My 1956 Oval Sunroof

vw54 · 2011-06-27T04:06:51+00:00

My 1956 Oval Window Sunroof model, turned 55 years old today I have now owned it for 30 years as well Over the years its has under gone some transformations I purchased it in June 1981, after selling my 1928 model A tourer, I was looking for a new project to begin. I found it tucked away in the back of a garage with some 20 other Volkswagen vehicles. I went to look at a 1954 Oval that had been advertised and discovered the 56 in the corner. Knowing the value of an Original Oval sunroof I quickly snapped it up, although It had been cut down into a Baja Buggy ( what a waste ) Upon initial inspecting it was missing the guards, bonnet, and engine lid. I found these scattered around the place and added them to the purchased I spent the next 3 years rebuilding the car and restoring it back to all original condition with original motor and gearbox Once restored I drove it to work in peak hour traffic for the next 7 years, also changing and modifying engine components along the way First of I fitted a Ken virgin Twin Carburettor set up which gave the 36 hp loads of extra torque and also made it nippy. Following this I fitted a set of Maico front disc Brakes which made it pull up better. Then followed a Judson Super charger set up, which it still runs. I took it off full registration in 1990 and used the Car club conditional rego scheme for a few years until 2003 when I stopped driving it and had it in storage as I had just completed my 1965 Sea Blue Sunroof restoration, and wanted to drive that around About 3 years ago I decided to re restore the 56 and so progress is happening

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 · 9 Jan 2017, 7:51 am

#1032906

Don't forget the top-front gearbox bolt, Dave.

What oil is best ?

I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 Jan 2017, 8:16 am

#1032907

you must have magnifying EYES

Stinky oil the best takes days to get the smell off your hands

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 14 Jan 2017, 6:29 am

#1033061

more work this weekend

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drmator 67 Learner Dubber

4 posts · joined May 2012 · 27 Jan 2017, 3:52 pm

#1033330

Hows the project going

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 13 Mar 2017, 11:02 am

#1034456

The Chassis is now complete, brakes bleed and front greased ready for the body

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Apr 2017, 12:49 pm

#1034772

More progress over the past few weeks Fitted the new Sunroof cover tight as a drum had to let it stretch for a few days to make it fit

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Apr 2017, 12:54 pm

#1034773

Also started the wiring fitting the switches and wipers have clean then add some white pen ink so you can see the terminal numbers

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nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 4 Apr 2017, 7:24 am

#1034795

Beeuteifull - that colour combo is so close to what I am doing on my Hot Rod- I like.Im doing the 2 tone with full body green and the guards in cream and silver running boards.What are the names of those 2 colours?

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Apr 2017, 7:30 am

#1034796

Gary

your not going to believe this if you got some grey primer it would match and it you got some masking tape it would match the cream

I don't know the colour name but will look at the tins tonight and see if they wrote the names on them

your colour combo sounds good and different which is good

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Apr 2017, 8:45 am

#1034816

Gary I suffer from CRAFT we colour matched the paint to original VW paint chips using the spectrograph

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nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 5 Apr 2017, 6:38 pm

#1034838

Thanks Dave-well done.Really like the Ivory colour.I have a colour blindness problem with greens and reds.First look for me I thought it was green,not grey.

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Apr 2017, 8:02 am

#1035092

More progress over the 4 day break managed to nearly complete the wiring making all new harness and ready to fit up the Rally Dash

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1958kafer Officially Full-On Dubber

229 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 18 Apr 2017, 5:31 pm

#1035110

Great work. You wouldn't have the formula for Gunyah grey would you?

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Apr 2017, 6:20 pm

#1035116

yes took a scan from my colour charts if you quote 286 - 7883 they should be able to mix from that number

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nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 18 Apr 2017, 10:19 pm

#1035126

The Rally Dash is awesome. Are the 2 guages new- look the part?

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 19 Apr 2017, 7:24 am

#1035129

Are the 2 guages new

No there old ones I have picked up over the years they were in the car before the centre hole is for a clock its getting an upgrade to a quartz movement using a AA battery the old movement used to flatten the battery in abut 2 days or so

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nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 19 Apr 2017, 9:42 am

#1035132

Good move with the clock.I have one from an early Ghia that I converted and it's easy to change the battery.Might have another go at the hands.

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 19 Apr 2017, 10:31 am

#1035133

Gary

Great minds think alike exactly what I am doing or having done

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oldskoolguy Officially Full-On Dubber

329 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 19 Apr 2017, 11:05 am

#1035135

Great colour scheme on a great car. Interesting story too, it will be nice to see it finished.
I've been working on a clock too, coincidence! Mine is some random non runner from a Wolseley or Rover I got from a swap meet.

"The best trophies are stone chips"
1969 1500 Beetle "Otis"
2008 Golf GTI

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Apr 2017, 7:43 am

#1035157

Mine is some random non runner from a Wolseley or Rover I got from a swap meet.

I think most clocks of that vintage were the same diameter so it will work nice

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 15 May 2017, 12:10 pm

#1035702

Managed to fit the semaphores and terminate the wiring on the weekend have fitted Flashing LED bulbs that are brighter than the stock 6 V globes and you don't need a flasher can

the bulbs cost $50.00 landed not too bad a price

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/festoon-bulbs.php

Also had my son re paint the Rally Dash in Cream to match the 2 tone

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 15 May 2017, 12:18 pm

#1035703

Saturday night I decided to assemble the rear taillights this took about 4 hours or so

Had to make new gaskets between the reflector and the diffuser I had the light reflector re plated a few years ago they look great

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vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 15 May 2017, 12:19 pm

#1035704

added a squeeze of Sikaflex to stop the Jesus Chris clips from coming adrift

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HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 · 15 May 2017, 12:40 pm

#1035706

You tear-arse...rushing the job in only 4 hours !

The 'heart' tail lights on my '54 took a while, too.

Those flashing semaphore are great, in the'54.

I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

1958kafer Officially Full-On Dubber

229 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 15 May 2017, 3:01 pm

#1035709

What flashing bulbs did you use. The 2 sided or the all the way around light?

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 15 May 2017, 5:31 pm

#1035712

the bulbs are 2 sided only cost about $ 50.00 and 3 weeks post

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/festoon-bulbs.php

Part number is EA2D and look like this you have to fit from the top as they wont fit in the original opening

Greg

they will look great in your Bright Orange lens on the 54

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1958kafer Officially Full-On Dubber

229 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 17 May 2017, 3:18 pm

#1035742

Cheers 👍

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 May 2017, 7:14 pm

#1035760

I've lost my Dash Ash Tray cover in all the moves and refurbishment

One email to a fellow aussieveedubber and I will have a new one next week

how goods that

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68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 May 2017, 8:01 pm

#1036005

1958kafer wrote:What flashing bulbs did you use. The 2 sided or the all the way around light?

The LIGHT EMITTING DIODES [LEDs] are mounted on a circuit board - one either side, so, only emit light from each side of the board.

You can get festoon LEDs for interior lamps too, with LEDs on one or both sides...
very cheap on ebay. [non flashing types] Very bright and low current so they won't drain the battery like normal festoon bulbs.
First time I've seen the flashing festoon bulbs..

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Jul 2017, 2:48 pm

#1036599

More progress on the new wiring harness made from scratch

just about finished

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