Engine Hatch

[72panelvan]

Hi,

Just welding in my engine hatch surround and a couple of times I was nearly sick. After hacking out so much rusty metal, cutting out the only original sound metal was pretty grim! anyways, to save my stomach further grief I want to keep as much of said metal, do any of you running a 1.9 vw diesel know if it's necessary to remove the central box section for clearence of the cam cover? I know theres not a lot of strength in it but I was thinking it would add a little extra and allow the lid to clamp down onto firmly, with some neoprene or rubber between to stop vibrations and the like.



Cheers

[beetleseb]

I think you'll be able to keep it, I'll measure mine tomorrow for you

Seb
_________________
Everybody is someone else's weirdo

[72panelvan]

nice one cheers,

looking at this pic of 13 window deluxe's van it looks quite close

[beetleseb]

The TD would fit in my 71 van with the bar although its very close and my brothers 72 looks different (not measured his)

It would be a bit of a pain though and as its not really structual I'd just hack it out

Seb
_________________
Everybody is someone else's weirdo

[72panelvan]

thanks seb, i'll cut it out, doesn't seem to be worth the hassel leaving it in!

[13 window deluxe]

on my split with the narrowed t25 hatch the bar running width wise was left in but i had to cut a couple of notches out to make it clear things on the engine the only thing that touched the hatch hight wise is the inlet elbow/boost hose but only by about 3mm a tiny dint with the ball pein hammer where the hose had rubbed and left a little rubber mark

[72panelvan]

Nice one cheers, ended up cutting it out just incase, and I don't think it has made much difference to strength. My overwieght neighbour sat on it and I didn't see any flex so I'm happy.