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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:51 pm Post subject: 56' NZ Oval |
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A few weeks back I bought a 56’ NZ Oval. As per normal in NZ the Oval was a CKD ([complete knock down) which means it was shipped to NZ in parts and assemble here in NZ. Some parts like the interior were sourced locally so are little different from the German versions.
After a good clean up today I can confirm what was I was told and it is in great original condition with a what I believe is 61’000 miles from new! I have used NZ transport authority’s records to trace it back through its history and have heard from previous owners that it has had a sheltered life. Unfortunately no paperwork came with the car so if anyone in NZ knows the history of this Oval please let me know.
It has been resprayed back in the 80’s and now has its fair share of stone chips etc but still looks ok for her age.
My plans are to stem the tide of decline (rust under battery!) Give it full clean and polish plus remove those hideous turn signals and get the semaphores working. I would like to add some smaller more discreet turn signals (ideas please) to make driving safer. Any changes I make I want to make sure that they can be easily undone.
I am hoping to keep her as a fun dry weather driver.
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joey1320 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006 Posts: 2338 Location: Cleveland, OH
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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A beauty  _________________ 1971 Super - Sold
1984 Puma GTC - Sold
1971 Campmobile |
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Karly Samba Member

Joined: August 01, 2002 Posts: 641 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Cool! Looks in good condition!
You could make the tail lights flash as rear indicators and get some better looking smaller bullets for the front (often see motorcycle ones used so chrome looking and more discreet). Is it still 6v? I also have a switch on mine so I can turn the semaphores off and on... I don't use them when I'm driving around town (generally in peak hour traffic) as they don't like being left on for awhile. _________________ 1960 Beetle ''Heidi" daily driver
1964 Karmann Ghia project |
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Thanks for info.
Yes it is still 6volt. I have seen some LED stuff that allows the semaphores to flash? I have also seen some LED parts for the rear lights. I am happy to up date these as i can always put them back to original one day but will make daily driving much safer.
Has anyone tried the LED rear lights or used them as indicators? |
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otahuhu Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2007 Posts: 563
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 2:51 am Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Hi joe, noticed your car for sale the other day. I started a thread a little while ago about my 55 NZ ckd oval, it's cool to see a few similarities with trim etc. if you get a chance can you take a pic of the mcodes printed on the floor pan. There is a bit on here re; the leds, I read from someone that they were having trouble with the leds while running headlights etc.
Congrats on the nice car look forward to seeing more... |
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maskinmester Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2016 Posts: 51 Location: Denmark
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Nice car!
Re. the flashers - I am in progress of rebuilding my 54 - I plan to install someone slightly smaller. My plan is to mount them on a small piece of flat bar and with a wing nut on one of the outer bolt on the bumper. Then they can be placed above the bumper during daily driving - hidden inside/behind the bumper for show and maybe below the bumper when driving among other classics. This is at least my idea - I will know in two month time from now
By the use of some diodes and maybe a condenser it should be possible to have the semaphores flashing while remaining out - without using modern led technology Don´t have any diagram available, but trust someone around this forum must have - else I will draw up one once I got it made my self.
/René _________________ 1954 Beetle - running - Went to HO 17
1961 Beetle in the workshop
1960 Beetle waiting for repair
1956 Unimog 411
30 old farm tractors and stationary engines
1999 Golf - daily driver |
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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otahuhu wrote: |
Hi joe, noticed your car for sale the other day. I started a thread a little while ago about my 55 NZ ckd oval, it's cool to see a few similarities with trim etc. if you get a chance can you take a pic of the mcodes printed on the floor pan. There is a bit on here re; the leds, I read from someone that they were having trouble with the leds while running headlights etc.
Congrats on the nice car look forward to seeing more... |
Next time the carpet are out I will look for them. Where about are they located?
With lights and indicators I am just trying to make it a safer to drive without losing the look of the old lights. Looks like I will have to start my research.... |
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otahuhu Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2007 Posts: 563
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 11:03 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Joe, in your 5th image bottom centre you can just make out the Mcodes, painted in white on the pan they are just below the passenger seat under the rubber mat. Are you coming to the show in Wellington? |
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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otahuhu wrote: |
Joe, in your 5th image bottom centre you can just make out the Mcodes, painted in white on the pan they are just below the passenger seat under the rubber mat. Are you coming to the show in Wellington? |
Will photo next time. Is there a resource to check 'm' codes and plus other ID numbers?
Not going to make show in Wellington, to far for a weekend. |
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uk 6t6 Samba Member

Joined: December 04, 2008 Posts: 22 Location: Herts county UK
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Thanks so much. I spent a few hours yesterday reading on the forum and could not find most of that info. Would be good to put in the FAQ area under lights?
Will go with the rear LED with turn signals, flashing semaphores and the bulb in the front headlight. This will mean a nice clean install and can be removed at any stage and put back original.
What it will do is make daily driving much more relaxing... |
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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It has been a while and i have not used the bug much but it is being dried stored!
To keep to my original plan of making the bug a reliable driver i decided to replace the king and link pins. As I know this is not such an easy DIY job i have arranged to send the parts off to a local VW specialist.
As with all jobs on a 60yr old vehicle it has got more involved! It seemed pointless to not give the front end a clean up and replace as any worn or perishable parts. I plan on only using German parts where I can or the best quality parts that are available as I hope they will last.
It has taken some work to get it all decreased, I think people have just pumped grease in for 60yrs and never cleaned any excess off! On the positive side I have found no major rust, just surface rust which I plan to clear coat to help stop any further deterioration.
The questions I have;
The steering box is good but the seals leak. I am thinking of using steering grease instead of oil. Thoughts? It will only be driven a few thousand miles a year.
One of track rods looks bent? Photo shows it. Is it bent?
I hope in the next few weeks to start putting it back together. Then turn it around and start on the back end! |
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66brm Samba Member

Joined: January 25, 2010 Posts: 3676 Location: Perth Western Australia
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 2:18 am Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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No, it's not bent, it's meant to have that curve in it, the curve goes on the steering box end in the pitman arm. The seals for the box can be bought new, I got a set from last triumph on here, I normally use a mixture of gear oil and grease in boxes after a good clean _________________ Aust. RHD 66 Type 1
Aust. RHD 57 Type 1 Oval
modok wrote: |
I am an expert at fitting things in holes, been doing it a long time |
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Thanks. One less part to try and find!
I noticed my track rod ends have grease nipples but the only ones I can buy new here do not? I also noticed that the shorter track rod in the photo does not have any clamps on it, to adjust you just turn the rod?
Thanks in advance. |
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66brm Samba Member

Joined: January 25, 2010 Posts: 3676 Location: Perth Western Australia
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Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:56 am Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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If the tie rod ends are in good condition then keep it, it's the original, it's non adjustable, new ones with grease nipples are pretty much non existent. _________________ Aust. RHD 66 Type 1
Aust. RHD 57 Type 1 Oval
modok wrote: |
I am an expert at fitting things in holes, been doing it a long time |
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billb Samba Member

Joined: October 23, 2005 Posts: 369 Location: Austin, Texas
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Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:47 am Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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What a beautiful car to start with. I'm looking forward to see the progress you make on it. |
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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It will be slow progress...
I have owned many aircooled vw's so wanted to start with a good original vehicle and make it a reliable driver. Any mods I do will only be bolt on so it can always go back to stock. |
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billb Samba Member

Joined: October 23, 2005 Posts: 369 Location: Austin, Texas
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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Joe75 wrote: |
It will be slow progress...
I have owned many aircooled vw's so wanted to start with a good original vehicle and make it a reliable driver. Any mods I do will only be bolt on so it can always go back to stock. |
I'm all for taking your time to do it right. I spent the better part of 7 years having mine put back together. |
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Joe75 Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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I got some time to paint everything at the weekend. All starting to look good. I would have left original patina but the only way to remove years of grease and under seal was to wire brush. At least it will last for another 50 plus years.
The only problem I have had is removing the track rod ends from the short track rod. The track rod is twisting/bending as I try to remove them!
Does anyone know which is a left hand thread? Any tips for removing? It seems strange there are no clams and no thread showing? Is this normal?
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66brm Samba Member

Joined: January 25, 2010 Posts: 3676 Location: Perth Western Australia
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:10 am Post subject: Re: 56' NZ Oval |
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They are not removable _________________ Aust. RHD 66 Type 1
Aust. RHD 57 Type 1 Oval
modok wrote: |
I am an expert at fitting things in holes, been doing it a long time |
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