Asad,My comments below are NOT based on experience with removing a convertible body, I have only participated in a restoration of my 74 super beetle, so please take may comments for discussion purposes only.The doors will not act as a brace especially if your heater channels and the associated supports are rotted. All of the strength comes from the heater channels and the C channels below,I am assuming that if you remove the body that there is enough rust that it will simply separate in two:If the door gaps are currently perfect and have no problem closing then you would need to create supports for the doors and supports that will simulate the heater channels and a roof (from the front door pillars to the package tray and across the car from one side window to the other side. You should remove the doors at this time. Check this link: http://www.precisionframe.com/69Vert/HCRepair/HCrepair.htmWe created a jig from the floor (by removing the floor pans), this way you can ensure that when you weld in the new heater channels it will line up properly on the pan.On other thought would it be possible to weld in the heater channels prior to removing the body from the pan?. (1) Remove one pan side (2) create a support for the door (3) remove the heater channel (4) position the heater channel (5) check door alignment several times (6) weld in heater channel and support.Repeat on the other side, and you should be able to remove the body without the doors with some minor bracing across the top of the door.Dan --- On Fri 02/29, asad ishaque < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:From: asad ishaque [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:11:28 +0000Subject: Re: [vintagvw] Body off giving me the jitters!Haaaaeeellpp!! Anyone please?? Please let me know what the thought is for removing the doors before or after the body pull?? TIA Asad.> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected]> Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:43:50 +0000> Subject: [vintagvw] Body off giving me the jitters!> > > Volks!> > I have to admit now. Having the body pulled off the pan of my bastardised 59 ragtop bug is givng me the jitters. My bodyman is skilled but he is not into VWs. I think he can do an excellent job provided I guide him precisely.> > New floorpans are not available here in Pakistan. We did get a shipment a few years ago but they were very expensive (exchange rate kills us) and not of heavy gauge metal to be a justified purchase.> > The 59 has major rust issues on the underside. I think once we try to separate the body n pan quite a few things would fall apart n disintegrate. The heater channels would have to be locally fabricated along with the pans. Im just hoping to be as close to the original as possible. I would need all the guidance I can get.> > Any dos and donts of a body pull??> > Now a question. Sho! uld I leave the doors on before taking the body off or not??? Was thinking of having the doors removed and having steel pipes welded temporarily for bracing the shell earlier. Now Im thinking maybe they would act as the brace?> > The doors themselves are of 67 vintage and would be replaced with a 64 vintage pair along with small sections of the B pillar where the striker attaches. Hafta get rid of the 67 style strikers too.> > I have the option of avoiding these 'head n heart aches' and changing my bodyman to a specialist VW only denter but his downside is he is way too expensive, too far from my home (Karachi is a huge city), and above all does not work under your supervision. So if Im not involved in the rebuild, wheres the fun?> > > > TIA> Asad. > _________________________________________________________________> Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give.> http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join> _________________! ______________________________> vintagvw site list> [EMAIL PROTECTED] ists.sjsu.edu> http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw_________________________________________________________________Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser!http://biggestloser.msn.com/_______________________________________________vintagvw site [EMAIL PROTECTED]://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
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