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scarabee Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2021 Posts: 94 Location: South Africa
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Posted: Yesterday 12:19 am Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Love the look as well! And, you have the best companion in the garage! |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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This past week, I dropped the engine and repositioned the transmission. It was slightly off center, so I corrected it. I also go the new anthracite 5 spoke Empi's mounted. I love the look!
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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There's a guy in Japan that I follow on Instagram (nu56sun) that has these rims on his 56 that I absolutely love, so this week I decided to get me a set. Can't wait to see how they look once they're mounted.
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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djfordmanjack wrote: |
Very nice stance and the slightly weathered look of the paint is great ! I like how you got rid of the really rough areas on the hood and fenders, and still left most of the og paint intact. |
Thanks, Man! I was going to leave one fender all weathered, but once I did one, I just decided to keep going. I'm surprised how the OG paint has held up. _________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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djfordmanjack Samba Member

Joined: June 15, 2009 Posts: 2316 Location: Graz, Austria, Europe
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Finally got her out of the garage! The new engine runs so smoothly.
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2024 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Sooooo...... yeah. This happened last weekend. My 18 year old son, who's still learning to drive, was backing into the garage and accidentally hit the gas...and crunch! When I came home from work, I immediately saw it and imagined the terror running through both him and my wife. So I decided to blow it off and tell him that it's just a fender. No harm, no foul.
I remember when I was a kid, I was sitting in my dad's 61 and pushed on the clutch. There was no parking brake, so I rolled it back into the street! Man, the ass whooping I got!! So, I think that played into how I handled this situation. Mistakes are going to happen and everything is fixable.
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:26 am Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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VW_Jimbo wrote: |
Nice! Don’t forget the oil! |
Hahaha check!! _________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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VW_Jimbo  Samba Member

Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 10709 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:13 am Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Nice! Don’t forget the oil! _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 7:56 am Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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The engine is in! It's inching closer......
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2024 9:43 am Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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With temperatures cooling off slightly out here in the desert, it was time to get back out there. At the top of the list is installing the new engine in the 56.
I managed to get it partially installed before having to stop. I had sinus surgery the week before and the extra exertion really took it out of me. Hopefully this week I can finish the job.
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2024 5:33 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Well, I wussed out of building my own engine and opted to have an engine built for the 56. I went with a 1914cc built by an awesome team out of Perris, Ca. I can't wait to put this beast in. Also, I was up one morning before it got too hot and put down a little sound deadening on the pan. Not very much work gets done out here in the summer time, but maybe I'll have to install a mini-split unit in the garage.......
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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VW_Jimbo  Samba Member

Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 10709 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Fri May 10, 2024 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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You got this! Remember, ALWAYS MEASURE BEFORE assembling! A caliper can get you very much in the ballpark! And they are super cheap! _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Fri May 10, 2024 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Now that Bluey, the 61 ragtop has been sold, we now shift to finishing the 56. As a part of the deal, I included the 2332cc engine that was formerly in the 56, which means the 56 will be inheriting the 1600cc that I'm currently rebuilding.
After watching a ton of videos and failing multiple times, I managed to seal up the case without the crankshaft locking up. Mind you, this is the first time I've built an engine, so slow and steady is the name of the game. I'll take the small victory, but this is only mile 1 of a marathon. I'm just hoping to finish. Time will tell......
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Sat May 04, 2024 9:54 am Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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The wiring harness from Wolfsburg West has been installed and completed. Lights work, but the turn signal switch still needs to be restored. I also did a re-spray on the fuel tank, so that's nice and shiny again. It's moving along.
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2024 11:50 am Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Finally got the body bolted back onto the pan. Next up is the new wiring harness, which might get started this week. Things are moving along......
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Got the 56 all shined up and mostly put back together. All that's left is to install a new wiring harness and to rebuild the motor, then we'll be good to go.
_________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:06 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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Chainsaw Monday wrote: |
I just inherited a 1956, I'm already enjoying your thread very much. What was the issue with the brake fluid leaking from the pedal assembly? |
Thanks! Be sure to make a thread about it and tell us all about it.
The leaking ended up being from a bad boot on the master cylinder. It was pretty beat up, so I just replaced the whole unit. No more leaking!
Also, do a search for Doug’s 56. His build thread inspired me to tear mine apart and give it the full restoration that it deserved. Best of luck with your 56. _________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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Chainsaw Monday Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2023 Posts: 16 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 1:44 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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I just inherited a 1956, I'm already enjoying your thread very much. What was the issue with the brake fluid leaking from the pedal assembly? |
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xraymatt Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 73 Location: La Quinta, Ca
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: My 56 garage restoration |
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VW_Jimbo wrote: |
Nice job! Got to keep that water out! |
Thanks brother! Fortunately there’s good weather in the forecast for the California desert! If I can just find a place to store the teardrop trailer, then I could have space in there for both. My wife will disagree! Hahaha _________________ 1956 Reed Green oval window
1961 OG Black ragtop |
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