doka engine lid progress

[Crankey]

so a few weeks ago I finally got around to making a hinge for my engine lid.

small stainless hinge welded to an 1/8" plate that's countersunk for the large metric flat head screws.
small #6 button head screws hold the diamond plate to the hinge. trying to keep things as low profile as possible so the lid lays flat on the rubber seal.
using just 2 small pieces of piano hinge welded to the small plates allowed me to not disturb the bead of seam sealer down the middle of the bed.

today, I was going to make some SS coolant lines but got distracted by the task of gas springs to keep the engine lid up

the clamp that holds the bottom end of the spring

inside with the lid closed

I got the springs from a truck cap someone left on the side of the road across the street from my work.
I got 6 free springs off that cap. sucks how people leave their garbage on the street in the industrial district but sometimes useful.

the clamp for the bottom end of the spring is made from a piece of 1/4" wall square tube with one wall cut away.
then, there is a block inside it with 2 1/4-20 threaded holes. there are flat head allen screws in the block.
so, if you back the screw out of the block, the head of the screw pushes on the inside of the square tube clamping the tube/block onto the rail under the deck.
you turn the screw through the 1/4" holes in the side of the tube there.

seems a bit elaborate I spose but it allows me to move the lower spring mount forward or backward as needed (to fit random scrapyard springs) and I haven't drilled any holes through the factory sheetmetal for any of it.

the angle is aluminum, 1/4" wall 3"x4". the bottom clamp is all steel and the hardware is SS. I need to paint the bottom clamp block.
the gas spring ends snap over the head of a socket head allen bolts.
will probably line the clamp with sheet rubber so as not to scratch the body....maybe plasti-dip ?

pretty fun afternoon overall. much better than holding my engine lid with a tire. the hinge alone is not good enough cause you need to lean the lid agents something. it won't lay flat all the way open without bending the thin piano hinge.

[kirsplat]

Brilliant design on the lower mount!
I love the fact that no holes were drilled into the body.

Great work Nate!
_________________
86 Syncro|EJ253|Carat

[MsTaboo]

Very nice work, and much needed! Something VW should have thought of.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
When you stir up shit you're bound to get some on yourself.
Resist Kleptocratic Oligarchy (and Idiocracy)!

[syncrodoka]

Excellent job.

[Crankey]

Thanks guys

[mellow cat]

Yeah man...super cool. I dig it.

[sub-hatchtim]

what are you using for hold down's?

I think dzus fasteners would be kinda nifty or something like this
http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm
_________________
58' pg/sg silo fridge westy
58 Dove blue singlecab
76 911S

[Crankey]

hold downs...gravity

the weight of the diamond plate lid is enough to hold it in place. the gas spring is also pushing out which creates downward force on the angle bracket so that is holding it as well.

I drove around for several years with the aluminum plate just sitting there with nothing but gravity and the friction of the rubber seal keeping it in place. I never had any real problems...usually I had a used tire sitting on it but not always.

those hood latches you posted look really sweet, but there is really no place to use hardware like that. unless you wanted to cut the bodywork.

[Christopher Schimke]

Nice job, Nate!
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

[turbotransporter]

Oh, yeah!

My single cab has an aluminum diamond plate cover but it's bolted on and a pain to remove/replace. This is an excellent solution.

[Crankey]

yeah that is why I didn't want to bolt it down.

[WestyBob]

Very nice, Crankster. I need to do something like that to my two.