Aircooled VW South Africa

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We stripped out the gearbox on my 356 Replica (On it's way to Bugger Transmissions for a face lift! )
Once out we noticed these two brackets (left and right) that seem to have previously been welded between the suspension arms that the shocks attach to and the chassis. They now seem to have been cut (or broken?).
What would these have been for? Are they still required?
Any advice highly appreciated!

to me, those look like the clips that you attach your brake lines to which you find on the axle tubes. It could be that some previous owner tried to re-route his brake lines?

I agree with Mr Zee:
those brackets you see
are not neccessareeeee...

Agreed, but makes you think why the PO did that, think you should have a look at the rubber mounts on that gearbox fork to body, may be striped or damaged and he used that weld to hold the weight of the motor. Seeing how its moved from the old weld position, to now, makes me think it loose somewhere ?????

Think you should get someone to look under the car, when you shake things around to see if you have play or movement.

Rather safe then sorry.

Herman

The possibility of some movement is a bit of a concern. The right hand sideshaft boot keeps rubbing through on the fork. You'll notice on the pics we previously used the old boots over the fork arms to try and prevent this recurring, but no luck. Seems to me that there should be more space between the fork and the sideshaft?

If your booties rub through, your suspension set up is not right or your gear box mounts are knackered.

If you look at a beetle body you will find a substantial mount at this point. I think that when this car was first built the person welded brackets to the body only to find that when the tub was to be removed they had to cut them hence the cuts I would make a new bracket and bolt it together again as this bit supports the rear of the body and leaving it out will cause flex and stress cracks.
the cause for rubbing through of axle boots is wrong or incorrect engine mounts
Armand

Mustang Sally wrote:The possibility of some movement is a bit of a concern. The right hand sideshaft boot keeps rubbing through on the fork. You'll notice on the pics we previously used the old boots over the fork arms to try and prevent this recurring, but no luck. Seems to me that there should be more space between the fork and the sideshaft?

There is something not right with that there back section.
Be I, You.
I would strip it completely and see where the problem is, get the correct sizes, as it may be early accident damage, and rebuild back to speck.

Last thing you want the rear to do on a corner is to over steer the car into the bush.

Herman

IMPI wrote:If you look at a beetle body you will find a substantial mount at this point. I think that when this car was first built the person welded brackets to the body only to find that when the tub was to be removed they had to cut them hence the cuts I would make a new bracket and bolt it together again as this bit supports the rear of the body and leaving it out will cause flex and stress cracks.
the cause for rubbing through of axle boots is wrong or incorrect engine mounts
Armand

^^^this.

My speedster had the same. We had a new set of brackets fabbed up and fitted. The back of my car used to vibrate like a mofo. I think that it was Armand that noticed it for the first time as well.

If you don't have these mounting spots, then there is a few pop rivets on the rear of the car by the engine bay tub and IMHO is NOT enough to support the back of the body.

There are no brake lines that mount onto the speedster frame in the back. It's all stock beetle stuff.

It is all starting to make sense! After some deep thoughts trying to decipher code - IMHO, PO, etc, I think one of the contributing factors to the stress cracks in the fibreglass gelcoate must be excessive flexing so we will be investing in new brackets. Bolt on ones this time. Thanks for all the advice!

Ok When Mustang Sally dropped off the boxes today he showed me on a Beetle and ask what I could think of it as I thought at first that the top shock mounts were cut and welded back
What I know is that mounting differs in height from early and late madel bugs so the Original Jig for the Chassis could have been made for Early chassis and when
Fitting a late model chassis that bracket mounting must be cut. But should be welded back and rubber spacer mounting should be fitted back

Hope that help

Picked up the boxes from Bugger today.

Dropping box on little finger - very uncool. Maybe that's why they're called Bugger!

so details....................what has been done to the boxes?

Could be worse.....

Could be my finger...