TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:06 pm

Our 1960 (built DEC 1959) walk thru panel camper conversion has a non-crank apron that has correct factory grey paint for the bus.

Interesting info from PR Manual:

29 AUG. 58 384 816 Bumpers
Now: stronger design
Now: starting handle no longer supplied

29 AUG. 58 384 875 Bumpers
Now: stronger bumpers with bows (USA and others)
Now: starting handle no longer supplied

Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:25 pm

I believe the apron on my 59 singlecab is OG and has no crankstart hole, build date is may of 59

Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:25 pm

EverettB wrote: The spacing between where the deck lid latches and the seal channel is located is different. 36hp engine vs. 1500cc engine.

You will find out when you try to bolt it up with the engine in place.

hazetguy's link in the first post of this thread results in this comparison photo
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=221891

Hi Everett, I just found out my bus was build in March 31 1964 and it is has that 36hp engine. I think it will fit :D

Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:17 pm

Freezzr wrote: EverettB wrote: The spacing between where the deck lid latches and the seal channel is located is different. 36hp engine vs. 1500cc engine.

You will find out when you try to bolt it up with the engine in place.

hazetguy's link in the first post of this thread results in this comparison photo
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=221891

Hi Everett, I just found out my bus was build in March 31 1964 and it is has that 36hp engine. I think it will fit :D

I'm not sure if you are joking?
A '64 would not normally have a 36hp engine.

Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:04 am

Sorry, I'm somewhat an expert on the T2a and T2b's :P but I'm a noob on the splitbus knowledge :D (working on it)

I read on this page http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/chassisdating.php that the enginecode of my bus could be correct (productiondate 31 march '64 / enginecode 8676279) but maybe I was wrong saying it is a 36hp engine?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:18 am

That is a 40hp engine.

Sounds normal.

Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:01 pm

Thanks for answering :wink:

Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:19 pm

Jan 28 1959 panel 36hp crank apron. I think it ended after the last of the 36hp engines mid year 59.

Sun Feb 13, 2011 12:43 pm

March 60 SC original apron. Had the bastard 40 horse engine. Hazetguy had this style listed as 61(?)-65. I'm thinking it may be an early 60 to 65 apron? The sheet metal above the decklid latch is pretty narrow.

Is there a bastard 40hp version? Seems the same for bastard, stale air and regular engine busses?

Splitpile, what do your '60 crankstart aprons look like?

Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:34 pm

are there any differences in the height of the rear apron?
Or is it normal, that the rear apron is not as long (high) as the rear corners, or that there is a kind of gap?
See circle in the pic.
Sorry, I didn't had a picture of that area, so I had to borrow the pic from the forum.

Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:28 pm

Fellow Bus perv's, my May 14 '59 SO23 has the 36hp engine with crankstart nut and rear apron, from research I understand the last Bus to have crankstart was May 19 '59.
This was at the same time the 'bastard' engine was introduced at chassis number 469 560 and engine number 3400000, so this makes mine very late in 36hp Westy's, possibly the last as no one has proved otherwise yet.

Now to find the elusive '59 only handle for the thicker bumpers....anyone?

Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:15 pm

zehbeh wrote: are there any differences in the height of the rear apron?
Or is it normal, that the rear apron is not as long (high) as the rear corners, or that there is a kind of gap?
See circle in the pic.

Not sure what you are trying to ask!

Would first measure the width, height, and even diagonal of the engine lid opening was even all around.

Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:18 pm

Should my 59 ( build date Dec.58 ) apron have an exhaust cutout? The apron I have on it now has two cutouts, both look to be made with a hacksaw :roll:

Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:44 pm

Pretty sure there were no cut outs before the Bastard engine.

Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:52 pm

Thank you

Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:04 pm

No problem. The tail pipe for those dog legged under the rear apron.

Here is an image from the Gallery and Tasb:

Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:51 pm

"RobzKombi" and all,

Correct, no cutout(s) for Bug tailpipes or Bus damper tubes in a factory apron before May 19th, 1959. The new "Bastard" (mistakenly called a 40 hp, really a 36 hp) motor came out that day and the apron now had one factory cutout for the totally re-designed "Bastard" muffler that had the new "damper" pipe that exited the body of the muffler at a 45 degree angle (not 90 degree angle). The exit angle went to 90 degree around June 1960 when the updated replacement motors for the Bastard (true 40 hp) motors were introduced.

Lotta wierd little changes right around the 1959-60 model years! Lotta controversey about crank holes in the aprons. "PR" mentions when the"crank handles" were discontinued (several dates), but it is generally believed that crank hole aprons continued to be installed on various model Buses as they continued to use up the exisiting stock of "holed" aprons, hand cranks, and those cool "starter dog" crank nuts...

My April 19th, 1959 Double-Cab should have a 36 hp motor with crank start parts, and my June 22nd, 1959 Double-Door Panel with a "Bastard" motor doesn't.

Go figure!

Bill Bowman

Sun Mar 18, 2012 3:15 am

Eric&Barb wrote: zehbeh wrote: are there any differences in the height of the rear apron?
Or is it normal, that the rear apron is not as long (high) as the rear corners, or that there is a kind of gap?
See circle in the pic.

Not sure what you are trying to ask!

Would first measure the width, height, and even diagonal of the engine lid opening was even all around.

Sorry for my bad english, I will try to explain it again:
Is it normal that the rear apron doesn't go down that far as the rear corners? See black arrow in picture. Are there longer ones too?
My bus is a 64 and I have the same difference in height as shown in the pic.

Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:56 am

Hey, you are doing great with the English!

The 1955-67 rear aprons should be same height.

If you look at the example you posted the apron has been badly hammered upward on that end, and the right rear corner looks to have been pulled down and possibly rearward.

Please do post an image of the apron you are having a problem with in situ.

Plus it would not hurt to have measurement from the top of the mounting point the rear apron sits on and is bolted to, to the lower inner corner of the corner bus sheet metal.

Wed May 15, 2013 9:18 pm

Hi Folks, can someone take this measures for me? in milimeters if you can.

A:
B:
C:
D:

Best regards
Marcos