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moondoggy63
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2013
Posts: 8
Location: Chatsworth, CA
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 Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:24 am Post subject: Replacing a convertible pan with a coupe pan? |
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I have a 1979 Super Beetle convertible and I want to take the body off and put it on a pre '76 Super Beetle coupe pan.
Is it possible to do this if I simply add the convertible reinforcement supports onto the coupe pan?
In case anyone is wondering, I want to do this so that I can register the Super Beetle on the pre '76 pan and thereby legally get around the smog requirements in CA.
Also, I have a sentimental attachment to my Super Beetle so I don't want to sell it and replace it with a pre '76 convertible.
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. |
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Mr. Unpopular
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3715
Location: Tampa Florida
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 1:12 am Post subject: |
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Pans are the same between sedan and vert. The support channels are built into the body.
I remember when I was a teenager, reading Hot VW's, they would get this question asked a lot, and would always say you'd have to weld the support channels to the sedan pan, then one day, someone there actually worked on a car, and realized they had been wrong for all those years. Oops.
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moondoggy63
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2013
Posts: 8
Location: Chatsworth, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Unpopular wrote: |
Pans are the same between sedan and vert. The support channels are built into the body.
I remember when I was a teenager, reading Hot VW's, they would get this question asked a lot, and would always say you'd have to weld the support channels to the sedan pan, then one day, someone there actually worked on a car, and realized they had been wrong for all those years. Oops. |
So then it's just a straight swap from one pan to the other? |
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Mr. Unpopular
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3715
Location: Tampa Florida
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 1:19 am Post subject: |
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correct
_________________
"In any racing engine, the nearer you are to it disintegrating, the better it's performance will be"
-Keith Duckworth, creator of the Ford/Cosworth DFV |
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moondoggy63
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2013
Posts: 8
Location: Chatsworth, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 1:20 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Unpopular wrote: |
| correct |
Thanks! |
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Derek Cobb
Annoying
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 2565
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| I think you do have to remove the jack points on the pan as the jack points on the convertible are in the support rails. Other than that it should be a bolt on. |
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theKbStockpiler
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Joined: July 07, 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Rust Belt
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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I thought convertibles had more bolts under the rear seat? 
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My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask. |
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moondoggy63
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2013
Posts: 8
Location: Chatsworth, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Derek Cobb wrote: |
| I think you do have to remove the jack points on the pan as the jack points on the convertible are in the support rails. Other than that it should be a bolt on. |
Yeah, I'm sure cutting the jack points won't be an issue.
I'm sorry if this is repetitious, but I just want to be clear, So I would:
1)Remove my convertible body from it's pan.
2)Remove the super beetle coupe body from it's pan.
3)Cut the jack points from the coupe pan.
4)Bolt the super beetle convertible body onto the coupe pan.
The reinforcements would be on the existing convertible body so no need to reinforce the pan. Correct?
I know that was on oversimplified four step process but that's all that I need clarification on.
I'm aware of the reinforcements that are necessary to add to the convertible body when I remove it from it's pan to avoid/minimize warping, etc.
Thanks again for the info. It's a huge help/reassurance. |
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