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Wed Nov 21, 2012 2:36 pm

Was wondering if anyone has any pictures (preferably showing the lower flange) of an original barndoor cargo door rocker.

I know the long side rocker doesn't have any drainage dimples, and people have suggested that carg door side does have them, but I would like to see it. (have been trawling through the gallery but not been able to find anything yet)

Whilst the rocker on my '54 standard has been pushed in, I can't see any evidence of dimples, only drain holes either side of the panel gaps.

Wed Nov 21, 2012 4:57 pm

I don't know if this helps but my ex-1954 Single Cab has the drainage dimples under the treasure chest door. I guarantee it was original and unwelded.

My '55 Deluxe does too but I can't get a good photo from underneath because of my side step.
Here's the rear jack point and drainage dimple pressing:

Wed Nov 21, 2012 5:00 pm

Yes, I think it was Mr Rafferty who confirmed drainage points on the cargo door side, but none on the long side (for a Barndoor)
These pics are of the solid 1954 Beltek Panel Bus - which I understand to have original sills (can anyone absolutely confirm?) - & these back-up that theory

Cargo door side (3 holes)

Long side (no holes)

I think this drainage holes/no holes feature is a nice Barndoor detail - often overlooked
You're right - it's very hard to find pictures of original Barndoor sills! Be nice if we could see some more examples? Anyone?

Wed Nov 21, 2012 5:07 pm

More

Solid og BD, long side. No holes

Factory pic, cargo door side. 3 holes

BeaterBarndoor wrote: the long wall rocker would not have the typical drain pressings on barndoors. im not sure when they introduced them ,i would figure with the new body model in 55. the rocker should have the drain hole below the semaphore though.
the cargo door rocker does have them.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=307338
Gerson said at the time his BD long rockers no longer had the drain holes.

Wed Nov 21, 2012 5:29 pm

Thanks guys, that's very helpful.

The Beltek doesn't appear to have the drain holes by the panel gaps, that can be seen on Everett's bus. Or maybe I just can't make them out?

I wonder if a double door would have the dimples both sides.

Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:12 pm

Fonz wrote:
Quote: I wonder if a double door would have the dimples both sides.

Yes, I have a 53 double door panel and the three drain dimples are present on both cargo door rockers.

The short side rockers and long side panel do not have drain dimples.
This is a detail that many people restoring Barndoors overlook.

Additionally, there is a drain hole (not a dimple) present on the lower "B" pillar and short side rocker centered with the jack point. This is also a detail that many overlook.

Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:42 am

I'm sure beltek had a replacement cargo door rocker when Paul owned it.

Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:22 am

Yeah, I was able to see on mine the lack of dimples on the long side and short side rockers. Still has the drain holes over the jacking points too. It was just the cargo door rocker that it wasn't so easy to tell, due to some previous damage, which must have flattened the three dimples.

I wonder how many jacking point drain holes have been lost due to people thinking they were rust holes?

Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:24 am

yes, the Beltek cargo door sill/short side sill does look blown in

EA57RHD wrote: there is a drain hole (not a dimple) present on the lower "B" pillar
is this hole on the long side as well?
just one hole on the long side then?

Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:49 am

Pretty sure the hole above the B-pillar jacking point is there on my long side rocker. Couldn't tell you about the rear jacking point one on that side. There was definitely a hole, but it was a bit bigger than the drainage sort. ;)

Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:31 pm

RockStock,
Here's a picture of an original paint long side panel. There is no drain hole present at the rear jack point. I'm not 100% sure on the forward jack point though. I looked through a ton of my personal pictures and could not find an example of the front jack point (long side panel) to post. I'll keep looking.

Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:55 pm

There is the same hole on both sides of the front pillars of any semaphored bus. It's basically a drainage for any water that comes in through the semaphore opening. I have worked on other post bd buses that have the holes but not semaphores. I've never put it together though in where that stopped. It's definitely Wolfsburg buses maybe up until semaphores were removed ?

Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:27 am

low54 wrote: I'm sure beltek had a replacement cargo door rocker when Paul owned it.

Paul did repair the bottom of the short side cill next to the cargo doors, I don't know about the cill

Sat Nov 24, 2012 1:31 pm

Thanks all. So we currently have

Sat Nov 24, 2012 1:41 pm

Nice visualization.
To the best of my knowledge that is accurate.

Sat Nov 24, 2012 1:50 pm

Thanks boss

Another overlooked detail when guys restore their BD cargo floor
- 4 drain holes on the outer edge of the cargo floor on the cargo door side
These correspond to the drain dimples in the cargo door sill
(There are no drain holes in the cargo floor on the long side)

Sat Nov 24, 2012 2:10 pm

Unless Barndoors are different than later Buses, I assume those should have the typical rubber plugs in them too.

They are missing from most Buses since they harden up and snap off.

Sat Nov 24, 2012 2:35 pm

what do they look like?

Sat Nov 24, 2012 2:55 pm

Question?
Does a barndoor single cab have the same corresponding drain holes and drain dimples? The dimples being on the side with treasure chest rocker?

Also

What is the size of hole in the pillar? You can use a drill bit to answer...
Thanks!

Sat Nov 24, 2012 4:24 pm

I believe the above is correct for later barndoors...

Through at least mid '51 there are no dimples in the cargo rocker. Here is a picture of a December '50 with original rockers. My July of '51 (#14119) is the same way.