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thom
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000
Posts: 5943
Location: Sacramento
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 Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject: Early lowlight firewall cladding/insulation |
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I liberated a small chunk of the firewall cladding off of the barn find '56 for analysis. I'd never seen this stuff in person. The backing is identical to the insulation strips used in buses, and there's a thin layer still left on the car where I took this piece off. The strips are a fiber material, like a rough cardboard.
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-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type |
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John Moxon 
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Joined: March 07, 2004
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Location: Southampton U.K.
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56GoldeGhia
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Joined: December 29, 2006
Posts: 145
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| Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 6:10 am Post subject: |
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Hi Thom,
I found some detailed pictures of the material from my car. It is like you said a fiber like material, like a rough cardboard. I only got the top material. I had to glue it on the fiber material shown in your picture.
I was told that the guy who found it got it from an old upholstery shop in Germany. I can try and see if there is some material left. Just need to look for his phone number. Hope I can find it.
top side
back side
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52brezelfenster
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Joined: August 02, 2005
Posts: 761
Location: OR
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| Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 7:33 am Post subject: |
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I live near a company that specializes in auto fabric material reproduction and NOS material.
They are currently working on my 59 ghia vert project. They said if given a sample, they can make anything (they own their own equipment, nothing gets farmed out). They also have a warehouse full of NOS material they have bought over the years. They have odd ball, unobtanium crazy material noone else has.
If someone can get me a sample of this cladding (even a small section) I can pursue it. |
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JeffL
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Joined: September 04, 2004
Posts: 1370
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| Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| 52brezelfenster wrote: |
I live near a company that specializes in auto fabric material reproduction and NOS material.
They are currently working on my 59 ghia vert project. They said if given a sample, they can make anything (they own their own equipment, nothing gets farmed out). They also have a warehouse full of NOS material they have bought over the years. They have odd ball, unobtanium crazy material noone else has.
If someone can get me a sample of this cladding (even a small section) I can pursue it. |
I need this for my 56 too. Send me a PM giving me your address and I'll send you a piece from my 56. |
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slafa
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Joined: December 29, 2008
Posts: 944
Location: Where getting a real beer is like winning the lotto
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| Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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It is sick how cool this site is and this thread is just one example 
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'63 KG Roadster proj.
1973 Mercury Montego MX Brougham
1977 Dodge Tradesman 200 "shorty" Van
1983 Ford 350 Econoline Ambulance
1997 Mercedes S500 W140
1976 BMW 75/6 bike
various Honda, GMC daily drivers |
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52brezelfenster
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Joined: August 02, 2005
Posts: 761
Location: OR
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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I saw a really nice 56 oval at a show last weekend, it looked like it had the same firewall insulation that we're looking for. I'm going to find out more about his source for it. It looked looked accurate in texture / ribbing to a sample that Thom sent me. Can I get some more opinions?
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thom
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000
Posts: 5943
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:59 am Post subject: |
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While the firewall cladding looks good, is that correct for the car? Oh, and that's the wrong fuel pump.
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-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type |
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52brezelfenster
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Joined: August 02, 2005
Posts: 761
Location: OR
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:55 am Post subject: |
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| I think late `55 and early `56 bugs did have that firewall cladding. It probably coincided with what the ghias had from the same time frame. |
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RockStock
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Joined: November 26, 2004
Posts: 3929
Location: England
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:08 am Post subject: |
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Yes, 1956 beetles had the ribbed firewall.
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Braukuche
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Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11005
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: Early lowlight firewall cladding/insulation |
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Reviving an ancient thread.
So, I'm ready to install the firewall mats, but I have a '56 and it is supposed to come with the ribbed ones, which no one makes or has that changed?
Has anyone come up with a material that is close and I could simply make my own?
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Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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