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5657 Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 170 Location: North Okanagan, BC CANADA
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:40 pm Post subject: Correct method for mounting rear license plate on '56 bus |
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The PO had mounted the rear license plate directly to the engine lid on my '56 Wolfsburg bus. There are four holes there now, but I see that the new green panel lids have no pre-drilled holes and that WW and others sell an aluminum license bracket. Could someone please tell me the correct method for this bus? Thanks. |
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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So, are you saying your original '56 decklid has four holes in it?
Or
Are you saying you have a random year decklid with four holes in it?
If it's orginal... well then, there's your answer.
If not... at least you got a thread bump. _________________ aka: Evan
Spreadsheet for Bus RPM, based on gearing & tire size (Excel format)
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EDragnDean Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2005 Posts: 1148 Location: Vancouver, WA
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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I'm almost certain that the decklid was free of any mounting holes from the factory. Not every other country had mounting holes for plates in the same spot and the plates themselves had a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
I would go with the WW mount. If you bolt the plate right onto the lid, you risk getting crap trapped behind it with the consequent rot at the very worst. Rubbing, scratching, etc at the least. On the last Bus I had that was worth worrying about, I put some little rubber bumpers that I found somewhere, in the two lower holes so the plate didn't bang the lid everytime I shut it. _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69823 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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I also think the decklid had no holes.
My experience is that early Buses have the plate mounted straight to the decklid but this may have varied by location rather than anything else.
My 55/60/61/63 all have holes that show the license plate was mounted straight to the decklid. None of the holes look "factory" clean so I am sure it was the dealer doing the install.
I also prefer using the offset of a plate holder when possible, for the same reasons mentioned above. _________________ How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
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5657 Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 170 Location: North Okanagan, BC CANADA
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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The decklid is an original 1956 centre brake light lid but the holes don't look "factory". I'll be going with the WW bracket and a couple of rubber bumpers in the 2 lower holes as suggested by cru62. Thanks to everyone who replied. |
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Jerry Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2007 Posts: 1367
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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I hope this pic helps, It has an offset bracket Everett mentioned.
_________________ Looking for SO34 parts.
thevwcompound *instagram* |
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5657 Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 170 Location: North Okanagan, BC CANADA
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the photo Jerry. Does anyone reproduce the lens for the license plate light on the centre brake light engine lids? |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69823 Location: Phoenix Metro
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5657 Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 170 Location: North Okanagan, BC CANADA
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 8:58 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Everett. Looks like I have to work on my search engine skills. My parts book shows:
screw, countersunk raised head AM 4x12, washer 4.3 and nut,hex M4 for the attachment hardware.
Didn't see any for sale here in the classifieds. Where else is the best place to find small quantities of this kind of specialized hardware? I live in the middle of nowhere so there is no good local "nuts and bolts" store. |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69823 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:26 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure who sells only 2 pieces each of those parts.
http://www.mcmaster.com sells stuff but I believe it's in batches of 100.
I think they have those sizes at my local hardware store.
I can go buy some and mail them to you if you wish.
Email me directly if you want me to go take a look.
I drive by the store every day so it's not a problem to pop in.
To add to the conversation, here are the parts you mention on my '55, these are original nuts and bolts:
_________________ How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:11 am Post subject: |
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McMaster-Carr is another good place to look. I'll comb through my boxes of OG fasteners and see if anything looks close.
Since the original chrome screws, etc. are either NLA or hard to find NOS, I like to use SS screws for things like what you need and then give them a quick buff so it looks chrome. I found all the hardware for my safaris at my local ACE and just shined them up. Now, if they only had the dash tabs I would be jazzed. _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:25 am Post subject: |
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5657 wrote: |
……... I live in the middle of nowhere ……... |
I just looked up Vernon, BC. You should look up Vernon, CA which is in the middle of Los Angeles. I would take your Vernon over our Vernon any day of the week. _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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tasb The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 6371 Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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I suspect both Vernon's are wild and "wooly" as TR once said. But for very different reasons.
I know that Brian McCue in Holland, MI is reproducing the nuts for fastening the brake light bulb assembly to the deck lid. I sent him an NOS one years ago to copy from. _________________ Roads Scholar &
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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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69823 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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Here's an original screw I pulled off a 1954 Barndoor decklid:
I am comparing it here to a M4x8 screw from the local Ace hardware.
It's not an exact match as the hardware store screw does not have the domed head and is not slotted but the length is correct.
The screws on my '55 are also this same length so it's strange the parts book lists M4x12. Maybe a change was made at some point.
My '55 parts book says M4x12 too though.
The washers used are wavy washers.
My local Ace hardware has both M4 wavy washers and M4 nuts. _________________ How to Post Photos
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5657 Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 170 Location: North Okanagan, BC CANADA
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 9:11 am Post subject: Found them |
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I was able to find them on ebay. Ebay store is called boltbase.
Bolt Base Ltd.
Unit 24 Trade Centre
Bruce Street
Alloa UK
FK10 1RX
Approximately $6 CDN for (10) M4x12 A2 Stainless Steel Raised Slotted Countersunk Machine Screws DIN 964, including postage to Canada. Arrived in 4 days after order was placed. They have lots of other stainless metric hardware as well. |
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