[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [New Search]
On 2 Sep 2003 at 21:57, Ben Doughney wrote: > on 2/9/2003 2:54 PM, Jim Adney at jadney@vwtype3.org wrote: > > > When the bumper starts to collapse, it forces that U-tube back against the > > front axle beam. The axle beam IS a heavy strong piece that is gripped by a > > major structural member of the body, so this transfers a LOT of force to > > something stronger. The actual front bumper brackets, like the rears, are also > > just bolted to thin sheet metal and have very little strength. > > Is it true that the U tube was added to push the fuel tank up out of the way > rather than crushing it in an accident? I can't see that it would actually have anything to do with pushing the tank upwards, but it WOULD help limit the amount of crush of the front end and perhaps keep the damage from progressing as far as the gas tank. 68-9 also got a foam block which sat in front of the spare tire; its job was to absorb crash energy to also help prevent intrusion into the gas tank. -- Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711-3054 USA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list | mailto:gregm@vwtype3.org