TheSamba.com :: View topic - What to replace cloth pillows in engine compartment?

Tue May 13, 2008 8:15 pm

I wanted to replace those cloth pillows up in the channels above the engine compartment. Any recommendations?
thanks

Tue May 13, 2008 11:36 pm

Expanding foam?

Tue May 13, 2008 11:54 pm

ugh, expanding foam? is this the Super Beetle fourm?
why isn't anyone reproing them? probably because they are too simple, take some mohair headliner scraps, turn them inside out, stuff with cotton, thats it

Wed May 14, 2008 3:20 am

anybody have any measurements for these, so i could make some?

Wed May 14, 2008 6:44 am

I just pulled them from my '56 but need to locate them I'll try to get the measurments and pics for you later today.

Wed May 14, 2008 7:17 am

Found Them 12 1/2" x 9" x 8" and about 3" thick

Wed May 14, 2008 7:22 am

I found this thread when I logged in & noticed the photo above in the gallery.
I took these out awhile back from my '64, and made some measurements.

From my understanding, leftover headliner & seat padding in the factory was used in the construction of these. The inside of these is the same mult-fibre jute padding used in upholstery.

Wed May 14, 2008 7:23 am

billmetric wrote: ugh, expanding foam? is this the Super Beetle fourm?
why isn't anyone reproing them? probably because they are too simple, take some mohair headliner scraps, turn them inside out, stuff with cotton, thats it

Why aren't you reproducing them?

Wed May 14, 2008 8:17 am

Wiggy wrote:
Why aren't you reproducing them?

^ :wink:

Wed May 14, 2008 12:01 pm

billmetric wrote: ugh, expanding foam? is this the Super Beetle fourm?
why isn't anyone reproing them? probably because they are too simple, take some mohair headliner scraps, turn them inside out, stuff with cotton, thats it

No, this is the split window forum. I used the question mark to designate a possibility that may not be for everyone. I'm doing it in my 2nd car, because it'll have a turbo motor in it and I don't want to hear/smell the motor in the passenger compartment. No one sees those little bullshitty pillows anyway. They are stuffed way up in there. BTW, my 1st car had the pillows. My 2nd car (Sept. '51), had just the carpet padding alone shoved all up and in there.

Sat May 17, 2008 6:46 am

Splitdog wrote: billmetric wrote: ugh, expanding foam? is this the Super Beetle fourm?
why isn't anyone reproing them? probably because they are too simple, take some mohair headliner scraps, turn them inside out, stuff with cotton, thats it

No, this is the split window forum. I used the question mark to designate a possibility that may not be for everyone. I'm doing it in my 2nd car, because it'll have a turbo motor in it and I don't want to hear/smell the motor in the passenger compartment. No one sees those little bullshitty pillows anyway. They are stuffed way up in there. BTW, my 1st car had the pillows. My 2nd car (Sept. '51), had just the carpet padding alone shoved all up and in there.

next time you get a chance check out newer beetles in the boneyard. all are rusted that had expandable foam from factory,especially those with goofy C behind the rear quarter windows. i think 1966 was 1st year for foam,but not sure for a fact.

Sat May 17, 2008 7:47 am

What is it used for?

Sat May 17, 2008 7:47 pm

It blocks what would be an open passage between the engine bay and the inside rear quarter (space behind the rear inner interior quarter panels. It blocks some engine noise and keeps air flow (remember that AIR cooled engine?) from coming up into the interior cabin. IN mohair headliner cars, it can dirty the head liner from the backside if they are missing.

I agree that foam is BAD. Traps and hold moisture, although I also know that those problems have been solved in modern auto production where auto grade foams are used often.

The "Great Stuff" stuff from HD, or any HW/dept store stuff = problems down the road for sure....

Thu May 22, 2008 3:20 pm

I know that '68s had the foam for sure, I havent had to reproduce any pillows for myself because I have enough good originals left for all my cars, the early ones made from inside out mohair headliner are usually reusable, the later ones when the headliner switched over to the polkadot vinyl get hard, crispy and unusable after a while, the expanding foam definately holds moisture and will rust out the roof and rear quarter panels especially on late cars with the bananna vents behind the windows, with that problem I just cant see myself foaming up a collectable car with that crap, sure it will be nice and quiet and the headliner wont get dirty from engine oil fumes etc working their way up the roof pillars, just a personal preferance, I would not want to have to remove that foam in the future to pull a wiring harness thru

Thu May 22, 2008 9:59 pm

Good info, guys. I hadn't thought of the moisture-retention issue much. I guess that salt-filled foam wouldn't be such a good idea, then. :oops:

Thu May 22, 2008 11:00 pm

i've had two '66s, neither had foam. not sure about '67...

Sun May 25, 2008 2:00 am

when that sound deadinig triangular pillow type full of vw left over seat stuffing got sucked into my engine fan on a nice hot day it was a bad thing. I recall pulling that crap out of the engine on the side of the road as my engine was about to burn up from no cooling air. needless to say no more lovely sound deadning pillows in my car.

Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:18 am

I e-mailed Ron over at WW about making repos of these, but was told that they are cost prohibitive? So if I want to make a good replica, do I use mohair headliner material filled with padding? I wonder if I should flame retard them????

Terry

Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:42 am

Use a fabric store poly fill, its flame retardant and won't shred or flake.

If you pillows jambed in there actually catch fire, you got bigger problems anyway.....

Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:07 pm

I have been holding back commenting on this thread but I must admit that when I was removing the shreaded remains of my headliner I pulled these pillows out and well um I sorta well kinda threw them away. :oops: