1954 Information needed..

[RUN99]

Hey everybody,

I am about to buy a 54 beetle project

It will be my first oval window and I need some information.

Please tell me, what are 1954 model year's specific items?




Thanks in advance

[Dan22]

For engines, look here.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179439
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1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074

[VW_Jimbo]

Okay, I will play.

The early ones share a lot of split window details. Which means stuff, like parts, get a little bit pricey. I am really certain that late in the model year they changed the way the rear wheel well to cabin area was fabricated. It did not change anything on the exterior, just inside the wheel well area.

Seats are different.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[D. Haviland]

Thinking it may have egg tail lights.

[VW_Jimbo]

Okay. I broke out the Garwood booklet.

1st year for 1192cc engine with 6.1 to 1 compression ratio. In September the 1192cc engine was bumped up to 6.6 to 1. This engine configuration was in place till 1960.

Vent screen at carpet was rectangular instead or round and had an aluminum screen.

Heater knob did away with the H A Z

Hood hinge bolt was changed from 3 to 2.

"SG" keys replaced "P" and "G" keys.

Starter button was removed from the dash and incorporated into the switch.

Glove box hinge was beefed up.

New tail lights were introduced. Eggs I believe, dark amber.

Chrome ring around the ashtray.

Directional indicator light went from 2 arrows to one integrated double arrow.

Carpeting ran up the front inner quarter panels. Also in the luggage area. Deluxe models got carpet over the tunnel.

Flat stock wiper arms.

Semaphores had smooth lenses.

1st year with the brake reservoir behind the spare tire.

Lots of changes to the inside gears and synchros inside the transmission.

Those are the highlights. Lots of details within some of these items. But for the most parts pretty self explanatory.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Bub]

The only 54' specific change that anyone cares about is the pressing on the cylinder tin. If the top cylinder cooling tin isn't the proper 2-piece style where they welded on the tiny little bits you might as well push it into the river and walk away. That's the first thing anyone will care about.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8632816


(this is all sarcasm, except for a few people that mostly sit in the split window forums)
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[RUN99]

Thank you very much for all of these information.

I wasn't expecting that much

I believe I have to search & check all 1954 year related threads in forum.

I believe door handles and front hood handle were also special for 53 & 54?

[VW_Jimbo]

[esde]

[RUN99]

[esde]

if you look at the handles side by side the difference is immediately noticeable. Here is a freshly chromed 56 and later

Here is a 55 and earlier

you can see that the early handle has a flat surface, and the later one has a slight ridge.
Besides that, they have a different arm to actuate the lock mechanism, and within both types of handles there are different key profile changes year to year..
Some more info on early oval handles here
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392441&highlight=outer+handle
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modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that.