How to shorten VW Beetle chassis properly - Birth of the Renobug Part 4

[@anthonynork8868]

I watch a lot of builders and I won't mention any of their names but I love the way you explain each step and your craftsmanship is superb, I am very glad I discovered your channel, it is truly a pleasure to watch your creations come to life. Have a Lakka one, man!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks brother! Appreciate the support

[@e-curb]

There's one minor thing he does that shows his skill. Before welding, he sands off all the paint down to bright metal. Most welders I see always claim that the weld will "burn through" the paint or rust. In reality, the paint and rust contaminates the weld, making a weak joint.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Not only are you making use of two vehicles destined for the scrap yard, you are building a car that will be safe, fun to drive and all on a reasonable budget with hard work and know how! Applause from the crowd! :)

[@ratrodsafrica]

THANKS!

[@mixerman1]

Ditto!!

[@davekennedy9060]

I'm loving this project, fantastic to watch you make a complicated problem into a simple one. Keep it up!!!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad you like it!

[@MackG777]

Hands down the best how-to video and best series of videos on KZbin. Working on my pops buggy, he passed 4 years ago and I got it after he died. Had tons of memories in it as a kid, now it's my turn to build it, (needs a new frame as this one is completely rusted out) and make memories with my kids. God bless ya mate. Cheers

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks brother! Yeah man, the wheel turns, make those memories!🙂

[@allenstandley1010]

Love your work Dif! Your wife will love this car.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@dannico58]

very well done on aligning the front & rear before welding, an all-around great job Diff

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@grahamrowley-n7k]

It's amazing what blokes can do when they're let loose in the shed with power tools and a welder.

[@DoonerF]

Precision. Great job! I swear, you make it look so easy. I know it’s not. I’m really digging this build. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks brother 👍

[@thornwarbler]

Superb work!! Love the tape measure hack, genius👍

[@ratrodsafrica]

Gotta make plans if you don't have helping hands🙂

[@Uswesi1527]

Excuse me, Head Master, you’ve reinvented the wheel. As always, many thanks.

[@MattSeenUFO]

Good work man! When people make something look easy that really isn't easy it just shows you how skilled they are. That is now way stronger than it ever was. Cheers from Adelaide Matt.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks mate!

[@johncovin5200]

Diff is a true Master and a great teacher.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@brandonpettit-gr9ly]

So stoked two videos back to back. Thanks dif! Cheers from America…

[@robbollom7396]

well done Div, Renobugs coming along...Wifey be happy as

[@paulmcmain1760]

I look forward to more progress on the Renobug

[@glenmiller3783]

Really nice job shortening the bug chassis

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@jimwhittemore1610]

Thanks, getting entertained and some education at the same time

[@scottcates]

I'm excited to see the Renault body make its move.

[@eddiealford3579]

Yes sir Mr Diff this Reno Bug is starting to come together I really enjoy all of the work and teaching it seems to me that you do very good work

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@davidsteward9446]

I am having a blast watching you fab this bettle frame to fit the other car. Great work.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Otto-AutoPilot]

Great work and very relatable to the home enthusiast.

[@Thedropshopkustoms]

It’s like looking at a longer haired older version of Brent from Halfass Kustoms…. They both explain in detail how they do their work! And to add they both do their work by the seat of their pants! Great video as always thank you for your time!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks! I'll take that as a compliment 😊

[@Thedropshopkustoms]

@@ratrodsafrica Dif it was meant as one! I really enjoy watching when someone takes rust and turns it into a masterpiece!!!

[@williamerentfro9543]

Great work my friends! Hello fellow builders from California😊

[@joecioe8566]

Nice job, I like your way of doing things simple, inexpensive, well thought out, and done right.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks! 👍

[@zems63]

I’m really digging this build! Both auto manufacturers are my favorite! It’s really cool to see you put together the pan from the VW and the body from the Renault! I really appreciate how detailed your explanation of each step you’re taking and above all else your laid back approach. I can’t wait to see more of this build!! Thanks For Such A Great Video Div!!!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Pleasure man, glad you like it!

[@laurensmith1828]

That was some awesome engineering there especially the slug welds on the sleives. Everything you did was over the top .thanks for the tips!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BryanHarris-e4k]

A true professional. Saying hello from very snowy New Brunswick Canada. Love your builds.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. Stay warm!

[@AndysDogHouse]

Hey Diff. Great work on making the chassis shorter. I really watching you get in and out of trouble.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Gotta do whatever it takes to stay out of that doghouse man!😂

[@Tommyp65]

Great job as always diff, I love watching you make things your own. 👍👍

[@brucemitchell9166]

Good job Dif👍 It was 1969 when beach buggy mania was here, we shortened pan & tunnel 12& 1/2 inches. for off road use Oxy acetylene & hacksaw 😂 Engineering nowhere as good as yours but we couldn't break it. Brought back good memories Thanks man

[@ratrodsafrica]

Yeah, I started out the same way! We had wild fun in those days😄

[@wallyjohnson2375]

Love watching you. The old saying old guys know stuff. You are proof of that. Keep the videos coming.

[@raymondantonio4145]

Hey Diff, I admire your thought process, it’s not just cut, hack and weld, you take the time to look at the whole picture, make sure everything lines up as it should and think about extra reinforcement. Brilliant thinking man! See YOU on the next video!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Doing it right takes less time than doing it twice 😄

[@raymondantonio4145]

You got that right brother! Have a great weekend!

[@tedayer1823]

This is my absolute favorite chennel. I love how you work and explain everything. Your projects are also the best.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks so much 😊

[@dragontattooee]

Forest engineering for the win, loving Renobug, have a lekka one Div

[@robertstevison1448]

Awesome afternoon brother from another country another awesome adventure with yall !! Great to see your helper with you to help with the heavy lifting awesome as always brother

[@Mustsed]

That comes along very nice and making it shorter also adds strenght to the whole layout. I used to cut VW chassis to make 356 porsche replikas and that was so easy to work with in comparison to the cars (US classics) i try to do now! Good work and thanks for the detailed explanations Div. 👍👍👍

[@ratrodsafrica]

Yes, the Beetles are fun! Brings back many memories

[@alfbittner6489]

All your tricks for fabricating is next level, you got taught by the best. This Renault is going to be smooth as with VW engine and running gear, as always lekker boet.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you very much!

[@lindsaylavallee5012]

Wonderfully done as always & thanks for all the what to do to make life easier when working alone tips !!

[@ratrodsafrica]

My pleasure!

[@geoffreymills9932]

It's the details that make a great project and you hit every one with precision, love your work Dif

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@mikediamond257]

Once again, incredible work. Fascinating to watch

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mixerman1]

One thing I can tell you is you can't fault it for square and level and strong. loved the hidden gusset plates and makin it look "factree" one more episode and then I start on the truck vids 🤣

[@ReduxGarage]

Sitting here, relieved at the recent “warm up” to -19C, I’m fantasizing about living in a place where heat in a vehicle isn’t necessary. Keep at it Div!

[@ratrodsafrica]

I would die in temperatures like that!😅

[@ReduxGarage]

@@ratrodsafrica sadly, people do. -38 here last week. Why do I live here?!

[@brandygray5894]

That's hot rodding man, one change leads to three others😂 Nice fab work 👍

[@cayminlast]

Coming along nicely. Die Korporaal se, 'Baaie Mooie" gedoen boetman. Thanks for demonstrating how to do the job properly, instead of just butt welding, add some strength and integrity to the joint.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks Korporaal!😄

[@tomsawyer247]

You have great fabrication skills Diff.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you very much!

[@terrencebuller7676]

Nice work Div, look forward to seeing more of this build as well. Take care and have a Lekka one. 👍👍👍👍

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks, same there👍

[@richardlincoln8438]

Great fabrication as always Div. Thank You for sharing this content on Your channel. Best Wishes and Godspeed.

[@robertwilliams8010]

Always a pleasure watching you work Div! Awesome job and awesome video 👍👍👍👍‼️

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@francisc144]

Please hurry up with build, i love to see the marriage between French and German completed. Two of my favourite cars.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Hurrying is not something that exists in my life!😄

[@danielpancu9841]

Dear Duff... Bob Coates, he s my rat rod hero. Yes, sir. And your friend, you re my second hero. Genial work.

[@ratrodsafrica]

At least I made second place!😆

[@danielpancu9841]

yes... Bob... is great human person... yes, sir. @@ratrodsafrica

[@LeonardMagnusson]

westport wa.state here sir. after seeing that mangled cut you had to clean up. some people should be be told. drop the tools and back away from the car. for life. when the manx vw's came into life. i had a job at a small assembly garage. i think it was 71 or 72 good memory. thank you. oh, mine always wanted to drop a cylinder. my uncle took it and dam it ran good. do not know what he did but dam. a car that did more than 40 again.

[@70stefg]

Excellent work! I did not know there are so many tubes inside the frame of a beetle

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. Yes, more than one with think! Normally there will be a fuel line tube in there as well. I removed it prior.

[@Rustohallick]

All that I can say in an attempt to not inflate your ego is " Dam dude !! ".. Which translates to " You are a true crafts man and a fine teacher. "

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks bro. I'm too old now for that ego shit!😅

[@HappyHeartKustoms]

youre a true craftsman, Div. love the show

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@davidfreyta3857]

While I must admit to not being a fan of either the Renault or VW. I am a fan of the craftsmanship and knowledge you are passing along here. Of course I will be watching the whole build as I do enjoy any car that is home built and done well. I think a lot of the techniques you show can be applied to many projects, not just to the automotive field. Keep up the great content.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@martinharris5017]

Nice work gentlemen. Always a pleasure to hear you guys having a laugh and enjoying your garage therapy. Can't wait to see this Renault sitting on the bug pan.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. Soon!🙂

[@Fminus104]

Practical way to make the frame number vanish into non existence :))) Cheers

[@ratrodsafrica]

😂

[@hooligan_56labelle22]

Great work. I can already see where this is going. Super cute petite bug. Maybe paint this a luminous bug green. Project is moving along great.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. I think the wife really likes the yellow color...

[@hooligan_56labelle22]

In any color minibug is going to be cute.

[@jeff3175]

Div i reckon your wife must really look after you the way you're paying her back with all these magnificent engineering fixes, I believe the work you have done would be structually more sound than the Beetle and Renault when they originally came off the factory floor. Good job 👍

[@ratrodsafrica]

She does!😁

[@marca5883]

It's lovely to hear hand brake & mm being used instead of e-brake & inches💚🇬🇧🌱 Great work as usual🤙

[@ratrodsafrica]

😁👍

[@peterkelly250]

Enjoy watching your attention to detail Diff.

[@russelblackwell6041]

Great progress Diff the way you mate your metal together the way you do things brilliant excited to see the chassis in black paint and when you can mount the body on cheers.

[@brentbrown8393]

Your methodic approach to overcoming construction difficulties is certainly something all us viewers of your channel should to take notice of and try to emulate. Your video was totally interesting, captivating, and fascinating to watch man. Thanks so much.👍

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@JESUS-POTENTATE]

This has become my favorite build Diff. Your attn to detail is awesome. Nice job brother man. 😊

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks a bunch!

[@TheCrackerBox]

Thanks for another , Brother !

[@virgiliomarzan47]

Hi Dif, I just love the way you describe what is going on and your way of rectifying it, and your fabrication is so cool, this build is coming along and anything you build always looks good?

[@davidmobley5984]

Can't wait to see it a roller😊

[@mikebeidelman6051]

Dif, and so it goes my brother, awesome craftmanship and clever thinking at its best . mike.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@Franknberrie]

What an incredible fabricator you are, i love your channel

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you very much!

[@glennmiller9031]

Nice work Diff.

[@xepota]

Высокое искусство точности! 💪 Всё просто и понятно. Когда смотришь, как ты это делаешь. 🤣

[@frankschwartz7405]

Nice job. A guy would think you're an old dune-buggy builder from way back.

[@ratrodsafrica]

That would be correct 🙂

[@johnfederkeil9211]

Nice Job Div! Great Video as usual!

[@andrewmantle7627]

Good looking sculpture.

[@alanpaulick7815]

Boet safety and strength great for the wife's ride. You really are a master fabricator. Thanks for saring you content. Have a lekka weekend.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks boet 👍

[@susandrinkrow5938]

You realy are quite the engineer Diff .

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks

[@letttttttssssss_gooooooo]

All the projects are cool! Letttttttssssss gooooooo!

[@whatzthis64]

I really enjoy watching you work , you are very talented, you explain everything very well, I hope that you have a wonderful day . From Kentucky in the U.S.A. …Brian…

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you Brian! You too!

[@johnkranz4004]

Div really nice Cuts and repairs That’s the best way of doing it Nice and Strong

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks

[@gerard4444]

Very nice work, looks easy... when you what to doo Your are a master builder for shure Ziet er strak uit, erg goed gedaan

[@scootergem]

Brings back memories. I used to have a Myers manx style dune buggy that was shortened 17 inches. Amazing how many tubes there were in the floor tunnel. Nice job and explanations. Bravo!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks

[@Grizzmakes]

Kak tape measure boet. Love your work. All your reinforcement and planning is great. This build promises to be way beyond minimum expectations in engineering. Mooi.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Obviously didn't use one that you sent me😅

[@ThomasEsterline]

Hi Dif. I am in awe of your genius. Your skill and thought process amazes me. Thank you. The Hudson chassis and air bag set up. WOW. Keep it up. Rust is not a crime

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you!

[@williamrome2257]

Awesome craftsmanship !

[@billholder9665]

Another great episode Diffy!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@stevo.jurisic1980]

Far out Div!.....your fabrication skills, never cease to amaze me mate, your bigger picture thought process is excellent 👍🏻 Cheers Div! 🍻 🇦🇺

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks mate 👍

[@johnnym1320]

Great job Dif! This is an interesting build, I'm liking what you're doing here

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@markrobertson9015]

Well it looks like you know what to do with the beetle frame so far looks great. On wifey Wednesday I'm sure you made your way indoors now and won't have to modify the dogs house to accommodate you 😊 see you in the next video Take care Div.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Yeah, can sleep warm for a while now😅

[@MatthewFocke]

Great craftsmanship/design. Wifey Wednesday… Cool man…

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@james-ew7kl]

A masterclass indeed.

[@ishsiriram6646]

Awesome Div...Love the surgery videos Div. Thank you for sharing...

[@stucook8622]

Lekka video Div! Thank you!🍺

[@flatworm00]

You make it look so easy I really like the way you approach each task and explain how you are going to do it.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@robames1293]

Another good one Diff. I already love this car, the marriage of an Italian to a German. haha

[@ratrodsafrica]

Love is blind!😅

[@jerrydodd6113]

Always enjoy your vids! Great explanations as well! You should have been a teacher, Diff!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. Guess I'm sort of a digital teacher now 😅

[@keithk2926]

Beautiful job Diff 👍cheers from California

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@jeffg4008]

Always learn how to do something watching your videos. Great stuff.

[@YugoMilan]

Dif man you are awesome! Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! Every video I watch I learn so much and as previously stated you explain each step incredibly well! I have been binge watching your videos, it’s really awesome to learn from an OG!!! Have a great day all the way from the Arizona desert.

[@ratrodsafrica]

I appreciate that! Thanks bro

[@sbeckwith7801]

Neat work, glad to see how these Bug chassis were shortened. but had to leave halfway thru. TOO DANG MANY COMMERCIAALS. Don't be greedy def.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Unfortunately I'm not in charge of those things. KZbin does what it wants

[@RichardBerry-v5i]

Hi did good to see you guys