This is the steel I had to cut out of the VW bug body in order to get it to fit over the Toyota MR2 3SGTE motor and frame.
Scrap steel from VW Bug rear cutouts #93
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Fine tune VW Bug metal removal for 3SGTE clearance #92
After removing the bulk of the VW body sheetmetal, I need to fine tune the sheetmetal to perform the trial fit of the VW body over the MR2 3SGTE motor and framework.
Bulk VW Bug metal removal for 3SGTE clearance #91
Before I can trial fit the VW bug body over the frame and the 3SGTE motor, I have to remove the bulk of the rear metal from the inside of the bug body. I set my camera up so you could see the plasma cutting but I kind of get in the way a bit.
Reinstall basket over the VW Bug’s 3SGTE Motor #90
Now that the 3SGTE motor and VW Bug frame are “as one”, I need to insure that the bug body will indeed fit over the entire assembly. I am reinstalling the locating basket over the engine build area as a guide for cutting out the interior or the bug body steel.
VW Bug MR2 motor mounts complete ready for body fit #89
Now that both the Toyota 3SGTE side motor mounts have been completed, I have rebolted and realigned the whole rear engine cage. I can now start measuring for the VW bug body cut outs.
VW Bug Toyota MR2 Finish welding 3SGTE frame plates #88
Once the Toyota MR2 3SGTE motor mounts were tacked in place, I removed both VW bug frame plates to finish all the welding. I welded both motor mounts and all of the plate contact points. I also through bolted both motor mounts for safety.
New picture show. See the “MR2 VW Bug Turbo Photos” page
New pictures of the passenger side rear motor mount brackets. Please see the “MR2 VW Bug Turbo Photos” page to view.
VW Bug MR2 The 3SGTE motor hanging free on motor mounts #87
The Toyota 3SGTE motor is now fully supported by the new motor mounts. The whole rear assembly is basically being supported by 2-2×4 supports on the rear and the platform in front of the engine cradle. The motor mounts are just tacked in place right now, but I will be removing the plate frames once again to finish all the welding.
VW Bug MR2 Finish tack welding the 3SGTE pass motor mount #86
The passenger side 3SGTE motor mount is almost complete. I must get the weld rod down in between the VW bug frame and the Toyota 3SGTE motor to tack weld the bottom of each motor mount bracket.
VW Bug MR2 Tack welding the top of the 3SGTE motor mount #85
After the careful alignment of the 3SGTE passenger side motor mount brackets, I can now weld them onto the VW Bug frame plates. I will finish tacking on the brackets in the next video.