just curious,
is there much involved if u want to swap the floorpans of a beetle?
i hav an Oval on original pans with IRS and ball joint welded in.
im just curious as to wat it would take to get another oval chassis and put my Oval body onto it.
what would be involved with this? as much info as possible is greatly appreciated...
thanku
sam
While I dont see the point (unless you are trying to return the oval to original), what is basically involved is as follows (and people, please correct what I miss);
Disconnect fuel line from tank and drain.
Remove steering column (disconnect at box end)
Disconnect all engine wiring
Unbolt seatbelts from either floor or body
Remove all body to pan bolts (twenty something of them I think)
Get two strong mates and lift the body off.
Theres not alot to it unless the body to pan bolts are rusted solid - which will be quite likely if your oval had rust in the heater channel / front quarter panel areas. In these cases, what commonly happens is that you shear half of the bolts before they come out, so although you can get the body off, you then have to drill and tap the old bolts out before you can remount it.
Is there a problem with the current chassis or is this a rhetorical question ?
You don't need to modify the "above rear axle area " mounts as you are fitting an original oval pan again. The pan you are currently using will have the same mounts, if it is a modified oval pan. ( balljoint and IRS)
Are you sure it is a modified oval pan, seems a lot of trouble for someone to convert to IRS and balljoint ???
Would have been easier converting a balljoint pan to IRS, in which case the rear mounting on your oval shell would have been modified !
What is the chassis number?
yeah it is a oval pan, the original pan for the body, modified by hellbug. the chssis numbers r correct for its year and i spoke exstensively to the previous owners who did the conversion.
theres nothing wrong with the current chassis, im just finding out wat would be involved to return the oval to stock.
thanks guys
Having done numerous body removals and trial fits and installations on pans recently (between mine and my mates body off projects), I know that leaving the doors, bonnets, glass and decklid in place will make it bloody heavy to lift off. 4 people would be fine, 3 okay. If the above items are off, 2 would be heaps.
Also if you leave the engine in whoever has to lift the backend up will have to lift it high over the fanshroud.
Just a couple of tips I have found out the hard way! Otherwise it is pretty easy.
If you look in any of the Scientific Publications Workshop Manuals on Beetles, you'll find on the first page of 'Body' section, 'how to remove the body'. It explains exactly how to do it.
Regards,
Mark:thumb
Don't ever let anyone tell you, "It can't be done."
No don't weld the body back to the pan. Use the same bolts you would have undone to get the body off the other pan (if they are still in good nic). Should be two bolts in the front bonnet that go into the front beam, at least 6 maybe 8 under the rear seat, two on the rear shock towers, four under the pan at the front near the front wheels and then a heap along each edge of the underside of pan.
Good point. If your in NSW you will need to re register it. Assuming Newcastle hasn't moved you will have to do this. Unless of course you buy an already registered chassis. Thats what I would love to do. Junk my 66 body and get my oval body onto it so I can then at least drive it around. The only thing about putting an earlier body on a later chassis is that you have to comply with the rules for that year chassis. If it had blinkers on the front so must yours. If it had reverse lights so must your. Oh the fun of it all.
I've got a really good 58 floorpan for sale. No rust at all (well last time I checked anyway). I'll sell it for $220. Please someone buy the damn thing.....
