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Sat Aug 02, 2003 8:36 pm

I was able to obtain an original center drink / partition panel with the top metal brace and the rubber bumper in pretty good shape. This is the panel that covers the spare tire hump behind the front seats on bench model buses. Since my bus didn't come with one, I am not sure if there are any brackets to hold the sides in place. I have test fitted it and the sides pop out so that they are not even with the left and right side panels. Can anyone help me with info on this? Any pics available?

Sat Aug 02, 2003 8:40 pm

umm no but can i see some pics of what you have never seen one

Sat Aug 02, 2003 9:32 pm

Here are pics of the brace and the brace with the panel.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/101051.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/101053.jpg

Sat Aug 02, 2003 9:35 pm

which Island are you on..? my dad is in kona and owns a machine shop. My friends i send his way get hooked up. I am moveing thier in DEC. so.
thanks
levi

Sat Aug 02, 2003 9:44 pm

I am on Oahu. I wish I could take advantage of that, but thanks anyways.
Alex

Sat Aug 02, 2003 10:46 pm

islandveedub,

I just restored my drink tray and side panels on my '63 deluxe and know the in's and out's of the whole system. Too tired tonight. I'll check in tomorrow morning and give you my info on the whole deal.

Scott

Sun Aug 03, 2003 8:28 am

islandveedub,

Here's what should be happening on your partition. The drink tray attaches by sliding the bottom of the curved cardboard into the bottom trim and riveting the top metal brace to the bulkhead. The side panels slide into the bottom metal trim piece and butt up to the edge of the middle section and are held in place by five pop rivets.

Scott

Sun Aug 03, 2003 12:31 pm

Scott,

Thanks for the info. I actually have two problems then. I don't have the bottom metal trim piece on my bus. I guess the previous owner took it out. The other thing is that the sides of the center panel bow out a bit so that it doesn't align with the side panels. The bend has so much tension on it that even butting up against the side panels it has a tendencey to pop out. I guess if I had the bottom trim piece, it would help hold the curve too. Wolfsburg West lists it, but it is not in stock. Any other ideas on where to get the piece anybody?

Thanks!
Alex

Sun Aug 03, 2003 12:52 pm

Alex,

My center panel bowed out in various places also. Once I attached it to the partition, I slid my side panels in place and they pushed the middle panel back into a straight line. If the middle panel continues to pop out, you can fir out the back of the side panels a bit to keep them from flushing out too close to the metal partition, letting the sides of the middle panel to pop out. You do need to get that trim piece for the bottom first. I'll keep my eye out for one...

Scott

Sun Aug 03, 2003 8:13 pm

what size is the pop rivets, anyone know?

Sun Aug 03, 2003 9:17 pm

I measured my original holes at 5mm or 3/16", however, I used oval head 8-32 machine screws with #8 finishing washers and 8-32 hex nuts. That way I have easy access to take the panel off if the need arises. All the hardware I used didn't modify the holes in any way.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/101207.jpg

Mon Aug 04, 2003 6:04 am

Pop rivets are 3/16" aluminum.

Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:49 pm

Scott, Alex,

The internal metal brace, that the material covered panel lays on top of is screwed to the bulkhead. Repeat do not use rivits here.

As for the side panels and center bulk head panel, it depends on the year of the bus, if rivits were used, beginning of model year 63 I think, otherwise, the same screw, washer combination found on the door panels was used.

Alex, I just received four of the bottom of the bulkhead aluminum rails from WBW, give them a call they should be in stock.

I will soon have the bulkhead mat in stock as well, if there is interest let me know.

Transporter Restorations
Upholstery Haus

Tue Aug 05, 2003 8:30 am

Doug,

Thanks for the info.

Are you talking about the "bulkhead mat" as the kick area at the bottom of the partition? If so, what color will it be and how much?

Thanks,

Scott

Tue Aug 05, 2003 8:33 am

Doug,

One more thing. The metal bracket/brace that is screwed to the bulkhead --- what kind of screws and do they protrude towards the seat or are the heads of the screws on the same side as the front seats?

Thanks,

Scott

Wed Aug 06, 2003 6:56 am

Scott,

The bulkhead mat will be that mat for the kick area, yes the long awaited impossible to find without a tear mat. The mat is black in color with a very slight shine.

This is the first mat that I have recently sound...very thin with a very similar texture.

I am also working with someone to have it reproduced, with slight curves/mold for the indented metal at the bottom of the bulkhead.

No prices yet, I should have the first batch in this week, so I will be soon installing one to see how it installs without the curves/mold.

As for the screws for the bulkhead panel metal brace...they are flat head, slotted, screwed in from the front toward the rear of the bus....so the point of the screw is inside the bulkhead panel.

Hope that helps

Douglas
Transporter Restorations
Upholstery Haus

Wed Aug 06, 2003 5:12 pm

Excellent Doug.

Thanks again for being the 'answer man'.

Scott