I was told by someone that you can make the small section (above the exhaust and what has the rear engine lid latch, sorry not sure what to call it) removable. I guess it is reattached by bolts etc. Has anyone done this to their beetle. Does it effect any of the strength of the rear body?
Probably a silly question to you all, but I'm learning

you have to carefully drill out the hundred odd spotwelds(if it hasnt been replaced before) and depending on how fussy you are you can use large washers where your rear guards bolt up to hold it in, sometimes they still move around a bit though, its a rear apron by the way

Cheers Mate.

check out the das man in action ..

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=49771 

Quote:

Originally posted by newVWa I was told by someone that you can make the small section (above the exhaust and what has the rear engine lid latch, sorry not sure what to call it) removable. I guess it is reattached by bolts etc. Has anyone done this to their beetle. Does it effect any of the strength of the rear body? Probably a silly question to you all, but I'm learning

dont do it if u plan on running no bumpers
theres a bit of flex in the inner gaurds once the valance is cut off
my 1500 bug has a fibreglass john sherman one same as on Lees bug but it had Tbars instead of bumpers and there was a bit of flexing there

also another issue with them is the engine bay seal
if u run a vw engine its very important u seal off the valance to the tinware or the engine will cook
mine had a rotary so it wasnt an issue but when i put a vw engine i screwed some thick rubber to the tinware that butted up to the valance to keep the exhaust heat out

Here is a link to some pics of how I did Damo's removable rear apron:
http://www.manxgallery.org/gallery/album572?page=1 

With regards to the seal, you can still run the original, you just cut it so it is in three pieces (one piece stays on the apron) - you'll have only a very small gap when the apron is on between the pieces.

Cheers
Al

its best to keep as much of the hot air under the engine tinware in the summer...

I just used a piece of 4 mm rubber and screwed it to the centre rear section of tinware..
I used the two sides of a normal engine rubber..
but didn't use the centre section...

LEE

First photo: see the gap
second photo: rubber seal

Thanks for that I'll see how I go.....