Building custom cars in my backyard

The pedal mounting bracket templates are basically finished. All I need to do is to trace the profile on the 1/8" steel plate and cut them out. I will then put one bend in each bracket.

With the steering column bracket complete, I will need to create support brackets for the two main pedals. The clutch and the brake pedal will need strong support to keep them from moving around. I am planning on creating 2 brackets that will be attached to the steering column bracket. I am making them from foam board and will transfer the profiles to steel.

The VW bug's MR2 steering column bracket is complete. It is very strong and I can hang from it with all of my weight. Now I have to start to get the pedals mounted. The brake and clutch pedals will be supported off of the steering column bracket.

Steering-column bracket construction continues. After creating all of the bends in the bracket I have reinstalled it and it fits good. I am now creating a strengthening member for the backbone which will be the basis for the other mounting brackets in the foot-box.

I can now create the VW bug's steering-column bracket from steel. Using my foam template I cut out a piece of 3/16" plate. There are 2 slight angle bends and 1 90 degree bend. There will be 6 bolts holding everything together.

I have now completed the main steering column support bracket template. This template has a fairly complex shape and I will need to take my time when I cut and bend the steel.

Now with everything located on the steel fire-wall, I can reinstall it. I am now working on the steering column mount. This mount will support the steering column and both of the main pedal mounts. First I must create the main mounting template before I can cut and fit the steel.

I now have everything important lined up on my plywood firewall. Both the clutch and brake master-cylinders are in their final locations and the steering column has been installed. I will now transfer all of the markings onto my steel and proceed from there.

Before I actually cut into the VW bug's sheet-metal fire-wall, I need to be certain of the pedal and steering column locations. I cut a piece of plywood to match the steel fire-wall and transfered all the initial markings to get the pedal mount locations. I am also trying to line up the MR2 steering column so it can pass through the fire-wall. The dowel rods in the first part of the video do not pass through the plywood they are there just to mark each side to get a hole location.

The VW bug fire-wall has basically been completed and bolted in. I have also bolted in the dash-board plate and everything seems to be very rigid and strong. I will next need to get the exact positioning of the pedal locations and cut the holes in the fire-wall.