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Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:02 am

can anyone advise me....

i know that barndoor sunroof rails have a slot for a kinda delux trim..

but do standard/microbus's also have rails with this delux trim or are they more like the later ones (plain)??

i have no reason to believe that my rails are not the original but they have no delux trim slot!!

hope this question makes sense....

cheers buzz

Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:27 am

Number 55? 241 875 719 - protective strip. Taken from the Type 2 Parts Manual (1950-1954)

Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:30 am

I am sure all sunroof parts are the same for a given year.

The slot for the vinyl trim is through late 1959, although I don't know if the rails and other parts are the same as Barndoor.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=894951

Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:57 am

thanks... but i guess best show you what i have...

cheers buzz

Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:32 am

From what I've seen, all barndoors use the rail with the vinyl trim, and they are exactly the same as '55-'58 rails. The header bows are slightly different, but most other parts are identical.

Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:38 am

All the ones i've seen have the 'trim' in. Strange that your rails may have been changed. I know autocraft were going to repro the early rails...

Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:54 am

i have looked at autocraft and theres is the same as mine....(on there web)

ken... do you have any detail pictures of either of yours???

also the workmanship that you have done on that bus is second to none!!

Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:24 pm

From '55 non barndoor sunroof bus.
Took this from the Samba gallery, not my bus.
Should be same profile as your bus.
You can see some of the seal at the front.

Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:38 pm

buggar..... thanks!! now i know what i need..

cheers buzz

Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:56 am

buzz n maz wrote: can anyone advise me....

i know that barndoor sunroof rails have a slot for a kinda delux trim..

but do standard/microbus's also have rails with this delux trim or are they more like the later ones (plain)??

i have no reason to believe that my rails are not the original but they have no delux trim slot!!

hope this question makes sense....

cheers buzz

Deluxe and non-deluxe sunroof parts are the same. What year is your bus?

The very early stuff is all different and the rails do not take the rubber moulding, along with the header bow being different. My '51 standard sunroof is this way, and the '52 deluxes I've seen are the same. I've always assumed this goes with the deep skylights, but not sure?

Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:42 am

Oops, David S. Knows far more than I.
The key thing is what year/VIN your bus is.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:28 pm

buzz n maz wrote: i have looked at autocraft and theres is the same as mine....(on there web)

ken... do you have any detail pictures of either of yours???

also the workmanship that you have done on that bus is second to none!!

This is the '53 deluxe. Feb 13, 1953 Vin# 20-044994

I don't have the original rails for the '52 bus, but I do have a set like the ones form the '53 and they fit perfectly.

DSweinhagen wrote: buzz n maz wrote: can anyone advise me....

i know that barndoor sunroof rails have a slot for a kinda delux trim..

but do standard/microbus's also have rails with this delux trim or are they more like the later ones (plain)??

i have no reason to believe that my rails are not the original but they have no delux trim slot!!

hope this question makes sense....

cheers buzz

Deluxe and non-deluxe sunroof parts are the same. What year is your bus?

The very early stuff is all different and the rails do not take the rubber moulding, along with the header bow being different. My '51 standard sunroof is this way, and the '52 deluxes I've seen are the same. I've always assumed this goes with the deep skylights, but not sure?

The sunroof section, as in the body, is much different during the "deep skylight" era.

The '53 deluxe (the last know deep sky light)

And the '54 Kombi June 2, 1954

The entire sunroof section on the '52 and '53 are a separate stamping, that is just spot welded into an opening in the roof. This change seems to me it would be after the deep skylights.

David, Could you Take some pics of the early rails?

Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:56 pm

thanks guys for your info.... my bus is a 54 rhd (aussie bus)

i have spoke to many people in the last couple of days.... and i am very confused...

the way i see it is, being the bus was not a delux... makes me think that it should prob not have the delux style moulding for the sunroof!!! but that said ( and like mentioned above) VW would have probably not made two different style mouldings through the same period...

i understand that the history is not always that clear when it come to early vw's, and also things changed depending on where it was going to be shipped to..

i would like to have the bus period correct as possible... (although i have done some bolt on modifications)...

so anymore light on the subject would be great.....

cheers again buzz

Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:57 pm

According to "Progressive Refinements" the sunroof rails were modified in December '52 (see page A-16):

Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:49 pm

I recall seeing literature to the effect that the rails with the insert were a recalled item and they were to be replaced when vehicles came in for service. I believe it was a note in a factory workshop manual describing sunroof installation. If anyone has an early factory workshop manual maybe they can check. I believe it was around 1958 that the change was made..

Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:58 am

vwboop wrote: I recall seeing literature to the effect that the rails with the insert were a recalled item and they were to be replaced when vehicles came in for service. I believe it was a note in a factory workshop manual describing sunroof installation. If anyone has an early factory workshop manual maybe they can check. I believe it was around 1958 that the change was made..

My '59 manual just says to renew the beading if damaged.
It could be missing an insert or update though.
The '63 manual doesn't mention the beading at all.

The change was made in '59, I posted the progressive refinements page above. :)

Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:26 am

buzz n maz wrote: thanks guys for your info.... my bus is a 54 rhd (aussie bus)

i have spoke to many people in the last couple of days.... and i am very confused...

the way i see it is, being the bus was not a delux... makes me think that it should prob not have the delux style moulding for the sunroof!!! but that said ( and like mentioned above) VW would have probably not made two different style mouldings through the same period...

so anymore light on the subject would be great.....

cheers again buzz

I have a '54 RHD sunroof also and it also has the black trim....

Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:19 pm

hello delux hunter, yes i have seen your thread.... interesting bus, keep us all informed how you get on with it...

thanks for shareing that pic... :wink:

although im still unsure why mine came with the rails i have??? i have been away to a vw show, i have shown some mates the rails and recon they are not even like the later style??

so still puzzelled!!!

has any one lucky enough to have early (pre 52) rail profile pic and the later (i guess, post 58)profile pic to compare??

Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:16 am

My mid '52 Deluxe sunroof does NOT have the beading. It is the same as the equivalent split window beetle rail. The rails are very similar to yours BUZZ but it appears that your extrusion has half of the rebate for the beading. Are you sure the other half hasn't been removed and polished out?

No photos at the moment but try to get some later.

Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:50 am

Here's a picture of an end piece...