56-64 vent window mods to fit a 55?

[Volksman66]

Thinking about buying this for my 55. It says on WW website that you can modify the vent "to fit 1952 - 1955 Beetles by cutting the lower post on the vent wing frame."

Has anyone done something like this and would this be a good choice?

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/wolfsburg_new/door_components/bug_to_1964/vent_assembly.cfm?

[Bruce]

It can be done, I've done it before. However, you have to be prepared to have the wrong vent window latches.

There are a couple of ways you can do it. If you have old rotten -55 frames, you could cut the post off and butt weld it to the post on the new repro frames, after you cut that down.

Or you could spend time with a file and shape the repro's post to match the -55 post.
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[Zwitterkafer]

I have also done this conversion, starting with an NOS and VG condition 56+ donor frames. I cut down the pivot posts, and filed the flats very carefully, as Bruce suggested. The key is to go slowly and repeatedly test fit the resulting "tab" on the end of the pivot post into the corresponding slot in the pre-55 spring clutch mechanism. If done nicely, the small cylindrical collar that couples the two parts will hide all of your fine work, and there should be no slop.

I rechromed some good original pre-56 latch handles, and fitted them to the triangular latch base in the vent window frame. The result is very convincing; I also used NOS pre-56 catches to finish the job.

The toughest part was fitting the chromed latch handles....excess copper layers deposited during the chroming process can result in a poor or impossible fit, and must be dealt with by precision filing.

H.
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"Criticism comes easier than Craftsmanship"
- Zeuxius, 400 BC

[Volksman66]

Great! I think I will go that route. Most all the vent wings that I have seen do not look that good and would be a bigger pain to fix.