Cracks developing inner rear wheel wells of Baja Bug

[jfoley]

1970 Baja Bug. Starting developing cracks on the inner rear wells. Any recommendation on adding structural support? Does not have a cage.

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1970 VW Baja 1600 DP
1963 Buggy/Sandrail with 1600 DP

[DesertSasquatchXploration]

Yes I have the same issue same spot (also a 70) that bug has been used A-lot 500K or more patch it up with Sheetmetal and weld. Wear the patches with honor that bug has seen some shit and done real off roading. The bolts where the body is cracking around is all That supports the back half to the pan.

I have a similar rear cage but it mounts to the upper shock mounts. Yours looks to be bolted to the firewall. I would think that would help keep the body from bouncing and tearing off but guess not. Its doing the opposite the frame horns are flexing and pushing up on the body thus ripping it off. You might want to patch it up and change that rear cage design. Also check the frame horns they might be toast and the body is now doing the work

[petrol punk]

x2 I would wire brush it down, weld up the crack, grind it smooth a little then cut out a strip of sheet metal to weld over the crack as well. If you want to be fancy you can maybe drill holes in the patch so you have both rosette welds and edge welds.
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36hp '56 European DeLuxe oval, '70 bug 1835cc dual 36DRLA, and a '98 4x4 5spd single cab Tacoma

[jfoley]

Thanks guys, I was thinking of adding this reinforcement but I think I would have to do it a bit different so I didn't lose the use of my rear seat.

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1970 VW Baja 1600 DP
1963 Buggy/Sandrail with 1600 DP

[jfoley]

Repair started. I will also gusset the outside.

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1970 VW Baja 1600 DP
1963 Buggy/Sandrail with 1600 DP

[Mikedrevguy]

Would the OP’s inner support be sufficient or is there a more substantial inner cage to help prevent such cracks?
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74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato

Illigitimi non-Carborundum!!

[Q-Dog]

A lot of structure was removed from around the body mount and shock mount. The jagged, square cut didn't help either.
VW originally had a reinforcement under there.

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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[dustymojave]

My 1965 Baja Bug died back in the 1970s of offroad abuse without a full roll cage. The yokes broke on the 405 Freeway in LA. When I got inside to start prepping for repair, I found the whole back interior was full of black spiderwebs. It turned out that they were NOT webs. They were crack lines all over the place with the rubbing metal creating a fine black dust along the cracks. I wound up scrapping that Bug. Parts from it were used to build my Hi Jumper Ascot offroad race car you see in my avatar.

My dad's 58 Baja I built with more knowledge. Added a cage. Expanded on that when I inherited the car in 1998. With a full roll cage, that car has not fatigued like the 65 even though I've used it harder. And for several times as many years and miles. The roll cage is crucial to long term survival of a Baja Bug that gets used offroad.
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Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.