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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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 Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:26 am Post subject: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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Ok brought a 1965 Samba double door many years ago from a guy I knew locally (UK).. a nice restoration for the time, but I think towards the end he just wanted it finished and to use it.... so a few things were finished ina way I want to correct (possibly)..
No real desire to make it into a nut ansd bolt show bus, but some things annoy me...
It had a Bay camper interior that I removed, and I am debating.....
I have the original Microbus seat frames (inc the double flipper middle) so that is a possibility...
I also have an original Dormobile Interior (with seats) with metal units for the rear, the favoured option repainting units to match body colours...
a sticking point in both is the interior panels and front sets were nicely retrimmed in a hardwearing vinyl that looks ok.... I could match it I am sure it is still made...
Do I retrim everything in Original materials? inc both sets of rear seats...
Do I install the Dormobile Interior and match the current materials (issue if camping vinyl I find is not nice to sleep on...)
I can't find my old VW books showing all the trim etc, and have done some searching on here since returning (yesterday evening)..
can't find my David Eccles books - are there any better?
Bus show coming up so I was looking to buy some bits and sort some niggles...
Did a 65 samba have chrome button cap clips holding panels in place or screws? were those screws cross head or slotted?
should it have extra pull handles to close the doors?
It has slash front and rear bumpers but slash rear trim and diamond front trim (I presume the trim at the front is incorrect) what bumpers were correct?
As said not loking to do a show queen, but something that outwardly looks correct but has a twist on the inside with a period looking useable interior...
and if someone wanted they have everything to put it back to standard...
so 17 years in storage, a new battery and fresh fuel and it started 3rd turn of the key and I drove it home!! |
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pondoras box
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2004
Posts: 1684
Location: Eerie PA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 4:46 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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What ever you decide don’t ever separate that middle seat from that bus. But I would vote for putting the stock seats and panels in it.
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Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.
1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
Another 65 hardtop
1973 standard bug
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=804912
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion |
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 5:01 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| pondoras box wrote: |
| What ever you decide don’t ever separate that middle seat from that bus. But I would vote for putting the stock seats and panels in it. |
when I sell, I intended to make sure the original rear seats stay with the van....
Thus my dilema about trim.....
I believe the external colours are as per original Sea Blue and Blue White
the Interior should be Mesh Grey or aero papyrus/steel..
just trying to find the Birth cert but think it should be Mesh Grey
(try locating all the paperwork after 17 years and 2 house moves!!)
you see inbetween I had a Big German motor home and the luxury of travelling in that makes a Splitty like a poor over night hostel compared to a descent hotel 
So I was looking at a more comfortable setup that didn't destroy anything...
I have a spare set of new untrimmed panels and panels can be swapped as can seat covers really... |
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thom
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000
Posts: 6202
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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This is the type of bus you want to keep original.
Sell the Dormobile bits to fund new seat covers, etc.
History has shown innumerable times that when the original bits (eg interiors, suspensions) are replaced with custom stuff ("It's easy to return it to stock") the reversion rarely ever happens.
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-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type |
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ted698
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2016
Posts: 149
Location: Shropshire, UK
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| BigVTwin wrote: |
Did a 65 samba have chrome button cap clips holding panels in place or screws? were those screws cross head or slotted?
should it have extra pull handles to close the doors?
It has slash front and rear bumpers but slash rear trim and diamond front trim (I presume the trim at the front is incorrect) what bumpers were correct?
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Front door cards and rear tailgate panel trim had chrome button push clips.
All other trim panels had small slot head screws and cup washers.
66/67 model years had the door pulls on the top of the door trim.
Diamond cut bumpers came out August 65, so again for 66/67 model years.
However I'm sure there was some cross-over where they had slash front and diamond rear for a while! |
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Clara 
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003
Posts: 12618
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 9:48 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| BigVTwin wrote: |
Did a 65 samba have chrome button cap clips holding panels in place or screws? were those screws cross head or slotted?
should it have extra pull handles to close the doors?
It has slash front and rear bumpers but slash rear trim and diamond front trim (I presume the trim at the front is incorrect) what bumpers were correct?
As said not loking to do a show queen, but something that outwardly looks correct but has a twist on the inside with a period looking useable interior...
and if someone wanted they have everything to put it back to standard...
so 17 years in storage, a new battery and fresh fuel and it started 3rd turn of the key and I drove it home!! |
1965 microbuses (deluxe and standard)came with
- mesh grey interior. (Aero papyrus was used for 66-67 blue/white deluxes only)(what's the first three digits of your VIN?)
- chrome button clips for front door and rear hatch panels
- slotted screws with aluminium trim washers for most other panels
- rivets for bulkhead panels
- Buses got the pull handle and the small flipper door handle in October 1965, at VIN 216 046 096.
- slash front and rear bumpers is correct for 1965
- pointy trim on the front slash bumper is correct
Are you wanting to camp in it? 9 seaters are nice to drive around with friends, but not as nice for camping in. but you can always bring some camp gear for weekends. There are some camper kits that are easy to remove/ install.
Do you have pics of how it looks now? Double door buses are fun!
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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Nice to get some fast and very helpful responses so quickly, this is the main thing I like about classic cars and bikes....
I moved into Fiat 500s and became one of the few that own an original Jolly, if you don't know look them up made form 57-60 anything else is a copy...
I will sort some pics asap... just trying to sort niggles, whilst the bus is driveable the brakes need some attention as does the gear change...
1st 3 digits on the log book are 245
Had a feeling the doors and tailgate had the chrome button clips!!!
dam why did he use screws!!!! that means new panels anyways.... good job I have a spare blank set.... (amazing what I aquired back then and kept.....)
mine has the big door handle openers...
The bumper/trim is really interesting!!!! why!!!
yeahh the idea was a bit of camping....
My mates would not go in and old van especially in the back!!!!!!
(wouldn't need to sell the Dormy bits to fund new covers..)
by the way if anyone is interested I do have several sets of Dormatic seats!!!
became an obsession...
I was going to dry fit the Dormatic seats and cooker units etc and see how it looked....
It would even be possible to leave the cooker unit etc in place and just swap seats if needed...
but that is sort of in the air, just want to get the general stuff and things sorted... and start collecting bits....
I think I am spoilt with The Samba (so much knowledge and people) because for early Fiat 500s there was very little, then I met the sort of inner circle of all things 500 in Italy.... considering there are between 200-300 Fiat 500N's in the world...
I coud mention the 67 21 window Samba I have in Titian Red and Beige Grey
with mesh platinum/platinum silver interior (have all the covers and panels new some where and 1/2 roll of material...) may sell that! |
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:56 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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I have added a few images to the gallery
Last edited by BigVTwin on Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6810
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 5:02 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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Can’t tell for sure from your pics but, typically, at least here in the states if you say you have a double door that implies you have passenger doors on both sides of the bus. In other words four doors plus the two cab doors. They were quite rare. The middle seat being unobtainium. If you have just the two passenger area doors-either side, it’s not called a double door.
A double door panel
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1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc
1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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opps missed the other picture out... but yep it is a Double door!!!!
will add when I get a few more mins... just messing with my router and network... |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26080
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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Nice bus!! Definitely get the spark plug clips into the fan shroud and the cables into those. Having the clip holes open is wasting cooling air and the cables do better insulated from metal parts of the engine.
Needs the hose clamps on both ends of both fresh air tubes. When either of those tubes pops off the head on that side goes way in temperature, and the engine runs much hotter....
Also suggest a proper year German carb and matching vacuum advance distributor, it will make your bus run much nicer to drive when doing back roads and about town.
This thread might interest you:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=395732
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
Nice bus!! Definitely get the spark plug clips into the fan shroud and the cables into those. Having the clip holes open is wasting cooling air and the cables do better insulated from metal parts of the engine.
Needs the hose clamps on both ends of both fresh air tubes. When either of those tubes pops off the head on that side goes way in temperature, and the engine runs much hotter....
Also suggest a proper year German carb and matching vacuum advance distributor, it will make your bus run much nicer to drive when doing back roads and about town.
This thread might interest you:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=395732 |
ok... notes are being made... I am the same way inclined on my other things (Fiat 500s Lotus Elans an d1940/50s Ducatis...)
the bus look sgreat from a distance, the guy did a great job at the time... but as I have said rushed at the end...
I brought it because I realised a Double door was special...
but only drove it a few times as I knew there were a lot of little things that could be done to make it better...
I guess in some ways I am looking for quicker solutions rather than spend my time researching...
Simply because if I went to any shows I know people woudl be saying "Nice Bus but... thats wrong that needs doing...." |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26080
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| BigVTwin wrote: |
Simply because if I went to any shows I know people woudl be saying "Nice Bus but... thats wrong that needs doing...." |
Sure, for instance there are both camps, to go totally stock engine right down to the correct blue spark plug cables, and those who just want it to run even better, longer with improvements over stock.
Personally we are cool with either way.
Though shows are a good place to network much more locally for parts, info, and you never know who you will meet. Might end up with a lifetime friend or at least someone that might have that special part or piece of knowledge you could use.
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26080
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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BTW, what is up with the pipe fitting on top of the air cleaner that connects to the rubber tube to the carb??
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 12:24 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
| BTW, what is up with the pipe fitting on top of the air cleaner that connects to the rubber tube to the carb?? |
I will have a look.. have only opened teh engine cover once since got it back home....
My first love was 1960s Lotus elans and I was tauught by a guy who is in his 90s now and still restores teh best Lotuses in teh World, he has restored record breaking priced cars... that are truly stunning...
He said to me, if you are going to do something do it right or don't bother... that came back to haunt him when I started pointing out faults on his cars
Also for UK owners, there was a big classic car Show in Birmingham before Xmas the car than won was a 1958 Fiat 500, the owner then emailed me and said "I'd just lik eto thank you for all the help and advice you gave me I will never do a Fiat 500 again they are so hard!!! He had previously won twice before with his Minis.... I said to myslef, thing is if I had been judging your car was too much show and polish and would not have finished in the top 10.
But my brain is fired and full now so I am going to be asking about the Van....
Whilst I'd love to make it perfect that is never going to happen, I still have a few Fiat 500s and they are matching numbers cars and a couple of Lotus Elans, and I understand the effort involved in perfection, so hats off to anyone that does it, does not matter what car (or bike) in my opinion if they have made it as it left the factory that is an achievement, wether it is a mundane family saloon or a high end rare Bugatti ... but if you choose to customise it to your taste then thats your choice, a mate has won classic bike shows several times only for me to see the bikes stripped down a few weeks later with him commenting "Bolts are all the wrong colour a shade too light"..
the thing all of my cars/bikes etc have in common is often the quality of Repro parts is appauling, I used to get stuff remade, but finding the right people took years, and unfortunately most are now with their maker as they were real old school engineers...
So as I have always said ?Classics nop matter what are ment to be fun, and I walked away because of the scammers and theives, but from what I see those dedicated are still here and hopefully encouraging others in their quest for what they want to achieve....
If I can help in any ways I will I know lots of people lol...
funny story a friend was arrested, with his one call instead of calling a duty Lawyer, he called me!! 3 days later he had one of the best lawyers in the UK giving him advice... How do I know these people!!!! I just seem to... |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26080
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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Looking at the engine tin some more, think you might be missing the right side rear of #2 cylinder tin piece. If missing, not good for long term of that cylinder.
When you can, please post images looking up underside of the engine. Just forward of the muffler, showing the rear of the engine case and rear of the # 2 & #4 cylinders.
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 12:17 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
Looking at the engine tin some more, think you might be missing the right side rear of #2 cylinder tin piece. If missing, not good for long term of that cylinder.
When you can, please post images looking up underside of the engine. Just forward of the muffler, showing the rear of the engine case and rear of the # 2 & #4 cylinders. |
will do, but I am quite sure mechanically he brought everything, the guy who restored it did do a few trips from the UK to Germany via Belgium and all was well...
but more than happy to put things right that are not correct or would benefit the vehicle...
things like teh clips etc you pointed out were missing some pics of what I need etc would be good...
Really busy at the mo with other stuff but will see what I can do at the weekend...
All help advice etc is greatfully recieved many thanks..
Also things like the air tube clips.. are they specific VW ones ?
quick pics of underneath engine
and a couple of pictures of that elusive stuff unobtanium...
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26080
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:47 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| BigVTwin wrote: |
will do, but I am quite sure mechanically he brought everything, the guy who restored it did do a few trips from the UK to Germany via Belgium and all was well...
but more than happy to put things right that are not correct or would benefit the vehicle...
things like teh clips etc you pointed out were missing some pics of what I need etc would be good... |
Those two rear pieces of cylinder tin are prone to falling off when the screws loosen up from engine vibration. Guess how we know... From your inside the engine compartment images it looks like the left screw is missing for that right side lower rear tin. The hole for the screw is just to the right of the oil filler down draft tube where it passes thru the horizontal tin.
Noticing that the DPO used Allen headed bolts instead of the stock cheese head screws. Not stock, but not totally a dumb idea. The stock tin screws are hard to get the 6 Ft Lbs. of torque on them to fasten them down properly. Still for 90% of the places the stock screws work fine even if one does not torque them down properly. With the exception of those two lower rear tin pieces and the removable rear half of the sled tin that attaches to the right heat exchanger.
Here is an image from the 24 mile from factory 65 beetle engine showing 2 of the 3 spark plug clips.
| BigVTwin wrote: |
| Also things like the air tube clips.. are they specific VW ones ? |
The hose clamps?? If so, those did have a nice VW stamp on each, but main thing is any hose clamp will work to keep the air hoses from popping off.
BTW your heat exchangers are modern cheap repros. You should seek original German VW ones instead, even a pair that needs some welding to fix up. The Dansk repros you have do not recover heat off the exhaust well to heat the interior, but more importantly they do not cool the engine very well in warm/hot weather.
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BigVTwin
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: United Kingdom - Birmingham
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Samba double door out of hibernation |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
| BigVTwin wrote: |
will do, but I am quite sure mechanically he brought everything, the guy who restored it did do a few trips from the UK to Germany via Belgium and all was well...
but more than happy to put things right that are not correct or would benefit the vehicle...
things like teh clips etc you pointed out were missing some pics of what I need etc would be good... |
Those two rear pieces of cylinder tin are prone to falling off when the screws loosen up from engine vibration. Guess how we know... From your inside the engine compartment images it looks like the left screw is missing for that right side lower rear tin. The hole for the screw is just to the right of the oil filler down draft tube where it passes thru the horizontal tin.
Noticing that the DPO used Allen headed bolts instead of the stock cheese head screws. Not stock, but not totally a dumb idea. The stock tin screws are hard to get the 6 Ft Lbs. of torque on them to fasten them down properly. Still for 90% of the places the stock screws work fine even if one does not torque them down properly. With the exception of those two lower rear tin pieces and the removable rear half of the sled tin that attaches to the right heat exchanger.
Here is an image from the 24 mile from factory 65 beetle engine showing 2 of the 3 spark plug clips.
| BigVTwin wrote: |
| Also things like the air tube clips.. are they specific VW ones ? |
The hose clamps?? If so, those did have a nice VW stamp on each, but main thing is any hose clamp will work to keep the air hoses from popping off.
BTW your heat exchangers are modern cheap repros. You should seek original German VW ones instead, even a pair that needs some welding to fix up. The Dansk repros you have do not recover heat off the exhaust well to heat the interior, but more importantly they do not cool the engine very well in warm/hot weather. |
Many thanks again.. a picture is worth more than a thousand words... and I for one am someone who listens...
Really have been no where near the engine yet, so many other niggles to sort... |
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Eric&Barb
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Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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