Welding, welding, welding. Before I can clean up and paint the frame, I must weld on a few more things. I will be welding in a box for the fuel cell as well as creating and welding on some panel mounting brackets.
I can finally start heading towards paint. I have removed the VW bug body and can now start to finish the welding. I also have the e-brake finished on the top of the frame. I will need to flip the frame over once more to finish the parking brake system. Paint is coming.
I can now place the e-brake mechanism in place below the console. I have created 2 angle brackets to bolt to the unit and then weld them to the frame. This is one of the last things I have to do before removing the body to paint the frame.
I now have everything that will attach to the front of the frame tacked in place. I can remove it all and start getting ready to paint the frame. I still need to finish mounting the parking brake to the frame below the console, then I can take it all apart.
With the ABS unit mounted to my new bracket, I have located it next to the power steering pump behind the steering rack. I will be removing all the hardware soon to finish all of the frame welding and get ready for paint.
Now that I have figured out where I am going to locate the ABS pump mount, I need to create a bracket to attach it to the frame. I am using 2 pieces of steel tubing that I will weld together and then bolt it to the ABS mount. The tubing bracket will then be welded to the frame.
With the initial console construction complete, I need to mount the ABS unit. I will need to construct a bracket that will be welded to the main frame. I will be locating the unit between the power steering pump and the output shaft of the steering rack.
I have finally finished the VW bug’s console. I welded the shifter mounts and the e-brake mounting bolts and I am now ready to reinstall the assembly back between the seats.
With the VW bug shifter tacked into place, I can locate and attach the e-brake mechanism. I clamped it in place and then drilled and bolted it to the console. I again remounted the console back into the car and tested the function.