Hinge cap, plug, or cap nut?

[harrymarlin]

Looking at my early 67 convertible, there is nothing over the door hinges - not a cap or plug. What should be there, and what color (transparent or black, if plastic) - and does anyone have a picture? My parts guide suggests the following, which, as you may see, suggests, for mine (and any from 1/59 - 12/66), there should be one Cap - where would that be?).

113 831 433 Cap nut — Hinge pin 111 831 423/A/B, up to Chassis No. 2 149 709 (1)

111 831 433 A Cap — Hinge pin 111 831 423 C/D/E, from Chassis No. 2 149 710 up to 117 999 000 (1) [HPM: Note, I can't find this part!]

311 831 439 A Plug — Door hinge
from Chassis No. 117 496 034 up to 117 999 000 (3)
from Chaisis No. 118 000 001 (4)
1/67 - 043 grey-black
1/67 - 908 transparent

Thoughts?
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia

[61SNRF]

Early 67's (up to 12/66 by your chart) had the same hinges as earlier cars, that is a flat top hinge pin you lubricated through a slot in the top finger like this

They look the same as 66 and earlier

Late 67-> up VW went to a shorter hinge pin leaving a recess in top covered by a clear plastic cap

The early clear caps deteriorated quickly, turning yellow and will typically crumble when you removed them.

Not sure when they changed but later cars had black caps that stood up better to UV rays.
_________________
-Bruce

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[harrymarlin]

[chimneyfish]

The hinge was changed out for one with threads if the car wasn't fitted with one with the threaded one. I've done it once, I had to hire a VW hinge pin removal tool to do it.

Thanks for the part numbers harrymarlin. Does your bug have the thread sticking out for an accessory mirror, or no thread so it needs a plug?

I have the original cap for my RHD 65 Sedan, pics of it below, I intend on repainting it. I have seen both hinge pins with threads for the accessory mirror, and ones without. For a 1967 convertible I have no idea, but from what you wrote above I would think so. This is the cap, hope it helps, although of no use to you if you need a plug:

[chimneyfish]

[cb1990s]

[harrymarlin]

I believe this is what I would be looking for for my US spec 67 (NavyGeneral points out the part number on this supports it's a mid year version, but it seems small enough):
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2267658

If I had a hinge pin, this:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1565236

NavyGeneral also pointed out that if the top of the hinge is hard, it most likely doesn't need a cover.

Thoughts?
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia

[61SNRF]

You've seen the two examples I've posted above so it's either one or the other.

For best answer post some pics of your hinges in question.
_________________
-Bruce

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[harrymarlin]

I finally got a chance to look at my hinges, and it looks like they don't need caps (I'm not sure how I got so confused!). They are as 61SNRF noted, above. Thanks for all of the responses! Now I have some hinge caps I don't need.

_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia

[cb1990s]

For what it’s worth my UK market ‘67 base model (1200) has the hinges with the little plastic caps (and no slot in the hinge itself for oiling) on all but the drivers upper hinge (because the slot is needed there for the threaded pin). My hinges are all original. It shipped with only a single mirror (drivers side) hence no slot on the passenger side upper hinge, nor one of those threaded caps.

The black plastic caps had been painted over on all the other hinges as I’d imagine is quite common, but in reality they are designed to be removed so you can drop some oil on the top of the hinge pin (it is recessed by around 5mm) and then replace the plastic cap.

[cb1990s]

[harrymarlin]