Hi from the UK

[barefoot]

On Boxing Day I bought a Beetle panel van that is in a hell of a state! This was a conversion built in the UK by a company called Wizard Rods in the 80s and should make a different rod I reckon.

I pulled it out of the garage where it had sat, unloved for 19 years and towed it home. Unfortunately my son's Squareback is taking up workshop space in my garage so it has sat under cover in the garden in the rain and I haven't had a chance to even look at it since.

Lot's of decisions to make when I have had a good look at it... Full fender or open? chop or not?

I'll post up pics when I can get the cover off!

Good to meet you guys.

[barefoot]

We've had days of rain and howling winds so I haven't been able to even lift the cover on the new project.

Thought you might want to see what the beast looked like on the way back from a 600 mile round trip. Not pretty but loads of potential!





I got so fed up of waiting for some dry weather that I went out and made a start. Wife's not too impressed with the front lawn but hey, it has got to be done!

I just stripped out a load of rubbish, D/Aed the side and, in a break in the weather sprayed some zinc primer - already looking better!



Also got the angle grinder on to that horrible wart on the bonnet - it's a Dub again!



I also was amazed at the lack of serious rust. Under the luggage bonnet is like new - not a sign of any rust in the spare wheel well, front bumper supports, anywhere.
Inside it is also surprisingly solid. The heater channels need sorting, but the floorpans look good.



Considering it hadn't been moved from a garage for 20 years I'm really pleased with my purchase. I'm looking forward to a good few months work. I'm targeting March 2013 for completion - maybe stretching to Sept!

[barefoot]

It's been a long time since the last post and I've got to admit I haven't done a lot on the van. My son's Squareback has taken priority and that is close to completion. So hopefully we can get a bit more done over the winter.

I have been sourcing lots of parts including type 3 tinware (to increase the load area by lowering the engine mass), loads of engine parts to build up a strong and reliable powerplant, and a one piece flip front.

A few photos of where I am so far:





Several layers of patch panels have been welded in by POs over the years and there were 5 layers in places! A bit of cutting out and a few panels to be welded in (the grey edge to the seat panel is just placed in position in the pic) and we should be back on the right track.

The piece of timber is the guide to where the firewall panel can be cut down to. I am intending to weld in some cross struts to improve the rigidity and probably a roll cage of sorts bracing it all up.

I also discovered that a company in the US (BGW) still sell the conversion!