Support Hump, for Firewall, Fits Beetle 46-77, Ghia 56-74

OVERVIEW

When you''re deep into a pan-off restoration, you often find that the rear firewall support hump has succumbed to the "iron moth." This critical structural component is located at the junction where the central chassis tunnel meets the rear firewall, acting as a vital anchor point for the body-to-chassis connection. Over years of driving in inclement weather, road salt and moisture inevitably find their way into the tight crevices between the body and the frame, leading to hidden corrosion that compromises the rigidity of your vintage Volkswagen. Replacing this hump with a high-quality KeyParts stamped steel unit ensures that your Beetle or Karmann Ghia regains its original factory strength and provides a solid foundation for your interior and insulation components. It is one of those "hidden" parts that makes a massive difference in how the car feels on the road, eliminating flex and providing a proper seal against the elements.

Don''t settle for "patch-and-pray" repairs when it comes to the backbone of your air-cooled classic. This replacement support hump is precision-engineered to match the original factory dimensions, featuring the correct contours and stamped recesses required for a seamless installation. Whether you are building a show-winning Cal-Look Bug or a reliable daily-driver Ghia, using a full replacement panel like this one saves hours of fabrication time and provides a much cleaner finished look than trying to piece together scrap metal. At Appletree Automotive, we understand that fitment is everything, which is why we offer this robust 113-701-131 support hump to help you get your project back on the road with confidence. This part is stamped from heavy-gauge steel to withstand the stresses of the road, ensuring that your chassis remains stiff and your body mounting points stay exactly where the engineers in Wolfsburg intended them to be.

FITMENT

• Volkswagen Beetle (Standard Sedan): 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
• Volkswagen Beetle (Convertible): 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970
• Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (All Models): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974

SPECS

• Part Number: 113-701-131
• Manufacturer: KeyParts
• Material: Heavy-duty stamped steel
• Finish: Protective black storage primer (requires prep before final paint)
• Weight: 3.25 lbs
• Placement: Rear chassis tunnel at the firewall junction
• Installation Type: Weld-in replacement
• Compatibility: Type 1 based chassis (standard Beetle and Ghia)

PRO TIPS

Tip 1: Proper Surface Preparation for Structural Integrity

Before you even think about striking an arc, you must ensure that the area on the chassis tunnel and the rear firewall is cleaned down to shiny, bare metal. Use a wire wheel or a flap disc to remove all traces of old rust, undercoating, and the factory storage primer from the welding zones of the new support hump. We highly recommend applying a high-quality weld-through primer to the mating surfaces. This prevents "hidden" rust from forming between the two layers of metal after the weld is complete, which is exactly how the original part failed in the first place. Taking the extra twenty minutes to prep the metal properly will ensure your repair lasts as long as the car does.

Tip 2: Mock-Up the Body Before Final Welding

One of the biggest mistakes novice restorers make is welding the support hump in place while the body is off the pan without verifying alignment. If you can, temporarily drop the body back onto the chassis and install the rear firewall bolts to ensure the hump is sitting at the correct height and angle. This "mock-up" phase ensures that the bolt holes in the body will line up perfectly with the chassis once the restoration moves to the assembly stage. If the hump is even a quarter-inch off, you will find yourself fighting the body bolts later, which can lead to stripped threads or stressed body panels. Measure twice, mock up once, and weld once.

Tip 3: Seal the Seams to Stop the Moisture Cycle