Drive-side Damage and Repair of B Pillar and lower panel

This is the damaged area that required the dog leg removal. The B pillar was smashed up and
something creased the bottom lower panel all the way to the rear wheel well.

The bottom panel was cut off right at the first vertical support bar. This is set to be replaced by an AutoCraft aftermarket panel. 

Testing the configuration, but I realized, I cut too far up where the arch of the wheel well doesn't fit correct. I'll remove this from the original piece which I over cut.

Trying it on for size. It seems to be a good fit and will weld in quite nicely.

Piece welded in and it looks good to go. I will file down the slug when it is affixed on the Bus.

Prepping the area where the dog legs will go. 

Received new Dog Legs

Received new dog legs today from WolfsBurgwest.  A little different looking than the website, but I can live with that. The gauge of the metal feels about right and the thinkness of the wheel well is good.

Trying them on for size.. :-)  I cannot complain. Once I have them mounted on.  I think it will be good. I'm still trying to figure out how to clean off the door frame in the front before I weld them in.

Engine Removal

I needed to remove the engine because it is cleaner, but also to deal with a heavy oil leak. This is the engine removed from my car.

Panel widow removal

The sides of the had round Disco windows cute into the panel.  Here I decided that I rather deal with a square over a circle.  I marked out the smallest square I could make out of the circle.

Here is the metal cute square. Not perfect, but good enough by most standards.  I read somewhere you don't want sharp corners while welding, but what can I do?

 Welded 3 out of 4 sides at this point.  There was some warping because of the heat, but I'll clean this up in a few steps later on down the line when I am doing the cosmetic bodywork.

Paint and damage

Paint removal and body check

Paint removal off front of bus. Drive's door removal. The car was purchased in primer and it was a bit rusty looking, so moisture reached the body.

Front has some damage.  It looks like someone some whole drilling to pull the dent out. They didn't use a stud welder.

Passenger door removed  and head lights removed.

Disco windows removed from van to be welded back closed.

1957 panel arrived from Texas to Brooklyn

The panel arrived from Fort-worth, Texas. First it landed in East Orange.  I couldn't get a trailer to pick up my delivery to bring it to NYC.  I changed my destination to NJ and someone took the bait.  The driver complained about getting too many tickets once in NYC.

Here it is being unloaded from the trailer. 

It arrived in NJ on September 11th (9/11), 2014.

This is place in my temp garage in East Orange, NJ. 

Into its current and final destination here in Brooklyn.  Welcome home Oscar.  Oh yeah, his name is Oscar, his sister Mireille is in the next carport over.  She is a lovely fully restore 1958 Beetle.

Arrived in Brooklyn, October 5th, 2013