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djkeev
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Evil_Fiz
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Joined: May 06, 2011
Posts: 1048
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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 Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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If I recall correctly my old 68 Convertible had metal hinge covers. This was over 20 years ago and the car came to semi-rebuilt (and was never taken beyond that state.) I need hinge covers for my 70 vert and given the cost of replacements I am willing to try my hand at making some aluminum covers. Neither of us is going for originality so I vote "Get Creative with metal"
Cheers,
Emil
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kiwighia68
See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted |
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Starbucket
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Posts: 4025
Location: WA
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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Find someone that has one or buy a 3D printer and buy a set of hinge covers if you don't have a set and you could print up as many as you could sell. You would have to get an est. of the cost to print a pair compared to what you can buy them for to see if there is a profit but think of all the other rare pieces you could print. How's that for dreaming up a solution?  |
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The aussie Trimmer
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Joined: July 05, 2006
Posts: 385
Location: Western Australia
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 2:55 am Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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| djkeev wrote: |
The newer Ghia Convertibles have "Hinge" covers which are side panels covering the Hinge assembly back to the seat back support / Glass window support tower.
These are available as repops but they are NOT cheap!
So I am wondering about making some. Use Fiberglass? Bend some sheet metal? Plexiglas?
Has anyone done this or am I just bordering on crazy?
Dave |
I have made these in galvanised sheet metal before, they will never rust, bust or bend. only problem for me it will cost more to freight these from AUS, than to buy plastic ones.
sorry no specifications for this.
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Kev.
Drive with your lights on (Be aware be seen) help others GIVE Blood
Last edited by The aussie Trimmer on Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:41 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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djkeev
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bhartwell59
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djkeev
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djkeev
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kman
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Joined: November 04, 2005
Posts: 739
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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I bought the plastic ones. They were fair but not the best fit. I could have trimmed them a bit but since I didn't have the old ones to go on I was hesitant. now that I've seen more pictures of original ones it would be no problem but it's a little late now.
If I had trimmed the bottom ridge to flat the fit would have been much better.
I bought the glass action footwell speaker panels previously and was underwhelmed by the fit of those so I didn't trust them for this more complicated piece.
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71 vert build. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=572951&highlight=dead |
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djkeev
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swavananda
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Location: Can o' Scruz
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 6:55 am Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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I went with the fiberglass but I recall that I got em off of eBay from another maker. Fit was good and I decided with covering them in fabric. I don’t think the plastic style would hold up that long with a 6x9 speaker in it.
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djkeev
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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So........
From the input on this thread I've pretty much decided that I am NOT going to invest untold hours creating a pair of hinge covers from scratch.
There are a lot of curves, funny angles and bends involved in this cover.
The cover supports the hooks for the top cover when the top is folded, the rear seat back bumpers the folded rear window bumpers and the rear seat back latch catch.
Things need to be fairly accurate all told.
Besides, I've got a LOT of basic metal work to do.   
I've seen used covers for sale but they most often need rebuilding because they are decomposed and cracked with bits missing.
New ABS units are $150 or so no matter who sells them.
I honestly am intrigued by the Glass-Action hinge covers.
https://glass-action.com/index.php/products/ghia-products/Convertible-Hinge-Covers-c20686134
Not only is the price right there where I would expect to spend on supplies, but with my skills I most likely couldn't do any better.
Using Fiberglass the strength should be there to mount a speaker.
So, despite a few who had a bad experience with the product I'm going with Glass Action.
I called them today and asked some hard questions of the person, I point blank asked about fit problems and have they taken any corrective action.
His response was that they sell a fair quantity of the covers and very few don't fit.
He says, and I completely agree, that the Convertible tub is subject to extreme rust. The rust causes a deformation in the body as things sag and rearrange themselves.
He had one customer say one side fit but the other side did not. He had the customer stand up the covers side by side on a flat table and they were mirror images of each other. Where do you think the problem lies?
He very honestly said that they pulled the mold from KGPR's ABS covers years ago.
When the covers come, I'll test fit them and see what we have but I am hopeful.
It will be a few weeks, they are out of white and need to make a batch.
Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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djkeev
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djkeev
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:24 am Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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Well......
When one disassembles an Automobile and then pushes the project aside for almost 8 years, one forgets.
Now, I knew all along that I put the seats, some fragile interior bits, Windshield moldings and the Windshield itself in a storage area in the basement for safe keeping and protection from rodents and accidents.
What I failed to remember was this..... look to the left of the Windshield....
Do you see what I see????
I see Convertible Hinge Covers!!
They are in darn good shape too!
Oh well...... I already ordered a set of Fiberglass ones. I'll let the order fill and it will give me a great opportunity to compare OG ones to the fiberglass reproductions!
Consider it a public service to the hobby.....
Whichever one I decide to NOT keep, I'll list up in the classifieds. I'm sure there is a demand for OG covers by some over the reproductions.
Dave
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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djkeev
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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Well, look what arrived today!
My "Glass Action" hinge covers
Here they are with my recently found OG black covers.....
The fiberglass ones are very stout and very well made.
They are very similar to the OG units with some exception.
The flange at the door is wider and will probably need some simple trimming.....
The bottom flange is much thicker and follows the entire bottom, not just the sides......
The OG panel has a very distinct bump as shown in this photo,
Compare it with the less pronounced bump on the white fiberglass one.....
The end on the Fiberglass one comes to a much more pronounced point.
All in all, I am quite impressed with the quality of manufacturing and the obvious increased strength of the fiberglass ones.
Sure, there are a few minor differences and probably a little massaging to get them in.
I do think that little bit of effort would be well worth it, especially if you might want speakers in this area.
Dave
Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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crocteau
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Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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| djkeev wrote: |
All in all, I am quite impressed with the quality of manufacturing and the obvious increased strength of the fiberglass ones.
Sure, there are a few minor differences and probably a little massaging to get them in.
I do think that little bit of effort would be well worth it, especially if you might want speakers in this area. |
^x2
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djkeev
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crocteau
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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| djkeev wrote: |
| I wonder how/if that seat back rest pillar is reinforced over earlier years to handle that seat belt stress? |
Between the anchor point in the floor and the backrest pillar I figure it'd be a toss-up as to which might fail first in a catastrophic collision. I don't mean to sound blasé; growing up driving cars without seatbelts and subsequently driving without laws requiring everyone to buckle-up may have warped my perspective.  Looking forward to Flanders! |
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djkeev
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swavananda
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Posts: 889
Location: Can o' Scruz
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: 69 1/2 up Convertible Hinge Covers |
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If adding speakers, keep in mind the support brace behind the covers. It’s why in the photos, the speakers look awkwardly off center. I almost started to cut mine with logical centered placement. Then the good old reminder of measure twice came up and I stopped. Would have ruined them  |
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