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I am considering buying stand off hinges for my 69 beetle. I'm in SC, so it's pretty warm. Then I read an article/post ref a tennis ball to prop lid open at the bottom. Any thoughts? Thank you

Here in Texas I just a tennis ball. Works great even in the warm temps.

Allen 1969 wrote:I am considering buying stand off hinges for my 69 beetle. I'm in SC, so it's pretty warm. Then I read an article/post ref a tennis ball to prop lid open at the bottom. Any thoughts? Thank you

I have had the Wolfgang International "Hoodlum" bracket with stand-offs on my '68 Beetle for ten years now:

https://www.wolfgangint.com/store/produ ... m-1827331/

https://www.wolfgangint.com/store/produ ... s-1827152/

The cooling is certainly better with the Hoodlum & stand off kit (12-15 degrees lower temps). The Hoodlum works great with the stock deck lid spring and clears my Weber IDA carburetors.

One thing to consider if you go with the bottom stand off or tennis ball: if you get stuck in stop-and-go traffic or gridlock, your fan will be sucking up hot air from under the car. Not as much of an issue on the highway, of course.

Having stand offs for the deck lid besides lowering temps also turns the dick lid into a great rain scoop. LOL.

Don't spend more than $12 on a pair (I can send you some including postage from Seattle for that)

As noted, great air scoop==great rain scoop.

I suggest fabricate some rain hats for the carbs or better, a nice fitted cover over the engine screwed to the fan housing,
(open at front for air to get to fan etc, more or less covering everything else below, esp carbs)
Make it ez-on/off for shows if you are into that.

I wouldn't run without standoffs here though, seem to make a huge difference despite potential (curable) issues.
(I am currently bugless, driving a T3 for the last few years but I have BTDT)

The standoffs work great in Dallas, BUT:
...doesn't rain often, but when it does rain, it only knows how to rain like it means it.
Awesome way to fill your float bowls with water in a downpour, this can happen at speed with Webers..

The tennis ball works great if you never, ever sit in traffic. Not even once for 5 minutes. Shut it down or cook your heads..

You could install a 72+ four vent decklid in place of your non vented 69 decklid.