TheSamba.com :: View topic - Rusty heater channels, Ideas for sources of parts?

Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:17 am

Hi guys,

This site is amazing. I put up a post regarding the gold finish on my case and got tons of response. I have a 57 that is rotten. The heater channels are toast. I had purchased a set of them from wolfsburg west only to return them due to poor quality. They didn't look the same and I believe were of thinner guage metal than original. I was surfing around this site and found a supplier in Europe somewhere but they are stamped in sections. I can't find that place to save my life! Does anyone out there have a source of these panels that look correct, are of the correct thickness? I am less concerned with the cost. I really would like to find a nice used set but that seems impossible. Thanks again for all your help.

Peter

Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:30 am

i have one for drivers side that is used on oval 57's no heat tube inside but everyone claims they are best one for fit. in san diego where are you?

Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:18 am

Have you tried Wolfsburg West? Here is the link: http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/wolfsburg/body_sheet_metal/bug_sheet_metal/bug_body_sheet_metal.htm

Good luck.

Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:11 pm

a57oval wrote: Hi guys,

This site is amazing. I put up a post regarding the gold finish on my case and got tons of response. I have a 57 that is rotten. The heater channels are toast. I had purchased a set of them from wolfsburg west only to return them due to poor quality. They didn't look the same and I believe were of thinner guage metal than original. I was surfing around this site and found a supplier in Europe somewhere but they are stamped in sections. I can't find that place to save my life! Does anyone out there have a source of these panels that look correct, are of the correct thickness? I am less concerned with the cost. I really would like to find a nice used set but that seems impossible. Thanks again for all your help.

Peter

Wolfsburg sells two different types of channels. Sounds like you bought the South American channels. The Danish channels they sell are of better quality and they are a better match to the 57.

Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:28 pm

i bought mine from cip1 (california imports) and i was quite happy. they have 2 kinds, deluxe & econo. deluxe have heater tubes for heat and econo dont but fit very well and the curve at the front is almost perfect.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D111%2D801%2D046%2DD

i put these in my 56 and was extremely happy with the fit, thickness, and shape.

i have also heard that wolfsburg west sells excellent heater channels. perhaps it is like hotroddedxxx said, you just bought the wrong style.

Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:14 pm

Hi guys, Thanks for responding to my inquiry. The channels I purchased from Wolsburg West WERE the Danish ones. While I agreee that they are much better than the economy ones I dind't feel they were accurate enought to do a correct restoration of the heater channels. By correct I mean exactly like the originals. Which is a bummer because trying to find original ones that are rust free will not be easy. Thanks again,

Peter

Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:03 pm

Sorry man.

Keep an eye on the classifieds. I think the problem will be most cars with good heater channels are still in good shape and wont be cut up. If the channels are good, usually the rest of the car is too.

Good luck with the hunt.

Anyway you could relocate the vent on the WW channels to be more accurate?

Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:46 pm

There's a little hope, my buddy Steve had the same problem and I found him a rear quarter section in the classifields. The section was from the front door post all the way back and he got it for $40. The metal was in great shape. It was off a crashed oval.
Good Luck!

Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:03 pm

og channels do show up in the classifieds every once & awhile.

if you're determined, you will find them. just keep your eyes peeled & good luck.

Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:24 am

I just sold an ok set of 58 channels and my buddy sold 3-4 oval sections so you just have to stay on top of the classifieds. Good luck

Wed Dec 22, 2004 1:08 am

a57oval wrote: Hi guys, Thanks for responding to my inquiry. The channels I purchased from Wolsburg West WERE the Danish ones. While I agreee that they are much better than the economy ones I dind't feel they were accurate enought to do a correct restoration of the heater channels. By correct I mean exactly like the originals. Which is a bummer because trying to find original ones that are rust free will not be easy. Thanks again,

Peter Hi 57 oval, pm me with your phone# I'm restojohnny I have what you need!!! I sell alot of original heater channels and the last 4 I sold 3 of them were rust free and perfect. I have a 56 I am cutting up soon and the heater channels on that one seems nice I'll know in about 3 days.

Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:08 am

i just bought the back half of an early bug with complete heater channels from bill may for a smashing $50. so they are out there. hey restojohnny, what other sheet metal is good off that '56?

Thu Jan 06, 2005 7:56 pm

Bill must like you.

Thu Jan 06, 2005 8:15 pm

Restojohnny, do you have any more of those heater channels--I need both for a '51. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:28 am

I think I might have a big problem with my car. Because I didn't know about the numbers being stamped on the chassis right under the rear seat, I never check to make sure everything was ok. I just noticed that they cut off the section where the numbers used to be. I bought the car since 2001 and I had it in my garage waiting for restoration while I was finishing school. I registered it under my name right after I bought it, and haven't been notified about the car being stolen. I noticed that the driver side apindle has a number, would this help me identify the chassis? The title shows the vin number to be the body number stamped right under the silver identification plate located in the spare tire section, which is the onlyone I checked when I bought it, and I was wondering if this is the way it should be or the chassis number should be the title vin number. I can't contact the person that I bought the car fron because I don't know where he lives, and I don't have his number anymore. Would the DMV be able to provide me the history of the car? Does anyone have had this problem, and what would be the apprpiate approach to take. Any info would be appreciated..