Engine vent prep · Aussieveedubbers

narrow61 · 30 Mar 2009, 8:02 pm

Any Ideas on how to prep and paint inside the louvers beneath the rear window.... stripped all the engie bay ready for paint but getting that area clean is a nightmare....

colonel mustard · 30 Mar 2009, 8:18 pm

I have often pondered this.... then realised I wont be doing it. And if the painter that I'm paying doesn't do it right, well, I guess I will pay him less.

thugbug · 5 Apr 2009, 7:32 pm

Depends how much you like your beetle/bug. From inside the car,peel away the carpet/vinyl along the base of the window. It reveals the bare metal bodywork panel.Notice the raised strip in the middle? Leave it for strength & support. Here-on requires some CUTTING & FITTING! Ideally if you have a spare/get hold of, a left hand & a right hand early series metal glove box lid, (Ozzie on left side back,US on right side back) place in position on panel,scribe a line around them,cut the sections out - file the opening to remove burrs etc. You now have access to clean,scuff back,paint anytime you need to. Glue in a strip of U shaped rubber around the openings. Mark & locate for hinges & push button locks (you can fabricate a bit of metal for the lock & pop rivet to the opening.Pop rivet your hinged lids). How you leave it now is up to you. You can place the carpet/vinyl back or cut around leaving the 2 lids (repainted) visible. Different look but oh so easy to get into that otherwise impenetrable area. cheers

alien8 · 5 Apr 2009, 8:13 pm

I cut a a hole in that' below the window' section to get into the vent area to prep and paint. I made a panel out of sheet metal and screwed it on to cover the hole. I had an idea to put a LED strip light in the vent area so I installed the LED into the replacement panel and painted it black to give contrast before fitting it over the hole. Looks pretty good me thinks!.

colonel mustard · 5 Apr 2009, 8:39 pm

so thats your top brake light?

beetleboyjeff · 5 Apr 2009, 8:50 pm

I didn't have to worry too much about my area below the rear window, as I have a rear scoop, and you can't really see in there. However, I did fit a top brake light to my rear scoop. It is quite similar to the one on my daughters NB.

alien8 · 5 Apr 2009, 9:54 pm

colonel mustard wrote:so thats your top brake light?

Yep. It can be wired into the tail lights as well but I just use it for a brake light. Helps all those 4X4's to see when I am stopping.

eraser · 5 Apr 2009, 10:56 pm

yeah normally you need to drill out the spot welds on the plate below the vents. and the whole thing comes out.. pain in the ass to do.