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BeeDubyaBugz Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2007 Posts: 129 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 5:46 pm Post subject: 1950's bus questions |
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Hi,
What year did the 3 rib vent box go away? i have what i believe to be a 1956 dd panel. There is a body number stamped in the bulkhead but no VIN for me to tell what year it is. Any good indicators on what to look for to see what year it is? it is just a rolling shell minus the decklid/apron. No interior.
any help is appreciated.
thanks |
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66311 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2006 Posts: 1477 Location: Olive Branch MS
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vw7266 Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2004 Posts: 3038 Location: the point, ohio
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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too early for a m code tag |
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EmpiGT Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 2597
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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The three ribs ended some time early in 1958 I think in feb. 58. And it would be pre m-code plate busses. Most early busses I've had, the body # on the bulk head was within 20000 #'s of the real vin. so look that # up and it should still narrow down the year for you. But this is for post 20-xxxxx busses, I'm not sure if it works the same for busses that had the 20- prefix.
Last edited by EmpiGT on Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:46 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Clara Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12383
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1950's bus questions |
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This page tells you where to look for the VIN:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/id.php
Look in the engine compartment.
just below gas tank on vertical wall right of the engine for 55-59:
_________________ The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/ |
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mightymouse Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 4220 Location: las vegas
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Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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any news? _________________ Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
Thomas Jefferson
Note to EVERYONE.
Know your ZDDP levels or you WILL lose a cam and lifters. |
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BeeDubyaBugz Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2007 Posts: 129 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
the problem is the vin tag area in the engine compartment was ripped off by something. the metal looks torn. also theres no engine. I'll look at the body number tomorrow to see what it is.
Thanks for all the help |
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Clara Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12383
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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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Post a pic of where the VIN is stamped, even if it is torn.
Don't worry about the engine, they get swapped out all the time, so rarely would it be the original one to the bus.
Post pics.
For example, does the frame under the transmission look like this?
(tubular)
or this (U channel)
_________________ The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/ |
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joe56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2004 Posts: 3202 Location: Olympia wa
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BeeDubyaBugz Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2007 Posts: 129 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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I'll try to get some pics later this afternoon.
thanks for all the help everyone. |
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BeeDubyaBugz Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2007 Posts: 129 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:58 am Post subject: |
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here are sme pictures. Any help on narrowing down the year would be great. This is a cool panel van I bought from a buddy and I have hopes to restore it someday. It is ROUGH... I am just finishing my 1964 21 window so it may be a while before i get to it
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hugheseum Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2004 Posts: 2690 Location: oregon
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:10 am Post subject: |
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it looks like someone used your vin for another bus _________________ Have a great day! |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69733 Location: Phoenix Metro
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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:32 am Post subject: |
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BeeDubyaBugz wrote: |
here are sme pictures. Any help on narrowing down the year would be great. This is a cool panel van I bought from a buddy and I have hopes to restore it someday. It is ROUGH... I am just finishing my 1964 21 window so it may be a while before i get to it
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That sucks. How can you even register it now? You can't use the body number on the bulkhead, that's not the VIN. |
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EmpiGT Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 2597
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:48 am Post subject: |
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It's not a wolfsburg built bus, so that puts it mid 56 or later. What style engine lid does it have and tail lights?
I just looked back and you said no engine lid. Does it have the factory openings for the tail lights? If so are they just one round hole or do they have small holes top and bottom?
Last edited by EmpiGT on Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:52 am; edited 1 time in total |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20230 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:50 am Post subject: |
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///Mink wrote: |
BeeDubyaBugz wrote: |
here are sme pictures. Any help on narrowing down the year would be great. This is a cool panel van I bought from a buddy and I have hopes to restore it someday. It is ROUGH... I am just finishing my 1964 21 window so it may be a while before i get to it
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That sucks. How can you even register it now? You can't use the body number on the bulkhead, that's not the VIN. |
You could make a new # and stamp it in. Not saying it's right, or legal, but it could be done pretty easily. _________________ nothing |
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hugheseum Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2004 Posts: 2690 Location: oregon
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:52 am Post subject: |
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thats not true especially in the 50s.............it was very common for the # on the title to be either the bulkhead # or engine #.........in fact its rare to have the actual vin on the title of a bus this early.........dmv loves to use the bulkhead # by the way.......they hate the one marked behind the greasy engine in the cramped engine bay _________________ Have a great day! |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20230 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Both my 57's have the correct VIN #, but I have seen the DMV use whatever # was available. I had a 60 single cab that was titled as a 62, and the VIN # was an old engine #. _________________ nothing |
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durfeec Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2010 Posts: 1279 Location: Mio, MI
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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it looks to have the U-channel on the bottom like the post above. so according to the post its a late 56-58. _________________ 1960 Bus Panel/Camper |
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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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hugheseum wrote: |
thats not true especially in the 50s.............it was very common for the # on the title to be either the bulkhead # or engine #.........in fact its rare to have the actual vin on the title of a bus this early.........dmv loves to use the bulkhead # by the way.......they hate the one marked behind the greasy engine in the cramped engine bay |
I wouldn't say it's rare. My '57 is titled to the true VIN, as has been every VW I've ever owned. True, the DMV sometimes mistakenly used the body number as the VIN, but that doesn't make it the rule rather than the exception. |
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