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ive got a 71 beetle and id like to make the rear apron removeable. how would go about making this happen? ive heard you can bolt it in and i know ill have to drill the old one out, but where do i drill? anybody have instructions?

With the rear fenders off (or at least unbolted and pulled aside at the back) you can see where the apron wraps around the sides of the inner fenderwells and is spot-welded in place. You'll have to locate and drill out all of the spotwelds, and cut/break the 2 small welds where the top of the apron meets the body by the hood seal.
Otherwise you can cut the old apron out leaving an inch or so at each side for a mounting flange for another, modified apron to connect to (Dzus fasteners, whatever).

I'm planning to do this mod on my 65'. On my buddies baja we just cut the ass end off of it. It really makes engine installation a snap. Plus you don't have to mess with the extra jack or jack stands. BTW do the dzus fastners make for a rattle free install?

take a look to this page
http://geocities.com/eaallred/project64four.html

best regards

Jean Melim

Hi again

this link is very cool and have lots of information about that
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Down ... apron.html

Jean Melim

i have a customer with a 73 bug with removeable rear end. its great for engine removal!!
with the rear wings removed (lights on multiplugs too!!) there are two fabricated brackets either side that secure the rear end, and the rear apron is removed along with the bumper mounts and part of the rear flitch. dont know who did it, but its a well thought out piece of engineering.

Here's the one I made:
http://type2guy.com/70/vert3.html

Hey great work type2guy, nice to see pictures with the descriptions on your page.