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Post by bobnotch on May 12, 2011 7:46:21 GMT -8
A little over a year ago, I bought Russ Wolfe's old 64 T-34. Since that time, I've seperated the body from the pan, beat out the nose dents, and replaced a 1/2 quarter on the right side, along with adding a bunch of patches to replace the rusted out sections. I sandblasted both the body and the pan, epoxy primed both, and have painted both. Most of this was done late last year except for the outer body getting painted (most of the inner sections were done last year), as that happened this year. I have a thread going on about it over on the Samba, in the type 3 forum detailing all the work my wife and I have done so far. Here's a link; www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120I'll save bandwidth here, as I'm going to continue adding to my thread there until the car is complete. I started the thread there, as I wanted others to see how these cars were built, and some of it is early, so I knew the 1500 Club guys could help answer some of my questions. Also, it seemed more active over there, than the T-34 registery was. In the last couple of weeks, we've installed the headliner and put the glass in. However I'm having an issue with the side seals (see my question in the general question section). My goal for this car is to have it up and running by late summer this year, so I can take it to Colorado for the 2012 Type 3 Invasion in June. I think I'm going to make it, although the car might not be 100% finished in time. I guess I should also point out that this is my first T-34, but not my first type 3. I also own 2 Notchbacks (a 65 and a 71), a 70 Fastback, and a roofless 71 Square that I was doing a convertible top for when the T-34 fell into my lap. So I'm no stranger to the workings of a type 3 or a VW.
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Post by Lee Hedges on May 12, 2011 8:37:46 GMT -8
Welcome to T34 World, Bob! I'm confident that you'll find it much more active & with better advice than the T34.org groups. Your restoration has been progressing along smoothly & consistently over the past couple years. Nice to see the details of your hands-on work with welding & finishing.
Helping with advice on your seal issues are always difficult without photos to show the areas you're having problems with. Try to upload photos of the areas so we can better visualize the issues you're having and offer advice. Since there is only one source for the repro seals, you'll need to be patient & find a way to get them to fit properly. T34 owners do not have the luxury like T3 or T14 owners do when it comes to parts sources.
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Post by bobnotch on May 12, 2011 15:32:45 GMT -8
Well, I've really only had the car for a year, as I got it from Russ on April 28th 2010. All the work (that I posted on the Samba) has been since I got it from Russ. I tried to post a couple of pics (may try again), but the system went blank after loading about 1/2 way thru, then told me it was done. Ok, I just tried again in the other thread to add a pic, and it booted me from the site. I guess I'll just stick to posting pics on the Samba.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2011 5:48:00 GMT -8
Hey Bob.... I've been following your project over there a while.... Great progress and awesome effort... Looking forward to the completion.... As for linking pics to this forum (or any other) from the samba..... It's very easy to do.... Just right click on the image in the thread over there, select the "copy image location" link from the list.... Click in your post where you would like the image to be placed, then click on the "insert image" icon in the tags list found above the smilies collection, and add the address between the to bracketed items....
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Post by bobnotch on May 15, 2011 8:55:15 GMT -8
Thanks for the compliments, and the heads up on loading pics. I really need to get a couple of overall shots, so I can post them up, and show the real progress. The shot you posted was from around the time I got it from Russ. It's coming along slowly, but it's getting there. It definitely doesn't look like the photo you posted anymore. ;D I'm still kind of working on my door glass seal issues, as I haven't quite got a handle on them. I think I got the wrong style of seals for them, so it's kind of put that part of the project on hold. I did get the seat tracks back in last week, and test fitted the seats. They still need to come back out, and be gone thru though. Yesterday, I was working on the wiper assembly, as it was frozen up at the shafts. Also the ends of the shafts were pretty eaten up from the original owner trying to get the arms to stay put. I probably should have gotten some NOS ones, but I figure I can fix these up, and re-use them (trying to keep it original) The shafts are sitting on the bench, waiting for some weld build up in the low spots, and me to do the labor. Once that's done, then most of the water should stay outside, as I did rebuild the fresh air boxes, and installed them. I've got a bunch of small projects to do, so there's plenty to keep me busy on it.
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Post by bobnotch on May 15, 2011 14:53:27 GMT -8
Ok, here's a couple of more updated pics.
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Post by bobnotch on Jul 29, 2011 8:23:45 GMT -8
Well, a lot has happened since I joined this forum back in May. I've done a wide 5 disc brake conversion (also swapped the OE rims back on, removing the VW Thing tires and wheels (see above pics) that have been on for over a year now), dual circuit master cylinder installed with new steel lines and hoses, fuel tank installed (with a couple of gallons of gas in it), and fuel system plumbed, carbs installed, plug wires ran, and the pedal cluster installed. Earlier this week, I bled the brake system (Dot 5), and then yesterday, I fired up the engine for the first time in the 15 months that I've owned it (or since 1968 when the original owner crashed it, and it got put in a field for storage until Russ bought it in 2006). I moved it out of the shop under it's own power that day, then put it back in the shop later the same day. ;D So I've met my first target of moving the car under it's own power by August 1st. Next will see a bunch of other stuff get done, so I can drive it to Colorado in June 2012. I should also mention that ALL of the lights are installed and work, except the fogs, as I still have to finish them. Right now, I'm working on disassembling the front seat frames (replacement rears have already been made), so they can get sandblasted and painted. Then I can order up some covers for them, and some carpet for the inside (it's bare painted metal right now). Still making progress though, and I'll just keep pecking away at it.
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Post by bobnotch on Mar 30, 2012 11:50:31 GMT -8
Wow, I can't believe I haven't updated this since July of last year. In a way, quite a bit has happened since then, but for the most part, not a lot. Where to start? Well last spring, I did a "cut and buff" of the paint, but I really wasn't very happy with the end result. It did however allow me to "test fit" the parts that still needed to go on the car. At the end of summer/fall, I was at the point where I was held up on cash to do stuff, as most everything I still needed, needed to be ordered up. Spring forward to about a month and a half ago, and I got the seat covers, and carpet ordered up from Sew Fine. I went with the "400 loop" kit, and 2 tone seat covers in white with black inserts. While the covers aren't correct, they do match the interior combo, since it's got all black door panels from Scott, and a "cloud white" headliner (the only color you can get them in). I still have the rear seat to finish, but the carpet is all glued in (where it gets glued in place), and we even cleaned up the OE floor mats (the rubber ones with the 341 part numbers). Those will probably sit on top of the carpet, to keep the carpet clean. Next on the list, was re-wet sanding the lower part of the car (the Sea Blue paint), and putting on a fresh coat of clear. The reason I did this, was mainly that I didn't like the color change that the "cut and buff" did to it. After the "C&B", it didn't match under the wheel wells, dash or under the trunk lids. And I didn't want that. I might have been being picky, but it is my car, and I wanted a particular shade for it, that having the intact clear gave. It's just that little hint of change that bothered me. Now that I'm happy, it could get reassembled. The "test fitting" really made that a snap. And yes Jurgen, they do look like twins (yours and mine), since I copied your rim color choice. ;D What can I say, I thought it looked really good painted up that way. Anyway, here's a couple of pics, for those that haven't been following my build thread. It's still less than 2 years since I got the car (April 28th, 2010), and I've still got a few more things that I want to do to it still (I've made a little hit list of stuff still to do). But, it's come a long ways in the last 23 months. ;D
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Post by Jürgen Klein on Mar 30, 2012 15:40:24 GMT -8
Yes , Bob , they`re looking nearly like twins ! Now you need white mud flaps , a Chrome tube for the exhaust , a white steering wheel , Hella Horns for the front , 2 reverse lights , a radio antenna , white turn signal lenses and , ofcourse , a towing hook !! Your car looks good - Hope to see it ready this year ! So you will hear from nearly everyone who looks at the car : What a beautifull color (-combination )! Greetings Jürgen
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Post by bobnotch on Mar 31, 2012 10:05:56 GMT -8
Well, some of those things I don't know if I'll ever find. It does have an antenna, it's 1 of those Hirshman units, that fold down inside the fender (it was down at the time of the pic), so that's taken care of. Yeah, it's almost ready for the road now, but I've been taking my time doing some of the stuff too. But I am looking forward to driving it.
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Post by bobnotch on Apr 16, 2012 13:30:40 GMT -8
A little update. Two saturdays ago, I had an engine failure right in the garage. It just siezed up. So I pulled the engine out, and tore it down. I found it had ingested a rag (probably from the oil fill tube I'm guessing). Ordered up some new bearings, and dropped the crank off to my local engine machinist for polishing. Got both the bearings and the crank back friday afternoon, and built up the crank that night. Then saturday, I spent the day reassembling the engine. About 9pm, I fired it up. So far everything seems to be good. I did do a 20 minute break in run, then I changed the oil. The break in oil looks about normal, with some bearing metallic in it, but otherwise pretty clean. We seemed to have dodged a bullet, as the failure could have happened out on the road instead of the shop. I'm bummed that it happened, but at the same time happy to have it fixed.
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Post by Bob Heydt on Oct 14, 2013 17:45:40 GMT -8
A little update,to show that the project is still moving along. I had a computer problem late last year, and lost all my info to this site. As a result, Lee gave me a new start, but all of my previous posts are under my Samba, t-34 registry, VolksRods, and a few other sites I visit screen name. Anyway, we did get the car completed, on the road, and out to the T-3 Invasion in Colorado. The only issues we had during that entire 3,000 mile trip were 2 used starters that quit working, and a sheared speedometer drive shaft (which we rebuilt in the host hotel room with some parts from a bug unit). While there, I met fellow T-34 World members Greg Skinner, Rick Mason, Rich Christensen(and his son), and Dave Whitlock. So it was a good T-34 event. I had worked out a swap with Greg on some bumper parts, as mine were very rusty and pitted, and the trip out saved us both some shipping. ;D A couple of months later, I got a box of bumper parts from Tram, and between his box, and the parts I got from Greg, I was able to make a really nice set for my car. Back in June of this year, I cleaned up the back side of them with a sandblaster, then epoxy primed and painted the back sides, along with painting the brackets. Here's a pic of them; And installed on the car (front); And rear; Now I just need to hunt down a decent chrome correct left upright (I have 2 rights). For now though, I'm going to continue to use the 66 and later style that I have, since they both match each other, and the chrome on them is good. And a 3/4 angle shot with the dust wiped off. I do plan on taking the car to the 2014 type 3 Invasion (June 19 thru June 22) in New York state, as that one will be only a days ride (each way), versus 3 days out, and 3 days back like the trip out to Colorado Springs was. I do hope to meet up with other T-34 owners in the North East, along with caravaning with John and Jill Jaranson (she's driving HER 67 T-34). But for now, the car has been getting some use every now and then, as I do have a couple of other type 3s that need to be driven too.
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Post by Lee Hedges on Oct 14, 2013 18:14:57 GMT -8
Great looking Sea Blue T34! It's a great story of perseverance & patience. Lots of work in that T34!
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Post by Jürgen Klein on Oct 15, 2013 11:23:09 GMT -8
For me it`s like a deja vu everytime I see Bob`s car ..... Looks great with the polished chrome ! You need white mudflaps on the car , Bob !
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Post by Bob Heydt on Oct 17, 2013 8:03:56 GMT -8
Great looking Sea Blue T34! It's a great story of perseverance & patience. Lots of work in that T34! Yes, there's a lot of work in that car, but I consider it more of a labor of love than work. I also learned quite a bit about T-34s working on that car. I mean I'm already a T-3 owner, but the way Karmann did things was also a challenge. It was a fun project, and driving it 3000 miles on it's maiden run, made all the work worth it (it did get a 140 mile shake down run prior). Plus, I was able to make Russ's dream come true, in that the car is back on the road, rather than being a parts donor. He told me I could do whatever I wanted with it (since it was now mine), but he'd really like to see it put back together, and back on the road. He knew it went to the right person, as he got to see most of the work I did to it (he followed my build thread on the Samba). While it's not a show car (or trailer queen), it is a driver that shows well. The car performs excellently, and is a pleasure to drive. I really do love the color of it too. I've been thinking of re-painting my 65 Notch that color. I'm still hunting some of the elusive parts to get it finished (do they ever really get finished?), so I'm still working on it, just not as hard as I did for the first year and a half. And Jurgen, yes they could be twins. If you want, you can send me a set of white mud flaps for Christmas. I do feel that every time I see your car it's like deja vu too. It's a great color combination. ;D
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