G'day all. I was just reading thru a thread composed by Hellbugged ( Members rides section ) and noticed he has a removable rear apron. This makes access to the engine bay and associated parts much easier, but is it legal and if so how do you do it?

Hellbugged. If you are reading this i must say that your thread is very informative and entertaining. Cheers

Hi
i HAVE A REMOVEABLE REAR APRON ON My Beetle, so does My Son and many of the locals..
makes taking the engine out a one man job..
last time I didn't even jack the car up.. lol

I can't see any legal problems at all..
Many just drill out the spot welds and You can buy fibreglass rear valances for beetles.. or the original even..
and just bolt them on..
or weld on brackets to bolt them on..
lots of different ways..

Many people have them, especially if You work on Your own car...

Is Your car a type 2 or 3??

cheers

LEE

I've removed mine too, one of the best mods your can do.
currently got a fibreglass Volksconversions one same as Lee, but used the stock one for a few years.

I just drilled out all the spot welds and removed it.
The lower guard bolts firmly clamp it in place when they are done up, you'd never know its removable its that sturdy.
No need for ugly clips.

Search for an early Dasdubber thread.. His early beetle resto explains the mod in detail.. And it is one of the best resto threads, ending one one of the best resto beetles of all time.. Well worth the read...

I have this mod done on mine so easy to work on engine and exhaust installs.

What year?

I've done two. Relatively easy mod. Late models are easier as VW got slack with the spot welds as the years went on.

I'm planning that mod for mine as well. Makes a lot of sense and I bent my rear apron with an unfortunate encounter with the garage.

I originally was going to reenforce mine with an aluminium bar but its not needed..
the fibreglass ones are very strong plus the bottom has no cutouts for the exhaust so You can fit any exhaust to it..

LEE

Thanks for the feedback guys. Sorry for the late reply, I've just got back from seeing an ACDC cover band at Panania pub. I've never seen so many bald heads and big boobs (in the crowd ) in my life. The bad was great.

Stenguns, I'll definately search for that thread.

Lee, I havn't got either YET. Right now i'm saving the money and learning as much as possible so i don't end up with a rusty wreck that never gets finished. At this stage i'm looking at buying a 62 to 66 Bug, but findng one in Sydney with rust free heater channells and floor for under $11000 may not be easy.

Yes it's a very cool mod the rear apron trick.

Did you say under $11K there..........?

That sort of money will get an excelent beetle!

Did you guys cut the engine lid rubber seal on each side or do you just remove it when you need to remove the apron?
Cheers....Wayne

I cut it

There was enough excess length in the new one to have some overlap at the joins

When I still had a VW engine I cut my engine bay seal where the apron channel ends and the body one starts so it stayed in the apron
as it's such a bastard to feed into the channel.

But the decklid seal is easy to leave as one and just remove from the body sections when you need to remove the apron, or run a mexi seal which clips to the underside of the decklid.