Bea's Restoration 2001 Page 1
Here's a few words and pictures about the restoration
of Bea the Beetle. More to follow as the restoration progresses.
6th January 2001
Bea is in obvious need of restoration. Kerry and the
gang at Volkswagen Evolution begin to strip her down.
Things don't look so bad at the back, shame about the
door bottoms !
14th July 2001
You want us to lift the body off the chassis onto that
jig?
Ok then !
Chassis and running gear return home for Rosey and
Dale to strip down and rebuild.
!!!NEW!!! 1st August 2001 !!!NEW!!!
Thanks to Kerry for supplying these photos.
Here's the front end of Bea, on the jig, with all the rotten
panels cut out, ready for the new panels to be welded in. Apart
from the bulkhead in the centre, everything in front of the windscreen
will be replaced with new panels.
Here's the front end with the new panels welded in
place.
Kerry also found that the drivers side rear quarter had suffered
accident damage at some point in Bea's life, so here's the rear
quarter with the outer skin cut out. A new panel will be cut to
shape and welded into place. This photo gives a really good view
of the top of the heater channel and the inner skin of the rear
quarter. Possibly a view most Beetle owners never get to see!
13th August 2001
Oh dear, after cleaning up the chassis it became apparent
that the floors would need replacing.
Look I've made a giant VW wheelbarrow !
Underside of chassis after removing the floorpans.
Old floorpans can just be seen in top right of picture. Luckily
we found the chassis was still nice and solid after cleaning it
back to bare metal.
Chassis with new floorpans welded in.
Underside of chassis and floorpans after getting two
coats of rust proofing and primer.
New floorpans get two coats of Hammerite up top. The
underside will have stonechip paint.
24th August 2001
Chassis and Floorpans are sprayed with two and half
litres of stonechip paint. Jeff Lawrence (in the background) admires
his handiwork whilst enjoying a cup of tea !
The front beam was found to be very slightly bent,
probably from an accident many years ago. So a new adjustable
beam was bought and painted. Just in case Rosey decides to lower
the suspension at a later date ! The primer it came shipped with
was rubbish, so it was stripped, and then gets the two coats rust
proofing/primer, two coats Hammerite treatment.
25th August 2001
Rosey and Dale visit the Volkswagen Evolution workshops to
see how Bea's bodyshell is coming along. Very nicely judging by
these pictures. The new front end is on. Everything in front of
the windscreen except the yellow panel in the centre is new !
Here's the rear end, the drivers side rear quarter panel was
found to be badly damaged and full of filler, so it too was cut
out and replaced with a new panel. The rear valance and a bumper
mount also had to be replaced.
Here's a better picture of the front end showing the
amount of work that has gone into it.
27th August 2001
Re-assembly of the chassis begins. Here you can see
a new brake master cylinder, one of the new brake lines, and the
pedal cluster have been installed.
Gearbox and swing axle assembly gets degreased. Probably
one of the messiest jobs so far !
More work on the chassis. Gear lever and handbrake
back in. The coupling for the gear linkage has also been replaced,
but it's hidden under the oval panel at the end of the gearbox
tunnel.
!!!NEW!!! 1st September 2001 !!!NEW!!!
Thanks to Kerry for supplying these photos.
Back to the bodyshell and it's finally made it to the paintshop,
here's the front end in primer. The under bonnet area will get
a coating of colour coded stone chip paint.
Rear view of the bodyshell also in primer.
Drivers side view in primer, and you'd never know that
the rear quarter was new!
8th September 2001
Gearbox now clean gets a coat of etch primer before
painting. Paint won't adhere properly to the Aluminium casing
of the gearbox without a special primer.
New front beam installed. Castor shims have also been
fitted at the bottom.
Gearbox after painting.
12th September 2001
Back at the Volkswagen Evolution workshops. Bea gets
a new coat of paint inside and out, Volkswagen Lemon Yellow. Inner
wings have a matching coat of stonechip paint.
Rosey admires Bea's new paint job.
Turn to Page 2 to see more of Bea's Restoration