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Bikerndiver
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2023
Posts: 286
Location: Mid-Atlantic
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 Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2025 6:26 pm Post subject: Front end bolt question |
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This is a pic of my front end taken from the passenger side. At the top, middle of the photo you can see the bottom of the gas tank. There is a "dent", actually two dents in the tank right where there are some bolts sticking up just above the front beam bolts. Are these bolts just to hold the shock pads in place???? I would have a little more clearance to the tank if I removed those bolts.
I could glue the shock pads in place rather than have bolt heads sticking up near the tank......
Thoughts?
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1966 Manx clone (possibly a Joe Poty Enterprises) named SANDY. '70 to '73 1300 cc w/1600 DP heads, twin carbs and headers |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80627
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2025 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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| Bikerndiver wrote: |
| where there are some bolts sticking up just above the front beam bolts. Are these bolts just to hold the shock pads in place???? |
Yes... you can remove them since that are not doing anything.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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Bikerndiver
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2023
Posts: 286
Location: Mid-Atlantic
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2025 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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Great! I'll tackle their removal tomorrow. I'll glue on some shock pads just in case.
BTW, were those tank dents done by the manufacturer specifically to avoid those bolts puncturing the tank?
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1966 Manx clone (possibly a Joe Poty Enterprises) named SANDY. '70 to '73 1300 cc w/1600 DP heads, twin carbs and headers |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6400
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2025 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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No, they attached the front of the body to the frame just in front of the fuel tank on a stock Bug. Most buggies lower the gas tank and tip it forward for body clearance, though that is the most extreme case I've seen.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20907
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2025 8:09 am Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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Some of us actually make a "Z" shaped bracket anchored to the where the bolts are that we use to support front apron of body, It helps stabilize body from vibration and flopping around at speed....
But in your case they seem to do nothing, you can remove them if you want....
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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Bikerndiver
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2023
Posts: 286
Location: Mid-Atlantic
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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Well, I managed to get them off.... Had to use a combination of wrenches and a grinder. I did glue some rubber material in place of the bolts. I did notice that both sides of the tank were dimpled exactly the same way. Whoever built the buggy recognized that there was a possibility of a puncture issue so they dimpled the tank to avoid that.....
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1966 Manx clone (possibly a Joe Poty Enterprises) named SANDY. '70 to '73 1300 cc w/1600 DP heads, twin carbs and headers |
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Q-Dog
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8878
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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| Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2025 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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My tank banged on the top of the beam when going over almost any bumps so I made the Z brackets Dale mentioned. That stopped the banging and made the car feel a lot more solid.
But, your tank sits more forward in the car than most I have seen. Don't know if you could do those brackets.
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Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6400
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2025 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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| Q-Dog wrote: |
My tank banged on the top of the beam when going over almost any bumps so I made the Z brackets Dale mentioned. That stopped the banging and made the car feel a lot more solid.
But, your tank sits more forward in the car than most I have seen. Don't know if you could do those brackets.
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I second that thought. Adding the front brackets stiffened up the whole front end of my Manx style buggy. I used some EMT tubing and pounded the ends flat and bent the flattened ends for the Z-brackets. Since your tank is so forward, Bikerndiver, if you want to stiffen up the front and protect the tank (and reduce body shake from the nose to the windshield) I would look at using the upper beam bolts to attach the support brackets.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Bikerndiver
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2023
Posts: 286
Location: Mid-Atlantic
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2025 7:25 pm Post subject: Re: Front end bolt question |
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OK, I'm going to look at the possibility of adding thos brackets. Thank you!
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1966 Manx clone (possibly a Joe Poty Enterprises) named SANDY. '70 to '73 1300 cc w/1600 DP heads, twin carbs and headers |
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