Karmann Floor Holes Picture

[Brett Johnson]

Can someone send me a high res. photo of the 50 mm drain holes in floor and/or rear seat area from a Karmann coupe. Prefer photos of a car that has no sound deadening from the top. This will be used in my upcoming Authenticity IV. 356drb@indy.net

[Dick Weiss]

Brett,

Is a decimal missing in the 2"+ drain holes question?

Dick (See you in Oxford's Red Brick Reunion?)

[Vic Skirmants]

What decimal point in 50mm?

[Brett Johnson]

I have come to accept the metric system since I'm approaching retirement age -- at the insistence of my older peers.

I have photos that I need now -- thanks! Still need lots of other information -- see previous questions. Should have layout of chapter 2 done by tomorrow.

[Chatard Romain]

Could you post photos because I have a Karmann too and I would like to see where this holes are. Regards, Romain

[JohnPierce]

This is my 1963 Karmann S-90 that I am restoring. I modified the floor pans, longitudinals, rear seat pans, battery box, etc. to be OEM.

HTH

John

60 Floor Pans Plugs.jpg (1.4 MiB) Viewed 2321 times

[Doug McDonnell]

That looks beautiful John.

[Chatard Romain]

Thank you for the photos, I apologize if the question is stupid but what is the aim/goal of this holes ?

Regards, Romain

[JohnPierce]

Ha!! Very good question, which has been debated over the years on the Registry forum. Some people believe that the 50 mm holes (marked with arrows) were to drain any rust proofing that was done on the car. Others think that they were lift points. The longitudinal holes and rear tunnel holes were to allow egress of any water condensate.

41 Seat Pan Plugs Top.jpg (1.39 MiB) Viewed 2243 times

70 Battery Box Pan Plugs Bottom.jpg (1.43 MiB) Viewed 2243 times

80 Quarter WIndow Hole.jpg (1.44 MiB) Viewed 2243 times

[Alex Mestas]

Great pictures!

[Brett Johnson]

From my understanding, Karmann cars were dipped in primer and the 50 mm holes allowed the excess to drain out. Reutter et al were just sprayed.

[Ron LaDow]

From my understanding, Karmann cars were dipped in primer and the 50 mm holes allowed the excess to drain out. Reutter et al were just sprayed.

Could well be, but if so, at least they had a plan to un-install the factory rust. And while I've had several Karmann cars I'd missed noticing the drain holes circled in red here:

Holes.jpg (1.63 MiB) Viewed 2185 times

[Dick Weiss]

OK, but as long as the 50mm holes were open, they'ed drain out, but closing the holes afterwards, they won't drain anything. All the little holes were added to drain moisture--if there is any; Reutters didn't have them.
I never paid attention that the 50mm holes(?) were welded closed after priming; The floor could've been flipped over while the primer was drying.