Author |
Message |
hootowls Samba Member

Joined: November 14, 2005 Posts: 63 Location: Lompoc, CA
|
Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 9:58 am Post subject: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
The following diagram is from "Der Motor Test," July 1958, showing the rear view drawing of a European bumper 58 sedan with relative dimensions for the location if the tail light housings. Note that "leer" means "empty" and the units are in millimeters. Thought the drawing might be useful for the ovals and the squares as this is common to both.
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
OvalWindowBucket Samba Member

Joined: April 23, 2003 Posts: 694 Location: Reviving my Microbus
|
Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 10:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The height of my snowflakes is mismatched, thank you very much for this.. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
envycustoms Samba Member

Joined: June 20, 2006 Posts: 324 Location: Oakland - Nor*Cal
|
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 10:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
heres a diff view on the subject  _________________ 56 SunRoof (o\U!U/o) "Hood Fellas"
Damn.. not another car on earlies!
www.EnvyCustoms.Tumblr.com |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Chip  Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2008 Posts: 992 Location: Utah
|
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I prefer the second one, otherwise my lights would end up way to high, the reference to the ground can only be used on a bug sitting at stock height with out any rear end sag. Good luck finding one of those, except on a fresh resto. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Volumex Samba Member

Joined: October 11, 2007 Posts: 532 Location: Sarnia, ON
|
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You can use the distance from the bottom of the popes nose to the centre of the snowflake - it is obviously 153mm (679-526) and independent of the height of the car.
Just need a stringline, spirit level & tape measure - and three hands. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Chip  Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2008 Posts: 992 Location: Utah
|
Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Good point, I'll work on the 3rd hand thing  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
RJoval Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Australia
|
Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 2:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
for those that think there tail lights are going to be to high using diagram one its simple,
measure the height of your number plate light off the ground because it is very rare that the holes in your bonnet have been filled and need redrilling, then subtract the difference from the height that is shown on the drawing, this is the difference then subtract that from all other height measurements and away you go. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
AlteWagen Troll

Joined: February 23, 2007 Posts: 8635 Location: PNW
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TSLAVO Samba Member

Joined: August 25, 2015 Posts: 143 Location: South East Asia
|
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
envycustoms wrote: |
heres a diff view on the subject  |
Trying to get my 57 tail light position right. Couldn't get it right and found out my fender measurement joining rear apron is out. My apron is original. Could 57 fenders have different dimension?
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Kjell Roar Samba Member

Joined: December 08, 2008 Posts: 1330 Location: Norway
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
AlteWagen Troll

Joined: February 23, 2007 Posts: 8635 Location: PNW
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TSLAVO Samba Member

Joined: August 25, 2015 Posts: 143 Location: South East Asia
|
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:05 am Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
Possible my fenders are aftermarket. Thinking of my rear apron is very likely to be original to 57, measurement of fenders adjoining to apron should be correct. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TSLAVO Samba Member

Joined: August 25, 2015 Posts: 143 Location: South East Asia
|
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:08 am Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
AlteWagen wrote: |
Strange, I just measured two original fenders I have, the euro is off a 58 and the non ribbed is from a 60. Putting the hook from the tape measure and holding it flat against the curve of the fender I get 13.5 for both.
|
Could you get 15" and 6 3/4" as per the picture? If not, what are yours? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Snort Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2005 Posts: 1960 Location: Seattle, WA
|
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
Here are some measurements from my 57 Bug original fender.
1. I measured 13 5/8 inches from the bottom to the bend
2. This one is an attempt to get a square alignment off the apron line but that line is not square so it's averaged.
3. Edge of overrider support hole to wire hole.
4. Edge of overrider support hole to top mounting hole.
5. Square alignment from rear quarter panel line.
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TSLAVO Samba Member

Joined: August 25, 2015 Posts: 143 Location: South East Asia
|
Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
I finally found the problem after taking the fenders and fitted to body at body work shop. The bend on fenders do not fit perfectly to the body with some gaps. I measured the rear apron from bottom to where the bend should sit and get exactly 13 5/8 inches.
Thanks for everyone who respond to my post and i am happy to get the right position. The picture guide in this FAQ is pretty helpful.
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
pdxeuro Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2011 Posts: 113 Location: Portland
|
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2021 5:48 pm Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
Disappointing weekend as I starting to look deeper at the body of my 1959 US bug project. I learned the hood is a 3-pin (raised emblem) hood, so I need to find a 4-tab. Also, my rear fender seems like a mess. Like some on here, I get 13.5” for the left side measurement (white line) but the holes don’t match anything on here. It came with later taillights, so I guess not a shocker.
Anyone have a sense for the year of these fenders? They are not ribbed, which isn’t surprising.
_________________ ----------------------------------------
Portland, Oregon
1991 Westy MV
1959 Bug
1977 Westy Bus - sold
1968 Bug - sold
2002 Eurovan - sold |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Bub Samba Member

Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 1238 Location: Central Washington
|
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:08 am Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
Seems like the later US models had higher tail lights due to the over riders?
I've seen too many cars- and many that seem to be proper, or built by very reputable shops, or even original- that have the lights mounted way high. Or at least higher than I like aesthetically. But all so close that I can't imagine they're all on the same kool-aid.
Somewhere it seems like there's a 'progressive refinements' page that seems to reflect this ? _________________
hitest wrote: |
Had a girlfriend once who shall we say, nearly arrived at the mere sight of a semaphore in action- easy to please she was... |
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sportin-wood Samba Member

Joined: September 12, 2010 Posts: 2164 Location: Texas
|
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 12:38 pm Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
Bub wrote: |
....reputable shops, or even original- that have the lights mounted way high. Or at least higher than I like aesthetically.... |
That's one of my biggest pet peeves. I MUCH prefer the slightly lower-mounted early taillights over the high-mounted lights. Makes such a big difference. _________________ .
1966 Bug project
1973 Thing project
.
"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman. He's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." --- Jeff Spicoli |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
AlteWagen Troll

Joined: February 23, 2007 Posts: 8635 Location: PNW
|
Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:26 pm Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
Bub wrote: |
Seems like the later US models had higher tail lights due to the over riders?
I've seen too many cars- and many that seem to be proper, or built by very reputable shops, or even original- that have the lights mounted way high. Or at least higher than I like aesthetically. But all so close that I can't imagine they're all on the same kool-aid.
Somewhere it seems like there's a 'progressive refinements' page that seems to reflect this ? |
this is why I asked about 5/55-7/55 placement. _________________ Grapes of Wrath $200 Engine Rebuild
Official Dual Carb Thread
Cylinder Head Quick Reference Sheet |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Dan22 Samba Member

Joined: August 30, 2019 Posts: 587 Location: Battle Ground, WA
|
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:22 am Post subject: Re: Reference for tail light placement 56-61 |
|
|
My US spec June 1955 with snowflakes has these dimensions. It appears to match what Snort has done. I am 100% certain of these numbers to my car. The 17.5" dimension is reference as the point of the fender is never really accurate. I think better measurements come from the overrider hole. The 6-7/8" dimension is from the straight edge of the fender, and not the corner, but it appears this is very close to the corner, so maybe it is the same vertical position. Good reference if so.
Measurements taken from an OG dimpled fender. These do not match what was shown for the 1956 dimensions, but they do not appear to be 60mm lower than the 1956 position. Perhaps there was a US spec only for snowflakes, higher than the teardrop or egg lights. If someone can confirm that it would be helpful to the group. According to pdxeuro, these are about 1" lower than 1956 and later.
Perhaps this thread name should be updated to include 1955??  _________________ 1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074
Last edited by Dan22 on Thu Sep 02, 2021 6:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|