With the VW bug’s lower rear fire-wall member built, I have reinstalled it and tack welded it in. Everything is now bolted together and all 4 MR2 3SGTE motor mounts are in place. All I have to do now is complete the fire wall and rear engine cage bracing.
All I had to do after installing the anti-crush sleeves for the MR2 3SGTE’s front motor mount, was to weld the 1/4″ steel plate to the cross member. I completely welded not only the plate to the cross member but also the reduced ends so that the entire piece is now ready to be installed into the VW bugs custom frame.
Once I located the two remaining motor mount bolt holes in the VW bug rear cross member, I drilled them out. I will be using a couple of heavy wall steel tubes to act as anti-crush sleeves. I drilled out one side to fit the OD of the tubes and the other side to fit the OD of the bolts. I also recessed the larger holes a bit to be able to get more weld on them. This will allow me to torque down the MR2 motor mount bolts without crushing my rear cross member.
After cutting out the 1/4″ steel plate for the MR2’s front motor mount, I located and drilled out the bolt holes. I bolted the motor mount to the plate with the one bolt that goes only through the plate. I positioned the whole assembly in the VW’s frame and marked the motor mount’s location on the cross member. I will now drill out the cross member to incorporate the motor mount’s remaning 2 bolts.
As I stated earlier the VW’s rear firewall will also incorporate the front motor mount. With the lower rear cross-member fit in place, I can create this mount plate from 1/4″ steel plate.
After making sure the lower firewall member fits in it’s location at the rear of the VW bug’s main frame rails, I can now cut the ends to reduce the 2×2 inch tubing in one dimension making it 2×1.5 inch. The tubing will be cut like this to insure that the torque bar bolts can be removed and installed.
With most of the VW bug’s lower frame in place, I can now focus on the rear firewall and motor mount. This piece will be the final cross-member in the lower part of the frame. The MR2’s 3SGTE front motor mount will be attached to this member.
The VW beetle’s lower frameing units have now been cut installed and welded into place. See the new “MR2 VW Bug Pics Page 4”
After carefully aligning all of the VW bug lower framing members, I have tacked them all in place. As you can see everything is nice and straight and I am happy with the results. Next up is the rear motor mount and firewall assembly.
With the VW bug’s first “x” member in place, I can now transfer the other two paper profiles to more of the 1.5 x 1.5 inch tubing. I will slowly cut these down to fit exactly up against the first piece and tack everything in place.