A/C cut out in front trunk

[sharper]

I took a look at a 74 914 the other day that had the floor of the front trunk cut out for A/C that it must of had in a past life. I am curious if this poses any structural problems with the car. Also, would it be okay to weld in a flat piece of metal to close it back up?

[Bruce Allert]

I've seen a few that had the piece you're talking about welded in and just pop rivited in. I will be taking mine out & doing one or the other.
bruce

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Very little or some structural problems, depending on how much was cut and where. I figure it's best to have reasonably intact sheetmetal, though.

Yes, you can weld in a flat plate if the area to be covered is flat. You might lose a very little strength over the original formed piece (it wasn't flat, it had pressed-in ribs for a little more strength) or maybe none at all. Again, depends on exactly where and how much was taken out.

You can also look around on the classifieds (here, at 914club.com, and so on) for someone who is parting out a car. Have them cut out a trunk floor for you; should be reasonably cheap... It's at least worth looking.

--DD

--DD

[yoh!!!]

Hi,

my 74 has a AC unit and the unfortunate holes ...
... the plural here indicates that there are more (check wheel wells on the passenger side, engine sheet metall around the oil cooler)
I would prefere the car would not have the AC unit, but this is how it came. I do not think that the structure of the unibody is impaired by cuting the hole for the AC - at least not for driving it - it might be a different deal crashing the car.
Welding... sure you could weld them shut with a MIG welder. If you do the job try to find a donor car to cut out a sheet metal pice rather than a flat piece of metal to close it back up.
An other option would be to score a under dash and trunk unit and install an AC in the car, that would cover the holes nicely. AC pices are occationally offered on ebay.

Patrick Koch

[jamcleod]

nooooo! IMHO, weld in a real 914 trunk from a donor car

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Couldn't you just weld in some gussets along the edges of the hole and keep the hole there for the condensor?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Well, maybe if he still had the A/C...

--DD

[sharper]

The only thing left of the A/C are the hoses. I was just curious if by some slim chance I purchase the car. It has some obvious inner rocker rust that would need to be repaired.