Re: [T3] Patch panels??

[BOB2TYPE3S@aol.com]

Joel wrote:
>I've decided to take a stab at fixing the rust on my '73 fastback. I pulled
>up the carpet in the front and found lots of surface rust on the driver's
>side floor. It's rusted through around the heat duct and the wheel well. I
>gave the floor a good coating of POR-15, but I still have a hole.

Joel, did you put some tape on the underside to keep the por 15 from draining 
out?

>I have been unable to find any type 3 patch panels. I am not a master 
>craftsman by any means, so fabricating my own panels is proving to be 
>a bit difficult. I have a wire feed mig welder, but i'm not sure that I want 
>to weld inside of the car. 

Patch panels for type3s don't exist, for the floors the closest is ghia 
panels. Your only choice is either fabing what you need, or finding good used ones. 
Try asking the DDB ( http://www.theddb.com/ ) if they have what you need, you 
might be surprised at what they have to offer. In some places on the car, 
welding on the inside is your only option, but most of the time it can be done 
from the outside.

>What is the best way to patch these holes? 

P-mail me for some ideas. Let me know what areas you're trying to fix first, 
so I can help you set up a plan of attack. Some parts of this job will be 
easier than others though.

>It doesn't seem fair that I can find every body part imaginable for a 
>beetle but nothing for my car! Has anyone else had this problem? 
>Is there a solution?

You are not alone in this, many of us from the "salt belt" have these same 
problems. Something for you to think about though, the bug had a long production 
run (over 40 years) with many (about 22+ Million) cars built, the type3 had a 
short 11 year run and about a half million built total. I'm sure others will 
point out that VW built more type3s, but nobody knows for sure how many. When 
you' re dealing with a limited production number car, things don't get put on 
a high priority, and the aftermarket doesn't tool up for it. If you think we 
have it bad, try finding parts for a type4, they just don't exist. At least 
others out there (the aftermarket) are beginning to realise that people are 
restoring type3, and are tooling up for some of the really hard to find items, 
unfortunately they cost alot too ( they think we're restoring Corvettes or 
something). Sheet metal for a type3 is the hardest parts to find in good condition 
though (in the East anyway). Due to the salt used on the roads in the winter, 
age of the cars, and the fact that these cars when new were semi cheap for their 
time, that they got neglected over the years, and nobody bothered to fix them 
(except the hardcore owner who wanted to keep it around). All of these things 
conspired to allow the slow destruction of these cars, coupled with no 
replacement parts from either the dealers or the aftermarket, just about killed them 
off. This list is a great resource, and if you need help, or parts, its just 
a case of asking, because somebody either has it, or has done it at one time 
or another. I hope this helps. 

Bob 65 Notch S w/ Sunroof
       69 Square AT- the baby suburban
       Roadster project- formerly a cut up Square (no type3s were harmed in 
its construction as it was built from junk parts)-now running on its own
       71 Square-undecided, but about to become something : )

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