Phoenix Rising - front drums now free

[Barry]

Ok - this isn’t my resto and it isn’t a kombi. 
It is a VW (64 beetle) and I have a part to play. 

My mate “acquired” a 1964 Standard beetle the other day. 
The old couple that lived across the road use to live in my mates house. 
The 1964 beetle they owned and purchased new, all related to the house my mate lives in. 
They parked it up in 1990 in a car port out the back (not sure why yet)
Anyway, when they moved into a home, they gave it to my mate. 
Sadly a vine had grown all over it and leaves rested in the gutters and the body is now toast. 
Otherwise it’s a bit of a time capsule. 
All parts are there. 

Anyway, the first beetle I bought was a 1964 in 1981. 
After about 5 years I sold it to a mate. His girlfriend was driving and some idiot went through a stop sign and totalled it. 
Mates father was a car wrecker and owned a bush block out at Buckety. (near Wollombi)
He took the motor out to drive a bush saw and the body stashed there in dry storage. 
Had to cut the (damaged) front off and a bit of the rear to fit in his trailer. 

So………. BTC restorations at Nana Glenn will be looking after the bodywork 
Going to (hopefully) restoring my old white body and grafting all the green bits on. 
It would be a LOT cheaper to buy a restored beetle by mate is sentimentally attached. 
Good on him. 

His is a Standard beetle that has been modified with trim and things and mine was a deluxe. 
Mate needs to make up how this is going to go. 

Anyway - I get to help without having to layout any of the folding green stuff

   

   

   

[Barry]

The donor

   

   


This one is in pretty good condition. 
The from and rear repairs are relatively easy compared to gutters
   

   

[Barry]

OK - now I have some time we are starting to get into the '64.

First issue we have is the back wheels are locked.
I am assuming this is "just" the drums locked up.
Going to go around and have a look Friday.

Just wondering if anyone has a pre-drilled length of angle iron or a battle axe I can borrow?
Mate previously had a multi pattern battle axe and it was perfect for this - but sadly he has packed up and moved on.

I reckon if I loosen the drum pads and get some leverage on the wheel it should break free.

The beetle is wide 5 pattern
I am in Sydney if anyone can help

[Oldman]

Big rubber mallet and patience……
Crank the brake the adjusters in, if you can move them…..smacking the drum with bravado will release a seized shoe….and a big rubber mallet will save your ears…..

[Barry]

Here is some better pictures of the rust my mate had.
Hence the donor body.
Whilst the front and back are missing, replacing them will be a lot easier than repairing the gutters.
This way you will still have the “seam” in the gutter and not covered in sealer/bog

   

   

That said, the inside is pretty good 
I was/is a “standard” and you can’t get trim like that unless you pay top $$$ for custom. 
The door cards are perfect and the seats are only split at the seam. Easy fix. 
The Standards only had roof lining in the centre square of the roof and that is perfect. 
Just need to get it out

   

   

[Barry]

Big rubber mallet and patience……
Crank the brake the adjusters in, if you can move them…..smacking the drum with bravado will release a seized shoe….and a big rubber mallet will save your ears…..

So…. Managed to get the rears rolling but the fronts are solid. 
Being a 64 it only has one adjustment hole on the front and that is nowhere near the adjusters. 
Later improvements put two holes on the backing plate - but not on a 64.
Tried taking the bearing lock nuts off and belting the drum off, but no. 

Currently it has been drenched in WD40 and we will have another go tomorrow. 

Failing that I reckon it is either a bloody big 3 leg puller or a 4” cutting disc and cut the bugger off. 

Any other suggestions??

[Eltrevo]

So…. Managed to get the rears rolling but the fronts are solid. 
Being a 64 it only has one adjustment hole on the front and that is nowhere near the adjusters. 
Later improvements put two holes on the backing plate - but not on a 64.
Tried taking the bearing lock nuts off and belting the drum off, but no. 

Currently it has been drenched in WD40 and we will have another go tomorrow. 

Failing that I reckon it is either a bloody big 3 leg puller or a 4” cutting disc and cut the bugger off. 

Any other suggestions??

Use a large ball pin hammer and hit the drum as hard as you can between the wheel studs  may need 3 or 4 good hits this will shock the shoes off of the drums typically they bond together with rust. Good luck

[Oldman]

Or…..drill another hole for access in the backing plates.
What harm could it do and if it gives you access to the adjusters, you’re 1/2 way there…..

[Barry]

Well - more heat and a bigger breaker bar was needed.

Both wheels free but front passenger was a mess.
Got it going around, but couldn’t get the drum off.
Turned out the bearing race was in multiple pieces. A complete mess.
The pads were way out of adjustment as well.
Was not well adjusted.

Think he will be going wide 5 disc anyway.
Probably CSP