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Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:17 pm

I am having a hard time finding a 55 rag assembly for my restore project does anyone have an idea where or who I might go to? Im open to a fabricated assembly at this point

Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:35 pm

mrpippen wrote: I am having a hard time finding a 55 rag assembly for my restore project does anyone have an idea where or who I might go to? Im open to a fabricated assembly at this point good luck. three fold clips are selling for 3k. it took me 3 yrs to track down a sunroof rail. and that only happened because a friend in cali spotted one in a swap meet..

Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:11 am

I shudder to think that I'm even suggesting this but...

Purchase something along these lines.....take what you need and Gasp! Part out the rest of the car.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=566711

I'm using this as an example, this one has a different roof than yours

dave

Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:09 am

do you at least have the parts for a 2 fold rag?

i do have a 3 fold , and may be inclined to widen , lengthen a 2fold assembly to fit the dimension of a 3 fold. . do you have the rails?/ any parts other than the roof section?

Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:36 pm

there are so many differences between a two fold mechanism and a 3 folds mechanism. I'd really check into that. 3 fold had no rollers for starters.

be patient, one will show up, just be ready to strike when it does.
At least 3 folds are "common", be glad you don't have an early 56 and need a mechanism!

did you post your needs on any of the sites overseas? germany has many more old bugs than we ever had.

Dave

Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:55 pm

I'm aware of all the differences. Since people are asking close to $1500 for the assembly. At some point you have to say it may be worth it to cut / weld / fabricate a 2 fold mechinism to work as a 3 fold. it wont be worth as much but it will work, and you can continue driving the car.

i feel comfortable with my welding skills to make a 2 fold work. When the ragtop is closed you wouldn't be able to tell. The real question is do i have the time!!!!

Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:14 pm

Don't fake the funk.

Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:03 am

Hi,

If you are willing to go with something not factory,

Contact weinerbug here on Samba.

He is manufacturing/designing a quality aftermarket ragtop kit. maybe he can help you with something custom for your hole?? His skills and understanding of the top operation are remarkable.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=283622

Dave

Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:17 am

I own a '56 2-fold rag and wish I had waited to get a '55 and earlier 3-fold. 2-fold rags don't open back as far as 3-folds. Cough up the cash and get the real 3-fold deal.

Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:14 pm

Wiggy wrote: Don't fake the funk. ditto

Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:46 pm

friends dont let friends do this!!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=570943
at least he's not trying to pass it off as something it's not......

Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:51 am

what is a 2 fold mechanism(not clip) worth? i was curious.
-R-

Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:16 am

nsane56 wrote: what is a 2 fold mechanism(not clip) worth? i was curious.
-R-
I got one a year ago for $275 but that was cheap. expect to pay $400 or more for one.

Your gonna put this in a 55?? It ISN'T going to fit, to short, to narrow, different slide assembly.
if you can't afford the propper top WHEN you find one (no IF, it will show up in time), you cant afford the car! move it along to someone with more$$$ and get yourself a mid 60s that you CAN afford to fix up.
don't waste your time and money as well as destroy a good rag slide assy trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole
just send me the $$ and save yourself a lot of time and aggravation, your just wasting the money anyway, I can at least put it to good use and save a mechanism from destruction.

BB

Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:05 am

I believe I was mistunderstood. I thought he had the 3 fold opening, and just needs the sliders-ragtop assembly. modifying a 2 fold roof section and making it look like a 3 fold is crazy. Owning a factory 3 fold not being able to drive the car because your missing various pieces that can be modified from a 2 fold assembly is another thing.

Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:26 am

I have a 55 rag top with out the mechanism I am going to modify a 2 fold to fit into it. the 55 is 7 inches longer than a 2 fold. I am going to modify these railshttp://www.bfyobsoleteparts.com/Bus-Rag-Top-Rail-Kit-p-4246.html. It does not sound hard to make a mechanism work if you have the parts

Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:07 pm

volksauto wrote: I have a 55 rag top with out the mechanism I am going to modify a 2 fold to fit into it. the 55 is 7 inches longer than a 2 fold. I am going to modify these railshttp://www.bfyobsoleteparts.com/Bus-Rag-Top-Rail-Kit-p-4246.html. It does not sound hard to make a mechanism work if you have the parts

Hi,

Just to clarify.

1. You have a 55 beetle with a 50 - 55 sunroof 3 fold opening in it.

2. You are going to take components of a late 56 - 63 (USA) 2 fold sunroof and modify them to fit the 3 fold roof.

If this is true.
Please take photos,
make a parts list of what you used
Take dimensions of finished units and what you modified.
Document what you are doing so you can help others down the road.

You KNOW this is a hard item to find and if you can modify easy to come by parts to work well......... it would be a much appreciated book on knowledge to have available.

Much like this fine web site helps untold numbers of people today.

http://www.thebugshop.org/goresto.htm

Dave

Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:53 pm

My 55 is a original ragtop but it came with no mechanism. i was going to cut it up for parts but it is to solid of a car to cut up so I have to make something work and I am not going to pay 3000 for a top and mechanism.
that project is on the back burner for now but I am collecting parts for now,
when i get to it i will take tons of pic's

2 55 euro beetles
1 55euro ragtop
1 56 ragtop
1 57 beetle
1 70 beetle convertable

Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:07 am

edit due to bad info

Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:37 pm

well, in my opinion it is not very smart thing to switch 3 fold rag for the 2 fold one. I do understand, that it is hard to find spare parts for it. On the other hand, that is exactly the thing that makes it nice and unique. In Your case i would recommend to be quite conservative and keep the car in genuine shape, do not modify. The 55's are not very common. So, please hold on and keep searching, it's worthy :) Thanx

Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:52 pm

Hello Mr. P

I am currently making 3 fold bows and rails and will be making a limited number of 3 fold header bows.

The header bow will be release next month.

John

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=591519