Whale tail engine cover

swish1 Officially Full-On Dubber

264 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 19 Aug 2006, 9:02 pm

#524400

anybody out there with a fiberglass whale tail engine cover what are you using to hold it up when open . a stick is a little on the rough side even for me.any ideas most welcome thanks

i started with nothing and have most of it left !

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 19 Aug 2006, 9:13 pm

#524404

Same as the VW owners with deck lid standoffs....

We can't use the original springs, and most of the beetles at shows with the deck lid stand offs - used a stick...

although someone showed Me they use a screwdriver or old oil dipstick jammed into the hinge piece...
some thing I haven't tied as yet...
mainly because i forgot about it....

Is the fibreglass too heavy for the spring or is there another reason You can't use one?

A local Mechanic who had a Beetle a few years ago, had a whale tail on His beetle, and when He cut a hole in the top, the engine temp went down 20 degrees Farenheit..

cheers

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

swish1 Officially Full-On Dubber

264 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 20 Aug 2006, 12:00 am

#524463

cover is to heavy for spring .cover has vent holes in it already ,it come of a worked bug.

i started with nothing and have most of it left !

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Aug 2006, 12:18 am

#524470

Hi

You can use the stock spring setup if the fibre glass is good quality in that area, I ran a tail on my old bug for years with a stock spring on it. Or you could always fit a gas strut.

Steve

vwrallycar Insano Dub Head

721 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 20 Aug 2006, 3:28 pm

#524572

i use the stock spring on my tail, works fine

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Aug 2006, 3:50 pm

#524575

You could use a gas strut..
someone mentioned one from the boot of an EF Falcon
{I think}
You would need to find exactly where to bolt it...

and that Your Whale tail fiberglass is strong enough to take it...
as they do put some pressure where they are mounted..

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 20 Aug 2006, 9:10 pm

#524724

Make your hinge pins removable (like on Hoodjaxs) and just remove the lid when you work on the engine.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 21 Aug 2006, 12:00 am

#524817

Hi

Saw this picture with a gas strut.

Steve