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Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:29 pm

i am trying to find out the approximate date when my oval was produced. i believe it is a late 57. the big numbers stamped in the spare tire area is 407919.
ID plate info is...
volkswagenWerk GmbH.
typ vw1/11
zul gesamtgewicht kg 1110
zul achslast vorn kg 450
fahrgestell- nr 1401697
baujahr
zul achslast hinten kg 660
the pan i have for it has a VIN, 1061506
thanks for any info!

Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:55 pm

it looks to me that you have a 57 body (made in late 56) and a 56 pan (made in early 56).

either way, the numbers on the pan and the plate should match, and yours dont, so it would seem that at some point in time, someone did a pan swap.

Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:03 pm

Actually the car was sitting on a '71 pan when I got it, and I have found a '56 pan for it.

Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:58 pm

good. so you've got a 56 pan and a 57 body.

for future refference, check out this page.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/bugchassisdating.php

Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:52 pm

According to the chassis number you've supplied (1-401697) along with the body number (407919) you've got a Beetle body that was manufactured on January 1957

The pan that you acquired with chassis #1-061056, dates it at early (within the first 10 days) January 1956

Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:18 pm

thanks for the info. its about to become the sweetest BONE stock agave oval rolling!

Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:27 am

Just bought a '57 and guess I'm not smart enough to figure when it was born and if it has the original engine...? The VIN is 550597 (on the title and stamped under the rear seat) and the engine# is either U0275747
or 11275747, I can't quite make it out. It's stamped on the top, not facing you from the rear under the alternator (been converted to 12v). Any help will be appreciated! I did visit the web site, per Mr. Bungle, but as I said I couldn't figure it out!

Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:07 pm

melman, April 57 is when you're car was built.

the engine # is confusing me tho. hopefully someone here can help you out.

Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:33 pm

Thanks for the info, Mr. Bungle. At least now I know it's birthdate!
Melman

Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:43 pm

melman wrote: the engine# is either U0275747
or 11275747, I can't quite make it out. It's stamped on the top, not facing you from the rear under the alternator (been converted to 12v). Any help will be appreciated! I did visit the web site, per Mr. Bungle, but as I said I couldn't figure it out!

Hi Volks,
Engines with the ID # stamped on top were most likely a 1961 or later type 3 motor. If you have an alternator you have to use a 1961 and later type 1 engine case or a 1959 1/2 to 1971 bus engine case. These have a gen/alt stand that is unboltable from the engine case an earlier engine the gen stand is a cast part of the engine case.
Eric&Barb

Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:35 am

Eric&Barb,
Thanks for the help! The gen/alt stand IS bolted to the engine case, so
I have a place to start from. Do you know how to tell if I have a split case tranny, or a later one?
Melman

Thu Nov 04, 2004 6:43 pm

melman wrote: Do you know how to tell if I have a split case tranny, or a later one?
Melman

Hi Melman,
Glad we could help.
Slide under the rear of your VW. Take a look at the engine case and find the seam that goes down the center of it. Follow it forward to where the engine is bolted to the tranny. In the same direction and plane if it is a split case tranny there will be seam with bolts and nuts holding the two halfs together.
Eric&Barb

Sat Nov 06, 2004 8:57 pm

Eric&Barb,
Checked out the tranny and it seems to be a later unit, and I have learned the engine is a 1600 dp from a 1970 type III. So, maybe the tranny is from the same car. Since I plan to use it as a driver, this will probably work out best anyway. I'm trying to get it ready for inspection and realized today the head lights and brake lights don't work. They did when I drove it home, now they don't. I've checked all the fuses, they're good. The parking and turn signals all work, any ideas?
Thanks for all your help!
Melman

Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:29 am

melman wrote: I'm trying to get it ready for inspection and realized today the head lights and brake lights don't work. They did when I drove it home, now they don't. I've checked all the fuses, they're good. The parking and turn signals all work, any ideas?
Thanks for all your help!
Melman

Hi Melman,
We doubt the tranny is from a 1970 type 3, because by 1969 all VWs except for standard bugs were equipped with CVs.
As for headlights you will need to get a wiring diagram of your year and type of VW. Then follow the wiring and test with a voltage meter at each connection.
We have found with our pre-1964 buses that the fuse box and headlight switch must be soldered to get rid of the electrical resistence caused by loose conections in these parts. http://type2.com/library/electris/vw-hauptlicht-schalter.html Make sure to go through the type2.com library!! Lots of good info for bus & bug owners.
Eric&Barb

Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:02 pm

1969 for irs is true for usa cars.but other markets (england and mexico and others) had swingaxle..

Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:31 pm

bill may wrote: 1969 for irs is true for usa cars.but other markets (england and mexico and others) had swingaxle..

Hi Bill,
Which is why we wrote "because by 1969 all VWs except for standard bugs were equipped with CVs."
Eric&Barb

Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:05 am

if your brake lights are not working, check your brake fluid level. also, check the brake switch. it is a screw in switch that looks like an oil sending unit, but with two wires attached. make sure the wires are on good, or try replacing it. be careful though, because it will leak brake fluid when you pull it out.

Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:10 pm

Hey guys,
Once again, thanks for all the input.
I eyeballed the tranny and it looks to be a later unit, don't know yet how to tell the year for sure. It stays in gear and don't make a lot of noise, so I can't complain! The wiring was a mess. Finally got it all working and did the State Inspection thing today. With my trusty mulitmeter I found the dimmer switch to be the problem w/the headlights not working: bad connection. The brake lights were inop because of a faulty connection at the fuse block. The car had been "restored" about 5 years ago, and appears to have the original wiring harness, then sat in a barn/garage for about 4 years, had mud dobber nests all over the engine bay and on the underside...I'm still finding them. Thanks again for the help!
Melman