Field find 1954 Canadian custom

[sunroof]

Bought this car with a friend 11 years ago and it is finally time to tear into it. It is amazingly original and solid for a car that has sat outside since 1978. Two major problems I am going to have to deal with are seized solid door hinges and a dented roof. As well the decklid hinges are both broken.

Don
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[Chickensoup]

Me like! It would make a good patina ride ay?

Edit- i just realized that is had a repaint. Sorry.

[Stetoppingphoto]

Id have to paint it back that original beige brown, looks a very straight car.
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stetoppingphoto

[sunroof]

It is Ultramaroon, a rare colour and extra rare on a Canadian custom.

Don
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[AlteWagen]

Was that M94-lockable deck lid handle the only option on the car?

UltraMaroon is BEAUTIFUL!!
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Grapes of Wrath $200 Engine Rebuild
Official Dual Carb Thread
Cylinder Head Quick Reference Sheet

[sunroof]

Ram protection bumpers as well.

Don
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[AlteWagen]

werent gas heater and ram protection in the regular 'canadian' mcode or was that just on later vehicles?
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Grapes of Wrath $200 Engine Rebuild
Official Dual Carb Thread
Cylinder Head Quick Reference Sheet

[sunroof]

AFAIK ram protection was an option until 1956 model year. Gas heaters were always optional on beetles. Type 2 and 3 I dunno. I've only had one beetle with a working gas heater and it burned as much gas as the engine.

Don
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[motofly196]

Don,

School me on Canadian Custom cars...do they have a mix of standard and deluxe parts? I don't see any window chrome, but has trim on the body. Cable or juice brakes? And a standard steering wheel... This will be a cool car to build! And...Ultra Maroon!!!

[banana split]

Damn! Cool Bug. You rarely find them like this anymore. And is that a Barndoor in the background?
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My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top

[VW_Jimbo]

[Chickensoup]

You should name this one the peach bug

[AlteWagen]

[type241]

Seems as though this is the same bug from 2010 post


https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/483188.jpg

[sunroof]

Yes! Good spot. September 2008 we dragged the car out of someone's front yard in Sperling Manitoba. It is finally going to get the love it deserves.

[sunroof]

BTW ultramaroon in all its glory:

Don
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[Major Woody]

You should expect the choke cable not to cooperate. It is a steel cable in a steel wound sheath inside a steel guide tube and is likely rusted solid. Get up to the front once you get the tank out and start dribbling Kroil down the tube. Give it a year of this before using much force. Ultimately you will probably get the center wire out of the sheath, but the sheath may still be frozen inside the guide tube. You may need to run a new guide tube along the side of the tunnel inside the passenger compartment under the mat/carpet unless you want to cut access holes in the tunnel and install a new guide tube.

On the hinges, heat them up with a torch and get some penetrant in there. Do not use force to try to get the hinges moving--the rust is stronger than the hinge in some cases and you will bend the hinges or the door. Would be better to borrow/rent a hinge pin press and press the hinge pins out in place after using heat. Then you can get the doors off, ream the hinges and either reinstall the pins or install new pins, or install mirror pins.

On the decklid, no suggestions if the engine is still in the car. If not, you could get under and unbolt from beneath to get the decklid off. Then again use the heat/penetrant approach until you can free the hinges.

[54 Oval]

Major Woody has it to a TEEon the hinges. Heat and penetrant, several times over, then the press. Repeat several times before attempting any force. It will give in in the end.
There is a 54 Ultramaroon in Calgary somewhere. I had a look at it in about 2012 when it came up for sale. Didn't move soon enough and it was gone. It is a very original, very complete car, numbers matching, no rust, been in a shed since it quit running in the 70's but not seized. In someone's garage, not known in the local VW community. These are 2 pics I have...

[sunroof]

It is amazing the way this car is coming apart. I took the gas tank out and tugged on the choke cable, a little force and then it slid right out. Once it was on the bench the inner came free and went back and forth no problem. On the problem of the hinges, I have bought the hinge pin tool
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2252365
so I am stoked to see how it will work. I will have to drill the screws out tho, they are stuck solid. I have done this before and it works nicely. Once the hinges are off the screws turn out easily. I tried heat and an impact driver and managed to get 2 out but the rest are not moving. Pictures tonight.

Don
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[motofly196]

That's awesome Don! I just removed the choke cable from my Black 57' oval...came out just like yours. Also removed one from the donor car, came out even easier. It's the little things in life...
Have you tried an impact driver on your door screws before drilling them out? I soak the crap out of them from underneath the hood. Let them sit for a few days ...I soak them a few times during that. Then I hit them with a little heat on the screw head before smacking them with the impact driver. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.