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Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:20 am

VW_Jimbo wrote:

I have! The dickheads immediately shut their windows that face our home! And they cannot say shit about it! :D

Thanks for the support!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thu Oct 02, 2025 9:17 am

BBursell wrote: Bruce wrote:
The luggage rails in early ovals isn't an attempt to get rid of left over parts. All Beetles 55 and earlier had them. It was part of the standard spec, just like the front hood emblem that was eventually eliminated.

Sorry for the hijack of the thread, (been reading this thread this since the beginning, great work Jimbo!).. but not sure about that luggage rail quote above. This is the luggage shelf of my September-54 Swedish sold deluxe straight out of the dipper. there where no rails mounted when I stripped the interior and there is no signs of any mounting points [img]

The luggage rails were removed in Aug 1954 starting with VIN 1-0698300 as stated in progressive refinements. There weren't any 55's with luggage rails. My Nov 54 does not have them.

Thu Oct 02, 2025 10:11 am

lardawge wrote: The luggage rails were removed in Aug 1954 starting with VIN 1-0698300 as stated in progressive refinements. There weren't any 55's with luggage rails. My Nov 54 does not have them.

Maybe my 55 was really a late 54! I cannot imagine the panel being swapped out by 1987, but one never knows, right?!?!

It was in a corn field when I found it!

The current 54 is a mid March of 54 date. So, it would have them!
Thanks man!

You know, I have a copy of Progressive refinements and always forget to look in it! Thanks for looking!

Thu Oct 02, 2025 10:13 am

VW_Jimbo wrote: lardawge wrote: The luggage rails were removed in Aug 1954 starting with VIN 1-0698300 as stated in progressive refinements. There weren't any 55's with luggage rails. My Nov 54 does not have them.

Maybe my 55 was really a late 54! I cannot imagine the panel being swapped out by 1987, but one never knows, right?!?!

It was in a corn field when I found it!

1000%. So many wild modifications to these cars over the years make it really hard to know what is correct and what is not.

Thu Oct 02, 2025 10:17 am

lardawge wrote: VW_Jimbo wrote: lardawge wrote: The luggage rails were removed in Aug 1954 starting with VIN 1-0698300 as stated in progressive refinements. There weren't any 55's with luggage rails. My Nov 54 does not have them.

Maybe my 55 was really a late 54! I cannot imagine the panel being swapped out by 1987, but one never knows, right?!?!

It was in a corn field when I found it!

1000%. So many wild modifications to these cars over the years make it really hard to know what is correct and what is not.

I feel sorry for the sack that finds this one sitting in a corn field in 50 years!

Thu Oct 02, 2025 10:53 am

Quote: It was in a corn field when I found it!
I thought that you found that off the end of the HB pier on the bottom of the ocean. Lol!

It's still coming along beautifully.

Thu Oct 02, 2025 11:12 am

67rustavenger wrote: Quote: It was in a corn field when I found it!
I thought that you found that off the end of the HB pier on the bottom of the ocean. Lol!

It's still coming along beautifully.

You almost remember it correctly. I barely do. I found my old 55 in Chino, CA, in a huge corn field.

I found the 54 on Craigslist. When I drove to the pier, I could see the rusty little Bug, resting on the ocean floor, holding the pillars in place.

I think that is correct! :D

Thanks for making me smile! It has been a really rough few weeks. After going to Oregon to a cabin in Deschutes Forest, to party for a few days, like I did when I was 18. I was struck down with Diverticulosis. Damn it sucks getting older! I have been recovering since then. Biggest bummer is I am having to revamp my entire menu. But, I am still breathing and life is getting better each day!

Thanks man!

Thu Oct 02, 2025 12:16 pm

Well Shit!
You could have told us you were coming up our way. I bet Xevin would have made a trip to see you, and if, I was in the area, I would have come along as well.

We've camped on the Deschutes a few time this year. Both trips were an absolute blast.

I'm sorry to hear that you were feeling poorly. I just got over covid for the third time earlier last month.

Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:50 pm

67rustavenger wrote: Well Shit!
You could have told us you were coming up our way. I bet Xevin would have made a trip to see you, and if, I was in the area, I would have come along as well.

We've camped on the Deschutes a few time this year. Both trips were an absolute blast.

I'm sorry to hear that you were feeling poorly. I just got over covid for the third time earlier last month.

Sorry man! I actually thought about it, but it was a huge family gathering at a family members cabin, for a week! Super fun. We were within walking distance of Sun River Brewing. We also drove up to Bend Brewing Company. They had a delicious chocolate stout! Decent beer, good food and a nice place to bullshit for 6 hours a day! We also hit Coolwater brewing on our way back out of town!

I promise, next year, when we fly up there and descend upon the family, we will meet up with the two of you. Next year for sure. We are suppose to be going back up there, if everything pans out!

Mon Oct 06, 2025 5:51 pm

Ok. Finally a free minute! Lets get this updated. Been out of town, more than at home. So, very little time to work on the Bug, but I did manage to squeeze a tiny bit of time in on the seatbelt points!

I need to have 3 point belts in the front! So, here is my journey after a shit ton of research. It may not be the best approach, but it has to be better than no belts! Right?

Started by installing a 7/16 x 20 weld nut into the top of the B Pillar. I am utilizing my 1970 Bug for locations. I am trying to get as close to those positions as I can. In the B Pillar the Semaphore box is in there and the loom needs to reach it, so ....

I went ahead and drew my plan out. I was willing to go as low as that big circle. I believe that was the point for the mid 60s seat belt points, based off of pictures. Then we have the mid circle which is where another set of photos came up with the location, I think it was the 67 - 68 years. Then the plus sign. That is where the 70 has the mounting point at. But lets see what is possible!

I started cutting at the rectangle I drew. I was very interested in how I could reinforce the anchor point, so....I sliced it open. Then peeled the skin back.

Looks like the bottom of the Semaphore box!

That aint goin work so well! So, I cleaned up the edges and welded that back into place. Damn it, I was hoping for some room to squeak a 1/4 thick chunk of steel bar by that point. Oh well!

Lets try again, except above the box! Set the Bug up.

Lay out a new spot.

Then cut open a window.

Looks like I have the room! BTW. That is the top of the semaphore box!

Took some dimensions and cut a bar, about 10 inches long. Drilled a hole in the center. Then welded a nut onto the back of it.

I then polished up the steel on the other side.

I tried sticking that into the hole, but the top runs into a steel wall. It needs a bend to align with the body panels way up in there. So, I cut a 1/4' off of the top of the bar and bent it to mimic what I could feel.

I then gave it a point, so that it could interact with a seam up in there and to allow the wiring to be pulled down to the box more easily.

I then slide it up into the opening in the B Pillar and threaded a bolt into it, so that I did not drop it into the B Pillar.

I then welded it up.

I will finish grinding it all pretty later. Lets get to the lower point.

Cut the lines.

Then bent it back enough to slip a section of 1/4 inch steel with a nut into the cavity.

Rolled the car over to make it easier on the back!

I tried slipping in the steel plate but pillar's end section was in the way. So, 2 relief cuts and a bend and I have full access! With that I got the plate into position and installed a retaining bolt with a copper sleeve for protection.

Then I plug welded the plate to the steel and then tidied up around the perimeter.

Ground all that and sanded it all. Then primed it up!

Did the same for the top point too!

Just a tiny bulge. Hey! Don't make fun of me!

Here it is sitting back on the pan! Man I love these lifts!

And a view up into the semaphore cavity, showing the nut plate!

That is all for a few weeks. Going to the Great American Beer Fest! Our best friends boy is a brewer at RIIP brewing. They have several beers in at the event and we are going to show our support, by drinking beer! What a country!

Tue Oct 07, 2025 6:33 pm

Hey Jimbo – what a great thread! Very clear and informative and your dedication to your oval project is a tremendous inspiration to get me moving with my bug. I found your thread by searching for replacing the bushings in the front beam; the process was so well documented that I ending up going back to page 1 to read the whole story from beginning to end. Took me a couple weeks but now can’t wait to see your bug reach completion. Thank you for documenting everything so well!

Wed Oct 08, 2025 8:36 am

jack1448 wrote: Hey Jimbo – what a great thread! Very clear and informative and your dedication to your oval project is a tremendous inspiration to get me moving with my bug. I found your thread by searching for replacing the bushings in the front beam; the process was so well documented that I ending up going back to page 1 to read the whole story from beginning to end. Took me a couple weeks but now can’t wait to see your bug reach completion. Thank you for documenting everything so well!

Hey Jack!
Thanks for the compliments and your time! I know that is a feat! Reading through the entire 100 plus pages! You and I cannot wait till it is completed! I am so close but still have so much more to go. So many little pieces need attention. It will take months going through it all, sending pieces out for chrome, blasting, powder coating and on and on. But, I will have a decent Oval window Bug when I get done, WHICH I plan to drive daily! Let’s see how it goes. I just got back the quote from West Coast Interiors on the entire interior, ragtop headliner and padding; seats and padding; door panels; lacing; mats; carpet and padding, the seat cards for the backs. The total was over 6 grand! Not a bad number but I have paint to get shot and all the chrome in need of replating, not to mention the remainder of all the rubber pieces, another $1500! It adds up quickly!

I have had to take a breather, allowing the Bug account to get some dollars in it. Hopefully, it will all come together before I am too old to drive the car!