Re: Body Assembly and Paint Sequence {was RE: [T3] Please explain the Vin #}

["Russ Wolfe" <russella@prairieinet.net>]

> The second point of reference is vintage VW.  I have a really great B&W
> picture book called "Volkswagen: A Week at the Factory"  Photographs by
> Peter Keetman, Chronicle Books ISBN 0-8118-0268-X.  These photos were all
> taken in 1953.  There are several shots of the beetle bodies immediately
> after the paint shop. Doors, fenders, hood, and decklid are all attached.
> The fenders are provisionally attached with small standoffs in order to
get
> paint in on the mating surfaces and to allow the beading to be inserted
> further down the line.  There is a later picture showing the trim line and
> the doors are still attached.
>
> If VW was doing it this way in '53 and Ford is still doing it this way
> today, I doubt that the T3 was done any differently.  And there is really
no
> reason to remove the T3 doors since all of the interior bits and pieces
> easily fit through the door opening with the door on.
>
But John, I VW is doing it this way, then how come one of the fenders I sold
you was painted on the inside. I know the other had been replaced. I think
with T-3's at least, the fenders go down the paint line together with the
body, but not on the car.
Back in the early '60's, I worked at the Maytag plant. All of the panels for
the washers and dryers, were hung on hooks, and went through the paint line
together, but not assembled.

Russ Wolfe
http://www.classicvw.org


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