My 63 Birch Square

[Clockwork]

Had this for a while so thought i'd pop some pictures up for those that have not already seen it.

This is how she arrived in the UK from Arizona, not a pretty sight...













And now...Pretty much as I purchased it. The car was bought as a half started project. Since I bought it and moved it to my unit I had to move out of the unit so the vehicle is now spread around the place. I've spent most of my time so far logging parts and working out what is re-usable and what needs to be replaced. It came with some nos parts and I have continued to source and buy these from all over the place amassing quite a considerable hoard. There are of course the very illusive parts which i'm hoping will come to light as I require them.

The difficulty is with this project is that as I never took the car appart in the first place i'm not exactly sure what is missing...I guess this will come to light as the build progresses. The car needs alot of bodywork, although it is a very solid car with very little rot the body itself has been through the wars and needs lots of skilled time to get it straight enough for paint. I have however a friend who having recently finished his project (which was on the cover of this months Ultra VW) has found a bit of a hole and some time to help with the square. So with his help...perhaps me more lending a hand to him than him helping me...we hope to have the car in primer awaiting paint by the end of 2012. Meanwhile I plan to get a rolling/detailed pan ready to accept the body after paint. Then next year the focus is on re-assembly.























and a recently acquired nos front valance....





The remainder of the car is in plastic tubs in the spare room, in the loft and in storage in the garages of two of my friends.

Next jobs are to test fit the body and hang all the panels for gaps before prepping the body, new outer sill to fit to replace dented panel, fit front valance, repair rear valance. Scuttle panel is damaged where bonnet flipped back at some time.

As far as the end plan for the car I can't decide, perhaps it's too early to decide anyway. I'm going for the original Birch Green colour and plan to build it bone stock first of all before the modification process takes place. I'm in no rush to get this finished, I just want to make sure it's right and hasn't been rushed.

I will keep this thread as up to date as I can.

Si

[miketyp3]

Looks like a lot of hard work done Simon.
Good luck with the project & looking forward to watching this thread.

Mike

[Clockwork]

There were a few small dents in the roof which have now been rectified





























Some spot welds for some reason had previousely been put in the corners of the guttering? so these were removed and the guttering on the top side and underside were rubbed down and treated as a little surface rust was present

[Clockwork]

Next job was the scuttle panel...this had been damaged by what would seem to be dodgy bonnet hinges...

Heated up and knocked back close to shape then a bit of lead





















Chuffed with the progress

[Dave G]

Good stuff, looking forward to the updates, keep them coming!

[Clockwork]

ok, not updated for a while so here's a glimpse of what is going on..

dented front valance had spot welds drilled out and has now been removed





I bought a blaster so got busy with it and got right into all the corners...









And some close ups of the bumper mounts...





Still had some media left in the tank so moved around and had a go at the outside of one of the mounts...



and the top of the inner wing...




I then had to split a bit quick so Andy rubbed it back and bopped a bit of primer on...





test fitted the NOS front panel (thanks again to miketype3 for collecting this from belgium) and it all looks to fit up perfectly

will update again soon

[Editor]

About the spot welds on the roof panel. ISTR when cutting off a Squareback roof section for salvage as good quality repair metal, there are a few spot welds on the lip. Since most of the panel is simply folded over, maybe it's important to be held in a few places!

[Clockwork]

Not sure I follow Dave?
These welds had been added to each of the four corners of the car, they were not factory and I can see way they would have strenghthened the roof.
Unless perhaps you are thinking that possibly the roof had been prepped to be removed?

[jmarkha1]

Looking very good - what a difference a blaster makes. Much easier to see what you are working with - in your case a really solid early square - looking forward to following this one...

[Clockwork]

After blasting the outer sills/rocker panels there seemed to be a few pinholes along the length of the panels on both sides. As this was pointing towards thin metal NOS ones for both sides are on their way from Germany. Got lot of pics as the front half of the car is now all blasted and in primer.

Next is to get doors wings and bonnet all fitted up so we can get the front valance panel in place, then around to the rear to fit the nos rear valance, sill replacement then paint. A little way to go yet before paint!

I'll get more pics up soon.

[Clockwork]

Some pictures of where we're up to...





A small amount of pin holing that requires repair here

[Clockwork]

Some pin holing here in the outer sill, have acquired nos panels for both sides to rectify this as is quite thin

[Clockwork]

[Clockwork]

The bottom of the heater channel here needs some repair

[Clockwork]

Have a replacement mount to go in here..one of the few places this car isn't good

[Clockwork]

So this is where we are up to, more blasting to do before fitting nos front and rear valance and outer sills....

still a way to go...

[Marko]

I can't believe how solid this car is, it'll be stunning when finished!!

[Clockwork]

I can't believe how solid this car is, it'll be stunning when finished!!

Thanks Marko, you're right about not believing how solid it is...i'm as surprised as you, if not a little more relieved!

it'll be a while yet until she's on the road but I have a clear picture of how she will turn out and will have to show patience to make sure she's true to my vision.

Thanks for your comments fella!

[tudor rose]

real solid and will be a stunning car once finished

wish my floor pan looked like that

[dirks]

looks good keep up the work