fiberglass one piece front end mounting help...

[( o\_/o )]

ok i used the search option and i just can't find any info on the mounting.

i know u have to cut off the old metal body and leave enough metal so u can mount brackets for the fiberglass.

but i would really feel more confident if i saw pictures of how this is done.

thanks guys

[baja5]

Here's mine, there are 3 dzus fasteners per side along with 2 up front near the headlights. Yours may be different if you are still running the stock fuel tank but this should give you an idea.

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http://www.wix.com/baja5s/nightrun

[thesatelliteguy]

i think your cut depends on how the hood is going to mount. flip up, or just fully removable. Also, how much do you want to seal up the front compartment.

Heres how i cut mine. I didnt intend for the cut to be right next to the tank, but it works out good!! Now i can cover the back side of the dash and the tank with snap buttons and rubber mat and get a better seal. I dont like a drafty dash, i gets my fingers cold.

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Toyotas are so bumpy it makes me sick, literally.

My build Page http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=383878

[chubby53]

here's mine, front end fits good and makes like a trunk still. also still using stock gas tank. have one duz fastener on each side, and tow hood pins by the windshield and two hood pins and two adjustable stops to support the front on the front piece.

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My build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=385100

[bajapunk70]

First of all there are plenty of ways do mount these and everyone does it the way think is best because of one advantage or another. one piece front ends are definatley the more difficult way to go and it is really hard to find good info on mounting these, so im here to help as much as i can seeing how much of a pain it was for me. mine is a daily driver mostly street driven and not an offroad monster.
this is how i did it...

I left as much of the wheel well as possible to keep water out of my electical and off the stock gas tank. If i were you i would try to keep more metal at the front to mount your headlights instead of having to build a bracket. i just followed the curve of the fenders and trimmed what needed to be in order to get it to sit right

I had to modify the tilt bumper to get it to clear the lower bolts on the beam. does anyone know of a better way to do this? or why these are made this way?

I had to use a block of wood to space the front end so it lined up along the front and cleared the bumper. if you flipped the bracket on the bumper the other way you wouldn't need the block of would but you should trim the fiberglass up bu the windshield to get it to fit properly. i went the other route because the only cutting tool i own is a sawzall not a very precise tool.

i used a piece of brakeline tubing and welded some washers to it and made a hood prop. just had to bend it to shape so it sits in that little groove in front of the weather strip for the hood. Its kinda scary before you make that first cut but its all down hill from there. draw out what you wanna cut with a paint marker, then take that line back a couple inches and draw another. alot of modification might need to be done to the one-piece as well. remember you can always take more off but its a pain in the arse to put some back. hope this helps some!
-Jeff

[Notched]

[baja5]

I think this is about the best that I have, there are a few more pics on page 11 of my gallery.

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http://www.wix.com/baja5s/nightrun

[Notched]

Thanks! Your baja rocks!
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Phillip Bradfield

Current stock: '57 Panel Bus, '63 Rat Notch, '64 Baja, '66 Variant, '67 Convertible Ghia, '68 Squareback, '69 Squareback, '69 Fastback

Southern Oregon VW Club -- http://www.sovw.org

Oregon VW Forum -- http://www.oregonvw.org

[Notched]

Found a shot of one of the front Dzus fasteners. So simple. Nice.
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Phillip Bradfield

Current stock: '57 Panel Bus, '63 Rat Notch, '64 Baja, '66 Variant, '67 Convertible Ghia, '68 Squareback, '69 Squareback, '69 Fastback

Southern Oregon VW Club -- http://www.sovw.org

Oregon VW Forum -- http://www.oregonvw.org

[twomonkeysayoyo]

[Gregorio]

I liked how Baja5 mounted his front so I made something similar. It might be difficult to see, but I made a bumper that is welded to the towers with flanges so I can still remove it. On the top part of the bumper, I made angled mounting tubes and welded the dzus tabs on there. Right below the dzus tab is a 'step' that allows the front end to sit on so that I don't have to wrangle the front end when trying to fasten the dzus'.

The angled tubes also allow me to still unhinge and tilt my front end to gas up, etc. Seems to work well so far.

[OCsnowboarder15]

I am trying to do a single piece front end build but I cannot find a business that sells the single piece clip in the Midwest. Does anyone know of a place closer than California and closer to Wisconsin?

Thank you

[MetricMuscle]

Might anybody know what brand any of these front ends are?

Anybody got any pics or know of a one piece bug eye front end that is still available?

Fiberglass Specialties / MarkV makes one but they don't have any pics of it installed.