Preparation for Welding
Punch the new Parts I ordered a sheet metal puncher from AliExpress.COM. I like it, despite one little thing: a lot of force is needed to punch the rocker panels from TrabantWelt.DE. I hope that they are very strong and i am not too old and weak 🙂 The top…
The First Body Patches
Cardboard Patches I am using some random pieces of a cardboard to define the body patches. Sheet Metal Patches The first two small patches are cut. They just need to be formed with the grinder and they are ready to weld. What is Next I still don’t have a MIG…
Ready for Welding (Almost)
The Right Side Today i made the final cuts on the right side. Shock Absorbers What is Next Next i need to buy a MIG welder and let the fun start.
Front Shock Domes
Front Shock Domes Today i cut all the remaining metal from the left side of the car. Next is leveling of the survived sheet metal and cutting of the patches. I also cut the left shock absorbers’ dome: Now i know why it gets rusty here – the bottom piece…
A Little Puzzle
The face of the Trabant has to look perfect. If this is not true, i don’t look at the rest of the car with the same excitement. Today i put the pieces together to check if i am getting closer to what i want: In the end i have to…
Few Cuts Ahead
Left Rocker Panel Today i did few more cuts on the side of the left rocker panel. New Parts My first order from TrabantWelt.DE arrived partially. It has 67 lines and 6 lines are already here. I also bought 4 ft x 4 ft sheet steel, 18 gauge. The next…
Rocker Panels First Cut
The rocker panels are cut. The final cut will remove all the point weldings and the rest of the rocker panels. Left Rocker Panel Right Rocker Panel Master Brake Cylinder In the meantime i disassembled the master brake cylinder (will replace all the sealings) and the starter (will paint the…
Body Completely Naked
Phase 1 (strip completely the body) was completed today. I cut the marked bolt while i unscrewed it (with the wrench). The rust continued to block and i drilled a hole in the rubber. Then sprayed in it. The river is a mix of WD-40 and Liquid Wrench. This is…
Body Lifted on 90 Degrees
The body is almost naked. The body is lifted on 90 degrees. The right side of the car is at the top. A single person, who took a good breakfast, is enough to turn the body on its side.
The Gearbox is Out
I removed the axles and the gearbox. I could not pull the join-balls. My favorite thing in the mechanics is called “Joint ‘tightness’”. Usually i hit it until i destroy it 🙂 This is what happened with the air cooling turbine belt pulley. I ordered a new turbine, but now…