Correct method for mounting rear license plate on '56 bus

5657

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.

easy e · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:25 pm Post subject:

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.
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EDragnDean · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:15 pm Post subject:

In the buses I have seen, two holes which hold the bracket you described. Not sure if they are factory, or the dealership drilled the initial holes.
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cru62 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:23 pm Post subject:

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.
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EverettB · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:07 pm Post subject:

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.
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5657 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:58 pm Post subject:

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.

Jerry · Samba Member Joined: October 28, 2007 Posts: 1367

I hope this pic helps, It has an offset bracket Everett mentioned.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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5657 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the photo Jerry. Does anyone reproduce the lens for the license plate light on the centre brake light engine lids?

EverettB · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:04 pm Post subject:

5657 · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 8:58 am Post subject:

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.

EverettB · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:26 am Post subject:

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:

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easy e · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:10 am Post subject:

DIN 964 looks like they'd work:
https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/11510345

Maybe there's a Fastenal near you... here's Canada store locations (scroll down a fuzz when you click link):
https://www.fastenal.com/web/locations/all
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cru62 · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:11 am Post subject:

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.
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cru62 · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:25 am Post subject:

easy e · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:39 am Post subject:

I like stainless too.
Original screw was DIN 91 high polished zinc. As Cru said... NLA. Some specialty places have some chrome DIN 91... but few & far between and not in zinc. DIN 964 is a close replacement for DIN 91.

If you want chrome screws:
http://www.authenticclassics.com/Chrome-Screw-4x12-Fits-300SL-Early-190SL-front-p/auth-004202.htm

The oacdp site shows the #32 (N119542) part as countersunk raised head AM 4x12:
http://oacdp.org/5867part/597.png

My '58 parts list shows more info:
N119542 Screw, countersunk raised head, AM 4x12 DIN 91 high-polish zinc

This pic shows differences...

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tasb · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 3:49 pm Post subject:

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.
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EverettB · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject:

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.
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5657 · Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 9:11 am Post subject: Found them

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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