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Duper Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2023 Posts: 4 Location: FLORIDA
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 3:53 pm Post subject: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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Samba Family,
I have a 71 Ghia that I have to fix the back. It was hit. I lower the truck and the lid won't fit. The lid measures 38 1/4 inches. The opening is measuring 37 3/4.
When I look at the car's sides they are not bent in. I have cut the two pieces from the engine compartment that tie to the two tail lights together and it did not spring back.
Any ideas? What size should it be? Could you measure your car and let me know? Could the engine lid expand out with with the flattening from the impact? Could the sides have been bent in with the impact?
See photos.
Thanks. |
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jeffrey8164 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 3804 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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Gimmie a minute. _________________ Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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rcooled Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008 Posts: 2493 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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Duper wrote: |
What size should it be? |
The width of the opening on my '67 is 38 3/4", measured right about where you did in your photo.
Edit: That measurement is from outside-to-outside of the weatherstrip groove. _________________ '63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone)
Last edited by rcooled on Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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jeffrey8164 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 3804 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:27 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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Just took some quick measurements on my '70.
'71 Dimensions are the same.
For the decklid i measure:
39 3/4" Width across the center of the vents.
39" at the start of the bend.
38 at the bottom of the bend just before it starts to curve inward.
For the opening I measure:
37 1/2" across below the center of the vents.
37" at the start of the bend.
36 1/2" at the bottom.
Measurements guaranteed by my Stanley 25' tape measure. _________________ Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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tri356 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2005 Posts: 316
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 9:53 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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Hi,
You say your car was hit before. Get on the ground and look up at the wheel housing (inner/outer), on both sides of the car. Are there any kinks to it ? Any bend there *may* pull your fender one way or another, without things looking too unnatural, since the fender is welded to the wheel housing.
Mike |
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jeffrey8164 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 3804 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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What have you found?
Don’t leave us hanging. _________________ Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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Duper Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2023 Posts: 4 Location: FLORIDA
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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It is comforting knowing that you guys are willing to help. Thanks for taking the time to measure your cars and give advice.
I did what you suggested and the wheel housing was bent in towards the wheel on the drivers side about 3/4 of an inch. Because the piece that the bumper bracket mounts to was bent as well. I replaced it and was able to bend the wheel housing back to the original shape.
The drivers side kind of fits and it made a sound when I forced the new lower plate temporarily in place (pictured). The passenger side does not seem to move. It is more rigid and bends less because it has all the original pieces welded in. Take a look at the pictures. Any other suggestions would be great as I do not know what my next move is. |
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runamoc Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006 Posts: 5593 Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Engine Compartment measurement? Lid won't fit. |
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I didn't fool around measuring stuff, the cars hand built I stuck with that. Close the lid and move the sides till they fit right and has gaps that look good and straight, then weld it together. _________________ Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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