top engine hatches

bajabaybutcher · Initiate Jedi Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 40

I notice several of you have grafted in t25 engine hatches into bay's for getting access. I was thinking of a late bay hatch as they are easier to fit. Just wanted to check if there's a reason you used the t25 one like for size?
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slide in, life is short.

72panelvan · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject:

I was simply looking for a t25 hatch because they are the most common. The size is an added bonus but I've seen some people on here have narrowed them to make them fit between the rails in the engine bay better. I ended up getting a type 4 hatch so it's a bit of a funny shape but fits in neatly enough and is pretty big. The late bay hatch isn't particularly deep so if your oil filler is right at the front of the rocker cover, you might have some access problems.

Tom

bajabaybutcher · Initiate Jedi Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 40

thanks for the reply Tom Happy

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slide in, life is short.

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:55 am Post subject:

Urrrm, easier to fit a bay hatch

If your cutting out a hole how much more difficult is it to fit in a bigger hatch?

Fill yer boots. Do it, don't regret it.
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The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
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'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
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Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

size matters.
I fitted a cut down t25 one as it was easy to find a donor and you can cut to exactly what you want.

Definatly worth going for the biggest you can fit for a conversion - i did mine back in the days of air cooled and it was useful then as the engine was in and out every week Grin

bajabaybutcher · Initiate Jedi Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 40

i just figured a bay hatch would be easier to fit as it follows the same florr pattern with the ribs? plus was already meant for a bay.
See this is why I posted, to get views i hadn't thought of Grin

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slide in, life is short.

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

early and late bays have different floor rib patterns anyway...just in case yours is an early....the hatches were fitted to later vans with different ribs. T25 ribs were different again if that makes sense!!

it doesnt make much difference anyway as i simply closed off each rib end and welded in the part the frame without the rib mouldings.

bajabaybutcher · Initiate Jedi Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 40

ahhh, that i didn't know. about the different rib patterns. I assumed they would be the same as they were bays.doh. n yes mine is an early Happy

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slide in, life is short.

andewilson · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject:

i decided to cut out the hole to my own size. as big as i could cut it out for the best access. simply cut the hole and made a frame with 25mm angle. when i get a spare minute i'll knock up a hatch door foor it
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gazman · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 6:41 am Post subject:

We made this hatch to access the V6

The V6 Lowlight
http://osp.metrohosting.info/kombiv6.html

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

You've been busy on the Gaz. It's been a while since I looked at your site. Sounds well mean!
_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more Grin

Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

13 window deluxe · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

my mate who's doing his td splitty at the minute made a hatch in his boot floor from 25mm angle for the frame and the lid is 19mm box with flat plate over the top and a piano hinge but you could use the ribbed section you cut out to blend it in and make it look more factory. here is the picture of the narrowed T25 hatch in my splitty

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1964 rat 13 window deluxe 1Z tdi,
1975 rhd twin slider tintop (TBA)
1991 golf 2 gti with tweaked AHU tdi,

previous tdi swaps: gone but not forgotten
1979 rhd twin slider tintop bay ahu 1.9tdi
1990 T25 1Z 1.9tdi
1993 suzuki samurai with 1Z 1.9tdi