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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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57BLITZ Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 2385 Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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From the windshield to the sunroof opening... Almost exactly 5 7/8 inches... this is a roof from a 56, but 1957 is the same...
Center the clip, right to left, and you'll be good to go!
BTW... that same dimension on my '62 is less than 5 3/8"! _________________ Jesucristo es mi Seņor y Salvador! |
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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BulliBill Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 4561 Location: St Charles, MO
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Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 11:04 am Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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Fifty-Eight Rag wrote: |
Time to address the apron.
Stripped and hammered straight.
I'm doing a Euro clone so I welded the towel bar bracket holes closed
Milestone achieved!
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Hi Larry,
Just curious if you intended to install the later era "three finger" front apron piece on this Oval instead of the "four finger" Oval version. I figure that you planned it that way, but just in case you didn't know, I thought I'd mention it. Your fabbing skills are awesome! Nice work, fun to watch!
Your STL neighbor,
Bill _________________ I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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BulliBill wrote: |
Hi Larry,
Just curious if you intended to install the later era "three finger" front apron piece on this Oval instead of the "four finger" Oval version. I figure that you planned it that way, but just in case you didn't know, I thought I'd mention it. Your fabbing skills are awesome! Nice work, fun to watch!
Your STL neighbor,
Bill |
Hey Bill,
Actually, my name is Mike...Larry (Aircool67) is a friend of mine that has me work on his cars. This oval is my personal project...the other 2 build threads are for his cars. His little 67 Beetle I restored for him a few years ago and the 62 SC I'm currently doing.
Anyway, I ran the 3 finger apron because it was what I had. It was part of the 1960 front clip that's on it now. You'll probably also notice that the brake reservoir shelf has the 3 reinforcements as opposed to the oval correct two as well. I wish I had good, Oval era German metal to work with but my budget didn't allow it. This is actually a Frankenstein car (hence the name)...I'm just trying to make it as nice and close to correct as possible. I'm avoiding cheap aftermarket metal as much as possible by using 4 parts cars to build this one.
Ultimately, I want to find a complete unmolested oval some day that needs some love that I can do a correct nut and bolt resto to. _________________ 1956 Oval
and a barn full of VW parts
1956 Oval build thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
1962 Single Cab Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7959298#7959298
1967 Beetle Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495269&highlight=larrys |
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57BLITZ Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 2385 Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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Nice work Mike . . . nice save on the apron!
Did ya get those "short-axles" installed yet? _________________ Jesucristo es mi Seņor y Salvador! |
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 9603 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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Your body revival work, by stitching in as much German parts as possible is extremely interesting to follow. I have no welding skills (tried MIG welding on a Ghia 30 yrs ago but failed) so your work is all the more impressive.
Since you have the '67 chassis from the '58 which has the tunnel mounts for safety belts, have you considered adding the outer lap belt mount, as well as a shoulder belt mount? Do you still have the '67's body or B-pillar from which you could pirate those? If you continue with the semaphore graft work, you could position a '67 or later shoulder belt mount so that the bolt is just below the bottom of the semaphore box. I had this done by a skilled body man/welder I hired on my Zwitter body 25 yrs ago, by using the shoulder belt mounting bars I detached from a '74 parts car. If you want to stay with a vintage hotrod look, consider installing manual 3-point belts; maybe even aircraft style.
Also, be prepared to struggle installing a dual-port engine into the tight engine bay due to the H apron, narrow width/side ledges; and the front bulkhead shape. The '60 and earlier bulkhead does not allow for the fresh-air heater boxes to slide forward when installing the engine. The tops of the HB will hit the bulkhead lower edges. What I did on my '56 oval 30 yrs ago was install the engine with the HB off, then install the HB once the engine was in place. Make sure your 4 front head studs' threads are in good shape (M8 x 1.25 mm die) and coat the threads with anti-seize for easy removal in future. I realize this is a long time in your future, but just be prepared. |
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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Rome wrote: |
Your body revival work, by stitching in as much German parts as possible is extremely interesting to follow. I have no welding skills (tried MIG welding on a Ghia 30 yrs ago but failed) so your work is all the more impressive.
Since you have the '67 chassis from the '58 which has the tunnel mounts for safety belts, have you considered adding the outer lap belt mount, as well as a shoulder belt mount? Do you still have the '67's body or B-pillar from which you could pirate those? If you continue with the semaphore graft work, you could position a '67 or later shoulder belt mount so that the bolt is just below the bottom of the semaphore box. I had this done by a skilled body man/welder I hired on my Zwitter body 25 yrs ago, by using the shoulder belt mounting bars I detached from a '74 parts car. If you want to stay with a vintage hotrod look, consider installing manual 3-point belts; maybe even aircraft style.
Also, be prepared to struggle installing a dual-port engine into the tight engine bay due to the H apron, narrow width/side ledges; and the front bulkhead shape. The '60 and earlier bulkhead does not allow for the fresh-air heater boxes to slide forward when installing the engine. The tops of the HB will hit the bulkhead lower edges. What I did on my '56 oval 30 yrs ago was install the engine with the HB off, then install the HB once the engine was in place. Make sure your 4 front head studs' threads are in good shape (M8 x 1.25 mm die) and coat the threads with anti-seize for easy removal in future. I realize this is a long time in your future, but just be prepared. |
I appreciate your input Rome.
I'm a self taught welder. I used to have a partner 20+ years ago that did the welding part of the restorations, but he left high and dry in the middle of a chopped top project on a 1948 Ford sedan. I had to learn real quick how to do it.
I'm glad you mentioned the fitment issues...I had no idea. I've never had a Bug earlier than a 1961. Always shoved dual ports in them and the only issues were trying to get 12v flywheels into 6v housings.
I will definitely follow your advise when the time comes.
Yes I will take advantage of the seat belt mounts and am planning on a shoulder belt of some sort. The aircraft style belts are an interesting concept. _________________ 1956 Oval
and a barn full of VW parts
1956 Oval build thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
1962 Single Cab Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7959298#7959298
1967 Beetle Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495269&highlight=larrys |
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blacksheep214 Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2011 Posts: 47 Location: Norway
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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It's very inspirational to follow your work.
Please keep the updates coming! |
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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dave1 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2003 Posts: 477 Location: United Kingdom, London
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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Fantastic metal creation with a reborn oval
Keep the good work going |
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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motofly196 Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Eastern WA
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:06 am Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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Nice save on that W deck lid! You had to cut DEEP to get into some good metal. Was the hinge carrier on the donor lid the same as the early one? Strange that the top was so crusty...was it sitting in the dirt? |
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011 Posts: 936 Location: St. Louis, MO
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Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 5:03 am Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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motofly196 wrote: |
Nice save on that W deck lid! You had to cut DEEP to get into some good metal. Was the hinge carrier on the donor lid the same as the early one? Strange that the top was so crusty...was it sitting in the dirt? |
It sat upside down leaning on a barn for years outside before I got it. It came with the oval body I'm using on this project.
Budget on this one is next to nothing, so it's a perfect candidate.
Yes, I compared the two hinge carriers and there are small differences in the two, but it's just that they added more metal in critical areas by '67. Not 100% sure on the spring plate since the W lid's was gone. It's marked 55-56 but I believe the 1955 was the big spring still?, I'll just use the later spring since this is a 56 body. _________________ 1956 Oval
and a barn full of VW parts
1956 Oval build thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
1962 Single Cab Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7959298#7959298
1967 Beetle Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495269&highlight=larrys |
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tehillah1 Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2009 Posts: 261 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 7:14 am Post subject: Re: 1956 Oval Build "Franky" |
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The fab work your are doing on this project is an inspiration and keeps me plugging along on my '55 standard project. I'm teaching myself to mig on scrap and junk parts and seeing the fitment and repair you are doing on this is way impressive. Thanks for posting this project and keeping the updates coming. Great work! |
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