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Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:46 pm

Has anyone seen or bought the WW rear apron? What do you think? How is the quality, the fit? How does it compare to original?

Thanks!

Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:01 pm

I dont know from personal experience but I have heard bad things about how they fit.

Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:05 pm

Ben- What year do you need? I have one from a 60 that has had an "extra" exhaust cut out for a pea-shooter- Other than that it's cool-

Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:15 pm

the fit is good on mine (66 westy). the metal is a bit thin, nothing close to the original. my og one is still in the garage with a pea shooter cutout, like so many others. i am not up to par with welding so i got the repro one to finish the assembly for the time being, and that's 4 years ago. it hasn't rusted for about 40,000 miles, give or take.

after painted you can't visually tell the difference. that is a big plus.

Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:54 pm

I think they are the 66-67 style: push button style.

Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:29 am

Thanks. I think I'm gonna look around a bit more for an OG one. I need a straight, clean one for a '67. Anyone have one? I could weld up the cutout, if it's there. Also looking for a really straight decklid for the same.

Thanks, all, for the feedback!

Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:49 pm

Ok, so I have looked at the forms on this subject and I know Klassic Fab will make a rear apron, but it is not cheap. I know WW makes one, and the reviews from way back were not promising.

I have also looked in the classified section and know one person sells the lower section. Originally, I thought that is all that would need to be replaced and I could weld a new lower section.

However, I just took it off and there is more rust on the back. Without a metal brake, I am not sure if I can fabricate the back square piece that is attached on the back side, the hole length of the apron.

So, my question is, does anyone have any experience with the WW rear apron that they currently have available? Is it the same quality that was mentioned on this thread previously? The comments were from a long time ago. Luckily, my bus is a 1966 and the one they offer is 66-67.

The price of $110.00 is a fair amount less than a KF if they even make it anymore? I know you pay for what you get. By any chance has WW improved on the thickness of the sheetmetal?

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=211813175C

Thanks for the information.
Spitty

Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:03 pm

Spitty1974 wrote:
However, I just took it off and there is more rust on the back. Without a metal break, I am not sure if I can fabricate the back square piece that is attached on the back side, the hole length of the apron.

A few clamps, a piece of at least 1/4" thick angle iron and flat bar or another piece of angle iron and you should be able to fold that "FRONT" (FIF) piece of sheet metal to work.

OR find a local fab place that has a brake press to fold it for you.

Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:26 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: Spitty1974 wrote:
However, I just took it off and there is more rust on the back. Without a metal break, I am not sure if I can fabricate the back square piece that is attached on the back side, the hole length of the apron.

A few clamps, a piece of at least 1/4" thick angle iron and flat bar or another piece of angle iron and you should be able to fold that "FRONT" (FIF) piece of sheet metal to work.

OR find a local fab place that has a brake press to fold it for you.

Here is the current state of my rear apron. I will drill out the welds and see if making the pieces myself is feasible for a novice like me.

Anyone else know how the WW reproductions are?
Thanks

Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:54 pm

I don't know about ww apron, but the stuff I have bought from them in the past was cheap. You are always better off spending money for KF. But for $110+shipping, I'm pretty sure a body shop could do it cheaper. And you have an original apron. Just my opinion.

Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:07 am

billzer06 wrote: I don't know about ww apron, but the stuff I have bought from them in the past was cheap. You are always better off spending money for KF. But for $110+shipping, I'm pretty sure a body shop could do it cheaper. And you have an original apron. Just my opinion.

Autocraft makes crankstart aprons, not sure about later ones? There are dealers for them in USA and Canada.

Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:07 pm

They make the later ones too. Although from the sound of it, I don't think he wants to pay Autocraft prices either. Wolfsburg West has improved, I would be interested to know how their rear apron is now too.

Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:29 pm

Snoop Bob wrote: They make the later ones too. Although from the sound of it, I don't think he wants to pay Autocraft prices either. Wolfsburg West has improved, I would be interested to know how their rear apron is now too.

I've seen the Autocraft ads here on Samba. Evidently a place in Southern California is the distributor here in the states. I was really hoping someone had used the WW apron recently. I picked up their front floor in January but won't be attempting to weld it until the summer. The steel is thick on the floor, stamps are really close to the original, we shall see how it fits.

Maybe the quality has improved with the aprons well. I have read older posts thAt mention that WW had uped the quality of some of their metal to stay competitive, but I believe that was mostly about the front floor.

I know KF use to make one for roughly $300 and I believe that is the rate for the Autocraft as well.

I may give it ago this summer and try and repair my original.

Anyone have any good pointers for an apron rebuild?

Anyone buy a WW recently? I will call them this week to inquire about the steel gauge.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:19 am

I ordered an Autocraft apron the other day. It should be here by the end of next week. I will post some pictures and my general thoughts on the apron. I may even start a new thread specifically for the Autocraft products, as I am also getting to side window repair panels.
Spitty

Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:51 pm

There is an autocraft, gerson, etc comparison thread from a few months ago.