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Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:56 am

FYI car is 56 oval. I am missing the felt channel support brackets in both doors. WW sells a replacement channel and clips, but only for 58-64. Has anyone ever made those work for oval doors? Thanks

Fri Nov 17, 2017 5:22 pm

Ethan, have you tried to use a 58-64? Most 58-64 door parts fit 56-57 Oval doors.

Should be easy to modify to fit.

Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:03 pm

No I have not tried, I don't have one here to try. I was hoping that someone had used them on their build and could tell me yes or no before I spent the money to order them from WW.

Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:35 pm

I’m not sure if ribbed doors are any different. Mine bolted at the bottom like normal, but did not use a clip at the top...they simply riveted in. Wish I had a picture

Hopefully someone will respond to verify, but I bet we could get them to work if you’d like to try

Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:11 pm

Yeah I am probably going to go ahead and order a set. Those are the only things holding me up from finishing the doors. The factory channel on the 56 bolts at the bottom but has a clip that is not removable like the 58-64. They are also completely straight, the picture on ww page shows a bend in the channel. thats what keeps throwing me off.
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=113837419

Sat Nov 18, 2017 6:37 pm

The "bend" that you are talkin' about is there in order to accommodate the upper clip.

Your Bentley mentions the design revision of the "rear glass-run channel" . . . to stop a squeak!
Look at page 4, sectionA-16 to see a side-by-side comparison of the new design and the old design.

Per the manual . . . "Rear glass-run channels of the old and new types are not interchangeable"
It might be partly because the new clip looks to be wider.

Also mentioned . . . from Dec 30, 1959 . . . the rear window run channel was shortened by 80mm . . .

(off topic, but I have yet to tell ya . . . your ragtop turned out AWESOME!!!!! 8) )

Sun Nov 19, 2017 10:29 pm

57BLITZ wrote: The "bend" that you are talkin' about is there in order to accommodate the upper clip.

Your Bentley mentions the design revision of the "rear glass-run channel" . . . to stop a squeak!
Look at page 4, sectionA-16 to see a side-by-side comparison of the new design and the old design.

Per the manual . . . "Rear glass-run channels of the old and new types are not interchangeable"
It might be partly because the new clip looks to be wider.

Also mentioned . . . from Dec 30, 1959 . . . the rear window run channel was shortened by 80mm . . .

(off topic, but I have yet to tell ya . . . your ragtop turned out AWESOME!!!!! 8) )

Well crap that is not what I was hoping, I imagine it is going to be difficult finding some support channels. Thanks for the props on the ragtop, that build was an awesome adventure

Sun Jul 13, 2025 4:12 pm

I had the same problem missing the felt channel support brackets for my '57 bug. They are impossible to find used and most of the ones available only fit the later models. WW confirmed that later ones do not work in '57 and earlier bugs. These guys sell the right bracket:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2269837

However it's $52 for two of them plus shipping from Finland. The felt channel I bought from WW had pretty rigid aluminum under the felt and seemed sturdy enough on it's own, so I opted for a self sinking screw well below the window at it's lowest point in the track. Seems to be holding up just fine. My bug is not a show model and even if it were no one would ever see this part of the vehicle anyway so it doesn't bother me.