Welding the 1969 Convertible VW Beetle Back Together Again

Our 350 chevy V8 Powered 1969 VW Beetle Hot Rod Project

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Here I am trying to get the beetle body put back together again. I decided that the best way to do this would be to use the doors to re-align everything. I built a stand/hanger for the back part of the beetle. I then put the doors back on the front half of the beetle, but since the bottom hindges were rusted out, I found some washers that fit in the gap and put a couple tacks between the doors and front part of the car.

Our 350 chevy V8 Powered 1969 VW Beetle Hot Rod Project Sitting in my driveway

Next I hoisted up the front half of the body and latched the doors into the back half of the body.

Next I had to get the door gaps right on the back part of the door, and also make sure everything was lined up and square. I welded the doors on the inside and outside to the body next, and will brace the inside with some 1" angle or square tubing to make sure everythign stays square and aligned untill I can get some support put back in. Getting this far was a pretty involved process... Tac weld here.... adjust here, tac again..... measure here and there, cut a weld adjust some more............................... This is the point where it would be nice to have a good beetle body, but that wouldn't be nearly as much fun... LOL

After I finally got the body lined up and squared up I welded in some 1" angle and tubing that I had in for support. The pieces I ran side to side I made 2 pieces and clamped them together. That way when I cut the body in half I could loosen the clamps and slide both halves apart.

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