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Mon Jul 21, 2003 9:42 pm

How hard is it to install a ragtop clip(from a donor) on a '56 beetle? Would I be better off getting an aftermarket ragtop? Any opinions on leaking, wind noise, parts, etc.. will be appreciated.

Eric(Kolapi)

Mon Jul 21, 2003 10:09 pm

I don't have any true experience swapping out the mechanical parts from a donor, but I would rather you did that than put an oddball aftermarket top in a 56 Oval. I have a friend in Vancouver Canada that had a 61 ragtop section put in his 63 bug. The shop that did it did a wonderful job! The leaking and the windnoise would only be what the factory allowed for... Ask around about how VW ragtops perform.

Tue Jul 22, 2003 12:20 pm

DO NOT even think about an aftermarket top unless you're doing total custom. I've only seen 1 aftermarket ragtop look good.
If you search around here, there's a link to an article on installing a rag clip. I've done it. The hardest part is measurements and alignment.

Tue Jul 22, 2003 3:58 pm

What about the welding? Everyone's been telling me "you're gonna warp the roof". My response is, how is everybody else doing it then? I'm not affraid of work. I figure if I go real slow and do a little at a time....

I'll check out the link. 8)

Thanks, Kolapi

Tue Jul 22, 2003 7:00 pm

you want to weld in short tacks, well spaced, not a continuous bead. run a one inch bead, move a foot, run another bead, move a foot, and so on.

Wed Jul 23, 2003 9:53 am

Kolapi, you can either cut the ragtop in or cut the entire roof skin at the pillars, open up the rain gutters, and replace the whole top skin. I recommend cutting in just the top itself. There was an article in a back issue of HVWs that I can copy and mail you that shows how to do it this way. With careful heat control like Bljones says, you won't warp it.

You probably know this, but you are not ever going to find a 56 donor clip. It is a one year only top that uses the later 2-fold top, rail and and bows with round front corners, but still retains the early (to '55) square cornered slat iron in the back. The whole back part of the sunroof cover is different than any donor top you are going to get. If you just cut in a 57-63 top, your car will look wrong, and people the world over will point and laugh. Chicks will stop talking to you, in fact you may never get laid again. Also, the donor clip will not have holes brazed into the roof like the 56 roof had, I don't think, so you can't just go looking for an early slat iron. You will have to use a 57-63 donor clip and modify the round-cornered rear slat iron to look like a 56 slat iron by narrowing it, squaring the ends, etc. I have digital pix of what the rear slat iron on a 56 is supposed to look like and I can send them to you if you are serious about doing this transplant correctly. Let me know, I would be glad to do it.

Chris
JHC Roof Transplant Division
Oregon Chapter

Wed Jul 23, 2003 8:32 pm

Hey Chris,

That sounds great, you can send me any info you have. I'm not going for a year specific look, but have heard there were changes. I would like the body as close to a '56 as I can get. It will be a de-chromed, shaved handles, lowered, power everything '56 custom. I have some questions, too numerous to ask here. I'm very familiar with the '64 model year. The '56 has more differences than I thought. Go ahead and email me kolapi@msn.com .

Thanks, Eric(Kolapi)

Thu Jul 24, 2003 9:43 am

ugh. sounds awful. I hope it's a piece of shit already as I would hate to play a part in the customizing/butchering of a good restorable car. My first car was a 64, when I was 15. I did all the things to it that you're describing. I sincerely regret it to this day. What a waste of time and money.

If your 56 is a piece of shit with collision damage missing most of the original parts, then I will gladly help you. I'll email you the pictures of the sunroof details tomorrow evening. Good luck.

Chris
JHC

Fri Jul 25, 2003 4:41 am

Hey, I wouldn't call it a POS! 8) I found it in a construction yard. It seems that the yahoos found pleasure backing a forklift into it daily. Before that, it was seriously vandalized. Someone went out of their way to smash every piece of glass(or chrome) in and on the whole car! And before that, someone shaved the front bullet turn signals and fixed the hole with a rivet gun! The guy I bought it from said he was 'gonna chop off the roof and make a baja' out of it!

This car was probably a nice one. Luckily the body is straight and(i'm not sure how or why) but it has little rust. The pan was gone. Tow chains on the axels and wheel damage made me give up hope. The forklift guys only hit the fenders and bumpers. They must have drug it around by the chains. It was seriously abused.

My '64 Beetle had too many rust problems to try and fix. I was going to do both cars but... Time and money restraints... I put '64 and '56 together and here I am. The purists probably hate the idea of what I'm doing. I'd rather have the car driving around than smashed in a yard.

Thanks for any info, Eric(Kolapi) 8)

Fri Jul 25, 2003 10:37 am

Ok I'm sold. I have no problem at all with you using a different year swingaxle pan on it, I just think you'll regret the body modifications. Anyway I agree it's better to get it on the road so you can enjoy it. I'll get you the info and email you for your mailing address so I can send you copies of the HVWs article.

Best of luck,
Chris

Tue Aug 05, 2003 7:46 pm

Major Woody,
I have what I think is a 56 ragtop clip section complete with all parts. I was wondering if you'd be willing to send me those pics so I can compare mine and make sure I'm putting the correct one in my 56. Thanks in advance.
Chris