Squashed,...NO MORE!

[wetminkey]

Despite a bazillion other things keeping me busy for the last six weeks, or so,...my Spider is this far along:

It was damaged badly last fall (see in 'Fiat Related': "Squashed,...getting fixed!" and "Squashed,...nearly fixed"),...
I have some detail contour work to do around the passenger's headlight, but otherwise it's pretty much done. Lights work like new all around, and the front grille/trim/bumper covers are in the trunk, restored.
Gotta sheared bumper-mount bolt that I need to decide how to replace,...that should not be too difficult.
I'll stop for now and return to it ASAP, this fall.
Next will be dash/windshield and then upholstery. Already shopped/priced and ready to order,...
Right now I've got good temps for auto paint, and a Superbeetle in my paintshop, awaiting base/clear coats,...
Watching everyone's progress and posts,
Todd.

[wetminkey]

Completed gray primer to the driver's side fender area that I've been working on (seems like I started ages ago!), just behind the door. Looks good, is waterproof, and makes us driveable.
The Spider is not all silver, but the bodywork is nearly complete and primered,...that puts us back on the road again!
Ignition repairs, and tuning, in the past couple of months, have the 4cyl running better than ever.
The car is ready for a cruise over Horsetooth reservoir with focodave anytime. We'll have to get pics, and post them, when we cruise it,...
Gotta call my insurance people to get the car legal ASAP,...
Ya just gotta like it when a Fiat Spider DOES NOT end up going to the junkyard! This was a VERY CLOSE CALL.
Todd.

[dinghyguy]

Looks good Todd
Dare you to drive to vancouver as a test drive!
Front s poiler?
Fog lights?
Race ing stripes?
Ferrari badg es?
Cheers
Dinghyguy

[wetminkey]

Thank you very much for the complement, my friend!
First major outing in 18+ years,...Vancouver might be a bit of a stretch! Sounds like a beautiful place to visit, though!
Oh, my front spoiler is primered/finished to silver and awaits re-installation. Soon, I hope.
Fog lights would be a good addition, if I we ever inclined to drive my Spider in the fog (!). And I could see a Spider adorned in the Italian flag, or with stripes,...not this one, though. A really pretty, red one, maybe.
Gosh, Dan, it's no Ferrari, and never even had it's external Pininfarina emblems (since before I've owned it). The look is good in my book, I guess.
Wet sanded the German car today, until it became too warm in the shop. And I must have been on a roll, 'cause then I went over the Fiat's front end, hood, and driver's rear with 400. Looks pretty good.
I'll keep working on the Spider when I'm not tied up on the Superbeetle's paint. I'm still not satisfied with the contours/shadows around the Spider's passenger headlight,...just ME, being anal,...as always.
Chow for now!
More soon, Todd.

[wetminkey]

Had a great time this evening running the Spider for a number of short outings,...first time that the car has been out since being damaged, about nine months ago.
Performed perfectly,...thanks to ignition repairs and upgrades while the car has been idle. And new rear axle trailing arms/shocks stopped the old suspension squeaks!
Headlight detail is matching pretty well, now. It's nearly time to order a dash and purchase a windshield,...!
Perhaps after I paint the Superbeetle,...wet-sanded almost all of it's primer to 400 today.
Hope all of you had a great Father's Day!
Todd.

[wetminkey]

My 1979 Spider 2000 is INSURED once again, as of this afternoon. YAY!
Plates are good 'till next month, so we're back on the road again! Fully functional, in all respects. Front end alignment will be the next step,...a place nearby, that I'm familiar with, does them.
Still need to repair a bumper mounting bolt, so that I can finally reinstall the front bumper covers, but at least I have something to hang my turn signals on, for now! Repair soon.
Passenger fender detail around the headlight is almost done (driver's side is now the 'gold standard' that I'm duplicating on the right). Hood and driver's fender are primered and wet-sanded to 400, as is the lower front.
The repair I was working on prior to the accident is also nearly finished,...I'm in the process of completing driver's rear fender lip contour. I've also completed a few minor surface repairs on the lower surfaces of the passenger's side.
Pics as soon as I have the passenger's fender contoured, primed, and wet sanded.
Might be a bit,...my Superbeetle awaits a two stage paint right now,...priorities.
Todd.

[RRoller123]

That is excellent, quite a long battle!

[wetminkey]

Thanks, RRoller123!
Accident happened in October, but I opted to work on the car over the winter and wait for my bodyman to have time for it.
Planned for February,...HAH! Turned into end of March! But check out his MIG welds in my other "Squashed" post, in "Fiat Spider Related". Well worth the wait,...and it was WINTER anyway!
Now planning expenditures for a new windshield and dash.
Upholstery and exterior finish will have to wait until next year,...but I'm just amazed that the little car has survived this VERY close call with near certain death. If the blow to the front had been just a couple of inches higher,...
Back to wet sanding my VW's primer.
Thanks for keeping up and your concern!

[wetminkey]

Back On The Road Again!!
And back together again. Yahoo!

Hood emblem and nose chrome can wait until the car gets full paint,...
New front tires and alignment next.
And I think this carb needs a rebuild! Car starts and runs perfect, but struggles terribly once this carb drops out of high idle,...it's been getting worse over time, and the ADHA hasn't been rebuilt since the mid-2000s. I wish I could afford an upgrade,...but there's that windshield/dash. And paint,...and the new upholstery,...! Ahhhh,...
Could be worse!! That's for sure.
Todd.

[dinghyguy]

Looks good Todd, I am envious, currently in the middle of moving OUT OF THE DUNGEON into a house with a tiny garage, but big plans.....maybe a 3 car if not at least a big 2 car garage to be constructed this fall and winter.

In the meantime, gonna actually be able to block up the fiat and drop the tranny in daylight and not worry about the apartment police saying no fixing of cars in the garage Yeah! Gonna change the clutch, and some bearings to get rid of the noise.

but new old house, plus sailing plans...… a bit of interference here and there.
oh and buying a pickup, looking at a '87 mazda for little money. Comments anyone?

cheers
dinghyguy

[wetminkey]

Best of luck with the move! I hope you get that 3 car garage! The bigger, the better,...in my opinion.
Glad that the clutch replacement is going to be easier for you, also!

Here's what my frontend looks like after ALL that work (took about nine months,...):

This "near-miss" was so close to deadly, that I'm just glad to HAVE my Spider! And to be able to get back to normal projects, like seatback repair, upholstery, and dash/windshield,...
Oh, and BTW forum members, I LOVE CANADIANS, and have never worried about a 'trade balance' with Canada. I'm just sayin',...
Todd.