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S/S louvred firewall for Type 1?

bigdave - July 3rd, 2011 at 07:05 PM

Whos put one in before? Any tricks in mounting the S/S firewall panels?

Joel - July 3rd, 2011 at 08:55 PM

I had one for nearly 10 years in mine, they do look good when they're all clean but it's a bastard of a job to keep them clean.

I had mine over the top of the original tarboard and screwed to the firewall and the bloody thing still vibrated like hell if I cranked the stereo up.

I got rid of it cos I was sick of always skinning my knuckles on them changing plugsm working on twin carbs and removing the top engine bolt.
Those louver punch outs have very shape edges.

beetleboyjeff - July 3rd, 2011 at 11:45 PM

I don't know if this is any help, but I just made up a 1 piece stainless steel one for mine. It has been great.

This is before.

Then I put in boat engine bay sound insulation that I bought from Whitworths Marine. It had a sticky back on it, but I also used the spikes on the firewall to help hold it it.

Then finally, I fitted the stainless steel firewall that I had made from a cardboard template that I made. I had it made a little larger than I needed, than trimmed it to fit. It fits in tight at the top, and the returns on the sides are held by the metal tabs that were for the tarboard. Because it fits tight to the insulation, and it is reasonably thick, it doesn't vibrate at all.

Whenever I have the engine out, I usually give it a bit of a polish up, but otherwise, it seems to stay quite shiny and easy to clean.

bigdave - July 4th, 2011 at 07:24 PM

It appears that you need to bend it somehow to get it ito fit nto the engine bay? Is this right?

68AutoBug - July 4th, 2011 at 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigdave
Whos put one in before? Any tricks in mounting the S/S firewall panels?

I have the louvered stainless steel rear [large piece] in My beetle . with two sheets of PVE foam [yoga mats] .. and is held on with screws that go right thru then are coated with silastic... and more PVE
foam on the inside... the foam is glued with contact cement..
also has the tar board underneath..

I also have the two side panels which were too hard to put in due to the extra bits in My auto beetle... ATF TANK- VACUUM TANK , and the stainless is too hard to cut etc,, IMHO...lol

maybe aluminium would be better? IMHO...
to cut at least...

Lee

hulbyw - July 4th, 2011 at 09:34 PM

Hey Jeff, looks great. How many pieces is it made up from? Wondering whether the returns and main panel are all the one piece or if they are separate, how is the main panel attached? I already have the foam/foil noise insulation purchased from Whitworth's marine
Cheers....Wayne

cam070 - July 4th, 2011 at 09:55 PM

Pretty nifty Jeff. I was thinking of doing something vaguely similar but iI think you may have given me a new idea.

DieSchnelleKafer - July 4th, 2011 at 10:04 PM

Did a rainbow explode in your engine bay LEE?

beetleboyjeff - July 4th, 2011 at 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hulbyw
Hey Jeff, looks great. How many pieces is it made up from? Wondering whether the returns and main panel are all the one piece or if they are separate, how is the main panel attached? Cheers....Wayne

It is all one piece. As you fit it, the centre piece will bend enough to get the sides in. If you look at the bottom pieces on the sides, you can see half way along there is a cut to get them to curve to the shape on the sides. The top of the main panel wedges up under the gutter below the air vents, and the bottom of it has the tabs that held the tar board bent up over it.

I have to say, it was easier to fit than I expected, and stays in much better than I expected.

68AutoBug - July 5th, 2011 at 12:08 AM

Yours is one piece Jeff

I've seen them for sale...

always thought they would be hard to fit...

although having large holes in the sides for the the ATF tank neck etc..
would make it impossible to fit... in My beetle..

Lee

beetleboyjeff - July 5th, 2011 at 07:07 PM

Take the tank etc. out, fit the SS firewall, then re-fit everything. Fiddly but do-able.

BTW, the SS firewall isn't anything I bought ready made, I made a cardboard template, then had my local sheet metal shop bend it up for me. I can't remember how much it cost me (I could probably look it up when I am home on the weekend), but it would have been heaps under $100.