AirSpeed VW Community Forums
Project Forums => Past Projects => Speed-e Delivery => Topic started by: Geoff on May 04, 2005, 09:15:53 AM
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On this past Sunday I was able to get the late (74-79) Bus inspection hatch instaled.
I took a trip to the wrecker and cut out the upper engine bay hatch from a 76 Bus, After looking at the hatch I noticed the stamping was slightly different than the 69.
The ribs pressed into the 69 are thin and the late Bus has thick ribs. Not a big deal but I wanted them to match. After looking around at other hatches, T3 and Vanagon I decided to go with the 76 hatch.
First job was to pull the motor and trans.
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-1.jpg&hash=eee59e61286d4be54adaeb2932e8d1da6b0417aa)
It sure looks big once out!
And the Motor and exhaust.
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-2.jpg&hash=f2b0ed1cd79dca7719a17cdaae65f1ae984c6a8c)
Next it was time to cut and trim the 76 hatch section, This took a while!
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-3.jpg&hash=7e78a3312703a94952c51573181fc967d0e419ea)
I then marked out the area I wanted the hatch (over the carbs for easy tuning) and cut a rough hole.
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-4.jpg&hash=5784ec45d3f2b5ef31d3533b8953f34eff1efb90)
Then trimmed back the hole and fit the outer hatch rim, tacked it in place.
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-5.jpg&hash=3a8000a2f3630c9fe96b617cbc1f88e1e145a1c6)
After a lot of welding and grinding it's in place. Here you can see the different style of ribs. For the outer small ribs I cut them on a taper and made them look like the factory ends.
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-6.jpg&hash=9371ba4600d5e7633bed9fc34cab5a5a36b53b61)
And a little filler..
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-7.jpg&hash=f00d98d09c54d10bc5fe952fa01a111d1b4aa260)
After the hatch was in I had to add some bracing as I had to cut away the orig. You cant see it in this pic but there is now 1x1 square tube bracing.
(https://airspeedparts.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airspeedparts.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10002%2Fnormal_May4-8.jpg&hash=80e2ebf27bfb4de96b7590ba14cc73fd97861535)
If all go's well I should have the eng bay painted this weekend. :rockon: