What to do when your part is no longer made?

[harrymarlin]

I've hit my first instance of needing a part no longer made. I was looking for a 65-67 convertible hinge cover (mine are cracked and have parts broken off) and discovered - no one has it for sale anywhere in the world. Apparently the company which made the reproduction went out of business.

So - what do you do when you need a part no longer made? Have it 3D printed? Make it yourself? Convince someone else to sell you theirs? Do without? I'm guessing folks with cars which didn't have 22 million of them made hit this problem all of the time...

Would a 68+ convertible hinge cover fit? It's ABS plastic, I believe, so it's a bit more difficult to modify.

Ideas are welcome!
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-Harry
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1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia

[KTPhil]

Start with a want-to-buy (WTB) ad here in the Classifieds. Also, there are some well-known folks with large stocks or parts cars who you could PM or email directly here.

[harrymarlin]

[TDCTDI]

You have found your niche market. Recreate one out of clay, plaster, or fiberglass & have a batch of them made out of ABS.


I had a buddy make a run of A-pillar covers with gauge pods for MKII VWs, he sold every one that he had made within days & had to have several batches made to complete requests before he grew tired of it.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Did you not buy the ones I bird dog'd you on last year??

The reproduction 68 and newer are the same exact basic shape.. but have more holes.. and a slight center depression .

May can buy two pair of those.. .. and make one good 65-67 pair.. by sacrificing one to fill the holes and depression with the same material.. and then repaint ???

Easiest thing to do.... today.. .have one to scan and 3D print..

Ill have to recheck the original late model ones I have now.. to see if they have the depression
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[harrymarlin]

[ZENVWDRIVER]

We almost always buy a parts car - we have a 1986 MR2 for our 1987 MR2 - a '55 bug , a '68 Westy and a '65 bug - all for parts + a sh*t load of spares - that's half the fun of old car ownership - hunting down parts.

_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON

All super-heroes, wear a MASK

[hitest]

Make friends with someone who has a pair of those covers. Ask to borrow them to make precise molds. If I had those I'd loan them to you for sure.
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[Chickensoup]

Did Volkswagen never publish a blueprint of the item your looking for?? There’s got to be one out there somewhere, it just may not be here on the net. Good luck tho

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

[aa390392]

Harry haveyou tried this person in German
Kaefer-Holz.com?
Good luck...
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[Helfen]

I worked and retired from a major auto manufacturer. About 20 years or so we were getting ready a assortment of new cars for the L.A. auto show. Along with our new pre production cars for display we also took several cars from the company museum to display for the heritage portion of our display. One of the cars was a 1937 roadster with rumble seat. One of my tech's came to me saying that the handbrake was not functional so I asked him to fix it for the show. About 15 minutes later he was back at my desk saying the ratchet mechanism was stripped out-no teeth. I again asked him to fix it. He told me there were not parts for a 1937XXXX car. REALLY? I told him because it was near lunchtime to go to lunch and afterwards we'll talk about what to do. After he left I took the old parts to the machine shop and made a new ratchet mechanism and engaging paw myself. When he got back from lunch he asked what we were going to do. I gave him the new parts I made and suggested he take some machine shop classes.
When I started in this business automotive machine shop, drafting and welding were all part of the curriculum for auto mechanic's.