3/4 square tube above drop trunk - remove or leave?

[RogerRoger88]

I'm installing i.e.427's drop trunk, and the 3/4 square tube above the drop trunk sticks out like a sore thumb. I've read many of the build threads and noticed only a few people have removed it. I'm leaning towards removing it too for a cleaner look. However, I don't want to diminish the structural integrity of the rear of the car. Does anyone feel removing it is a bad idea?

Thanks!

[cv2065]

I believe those tubes are a part of the crumple zone for the car in the event of an accident. I left mine there. Thinking about putting a soft bar protector of some sort on both tubes.

Frank from i.e.427 addresses it in this thread.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?46121-Add-Drop-Trunk

[gbranham]

Removed mine.
217681

[Jeff Kleiner]

I've done drop trunks on several builds and have always left them in place. They're there for a reason (not just because Jim Schenck likes triangles ;)). When the Mk4 was introduced they initially had a dropped trunk that eliminated those diagonal tubes and after the first hundred or so cars they went back to the MK1,2,3 design and put back the structure with the diagonals. That ought to tell you something...

Jeff

[OSU Cowboy]

I removed mine. If I get rear-ended ever, I guess I'll find out. Not to mention - If my Aunt had balls, she'd be my Uncle.

[weendoggy]

I did mine 26yrs ago and also removed the straight useless 3/4" bar below the leading edge trunk opening (guess F5 figured that one out) and put in my own curved bar, plus several others in place. Not too worried about a rear ender, more like a T-bone on either door. Nobody seems worried about that. Strange how the "quick jack bolt going into the gas tank, causing a fire" has dissapated over the years.

[RogerRoger88]

Thanks for the responses! Yet another decision to ponder.

[Mike.Bray]

I haven't run an FEA analysis but my gut tells me if you get rear ended in one of these things that piece of thin wall 3/4" RHS isn't going to do very much. As Weendoggie said, getting T-boned or ramming a quickjack bolt through the gas tank should be a bigger worry.

Boy, you look at these things and you really have to admire people that raced them at places like Daytona.

[JohnK]

Another way to come at this question is, what are you gaining by removing them? They're really not *that* ugly, and how many people are looking in your trunk anyway? I left the bars in there and wrapped them in leather to make them look a little nicer, and I've never felt that they were in the way of storing anything in the drop trunk. I'm in the "they're there for a reason" camp.

[CDXXVII]

I left mine in. It helps secure stuff I put in the trunk and also gives a more race car look. Not sure about structural integrity but clearly, removing it means less structure.

[CraigS]

I left mine in too. I figured that the only downside was I needed to pack stuff in smaller soft side packages. No biggy to me.

[Norm B]

I did my own drop trunk mod and replaced the diagonal braces. They help support the trunk floor.

Norm

[Sdonnel]

I removed mine and created a frame around the bottom of the drop trunk made out of 3/4" 1/8" wall tubing as well. Welded it all in place and cut the cross brace out. Seems like it would be a better solution to just cutting the brace and hoping you don't get rear ended.

[edwardb]

I've installed a drop trunk in all except my first build. I'm not a "frame cutter" :rolleyes: so have always left the frame intact. I've never found the cross frame members an issue for how I use the space. No big deal and easy to get used to. Here's a solution though: Check out the Mk5 Roadster. FF has the drop trunk as a standard feature and designed the frame to not have any cross pieces. They also designed the cross pieces in the transmission tunnel in a way that shouldn't require any cutting in that area either. Finally, check out the massive frame construction on the sides below the doors. Like everyone else, I have no plans to take a hit there. But seems very robust to me should the worst happen. Puncturing the tank with the quick jack bolts, that's maybe a thing.

[gbranham]

If memory serves, I read somewhere here on the forum that the piece of frame in question wasn't necessarily to help with rear impact (I mean, c'mon, the back of that frame isn't going to stop anything substantial with or without that piece), but more to keep the frame square and rigid. I guess that means mine is loosey goosey since I removed it. Can't say that I've noticed anything in 700 miles on the road. My thought was that all the aluminum panels, glued and riveted to the remaining frame pieces, would likely keep everything where it's supposed to be.

Greg

[Mike.Bray]

if memory serves, i read somewhere here on the forum that the piece of frame in question wasn't necessarily to help with rear impact (i mean, c'mon, the back of that frame isn't going to stop anything substantial with or without that piece), but more to keep the frame square and rigid. I guess that means mine is loosey goosey since i removed it. Can't say that i've noticed anything in 700 miles on the road. My thought was that all the aluminum panels, glued and riveted to the remaining frame pieces, would likely keep everything where it's supposed to be.

Greg

exactly