The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
- vwlover77
- IAC Addict!
- Location: North Canton, Ohio
- Status: Offline
The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
Greetings from rainy, tropical northeast Ohio! It's been a while since I've posted here... life has been quite busy!
The paint on the nose of my 78 Westy has been bad since I bought the Bus in 2005. The paint was blistering and lifting; finally a big chunk peeled off. When I saw how much rust was traveling under the paint, I decided that it was time to refinish it.
I took it down to bare metal with a rotary sander, sandblasted the rust pitted areas, rattle-can primed it, filled the dents, and tried my hand at spraying the finish coat with an HVLP spray gun in my garage. THAT was a misadventure that I will never repeat for the sake of my lungs and brain cells, at least not without building a temporary "paint booth" with good ventilation. (I did use a respirator, but by the end, the smell was starting to come through.)
I also took the opportunity to remove the spare tire carrier from the nose, which I've been wanting to do for a long time. The VW emblem is from my very first Bus, a '71. It fills and covers the holes drilled for the spare tire carrier perfectly!
Here's a couple of pictures of the work-in-progress and the final results. The color match to the Maaco paint on the rest of the Bus is not perfect, but pretty darn close. Up close, it's clear it's a first-time amateur's work, but it still looks better than it did! Overall, I'm pleased.
The paint on the nose of my 78 Westy has been bad since I bought the Bus in 2005. The paint was blistering and lifting; finally a big chunk peeled off. When I saw how much rust was traveling under the paint, I decided that it was time to refinish it.
I took it down to bare metal with a rotary sander, sandblasted the rust pitted areas, rattle-can primed it, filled the dents, and tried my hand at spraying the finish coat with an HVLP spray gun in my garage. THAT was a misadventure that I will never repeat for the sake of my lungs and brain cells, at least not without building a temporary "paint booth" with good ventilation. (I did use a respirator, but by the end, the smell was starting to come through.)
I also took the opportunity to remove the spare tire carrier from the nose, which I've been wanting to do for a long time. The VW emblem is from my very first Bus, a '71. It fills and covers the holes drilled for the spare tire carrier perfectly!
Here's a couple of pictures of the work-in-progress and the final results. The color match to the Maaco paint on the rest of the Bus is not perfect, but pretty darn close. Up close, it's clear it's a first-time amateur's work, but it still looks better than it did! Overall, I'm pleased.
Don
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78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick
"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen
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78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick
"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen
- zabo
- Old School!
- Location: earth
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
- Randy in Maine
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Old Orchard Beach, Maine
- Status: Offline
- wcfvw69
- Old School!
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
For your first time, that looks amazing! nice job!!
1970 Westfalia bus. Stock 1776 dual port type 1 engine. Restored German Solex 34-3. Restored 205Q distributor, restored to factory appearance engine.
- sped372
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Waunakee, WI
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
Yes, nice work!
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX
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- I'm New!
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
I'm impressed. Good job and thanks for posting the pics.
1977 VW Bus, 2.0 FI
- Mike Boell
- Old School!
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
Looks great to me. Nice job.
Mike Boell
1975 FI Westy
Oregon City
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN THEY'RE PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
1975 FI Westy
Oregon City
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN THEY'RE PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
Looks great to me. Nice Job. Make me miss my Westy
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- vwlover77
- IAC Addict!
- Location: North Canton, Ohio
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
WHAT???? You sold your Westy??? When??? WHY??? (Sorry, I've been off the board for a while...)Mr Blotto wrote:Make me miss my Westy
Don
---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick
"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen
---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick
"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen
- Mulcheese
- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Maple Grove, Mn
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
Very nice and clean job!!
"attending to things in the moment with curiosity and acceptance."
____________________
82 Vanagon Westy - aka: Honey Badger - "cause she just dont give a ...."
____________________
82 Vanagon Westy - aka: Honey Badger - "cause she just dont give a ...."
- Mr Blotto
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Northern Burbs / Chicago
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
Yep - this spring - got an offer I could not refuse - yep, I have seller's remorsevwlover77 wrote:WHAT???? You sold your Westy??? When??? WHY??? (Sorry, I've been off the board for a while...)Mr Blotto wrote:Make me miss my Westy
Your bus looks great - looks way better w/o the spare tire/cover on the front IMHO.
1978 Sage Green Westy - 2.0 FI - SOLD WITH 109887 miles
- vwlover77
- IAC Addict!
- Location: North Canton, Ohio
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
I've been there. It was seller's remorse that caused me to buy this Bus! Are you shopping?Mr Blotto wrote:Yep - this spring - got an offer I could not refuse - yep, I have seller's remorse
Don
---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick
"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen
---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick
"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: The Tortoise gets a Nose Job!
Damn, I am late to the party AGAIN.vwlover77 wrote:I've been there. It was seller's remorse that caused me to buy this Bus! Are you shopping?Mr Blotto wrote:Yep - this spring - got an offer I could not refuse - yep, I have seller's remorse
Looks good with that emblem. Glad to see you joined us in the world of painting our own cars. Now you know why I am brain-damaged ever since rattle-can painting the Road Warrior without a respirator mask for the first half of the job . . .
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles