Going convertible. Chop roof and... HELPPPP!

Hi there.
I'm from Portugal.
I'm tranforming my Beetle into a convertible. I know all the "cut" spots on
the roof, but I have a dought. I know that the roof of the car helps to
maintain the structure's stability. So choping the roof implies reenforcing
the car. That is one of the main reasons that all convertibles are heavier
than the same models with roofs. What I cant find anyhere on the net, is
some info on those reenforcements. I know I need to weld some steal bars to
the car, but I would love some info about the locations of those
reenforcements on the veycle. I know its a good idea to weld a rollbar, but
i'm kind of guessing the best spots for some longitudinal bar welding. If
anyone can help me with pictures, or just descriptions I would really
apreciated.
Thanks!
MaC

Manuel Macedo wrote:
> Hi there.
> I'm from Portugal.
> I'm tranforming my Beetle into a convertible. I know all the "cut"
spots on
> the roof, but I have a dought. I know that the roof of the car helps
to
> maintain the structure's stability. So choping the roof implies
reenforcing
> the car. That is one of the main reasons that all convertibles are
heavier
> than the same models with roofs. What I cant find anyhere on the net,
is
> some info on those reenforcements. I know I need to weld some steal
bars to
> the car, but I would love some info about the locations of those
> reenforcements on the veycle. I know its a good idea to weld a
rollbar, but
> i'm kind of guessing the best spots for some longitudinal bar
welding. If
> anyone can help me with pictures, or just descriptions I would really
> apreciated.
> Thanks!
> MaC


Manuel,
stock VW convertibles had frame reinforcement pieces .They attach on
the bottom of the heater channel area. They commonly rust out and are
availiable as after market restoration pieces. Maybe someone else here
has some pictures or a link to a site detailing all of the convertible
frame stiffening tricks. If you at least add the frame rails, you are
on the right track-good luck! Fred67bug

Manuel Macedo wrote:
> Hi there.
> I'm from Portugal.
> I'm tranforming my Beetle into a convertible. I know all the "cut"
spots on
> the roof, but I have a dought. I know that the roof of the car helps
to
> maintain the structure's stability. So choping the roof implies
reenforcing
> the car. That is one of the main reasons that all convertibles are
heavier
> than the same models with roofs. What I cant find anyhere on the net,
is
> some info on those reenforcements. I know I need to weld some steal
bars to
> the car, but I would love some info about the locations of those
> reenforcements on the veycle. I know its a good idea to weld a
rollbar, but
> i'm kind of guessing the best spots for some longitudinal bar
welding. If
> anyone can help me with pictures, or just descriptions I would really
> apreciated.
> Thanks!
> MaC


Manuel,
stock VW convertibles had frame reinforcement pieces .They attach on
the bottom of the heater channel area. They commonly rust out and are
availiable as after market restoration pieces. Maybe someone else here
has some pictures or a link to a site detailing all of the convertible
frame stiffening tricks. If you at least add the frame rails, you are
on the right track-good luck! Fred67bug

"Manuel Macedo" wrote ...
> Hi there.
> I'm from Portugal.
> I'm tranforming my Beetle into a convertible. I know all the "cut" spots on
> the roof, but I have a dought. I know that the roof of the car helps to
> maintain the structure's stability. So choping the roof implies reenforcing
> the car. That is one of the main reasons that all convertibles are heavier
> than the same models with roofs. What I cant find anyhere on the net, is
> some info on those reenforcements. I know I need to weld some steal bars to
> the car, but I would love some info about the locations of those
> reenforcements on the veycle. I know its a good idea to weld a rollbar, but
> i'm kind of guessing the best spots for some longitudinal bar welding. If
> anyone can help me with pictures, or just descriptions I would really
> apreciated.
> Thanks!
> MaC


Here's Jan Andersson's page on the conversion:
http://www.geocities.com/janbugger/vert.jpg

--
Scott

"Scott H" > wrote in message
...
> Here's Jan Andersson's page on the conversion:
> http://www.geocities.com/janbugger/vert.jpg
>
> --
> Scott
>
>

Linkmasta....<G>

Joey Tribiani wrote:
> "Scott H" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Here's Jan Andersson's page on the conversion:
> > http://www.geocities.com/janbugger/vert.jpg

Jan,that's a great job you did detailing how to make your sedan into a
convertible. I guess you've done it once or twice?
Fred67bug

fred67bug wrote:
>
> Joey Tribiani wrote:
> > "Scott H" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Here's Jan Andersson's page on the conversion:
> > > http://www.geocities.com/janbugger/vert.jpg
>
> Jan,that's a great job you did detailing how to make your sedan into a
> convertible. I guess you've done it once or twice?
> Fred67bug


Once

Still have the car.

Do the reinforcements BEFORE cutting the roof off!!

Jan

Jan

"Jan" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> fred67bug wrote:
> >
> > Joey Tribiani wrote:
> > > "Scott H" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Here's Jan Andersson's page on the conversion:
> > > > http://www.geocities.com/janbugger/vert.jpg
> >
> > Jan,that's a great job you did detailing how to make your sedan into a
> > convertible. I guess you've done it once or twice?
> > Fred67bug
>
>
> Once
>
> Still have the car.
>
> Do the reinforcements BEFORE cutting the roof off!!
>
> Jan
>
> Jan

Well... a little late now! I think I was too trigger-happy on my electic
saw....still gonna try and do it anyway.
Thanks for the help guys!
MaC

You tend to take the roof for granted. That is, until you buy a bug
with practically non existant heater channels. When I went to look at
the Bug I ended up buying, we were checking around the door frame
trying to quickly analyze why the drivers side door would not shut.
:-)

It wasn't long before we realized that the base of the car grew a few
inches when you opened the door. It's all long fixed now, but I did
have to wonder what happens to a bug with rotten away heater channels
.... and no roof. *smoosh*?

-Ray

Here's a plan for the reinforcement rails if you want to make them
yourself...

http://www.pre67vw.co.uk/downloads/

Regards,
Rob


--
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url: http://www.pre67vw.co.uk

Come and join the vintage VW forums!!
url: http://forums.pre67vw.co.uk
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"Manuel Macedo" > wrote in message
...
> Hi there.
> I'm from Portugal.
> I'm tranforming my Beetle into a convertible. I know all the "cut" spots
> on
> the roof, but I have a dought. I know that the roof of the car helps to
> maintain the structure's stability. So choping the roof implies
> reenforcing
> the car. That is one of the main reasons that all convertibles are heavier
> than the same models with roofs. What I cant find anyhere on the net, is
> some info on those reenforcements. I know I need to weld some steal bars
> to
> the car, but I would love some info about the locations of those
> reenforcements on the veycle. I know its a good idea to weld a rollbar,
> but
> i'm kind of guessing the best spots for some longitudinal bar welding. If
> anyone can help me with pictures, or just descriptions I would really
> apreciated.
> Thanks!
> MaC
>
>