1951 model made Feb 1952 luggage rails anyone make the tabs?

[buglover34465]

Anyone make the firewall tabs for the luggage rails?
1951 model made Feb 1952.
I put back in the t nuts and mocked up the luggage rails.

[splitjunkie]

Message user Virtanen. Mika doesn't have them on his web site, but he will often make a new part if someone is looking for a part he doesn't already make.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=61380
_________________
Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[buglover34465]

[buglover34465]

So far Virtrain and DKB said they don’t make it.
It’s not on wolfparts or kafer nastalgie either.
Unless I scrolled past it..

[splitjunkie]

It would be a simple enough part to make if you don't reproduce the ribs. The ribs are probably overkill really so it would probably be plenty strong without them.
_________________
Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[buglover34465]

Karside Volkswagen made me some.
He can be found on Facebook.

[buglover34465]

Next step is to install the new luggage rail tabs on the firewall. Karside Volkswagen made them for me.
They were broken and I had no idea what they were when I originally got my vw bug. So I just ground them off.
I got the measurements from another split window bug owner.
The vw’s pictured are for reference

[buglover34465]

Measurements for tab installation.

[buglover34465]

Does anyone have a picture of the carpet installed showing the openings for the tabs?

[Suboval]

Hope this helps:

_________________
It all works on paper.

There's two things we learn from history:
1.) History repeats itself.
2.) We don't learn from history.

[buglover34465]

Thanks very much.
It will help.

[buglover34465]

Mocked up

[buglover34465]

20 mm down from the top edge.
Tab in between 125 and 145 mm.
This aligns the tab in the middle of the section.

[buglover34465]

My lesson learned is make the spot weld holes big enough to actually weld.
My first ones were too small and only very little actual weld reached the firewall.
Not Shure if the magnets had anything to do with it. But the hole size was definitely too small. They popped off with a little tug.
I also should have probably used the dremel instead of the angle grinder to remove the weld.. I wore down the two ridges.

Should still work but I’m going to use the backup set for round 2.
Karside Volkswagen did a great job making them sadly I mucked up the first set a bit.
( I still think they will work fine. I’m just trying the others as they still have the ridges. And I know almost no one will see them and they will not be visible once the carpet gets installed. )

[buglover34465]

I redid my mounting idea.
It’s flatter against the firewall.
Now I can retry welding them in.

[buglover34465]

Successfully welded.
Cleanup is next.

[buglover34465]

Hope this helps anyone else who needs to do this job.

[buglover34465]

I had to add two tack welds one small one on the left and right side of the tab
For each tab.
They don’t show now that I cleaned up the welds.
Then I installed the actual luggage rails I bought from DKB.
Everything fits perfectly.
Thanks to graham cabriolet on Facebook for the measurements from his car.
Without them I would have had a much harder time.

[buglover34465]

Feels nice to finally get some things done on my car.
It originally had them and they were gone when I got the car.
The tabs were broken and I had not the knowledge or the skills to fix and replace so I just eliminated them.

I’m doing what I can before having to give the car to a better welder /shop to replace the heater channels. I have them and all the corner panels thanks to vertrain replacement panels and bbt ( inner replacement panel with the seat part) I think DKB now makes this as well. Which would have been a cheaper price than direct ordering from bbt and shipping from them.
The bbt panel is good it’s just the irony of a long term build that once I save up and finally buy the part someone else comes along and makes it as well.

I have the hood welding to do. 3 tab support plate install.
Also the wheel well spare tire holder panel needs replacement. I also have that panel. Vertrain.made.

Next and the parcel shelf cleanup.
The luggage rails only have one coat of paint so they will need a few more coats.