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.
In order to weld the VW bugs “x” member properly to the main frame, It must fit perfectly. I cut this first piece long and slowly ground it down to insure the proper fit.
After cutting out the VW bugs “x” member paper template, all I need to do is to transfer the profile to the 1.5 x 1.5 inch steel tubing. I will cut this piece a little bit long because I don’t want to throw it away. I will slowly grind it down to get the perfect fit.
Once I marked the paper template to match the VW bug lower frame work, I can draw straight lines from corner to corner. I then centered the “x” member tubing on each center line and traced around them. I can cut out these template profiles and tape them onto the tubing to transfer the markings.
I have now tacked on all three lower VW bug frame members. Now I need to create an “x” member setup between the center two cross-members. I will accomplish this by under-laying the frame with thick brown wrapping paper and tracing out the profile. This profile will be used to determine the shape and size of each part of the “x” member.