SO 23 Hatch replacement - Advice sought

[kintail]

Here's the situation for my '61 Westy:

Have removed the original hatch from the '61 with surface rust, couple of bent edges, hinge pins bent both sides, ....and one hatch bolt snapped off. Still restorable though.....

Have a '60 Westy hatch in way better shape, with minimal rust, straight hinges and all four bolts fine. However it is slightly different then the '61........ has two rubber stops on the hatch (need replacements... ideas?) unlike the '61 Hatch for resting the hatch on the roof........and the '60 hatch bolts are square shaped versus round on the '61....... plus an original wood panel I can refinish.

What would you do? Get uber vintage and restore the original '61 hatch..... or merely buff up the '60 hatch and install .......

Anybody reproing the interior Westy wood framing.......... have one structural roof brace I will need to replace...

Thanks!

Scott
'67 Westy
'61 Westy
'59 Beetle Kabriolett

[zimblewinder]

Only original one time, if youre thinking about this now, thenyoure most likely to remember it every time you look at the bus an know you should have gone with the original. I thought the westys were all about intricate detail and accessories?? Just my thoughts. Cheers
_________________
58Euro 23 343208 The Ultimate Zimblewinder Machine.
59 mango standard
Wanted- splash pan supports, og pressed bumper coach bolts, ivory blaupunkt knobs (early), armrest alloy strips, NOS door mechanism

[spookymulder]

hatch bolts are available at this site, http://www.so23westfalia.com

[Lind]

pictures might be helpful. the hatch is a bolt on item, so you can easily change your mind no matter what decision you make unless it is the last item before the paint shop.

offhand, I can think of at least half a dozen variations of the hatch.

I am planning on replacing the hatch on my '56 westy because the original one is fairly messed up. I found on off of a '60 that looks pretty good. I will put them side by side and make sure that the new one is just the same as the old one should be. and make any necesary mods.
a couple pics of my westy with its roasted hatch:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=218391
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=218387



Clara makes the wood framing for the roof.
_________________
.
Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
.

[Tim]

http://home.comcast.net/~sunrisebus/sunrisebuswerk_bows.html

Is this what you are looking for?
_________________
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Annie Dillard


55 Rag Top
67 Westy

[Stocknazi]

ill agree with lind's pervious post. its a bolt on item and you can change your mind no matter what.
nobody will know if the hatch is the og one that came on your bus, well almost nobody
why not repair and restore both hatches, then you can use either one, plus you will have an item thats very sellable, of course if it were me i would stash one away for a future project
_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).

"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."

Thomas Jefferson

[kintail]

Here is what I am dealing with....

'61 Hatch

'61 Hatch bolt

'61 Hinge pin

'60 Hatch

'60 Hatch bolt/hinge

[Levonbenelli]

us the 60 hatch and keep the og around to resto, or pass on if you ever decide to sell the bus
_________________
Wanted: flipseat parts: rear jump seat, folding chair, cups

[crofty]

The rubber buffers for truck gates look similar to those on the hatches.
_________________
Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.