Chassis Work

Est. Orange, CA
Washburn's Metal Chassis Shop

Chassis Work.Done right.

Are you in need of having your Volkswagen chassis restored and not sure where to start? Our chassis shop has spent years removing the guesswork for the customer. Simply just drop off the stripped down chassis and let us give you back a beautiful, functioning foundation for your project that's built to suit your needs.

See Pricing → Get a Quote
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As featured in Hot VW's & VW Trends
2 Weeks
Typical Turnaround
On stock chassis
Mon–Fri
Walk-In Drop-Off
8am–5pm, no appointment
7+ Years
Of Experience
Removing the guesswork
Flat Rate
Pricing & Scope
Written, no surprises
Our process

Beautiful.
Functional.
Safe.

We've developed a process that will make you feel comfortable that the foundation to your restoration is in the right hands, and is of the highest quality every single step of the way.

Our goal is to not only produce a chassis that looks beautiful, but functions as it should and beyond all, safe. With our experience, collection of fixtures & machines we work very hard to provide high quality chassis work that is not only affordable but delivered with great customer service and lightning-fast turnaround times.

We have been featured multiple times in Hot VW's & VW Trends for our chassis work and look forward to helping new clients with their projects.

Washburn's Metal tech inspecting VW chassis
In the shop — Orange, CA
The standard we hold

High quality chassis work that's not only affordable, but delivered with great customer service and lightning-fast turnaround times.

— Washburn's Metal
What we specialize in

Many flavors,
all welcome.

When we're talking about VW chassis, there's many different types we specialize in — and many different upgrades that can be performed whether it's for safety or performance.

VW chassis at Washburn's Metal
Factory stock

Type 1 / 3 / Ghia / Thing

Factory-stock chassis restoration for Type 1, Type 3, Karmann Ghia, and Thing.

Chassis work at Washburn's Metal
Street & drag

Performance & Custom

Street car builds and drag chassis — safety and performance upgrades, documented and delivered to your spec.

Shortened chassis at Washburn's Metal
Specialty

Shortened Chassis

Shortened chassis for Manx, Dune buggy, and 356 kit car applications.

Chassis pricing estimates

Flat-rate pricing.
Written scope.

These estimates are intended to give you a close idea of the cost related to restoring your chassis.

What's included in the flat rate

Every flat-rate chassis we build includes:

  • Remove & install pan halves via spot welder like factory
  • Install seat rails, jack points, battery hold-downs, battery ground strap weld nut, and seat belt provisions
  • Inspect & clean throttle tube & clutch tubes
  • Pressurize & leak-down test fuel line
  • Chase threads of all mounting holes on chassis
  • Cosmetic detail of chassis top & bottom
1955 & earlier
Type 1
Blasting$250
Parts$710
Labor$1,800
Powdercoat (optional)$550
Flat-Rate Total$2,760
With Powdercoat$3,310
1955–1972
Type 1
Blasting$250
Parts$600
Labor$1,500
Powdercoat (optional)$550
Flat-Rate Total$2,350
With Powdercoat$2,900
1973–1979
Type 1 (Super Beetle)
Blasting$250
Parts$600
Labor$1,800
Powdercoat (optional)$550
Flat-Rate Total$2,650
With Powdercoat$3,200
1961–1973
Type 3
Blasting$250
Parts$650
Labor$2,000
Powdercoat (optional)$550
Flat-Rate Total$2,900
With Powdercoat$3,450
All years
Karmann Ghia / Thing
Blasting$250
Parts$650
Labor$2,000
Powdercoat (optional)$550
Flat-Rate Total$2,900
With Powdercoat$3,450
Specialty
Shortened (Manx / 356 / Kit Car)
Blasting$250
Parts$1,300
Labor$2,500
Powdercoat (optional)$550
Flat-Rate Total$4,050
With Powdercoat$4,600
A note on additional work: All additional damage or repairs not included in the flat rate labor repair scope will be additional.
No wait time to drop off

We accept drop-offs Monday–Friday 8am–5pm and Saturdays by appointment. Turnaround on stock chassis is typically two weeks or less.

How it works

Drop it off Monday.
Pick it up 30 Days or less.

Chassis are built in the order in which they are received. Turnaround on stock chassis is typically two weeks or less, but may vary.

01
Prep & drop off

Remove all bolt-on components prior to drop off — no suspension, no brake lines, no shift rod. Don't worry about grease or sludge.

02
Scope & deposit

We take the flat-rate labor, blasting, and parts cost upfront before beginning any work.

03
We build it

Blasting, parts, labor, optional powdercoat — all coordinated in-house. Built in order received.

04
Pick it up

A beautiful, functioning foundation ready to suit your needs. Typically under two weeks for stock chassis.

Chassis floor pans at Washburn's Metal
Shortened chassis process

For Manx, Dune Buggy
& 356 kit car builds.

Shortened chassis builds follow their own dedicated process — chassis fixture, precision cut, chemical dip, blasted, and welded back together seamlessly.

  • Chassis are stripped down, bolted to the chassis fixture table to check straightness
  • The appropriate distance is removed from the chassis depending on manufacturer's specifications
  • The two chassis halves are sent out to be degreased, chemical dipped, then media blasted
  • Upon receiving the chassis back from the blaster, the two halves are bolted back to the chassis table, welded together, and finished seamlessly
  • Internal tubes are installed, internal bracing added for structural integrity, and shortened pan halves are spot-welded on for a factory finish
Frequently asked

Chassis FAQs.

Do I need an appointment to drop my chassis off?
No. We accept drop-offs Monday–Friday 8am–5pm without an appointment, and Saturdays by appointment. Turnaround time on stock chassis is typically two weeks or less.
Do I need to source the parts myself?
No — we do not need anything but the bare bones chassis. We will order all necessary parts and handle everything. We only use the best parts available to build our chassis.
What is required of me when I drop the chassis off?
We will need a deposit before beginning the work. If your chassis falls into the flat-rate build category, we will take the flat-rate labor cost, blasting, and parts cost upfront before beginning any work.
Should I remove my rusty pans prior to drop off?
No, please do not start removing your pan halves. We have a quick and effective system to remove them and prefer to do it ourselves.
How should I prepare my chassis prior to drop off?
Remove all bolt-on components prior to drop off — no suspension, no brake lines, no shift rod, etc. Do not worry about cleaning grease or sludge off the chassis, as that is included in the blasting/cleaning fee.
I'm out of state — how do I get my chassis to you?
It's not uncommon that we have chassis shipped to us for restoration. Having a transportation company pick it up and bring it to us is your best bet. After we finish, we will prep the chassis to be shipped back to you.
Ready when you are

Bring us your chassis.

Send photos for a quote, or just drop by Monday–Friday 8am–5pm. We'll take a look and tell you exactly what it needs.

Get a Quote → (657) 438-7002