Open front hood or not

[zcliff]

Hi Group,
Just picked up a Manx type buggy, put together by a person that should not be allowed to own a tool box. Seat mounted with only 2 bolts the 3 point harness was the only bolt to hold the back of the seat to the pan. One bolt in the steering wheel,,,, A 1/4 x 20 bolt to hold the top shock on the left was not even attached.
While working on the buggy I just bought a Chrome tilt hot rod steering column. I am waiting for a local speed shop to finish the small roll cage to secure the column.
I removed the tank and bought a fuel cell 12 gallon with a sending unit. This was in effort to make the hood open to make a storage unit out of the old fuel tank. I am questioning this move now and waiting for a local fiberglass guy to drop by to give me a price for all the repairs and repaint.
I used to paint way back in the 70s and 80 and did some very nice Lacquer work with custom stuff Murals and what not.
I question my rear location for the fuel cell since I am making this a 2 seater the section behind the seat now has the roll bar supports mounted there because I need to get the brace moved on the side of the seats. They would not go back far enough for my long legs the way it was. Now I fit comfortable. Just wondering if the open hood is a way to go? I also wonder if I should repair the old fuel tank and place it back in the front? It needs a sending unit and TLC or re-coated inside.
Any one convert these to an open front hood???? Any new links besides some of the older ones.
Some links on fiberglass repairs would be great to have to consider repairing myself. I am considering a spare tire mount also. I just spent a fortune on new tires and rims made by Razor tires are TA's Radials I have some nice pics of them.
Thanks ,
Larry[/img]

[BL3Manx]

I don't understand what your decision to use a fuel cell in back or a stock tank in front has to do with an opening hood. You can use the stock tank in front whether the hood opens or not. If your stock tank needs repair buy a new one.

The best reason for an opening hood is to get to the back of the dash easily for wiring purposes. The problem is that having an opening hood reduces structural rigidity. When the hood is bolted/screwed to the body, they are both more rigid. If you are having someone fabricate some kind of cross brace to support your steering column, make sure it also ties in and supports the rear of the hood and the windshield. It will be needed even more if your hood opens.

There was a good compromise solution shown in this thread which is about a week old.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435569

http://bimelliott.shutterfly.com/246#247

[zcliff]

Sorry for confusion, The only reason for the open hood is for for the wiring!
I already re-braced the front for the open hood, I have made new mounts to stop any fender shaking the headlights mount into this bracket to stop any further stress cracks.
With using the old fuel tank//// split it in half will work as a trunk. Just an idea. Not real happy with the new fuel cell I bought this is the only question for the front or back gas tank. Cell was only around $100.
I want the open front to add wipers and fix a very screwed up wire job. My Brother in law is an Auto electrician for 30+ year and I will use a Kwik Wire 2002 kit for the wiring the new electrical system. He is listed as a supplier for Kwik Wire a great system for the person who wants to follow a color coded wiring system. The clown I got this from used red wire for everything, wires were cut and not taped and it looked like a tree trunk going up to the swiss chesse dash holes everywhere.

[BL3Manx]

This still looks like the best was to do it to me. If a person wanted, it really wouldn't be too hard to add an inner lip and gasket to make it waterproof too.

http://bimelliott.shutterfly.com/246#247

A horizontally split fuel tank would make a good trunk floor. Spray it with bed liner to stop rattles.

Read this thread to see what a good steering column support brace looks like. It should tie the body, hood and windshield together in a unit.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=437873

[GS guy]

I too want an opening fron hood on my Deserter GS/GT. Not having the headlights to deal with makes this seem a lot easier on the GT body.
I've seen Bob's car close up and he did a beautiful job on creating a opening "cut-out" that looks very clean when installed. Not sure my "cutting hand" could be that steady? FWIW that's probably how I'll be doing the openings in my side pods.

Bracing the fenders side to side under the hood, either in front of or above the tank (or both?) seems like the right thing to do, but I'll probably still do a cut line across to keep the dash/windshield mounting and wiper mount portion stationary. But then what to do about the gas filler.... (since mine is a flush/direct mount to the tank). Decisions... decisions.....

Jeff
_________________
70's vintage Deserter GS buggy - undergoing transformation to Super GS!

[bim55]

I've always liked the idea of having access under the hood of these things. Just for Jeffro, here's an old photo of my 1st Deserter GT from back in the 70's, no hood/fender seams, but again with an opening hood.

http://bimelliott.shutterfly.com/264

This one was flanged and gasketed, , probably not real weather tight, but I did drive it a lot back then.
_________________
Boston Bob E.
www.bimelliott.com - www.deserterownersgroup.org

[BL3Manx]

Bob, You have some great Deserter shots. It would be nice to post some, especially your hood mod, directly in the thread on the Samba. Where you have them posted now, I can't copy them unless I do a screen grab which I don't actually know how.

[bim55]

BL3manx, , I apologize for not posting them on this site, but I use shutterfly most of the time for car photos and it does not seem compatible with this forum?

I can throw a link in [url] ok, but the image [img] does not seem to work? This is the root link to my photos, http://bimelliott.shutterfly.com/
_________________
Boston Bob E.
www.bimelliott.com - www.deserterownersgroup.org

[zcliff]

Well I finally finished the project hood and painted it yesterday White with a Blue Pearl. My hood is removed with the Zeus fasteners if that's the right spelling.
I forgot this forum does not use the browse buttons so I will post pics soon.
For me to paint the entire body was about $400 and made a hell of a mess of my shop. I tried using the HVLP but the pattern was so alien to me I used my suction feed gun. It turned out damn near perfect a little dust nothing bad and last pass of course the coveralls had to touch the hood and leave a mark that I covered with clear and so on. It's always something.
Larry
Pics on my FB

[dan macmillan]

I think the word you are looking for is dzus not zeus.
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone

[zcliff]

Thank you what a crazy way to spell a word LOL,
Maybe later to day I can photobucket my pics and link them up later. I can't find my post where it showed the just cut out look and received many comments about not rounding the corners. Which I did and like it much better. I understand about the stress of the corners.

[OutCasted]

[jbreddawg]

[BL3Manx]

[zcliff]

Lets see if this works
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Used to look like this.
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The first cut was squared
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Then I got the right info and fixed it correctly. This has a Royal Blue Pearl in the clear coat and in the sunlight it is amazing. I have not painted in 15 years and I do not miss it. lol[/img]

[jbreddawg]

Really nice job ! If you had to do it again would you ?
I'm considering taking the plunge and making my hood one with the body and only have an opening like you do. It would cure alot of the warpage the hood and body has now.
_________________
The wheel may be turning but the hamster's dead !

[zcliff]

For sure!
I did this because of two reasons well three first to make it easy to wire since I had to relocate the gas tank for the steering column. Then two make the body more strong when I cut the opening this way it holds the fenders all together. Lastly more of a one of a kind look. With the fasteners that I used it opens so darn easy, I really wanted to hinge it but to try to conceal a hinge was a pain. I could of used a marine chrome finish hinge but @ a $65 cost. I figured this was good enough chances are are it will rarely be opened after the project is done anyways.
I wished I used a smaller diameter for my rain drip rails but again it will never be seen.
Larry

[zcliff]

I also filled in all the holes in the dash except the radio and the speedometer this was a PITA lol
[img][/img]
I took so many pics lol

[zcliff]

Here is what it looks like sitting together now, sadly it's very cloudy and I can't get the pearl to show in the garage lights
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Next I will drill new holes in the dash LOL, but not a 100 like before since I have a chrome & tilt steering column.
Thanks for looking.
Larry

[BL3Manx]

Nice work!