1956 VW Beetle - Just inherited from deceased Uncle

[Chainsaw Monday]

Hello all,

I've recently inherited a beautiful 1956 Beetle from an Uncle who loved these cars to death, and knew I do as well. It was what made our bond so strong. Unfortunately he's passed, but I'd like to return the car to form and enjoy it as a weekend warrior, as he did.

I got it up on jacks this week to diagnose why there are almost no brakes, the pedal goes straight to the floor. The fronts have been converted to discs, it looks to be the EMPI kit with the 2.5" drop spindles. The rears are still drums, and the passenger side rear wheel as well as the drum and surrounding parts are definitely saturated with some type of liquid, I assume brake fluid. I assume it's a bad wheel cylinder, but I haven't pulled the drum off yet to confirm. Here is a picture for reference:

While jacking the car up in the rear, I also noticed some fluid drip down in "healthy" amounts from the passenger side axle shaft / boot? (I am not sure what this is called yet as I'm learning as I go, it looks like an axle shaft boot that goes into the trans. The fluid also smells like gear oil (I think, I used to have some old Jeeps... but it's been a very long time). Any hints as to what to do here or what that area is even called would be of great help! Here are a couple pictures of that leaky area, also the passenger rear.

Here's a picture of the old girl:

Thank you in advance for any guidance provided, I'm anxious and excited to get her back on the road safely, and not have to feel like Freddy Flintstone lol.

Nathan

[esde]

Pretty common for those axle boots to dry out over time and crack. Sometimes they last 8+ years and sometimes 2. Get some new split boots from Wolfsburg west, and some new wheel cylinders for the rear. You might replace the master as well, as it's a good chance those seals are bad too. Inspect the soft lines also, the one I can partially see doesn't look great..
Good luck with it, beautiful car!
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modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that.

[my59]

Before you wade into taking brake hardlines off, start hitting the joints with pb blaster or Kroil couple days in advance. When you get to disassembly, slow loose/tighten may work better than muscle.
It's easy to twist the pipe and snap it.


That's a nice bit of inheritance. Hope it goes well!
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[markendee]

What Seth (esde) said

Would love to see/hear more about your 56.

Very cool Uncle I'm thinking.

Regards,

Mark.
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Member # 145244

[splitjunkie]

Your transmission and rear brakes are later than '56. The transmission is '61 -'68. Not sure what year the brakes are but could be '58 - '67. It might take a little detective work to figure out what year so you can buy the correct wheel cylinders. Your door also is later or has had the door handles replaced. They could be '60 - '64.

It could be a later car with an oval window grafted in and an oval decklid. Pretty easy to tell based on the windshield size and shape and the dash. Might also be a '56 on a later pan. I would check that the VIN under the back seat matches the plate behind the spare tire and verify everything against the VIN lookup on The Samba.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/bugchassisdating.php
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Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[VW_Jimbo]

[markendee]

Taillights and hood support are oval.
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Member # 145244

[Chainsaw Monday]

Hello again everyone,

Thank you to each one of you for your replies. I've already hit all of the brake joints with PB as of late last night, as I will be changing all of the rear brake hardware, not just the rear cylinders. As someone stated, the rubber line doesn't look great, and neither does anything else back there lol.

I do know the transmission was replaced in 2023 with an order from Aircooled Haus, and the enginer was redone in 2022 with items ordered from Aircooled Haus as well as Kaddie Shack in Pasadena. I'll have to dig out the documentation my Aunt sent over to me.

I'll double check the VIN, but I do believe it's a '56 with perhaps a newer door or door handle. I'll snag some pictures of the front and interior as well.

Is there a way to tell what year(s) the brakes are for? I'd like to purchase the correct parts the first time around obviously lol.

Thanks again in advance!

[Chainsaw Monday]

Here are some more pics, as promised. I'd love to get the rear brake parts ordered, but I'm hesitant now as to what year to purchase for. I'll take the drum off today and see if the type of wheel cylinder will provide any clues.

Pic of rear brake, as well as the engine / trans from underneath.

Here's a pic of the EMPI front disc conversion. Lines look much better up front as well.

Door / door handle:

More exterior and interior pics:

The VIN is 1164644.

[txoval]

March 1956 build.

Doors are later

Do a search for brake backing plates…there is a hood thread on here covering the different years and changes

[Chainsaw Monday]

[ddutch]

Nice Oval, I guess it just fell in the right hands. Get it running and @njoy!

[splitjunkie]

Pretty sure the pan is an early 60s pan. The rear shock towers are not correct for a '56. They are angled at the top and have the bump stops. Body has been modified around the mount and shock mounting as well. The rear torsion bars are for short bars which is wrong for a '56. Check the VIN on the center of the tunnel under the seat. I bet it is different. The axle tube look like they have the straight shock mounts so could be original to the cars.
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Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[VW_Jimbo]

[Chainsaw Monday]

[56Cabrio]

[Zwitterkafer]

To avoid a pesky transmission oil leak, it is recommended to position the axle boot seams to the rear of the car, so that they can better withstand the up and down flexing. Interesting car, good luck!
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"Criticism comes easier than Craftsmanship"
- Zeuxius, 400 BC

[Chainsaw Monday]

[56Cabrio]

At the end of the day you have a great looking car and remember your Uncle every time you go for a cruise in it...
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1956 Rag Top owned since 1988
1956 Convertible owned since 2000
1963 Hard Top

RIP Dad 4/20/1951 - 2/4/2023

[Chainsaw Monday]