff up. I used a glue in 83 > windshield that helped with window frame rot too! I spent many many hours working on the lowering of the rear leaf springs. The best handeling combo I found was de-arching the springs a bid with new hangers & an Addco rear sway bar. I had a guy named Cleive from Bilstein in San Diego, Ca make me a set of discontinued Heavy Duty shocks from parts that were still available...maybe they make them again now. It handeled great. Front had full Bilstein Sport struts, Neuspeed Race springs, upgraded upper bearings, new bushings, Neuspeed upper & lower strut bars with the large Neuspeed front sway bar. It was a great set up! Love the detail, keep up the good work!


Modified by Der T4 at 2:58 PM 9-4-2009

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by VW KEVIN G »

Sorry, I am missing what's special about that hood.

The hood is from a very early rabbit (swallowtail) they are known as a smoothie

[nobug]

I have had a few of these also, I junked one with the tie downs it was an 83 also they only time I have seen them. Don't plan on anything ever going in the back of it tho.

[VW KEVIN G]

Quote, originally posted by nobug »

The hood is from a very early rabbit (swallowtail) they are known as a smoothie

You learn something new every day.
Thank you.

[nobug]

My sewing is coming along, tried one cover just to experiment, pleased with the way it turned out and fits.
I won't be using it. It isn't 100% but still looks pretty good for a first attempt. The stitching lines across the top aren't as straight as they should be.
The sides pieces are shaped so they tuck in under the foam and get glued.

[nobug]

Got one cover finished, not glued to foam but fits nice.

[vwovw]

great job

[vdubspeed]

this thread is full of so much awesome.

love the work!!!

[jones]

your upholstery looks really good, good job I did a recaro LS seat about 5 years ago and its still holding up, I might do my Caddy seats myself or take em' in to be done, not sure yet thou...

[dennis2society]

...........suscribed, most comprehensive...........

any updates?.........

[nobug]

Thanks again for all the comments

A bit of an update......
I figured to make an accurate pattern I would get a cork bulletin board, some push pins and some bristol board.
It worked very well. Just test fitting things together, these pieces are not totally finished.
Very pleased with the way things are going and getting easier all the time, as I do more and more.

[vwovw]

so have you came up with a airbag set up for the rear?

[nobug]

Quote, originally posted by vwovw »

so have you came up with a airbag set up for the rear?

I have seen a few that interest me, but I need to research it more. I am concentrating on the body and interior, would like to get that part of it finished and over with.