Removable rear apron! I finally did it

[Blaubus]

oh yeah... thats a good reason.

[Kirk]

[babysnakes]

EZ Gruv wrote,

"Show me one post in this forum where somebody says 'I had my engine stolen'."


I'm gonna do this mod so I can take my motor out at night and store it in my living room were its safe.

[guitarcrazee05]

where i live you're "Gay" if you don't drive lifted american muscle... i'm not worried about my engine being stolen

[Pierre G]

[guitarcrazee05]

if your really worried You can just configure the new engine tin and apron to incorporate the old sheet metal with the stamped VIN, it's no different than if it was in a rear end accident and had to be re built.

[busman78]

The VIN must be permenently attached to the vehicle, that is why the 71 and earlier bays have it forward of the apron. The dash plate is nothing more than a courtesy plate, the M plate is just that, neither count as verification of VIN. Your motor vehicle department can issue you a special plate with the VIN with certification. A good idea, you never know what you might grow out of.

As for the apron - COOL idea!

[enjoispammy8]

[norcalmike]

[EZ Gruv]

So where is the finished product with the appropriate lip for the engine seal?
_________________
Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
My Photography Page.

[Patrick199]

Well, for what its worth, I was not criticizing. I was just asking.
Maybe I should not have used the word "hacking."
The reason I asked is because getting the engine into and out of a bus isn't that hard to do. It's a tight squeeze, but most of us have done it without having to use cutting tools.

i am editing this because I just took a closer look at the pictures.
It is most certainly not a hack job and I apologize for using that word earlier today. It is very nice work and a pretty cool modification.
The only reason I question it is because I couldn't do it half as well so cutting the bus seems extreme. Still does, but I apologize for spouting off without looking at your work.
_________________
www.teakfurnitureservice.com

[babysnakes]

If it was posted, I missed it. But didn't VW make the change to allow for more structural integrity in the area? I got rear ended in a '67 Westy and the parallelogram effect took place.

[Kirk]

[Blaubus]

[Bashr52]

[melville]

[Traveling Writer]

I dunno, I sort of agree with Pierre. It looks like a bloody fantastic mod, and I wish mine had one. But legal problems scare me! Bus pilots get hassled enough by police (not me personally, but I see the threads, etc all the time). If that is truly the only actual place the vin is legally stamped, and that has to be a part of the body and not removable, I'd think long and hard before I wanted to make my bus look like stolen property, even if I never wanted to sell him. Would you burn your title just because you never intend to sell it?And as much as I say I'll never sell my bus, in this this economy, jobs, poor health care, what do I know? A sickness or financial problem might make that extra 5-10k (or even 20 if otherwise done up right) tied up in the bus really important.

The real question is: How difficult is it to get the DMV to restamp it? Get them to restamp it, the the mod is perfection (with good seals). If not, just jack the bus like everyone else!
_________________
Cheers,
Davi

1977 2.0 FI Westy
2011 1200cc Yamaha Super Tenere
1976 Feet (they work surprisingly well)

[SGKent]

I seem to recall a thread here about 6 months ago where someone could not get title to a bus by their DMV because the numbers had been painted over and were illegible. We had to show him photos where to look.

I am sorry that VW did not include a removable apron on these - even though it does make it easier for a pair of thieves to take the engine. An even be a better mod would be to make it so just the vertical portion of the skirt comes off - that way the engine can dive under it easily when pulling it, and the VIN stays intact. That alone would make it easier to pull the engine.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[regis101]

The crash tests is why the rear was beefed. as well as the front having a crumple zone.
_________________
Peace, Regis

[EZ Gruv]