I have a couple of these vanagon engine support bars for just such a
purpose.  I recommend 'notching' the engines' sump (if possible and
necessary) over cutting the crossbar for strength reasons.

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Daniel - Shazam" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: Building carrier (load bar) Square or rectangular tube steel?

Just look at a waterboxer rear engine cross bar for inspiration.

It's rectangular tubing.

Also, of course, it's not loaded in the 'flat' plane, it' loaded in the
'vertical' plan if you follow me, which is stronger.

I even just USE waterboxer vanagon rear engine mounting cross bars for other
engine installations - I put one under an SVX engine - worked tres perfecto.

They're a bit heavy but super solid, and already the right length - ..one of
my fabrication rules .....( wood construction too ) ...when you find 'a
fitter' , you have to use it.

Plus rectangular is so much easier to work with, having flat sides, for
drilling holes in, bolting or welding things too, etc.

Another tip- build it 'in place' .

Get the engine where you want it.

Put the bar under it, make cardboard templates for the brackets you
need....cut those out on the work bench, set those in place on the
van/engine/bar , tack well them.  Take the bar out, weld on it more, out it
back in to check the fit, etc.

Scott

www.turbovans.com <http://www.turbovans.com/>

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
John Rodgers
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 10:36 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Building carrier (load bar) Square or rectangular tube steel?

Neil,

I'm not an engineer, but I would think that a tube with rectangular

crossection would have the greater strength, depending on the directions

loads are applied. Just my opinion.

John Rodgers

88 GL Driver

Chelsea, AL - where it's thundering, lightening, and pouring down rain.

Ahhh! Spring showers!

neil N wrote:

> Hi all.

>

> I am ready to fabricate the engine carrier for my 15 degree Jetta
conversion.

>

> Is 1/8" -  2"x2" hot rolled tube rigid enough?

>

> Or should I use rectangular tube?  ( 2"x 2.2.5" ?      2" x 2.5"  ?)

>

> Will the rectangular shape add strength/stability ?

>

> For sure 2" is needed for base of Fox mounts I'm using.

>

>

> TIA,

>

> Neil.

>

>

>

> --

> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"

>

> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

>

>

>

--

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