My First 1970 Bug

[Brownpantsracing]

A week!!!!!??? Blimey mate, that's dedication to the cause I'd budgeted a day, lol. Yours has turned out great though. My grafting lid is a post 68 style so I think the curves are slightly different due to the more bulbous shape but should still be possible. I've seen it done before so wanna give it a go. I'll be saving the original cut outs just in case I give up. Haha.

[chontay]

Yeah so was mine. I think the curves are as you say so it's a bit of a trick to get them flush. I just kept skimming it with filler, sanding back and repeat till it was right. But a lot of wide block sanding which takes longer to get the match right and the curves even. I also had a disaster with some fibre glass resin I tried as an experiment that didn't go off so had to grind off and start again. But yeah a good 5 days without that I reckon.

[Brownpantsracing]

My plan was to cut the vent grafts out similar size to how you've done and then try bend them slightly to match the decent deck lid curves by laying them on the inside of the lid, bit by bit until they sit flush hopefully without bending the veins themselves. Then cut the decent lid and tack, check curve etc. Not expecting it to be an easy job and judging by how long it's taken you it'll probably take me a month.

[chontay]

Yeah exactly what I tried. Seems to work as you're tacking it it in but the veins don't want to bend due to the way they're pressed. I had to use some metal shaping tools to try and change their curve from behind a bit. But they're kind of fragile and awkward. Mine are ok but it's not perfect. What I found was you're trying to reform it all from multiple angles and it's just a bit of a pig.

[chontay]

Oh and what I found really helped was using a very wide skim tool for the filler. I actually a plasterers skim because it flexes just enough to help you form the filler to the original contours of the decklid. I've used this on the first door I've fixed so far. Works a treat to use the existing panel shape to help form the filler before you sand it.

Like this

[Brownpantsracing]

Cool cheers for the filler tip.

I'd expected the fins to be a total arse to reform even slightly due to the strength in the pressings. I figured the same as you that it would only be achievable when either attached to the old panel or new one. Sounds like you've done exactly what I'd be doing mate, only faster.

[fatboyhog1]

That engine mock up looks very nice indeed.
Great work also on the decklid.