Removable rear apron 101

[VolkDubz]

Everyone asks and I did before I started this how to remove your rear apron and install a new one that is removable, well I'll show you.

Everyone told me to drill out the spot welds and this and that. I just decided and I think it's the best way if your scrapping your old apron to cut it down the center and bend the metal until the spot welds pop off. It takes a little elbow grease but it's cleaner and a quick hit with the grinder will grind down the high points. (NOTE) I removed the fan shroud tin and fenders before I did any cutting to prevent slip ups.

The pictures are all the same
Red=fender bolts
Yellow=custom holes
Green=spot welds

The green are some of the spot welds that I had to pop the old apron away from. (NOTE) I did use a chisel and hammer to tap some of the weld loose, also some vise grips came in handy.

Next I decided where to drill my holes to hold on my apron, I decided to go with two holes on each side. I put both inbetween the bolt holes for the fenders.

I welded on some 8mm bolt fender inserts(Cip1.com) to screw the apron bolts into. When welding I used a C-clamp to hold on the insert. The insert is welded on the inside so the fender can bolt right up. NOTE(you will need to cut notches on your fenders to make room for the bolts holding on your new apron)

After your done fitting your rear apron on you can bolt it up.

Now stand back and look at the finished project with a smile on your face

I hope you enjoyed this. Tommorrow I hope to remove and replace my front apron.

[Fattie]

...sweet write up can't wait to see the front
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[Bugs'n'Pugs]

Here are some pictures of the removable rear apron that supahaole constructed using a fiberglass rear apron from VW Inovations and Dzus fasteners:

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1978 Super Beetle Convertible (Project)
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[Bugs'n'Pugs]

Here is a link to what Eric eaallred did with his 1964 Beetle to make his rear apron removable: http://www.geocities.com/eaallred/project64Main.html.
Look at pages 8 & 9.

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1978 Super Beetle Convertible (Project)
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[Fattie]

[Norm74]

Good job VolkDubz!
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Mama always told me not to look into the eye's of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is..............Manfred Mann

[bugninva]

[Bugs'n'Pugs]

Here is a rather interesting idea. This link shows a 1967 Beetle that Jan Andersson of Finland modified to have removable rear apron and side access panels to the engine compartment:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/2691/apron.html

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1978 Super Beetle Convertible (Project)
Post a Photo in the Forums
Rescue Man's Best Friend

[DMC-12]

Clue me in.

A removable rear apron does what for us?

[67jason]

[pandanom]

The VW busses have factory rear aprons and it is so much easier to remove and reinstall the engine than a bug. My bug has to be jacked high as hell to get the doghouse cooling shroud to clear. I intend to modify the bug the same way. I like those side panels Bugs & Pugs showed.
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It is never too late to have a happy childhood!

[vwmaniac84]

hi

does any one hava a page that still works, i'm rebuilding my bug and i would like to make that mod, but i have some questions like where is the bumper going to fit, and if it will be strong enaugh.

in my country people put bugs as stock cars and i like mods like thisone for my bug, can anybody help me?
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Resto process on the go... body restoration in process, engine later...

[Joel]

[gt1953]

I want one. VW should have done that at the factory level.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[Spanky57]

I assume that those doing this are cutting the weatherstripping at the seam, so it comes off with the apron?
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Current car:
1973 Standard Beetle project
Past:
1971 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1965 Beetle
1959 Sunroof Beetle
1971 Bus

[Joel]

Yep, works well.

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Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle

[dasdachshund]

[vwmaniac84]

so there's no need to remove the main frame from the chassis...

nice work man... so its just cut thru the weldings and that's it?
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Resto process on the go... body restoration in process, engine later...

[tikitime]

Here is my version:
The rear apron was up to 1/4” thick in some areas with bondo and after removing that I found several holes where someone tried to pull out the dent with little success. Since I was going to replace the apron anyway I thought this would be an good time to make it removable. I drilled out the spot welds using a 3/8 bit in a slow drill, going slow allowed me to only drill through one layer of metal, in most cases. Then I fabricated up a crossbar to tie the fenders together, that unbolts with the rear apron. I added a couple more holes for bolting through the fenders and apron, but may only need to use the original fender bolts to secure it all together. I purchased a new rear apron from Cip1.ca without the cutouts and considering it is a fairly cheap repro I didn’t need to massage it much for fit and finish. Since then I found a new one on craigslist, cheap, with cutouts, so if I want to go back to stock I can just unbolt and switch aprons.

Streng Deutsch Die Völker Klub
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[Zach Thomas]