Hi All,
It has come to the point of making my apron on my 54 removable. I really didn't want to go there but the watermelon in a sandwich bag is starting to really become a pain in the butt so I think I will make it removable.
Is there a how to somewhere? Dasdubber... any tips?
T54

http://www.manxgallery.org/gallery/album146 

i've seen it done and watched just incase i had to do it one day
he mainly went over the join and marked all the spot welds than using a drill specially for the job a spotweld bit you can buy them from a hardware shop just drilled them off
good luck

Heath, there are a few different ways to do it...the way I used was just one example (used in an old VW Trends article).

Tips would be:
1) if you intend to reuse your apron (and not use a repro), be prepared for some hefty patchwork to fill all the spot weld holes (or cut the lip off entireley and weld a new piece of flat steel in its place rather than plug welding all the holes)
2) try to reuse your apron if possible - repros generally suck in my experience
3) if your car is already painted, get ready to shed some tears as there are a lot of trial fits on and off to get it to clear the body etc....this means scratches. Otherwise use some thick tape (eg. that silver stuff) to cover susceptible areas
4) don't count on using a rear engine support (like a berg traction bar) as the rear end loses some rigidity when the apron is removed - definitely not noticable for day to day stuff, but I dare say the torque of the engine would push the structural integrity a little
5) it's one of the best mods I've done so far - so enjoy!

On another note, stanley (username on avd) just did his (TAT buildup) - his apron wasn't spot welded at all - just seam welded around the edge of the "lip" that tucks around the body (that the rear guard surface mates with).

Alan

Thanks Alan,
Yeah I did want to use my apron again, it is mint, never hit and this is why I am up in arms about doing it. I will have to look into it more.
Thanks
Heath

Heath,

As Allan mentioned I did mine on the weekend. Was all set for the spot welds but there weren't any. Mine was just stitched around the edges ('69 model). I will be using mine again. Working out where to cut the old apron was the biggest test. Steady as she goes.
I have just had the apron and rear guard paint stripped (small crease in guard) then I will look at putting everything back together. Have just started making the brace between the guards to help support everything.

Cheers
Thanks to Allan for his posts on the subject.

[ Edited on 1-5-2007 by Stanley ]