How do I rienforce the front end of a Convertible?

[cjara111]

I have a huge concern. I am restoring a 1970 CV Karmann.

The rockers were in very bad condition, so I decided to go with the 2”x3” reinforcement, which I got from this site. After welding the 2x3, and an L beam on both sides of the car, I noticed that if I push the body forward from the windshield frame the car’s front end BENDS upward!!!

Here is what I have done and an illustration of the problem.

So now here is an illustration of the problem:

Does anyone have any suggestions??? Here are a couple of pics of what I see from the inside of the car :

I see some holes created by rust next to the pedals. Welding some reinforcement plates on the inside the car is my only idea, I am open to suggestions.....

[Exaktaphile]

You need to extend the structural wall behind the hinge pillar down to a point even with the bottom seam of the rockers. Then, extend your home-made support forwards to overlap the hinge pillar wall. Weld the heck out of it after you're positive everything is aligned.

Also, make sure the top still fits and latches properly before welding the hinge pillar.

That's what provides the structural support at the hinge pillar on cars with factory parts (combined with the center divider and dogleg parts all welded to that wall). Plus of course, the floor pan bolts. Hope that helps!

Edit: I also notice you don't have any bracing on the door openings to prevent the body and door gaps from shifting around. Be prepared to have some problems getting a proper fit.

[cjara111]

If I understand you, instead of welding from inside the cockpit of the car you mean do it from the wheel well.

Reinforce the wall inside the fender and weld that to the 2x3 support. Right?

Thanks for the idea.

[Exaktaphile]

Compare this picture to your car - your car needs all the parts in the lower area behind the hinges repaired because they are rotted away. The silver car doesn't have all the parts installed so you can have a good view of the big rectangular wall that everything anchors to.

Do you have pictures of the hinge pillar on the other side of the car before you attached the rockers?

Take some time to read some "stickies". At the least, look at pictures and see how things parts are supposed to look when they're complete, excluding your steel beam.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=607279
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=598829
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=441089

[cjara111]

Great feedback. I guess the problem starts from the fact that I did not want to remove the body from the base. I have a couple of ideas on what to do. I will post some pics in the future.