Death Foam removal on a '67 vdubb

67 Sunroof

Okay, I am at the point where I am about to have the entire bug bead blasted and I see the foam in the back walls under where the "crescents" on the super beetles are.
I have the foam in my '67 and have read through a few topics but have yet to find out what it's there for.
Sound deadening?
Water inhibitor?
To keep CO2 from entering into the cabin?

It appears that my insides look great because it was a Cali car but I would like to remove it!!
The biggest concern is the CO2 issue. My thinking is that the air enters the cabin in the front and goes through to the back and exits through these "holes" in the back or even out the pop out windows. The "crescents" on the super beetles are there for this reason, right? The air exits these vents to the outside?
If that's the case, leaving the holes open would vent the cabin air into the engine bay unless you were just sitting still with no air!!?
And, even if I did remove it, then could I get it bead blasted then spray "good stuff" spray foam back in there as a replacement?
Any techs or philosophers here that could shed some light on this theory for me? I would appreciate it before I start ripping this shi! out of my buggy!

67 Sunroof · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:23 pm Post subject:

Wow no replies?
Do people keep the foam or scrap it? On the newer super beetles I see a lot of areas rusted out back where the crescent vent is. Is it because the water soaks the foam and it rots from the inside out?
Also, if I took it out wouldn't the air while driving come through the cabin and back out those holes out the engine bay?
Or does it do the opposite? Does air come in the engine bay and INTO the cabin?

VW_Buggsy · Samba Member Joined: April 15, 2002 Posts: 517

Did you search in the late model forum? More info in there.

Most people seem to believe it was related to sound deadening, and possibly preventing any potential engine gases from creeping into the cabin. I don't think it was related to water. Most people seem to just remove it and leave it out. Those that put something back in usually use a removable "pillow" like vw used on the earlier models, however I did see one guy use the expanded foam shipping things which I thought was clever.

Sorry I don't have more info, I haven't messed with mine yet.

Mike Fisher · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 1:26 pm Post subject:

You can burn it out with a hand torch and/or bend up a coat hanger auger to attach to your drill & root it out.
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66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
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67 Sunroof · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:25 am Post subject:

So would you recommend using that "good stuff" spray foam? It would expand into the hard to get areas and then harden. It appears to get a hard coating when dry and becomes pretty solid and would seal out any "gasses" once dry.
Just seemed like the perfect material for the job to me...?

Q-Dog · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:57 am Post subject:

I'm not sure I understand what you want to do. You don't have a problem there but you want to remove the factory foam. Then you want to put in some cheap household foam-in-can where the factory stuff was?

I would just leave it alone. Have you noticed that it is mostly late cars with the crescent vents that rust out around the foam?

Don't invite trouble ...
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

abritinthebay · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:34 pm Post subject:

NEVER. EVER. EVER. Use that "great stuff" expanding foam.

It's explicitly not recommended by the manufacturer. It holds water and will eventually rust out your car. It's also a BITCH to remove if you ever need to.

Expanding foam is a great way to end up with a rust bucket in a few years.

VWCOOL · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:51 pm Post subject:

yes plenty of Beetles have died of cancer due to that foam.

yes it seals fumes from the engine bay.

I remove it with coat hanger, or an old interior door handle rod (stiffer than a coat hanger) and then check/repaint the insides then line the areas with plastic bags and re-install foam

67 Sunroof · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:13 pm Post subject:

Haha, ok ok ok no good stuff and leave it alone!
Got it!

So the majority of the problems come from the newer crescent bugs?

Mike Fisher · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:17 pm Post subject:

All the Type 3 fastbacks are rotted out at the C pillars from the factory foam sprayed into them retaining the moisture.
_________________
https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

bvd · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:57 pm Post subject:

Here's my thread from when I did this gradually over the course of several months. A royal pain in the ass, but you'll sleep better at night when you're done! I hope the photos help you get a general idea of what's involved. I'm no expert, but let me know if you have any questions!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568790&highlight=
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"I paid 2000 for my MR2 with the back quarters rusted out, 900 for the bug. So rice is more costly than kraut."--doc1369

Keith · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:50 pm Post subject:

Just an FYI, all beetles from '71 up ( for the U.S. market) had the "crescents" not just super beetles. Also, they are vents and were for fresh air to enter into the cabin and aided in keeping the rear window from fogging, well at least they tried to. The foam is behind the vents.
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pb_foots · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:20 am Post subject:

Wait a minute. I don't think the 67 has the death foam, it has pillows. You should be able to just pull them out and see what's going on up there, but I'm not sure you need to. The pillows don't seem to trap moisture the way the death foam does.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...p;start=20

Q-Dog · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 6:04 am Post subject:

I always thought the foam was a late model thing. I've never owned a '67 so didn't know what should be in there. If there is foam on this car, could it be PO modification?
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

67 Sunroof · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:20 pm Post subject:

Interesting! I wanted to pull the wire harness out that the PO left in and I see foam all up in the quarters. I might need to read up on that. MINE has some kind of foam-maybe not the factory?


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