Sheet Metal Trilogy

[dmend]

Hello Everyone,

I'm back with another question about my '72 standard beetle.

I'm replacing the crossmember, rear wheelhouse, and the section of the luggage compartment that butts up to the wheelhouse. Since this does not exist on my bug, due to rust I'm not sure how these three meet. I can see it working two ways.

Option one:
the crossmember is below the wheelhouse and the luggage compartment section is on top of the wheelhouse.

Option two:
the crossmember is sandwiched between the wheelhouse on the bottom and the luggage compartment on the top.

As always, your advise is greatly appreciated.

dmend

P.S. For those watching... since my last post I did switch to jack stands.

Thanks again...

[Phoenix]

On my 65 it's set up as you are describing option 2.

the section of the rear cross member that connects up with the wheelhouse and package tray runs between those two pieces of metal.

The outermost piece is the wheelhouse, then working inward the next is the cross-member section, then the bottom part of the package tray.

The cross member only runs between them for a short distance at the bottom of the package tray, then the wheelhouse is set directly against the package tray for the rest of the wheelhouse.

I hope that helps. I think that is how you would want it anyway since if you run fenderless that would be the more smooth looking option since the inner fender would be one smooth curve without the lip of the cross-member showing.