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Post by cdb15 on Aug 21, 2017 19:08:14 GMT
In my plans to arrange some alternative support mechanism for the canopy of my Bug, I'd like to know whereabouts in the car are the steel strengthening bars. One can make an educated guess, of course, and maybe explore with a strong magnet to locate buried steel, but does anyone know where I could find a drawing, perhaps a cut-away or similar, that showed whereabouts the A-post, B-post and so on are on the standard Bug? There must be some sort of frame that supports the steering wheel and lower end of the canopy strut, and there must be something in the canopy to keep it stiff - isn't there ??  Well I hope there is! and presumably somewhere there must be drawings or plans of this structure. Any ideas ? Thanks  |
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Post by karl on Aug 21, 2017 23:05:43 GMT
There is a steel tube running down the canopy near to the gutter trims (both sides)
On the inside if you were looking I know there's a strip of box tubing under the heating vents where it recedes back to allow for the heater box.
A plate for the ram and a pair for the hinges.
Off top of my head think that's it, I may be wrong. (Have replaced most of above)
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Post by redbug on Aug 22, 2017 18:38:56 GMT
I have use a builders pipe and wire detector to find them , seems to work pretty well.
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Post by Biggles on Aug 23, 2017 16:51:46 GMT
Hope this Helps a Little .....my own Pic .,.,  |
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Post by cdb15 on Aug 24, 2017 22:40:52 GMT
Many thanks folks for all your comments and advice. I like the idea of the wire detector - brilliant ! I will give that a go when I get a moment. I was given one years ago as present, but found it never worked reliably in domestic walls - maybe it will come of age in GRP !! (of course, there is the minor problem of actually finding it after 20-odd years!)
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Post by cdb15 on Aug 30, 2017 11:06:40 GMT
Well, the builders' pipe detector was a washout - I found the thing, cleaned up the battery compartment, soldered on new connectors and got it lighting up and buzzing, but... it didn't work at all. And generally it seems unless you pay best part of £100 for a decent Bosch one, these things still don't work reliably - so much for 20 years' technological development  ) However... my really strong magnet *did* work, and among other things shows that the rearmost edge of the canopy seems not to have a steel loop in it, but merely a plate or strip about 12" wide to reinforce the latch area. OTOH it also confirmed that there is a plate in the centre under the screen where the standard gas strut mounts. The only thing now is, how do I locate the holes in the plate to fix the strut pivot? |
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