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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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 Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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Installed my NOS wiper bases and NOS aftermarket blades. Hood emblem and trim are original.
Here are pics of the engine compartment:
Had to install a Volksbitz carb as the OG carb wont pump gas. I am needing to ultrasound dunk the carb? Never been stumped by a carb. Will reinstall OG carb if I can get it working, the patina will match much better. Rebuilt the fuel pump, dizzy w/ NOS can, rebuilt generator w/ new bearings and brushes.
Here are some pics of the trunk and wiring, wipers still need the brown wire figured out:
Gas tank had two holes I tig welded up. Fun time welding a gas tank  . I filled it with water and it hadn't had fuel for 25+ years. I took the tank and had paint matched and NOW have a great match to OG paint gas tank. Installed a NOS fuel reserve valve.
The bumper showing this bug has been here in Moses Lake a long time. Was going to go to the High School and see if they have records of who owned back then. Looks as though they might of attended Washington State Univ. in Pullman.
And finally pulled it outside to run it for awhile, car came with a NOS Leaf VW plate frame:
Last edited by type241 on Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:22 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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EverettB 
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69813
Location: Phoenix Metro
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| Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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First, looking good!
| type241 wrote: |
| Had to install a Volksbitz carb as the OG carb wont pump gas. I am needing to ultrasound dunk the carb? Never been stumped by a carb. Will reinstall OG carb if I can get it working, the patina will match much better. |
Probably needs a massive clean.
My guess:
The little accelerator pump passage ball bearing inside is stuck so the accelerator pump can't pump gas past it.
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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Thanks, Everett!
I tried air and chemicals on carb passage with no luck in the past.
I dont know if it was possible to purchase a VW in Europe with US spec but special order the interior cloth. Reason thinking that this car came from overseas and transferred with a serviceman back to the US is that Moses Lake was a major Air Base in 1956 ish through 1964(Larsen Air Base) that housed a squardron of B-52 bombers with NUKES ready to roll at all times. NOW, the air base(Grant Couty Int. Airport) houses approximately 250 - 300 Boeing 737 Max's that have been grounded. Quite a sight to see! |
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Jensers
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2005
Posts: 54
Location: Royal City, Wa
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| Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:53 am Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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I am glad that you decided to keep this and make it a project. With the condition it is, it deserved to get your level of effort to keep it original.
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2020 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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^^^^ Thanks, I knew it was a diamond in the rough, glad I decided to follow through with it, as I was contemplating punting it down the road before I went down the rabbit hole.
Couldn't safely install the battery cover with generic FLAPS battery cables from long ago. So I removed them and installed the correct cables. Now, the battery cover safely fits and clamps down.
Also, been building this rack from a pre bent "kit" from Tincan Fab.
Lots of tedious tig welding. Rack wont fit in my powder coating oven. Will have to have it done elsewhere  . Stained(Cognac) and clearcoated the oak slats(hanging in my oven for safe keeping). Finally, I zinc coated the rack clamps then polished them to a shine. Hopefully get it put together this next weekend.
Also, hope to get my redone interior panels back soon  . |
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aircooledonly
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2004
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:38 am Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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Drop your carb by my garage. I will sonic clean it for you using aircraft grade aluminum cleaner. Just bring me a beer.
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Jim Longoria, (509)762-2457. Moses Lake, WA. |
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TinCanFab
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 2743
Location: Waterford, California
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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Got my door panels back from WCCR. They look great.
Also, got my rack all finished up. It is powder coated silver(shows grey in pic).
Was rebuilding the windows in the doors this weekend in anticipation of installing door panels, unfortunately the felt runners for the chrome divider bar were absolutely junk. Window rolled a couple of times then the rubber got all gummed up and window stuck  . Ordered new felt runners from another vendor.
Last edited by type241 on Mon Feb 10, 2020 5:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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sled
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 6179
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| Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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panels look so much nicer!!!
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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^^Thanks, Sled. WCCR was great to work with, would fork over the $ again if I had another car that deserves a step up.
Went out and installed the rear panels and seat. The headliner was newly installed 30 years ago. It is the correctish color, looks the part, and was an above average install so it stayed. The WCCR interior came with b-pillar pieces that match. Will see on installing the b-pillar pieces later.
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Volksvr6gti
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2019
Posts: 298
Location: Jacksonville
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| Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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Looks fantastic  that makes for for an exciting night |
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TinCanFab
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 2743
Location: Waterford, California
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Major Woody
Samba Enigma
Joined: December 04, 2002
Posts: 9010
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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| Love this car and the bumper stickers. GO COUGS! |
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esauerwein
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2004
Posts: 26
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:26 am Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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I have the same interior in my 1956 Nile Beige Ragtop
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webberjames95
Snorkelstang Finder
Joined: January 18, 2011
Posts: 1091
Location: Pullman, Washington
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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Finally got my window felts figured out for the chrome divider bar. The original was a rubber u-channel covered in felt. The replacement many of the shops sell are a metal flex frame covered in a gooey butyl rubber substance and then the felt. It made the windows roll up very hard and eventually gummed up the window until it was stuck. I ended up using WW felts and windows roll up and down very nice. I ordered from CIP1, WCM, ISP and they all sell the incorrect felts.
I had an order from C&C in England already so I ordered a set from them to see what they sell(haven't got here yet).
I would suggest any of C&C window rubber with pre bent corners. Theses are the best out there for any model!!! Windows installed in minutes. I tried using WW window rubber with my original trim and it was a terrible time and ill fitting w/o prebent corners. Ended up in the swap meet pile.
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1154
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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That is a beautiful car...good thing you got ahold of it. I may have to ask you opinions about headliner/ carpet for my 54' .
I assume WW or WCCR gives the best results these days..?
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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For an original car or perfect resto use WCCR. Expensive, but very nice.
WW sells TMI, which is good for most.
Headliner was already done, if I was to replace it I would be using WCCR. |
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TinCanFab
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 2743
Location: Waterford, California
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type241
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 972
Location: MOSES LAKE, WA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 5:48 pm Post subject: Re: 56 Prairie Beige |
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^^ Thanks. Your rack kit was a good challenge, love it. Good Work!
I went to the hardware store and got plastic plugs/caps to put in the ends of the feet to finish it off. |
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You put it together pretty quickly. I really really wanted to offer a TIG welded version, but as you say, it's incredibly time consuming. This car is super cool.
