How To Make Adjustable Stand-Offs Part 1

[Islandman]

A bunch of you fabricators ask for this so I'll give it my best. This will come in sections so take your time and bare with me.

First step is to get a set of stock deck lid hinge brackets and cut them in half. The cut will be 3.75 inches from the hinge end and will be a 90 degree cut like so......(I used a thin cut-off wheel)

What your doing is making the hinge half telescope away from the mounted section to the exact position a set of stand-offs would give you..........

The telescoping pieces are made from 3/8 steel rod (you need 36 inches) that will slide into 1/2 steel tubing (you need 11 inches). These I got from Lowes. Cut the 36 inch solid rod into 4 equal 9 inch sections and make sure you clean and bevel each end. The hollow tubing will need to be cut into 4 equal sections each 2.75 inches long. Make sure the tubing slides easily over each rod...................

While at the hardware store, pick up a small 12X12in sheet of 1/16 in thick sheet metal for the gussets that will hold the hollow tubing. You will also need 2 of these clips to hold the assembly in the open and close position...........

We'll cover making the gussets, attaching them, and bending the rod to the correct angle next time. If you don't have a welder, now is a good time to buy beer for someone who does.

[SkrapMetal]

I still think that's awesome. Great write up and explanation. Having stand offs that adjust give you the best of both worlds. Now you have to fab up something for us Ghia guys.

If I had the time, I'd hook up a motor and have it lift by remote, much like an adjustable spoiler works. Now THAT would be cool.
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[Joey]

Great idea!

I know what I'm doing this weekend....
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‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[jmsmilin]

Can you say STICKY
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[Mark33563]

Ok, I have a question. Please don't take this the wrong way as I think this is a pretty nifty writeup of an interesting mod.

But, what is the point? Just to be able to keep the stock look when parked and ride with the deck lid 'open'? Wouldn't that scoop in more than just air, like water, snow, etc?
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[Islandman]

No wrong way taken. Its definitely not for everyone especially the hard core purists out there (some day I'll afford to be one).

This is what I do. When I park at night I pull the two pins and close up the deck lid. This keeps overnight rain, squirrels and other crap out of there. During the summer months, I pop it back open before I go to work and leave it that way all day as long as I know its not going to rain. If it rains unexpectedly, two pins and its down. During the winter, I leave it closed up all the time as the extra cool air is not needed.

It was just made to get rid of, what I considered, the hassle of installing/removing those aluminum stand offs which required aligning the deck lid each time.

[EverettB]

Continued in Part 2 thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=307793
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